Palazzo Vecchia

The old palace was originally an administrative building. The Duomo--Brunelleschi's great cathedral dome--overshadows all of Florence. But among the city's other buildings, the Palazzo Vecchia is a significant (if distant) second, towering over the square, the Piazza della Signorio, that everyone who comes to Florence visits. It was the last stop on our five-sight day. After Savanarola's attempted coup, the Medici quickly moved in, making it their headquarters.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Hall of 500, where Savanarola's 1500 "citizenss" met; the

enormity and age of such spaces is overwhelming

Ceiling

Second floor view, with painted tapestries

But the room that was of special interest to us,

in the women's chambers, was the Penelope

Room, Penelope spinning away on the ceiling

With Ulysses doing some optical surgery on the Cyclops in

one of the side panels

Mask of Dante

And a surpassing masterpiece, Donatello's

Judith and Holofernes

The 17th century map room, with its Charlie Chaplin/Hitler-

sized globe (view The Great Dictator)

Medici coat of arms

Original floor