Palazzo Vecchio

Palazzo Vecchio was built in 1293 to be the seat of Signoria, the Florentine political government. The central nucleos of the building was erected by Arnolfo di Cambio (1299-1304).

The tower was made on the base of another precedent build, that explain because it’s not at the exact centre of build.

The palace was enlarged by Vasari in 16th century, and than by Buontalenti in 1600s. When Medicis assumed the power, they moved in Palazzo Vecchio. The palace, after be seat of provisional governments in 1848 and in 1859, housed the Chamber of Deputies and the Foreign Milistry from 1865 to 1871, when Florence was capital of Italy.

It has been the seat of the municipal authorities since 1872.

Palazzo Vecchio’s most famous room is Salone dei Cinquecento in which is possible to admire works of Simone del Pollaiolo, Vasari, Giambologna, Michelangelo. Also Leonardo da Vinci begun a fresco (Anghiari’s Battle) in this room, but he never finished it, and we have no traces about it.

There is a legend about this paining. Leonardo da Vinci have to paint it in a certamen with Michelangelo. He used a new experimental technique, which appear immediately wrong. The paint start to destroy itself wile Leonardo is painting it, but, legend said, it could be still hide under a Vasari fresco which show a little flag with the written “Cerca, Trova” (look for, find) (Mt. 7,7).