Pitti Palace

Palazzo Pitti was begun in the fifteenth century for the banker Luca Pitti, bought by the Medici in 1550 and enlarged into the seat of the grand dukes of Tuscany, later used by the House of Savoy when Florence was capital of Italy. Behind its severe rusticated facade are the Palatine Gallery, with one of the greatest concentrations of Raphael and Titian anywhere, the Royal Apartments, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Museum of Costume and Fashion and the Gallery of Modern Art. The Boboli Gardens open directly from the courtyard at the rear. Opening information: Tuesday–Sunday, 8:15am–6:30pm. Closed Mondays, 1 January and 25 December. The ticket office closes one hour before the museum. Opening hours and admission arrangements can change. Check the official website before travelling.