The Pitti Palace, and the amazing art collections contained within, stands as a strong expression of power of the Medici Dukes, who returned to Florence in the 16th and 17th centuries, after having previously led Florence through its most prolific period, the Renaissance. During their second rule, the new branch of Medici (conveniently linked to the older generation through a distant relative) transformed Florence into a monarchy, becoming the Dukes of Tuscany and undisputed rulers of Florence. Upon their 16th century rise, the Medici duchy family moved their household into an even larger, more extravagant palace- the Palazzo Pitti, a veritable symbol of wealth and influence.

A tour of the Palatine Gallery
Our visit to the Pitti Palace takes place among the various art and object collections of the several royal families who have made the palace home; the Medici, Lorraine and Savoy. The majority of our time will be spent picking apart the illustrious Palatine Gallery, once used as part of the Medici winter apartments, and now lined with the Medici art collection. The collection, all but modest, boasts a hallway of ancient Roman statues from the Villa Medici in Rome, and walls filled with Renaissance and Baroque art, including works by Raphael, Titian, Caravaggio, Rubens, and Florentine artists Filippo Lippi and Andrea del Sarto, among others. The wall to wall art collection is all displayed in the royal setting of the palace, complete with luxurious drapery, antique furniture and remnants of the monarchy.

From there, we will browse through the extensive collections of silver, mostly stemming from the Lorraine family who received the objects as gifts from the bishop of Salzburg, jewelry from the most prestigious manufacturers in Europe and a selection of Chinese and Japanese porcelain, collected by the Medici. If time allows and the group expresses interest, we will also take a peek in the Costume Gallery, which houses selections of the past 500 years of high Italian fashion.

The Boboli Garden
By the end of the walk, we'll wander into the beautiful Boboli Gardens, whose construction was started in 1549, under Grand Duke Cosimo I. We'll discuss how the gardens, once home to an ancient quarrying yard, whose stone was used for the Palace itself, are in themselves an expression of the Medici's power.