Hotels near Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio

Piazza della Signoria has been Florence's political and civic centre since the 14th century. The L-shaped square is anchored by Palazzo Vecchio, the fortified town hall with its 94-metre stone tower designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1299. The palace still serves as Florence's city hall while doubling as a museum with richly frescoed rooms, including the Salone dei Cinquecento - a massive hall painted by Vasari that once held the Florentine Republic's Great Council.

The piazza functions as an open-air sculpture gallery. A copy of Michelangelo's David stands at the palazzo entrance, flanked by Baccio Bandinelli's Hercules and Cacus. The Loggia dei Lanzi shelters major bronze and marble works, including Cellini's Perseus with the Head of Medusa and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women. The piazza is free to enter at all hours. Palazzo Vecchio museum tickets cost EUR 12.50 for adults, with an optional tower climb for EUR 12.50 more.

Pro Tip: Book the Secret Passages tour (Percorsi Segreti) inside Palazzo Vecchio to access hidden staircases, a private study of Francesco I de' Medici, and a walkway in the ceiling rafters of the Salone dei Cinquecento. The tour runs a few times daily and costs EUR 4 above the museum entry.