Hotels near Palazzo Pitti

Palazzo Pitti is a colossal Renaissance palace that served as the primary residence of the ruling Medici family from 1550 onward, and later of the House of Lorraine and the Italian royal family. The rusticated stone facade stretches 205 metres across Piazza de' Pitti, making it the largest palace in Florence. Inside, it houses five separate museums: the Palatine Gallery, the Royal Apartments, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Silver Museum, and the Costume and Fashion Museum.

The Palatine Gallery alone justifies the visit, with major works by Raphael (including the Madonna of the Chair), Titian, Rubens, and Caravaggio hung in lavishly frescoed rooms. A combined ticket for Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens costs EUR 22 in peak season and EUR 16 in winter. Allow two to three hours for the palace museums and another hour or two for the gardens behind it.

Pro Tip: Enter from the Boboli Gardens side via the Costa San Giorgio gate to avoid the main entrance queue. The gardens are less crowded in the morning, so consider starting there and working your way into the palace galleries after lunch.