18th Round Table Europe – 14-15 November 2024 – Florence

Palazzo Vecchio is the heart of Florence, a symbol of the city since medieval times to the modern days. Made in 1299 in which it acted as a seat for the governing of citizens, the building started its golden age the moment when the Medici family moved into the Palazzo, transforming it into the beautiful palace of extraordinary richness that it is today. The guided visit pulls you into the immense wealth, extraordinary decorations, masterpieces and even an access to a secret passage through the beautiful camerino of Bianca Cappello, second wife of the Granduke Francesco I de’Medici.

The tour leads the visitors to comprehend an extraordinary document of the Dominican Order’s history but also a fundamental chapter of the city of Florence. This is why a special attention will be devoted to the history of the order, whose theological character is deeply embedded in all the architectural and artistic accomplishments of the convent. The tour will also focus on the active participation of the citizens since the foundation of the complex, that was supported thanks to donations and patronage and was to involve the greatest artists of the Middle Ages and of the Renaissance: Giotto, Masaccio, Filippo Brunelleschi, Paolo Uccello, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Filippino Lippi.

This visit allows to approach the arts of the 20th century, with a specific attention to Italy and Florence: a peculiar focus is dedicated to the Alberto della Ragione Collection – including great masterpieces and promoting the understanding of the main historical events in between the two World Wars – and the bequest of the Florentine painter Ottone Rosai. Furthermore, the several exhibitions and special projects let to explore the variety of the arts of the XX and the XXI centuries, typified by a wide variety of languages, themes and researches.

Palazzo Medici Riccardi was built in the mid-15th century and converted to serve several different functions over the centuries. Its history, the masterpieces it shelters, and the essential role it played in the life of the city make it one of the hallmarks of Florence. The tour begins with the exterior and the architectural peculiarities of the building (designed in 1444 by Michelozzo, with well-known variants by Michelangelo) before continuing on to the courtyard and garden to pass in review all the stages in the Medicis’ rise to power with Cosimo the Elder, Piero the Gouty and Lorenzo the Magnificent, men of stellar importance in culture and politics, men who wrote the history of the 15th-century city and who promoted the birth of the Florentine Renaissance: one outstanding witness to their acumen is the precious Chapel of the Magi on the first floor, marvelously frescoed by Benozzo Gozzoli. The tour concludes with a visit to the sparkling Hall of Mirrors for an in-depth look at the ‘second life’ of the palazzo, which began when it was purchased by the Riccardi family in the mid-1600s and became their residence.