Pitti Palace, Florence, Italy

Nov 18, 2023 | Historical Building, Italy, Museum, Palace

The palace was originally built in the 15th century for the Pitti family, a wealthy Florentine merchant family.

Pitti Palace: Piazza de’ Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy

The Pitti Palace, known as Palazzo Pitti in Italian, is a historic palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, not far from the Ponte Vecchio.

The Pitti Palace

In the front of the palace

The Courtyard

One of the most significant periods in the history of the Pitti Palace was when it became the residence of the powerful Medici family, who ruled Florence for several centuries. The Medici family acquired the palace in 1549 and transformed it into a luxurious Renaissance residence. The palace served as the main residence for the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.

The backyard

Each room has many paintings

Raphael’s “Madonna of the Chair” (Madonna della Sedia): One of Raphael’s famous works, this painting features the Virgin Mary with the infant Jesus and a young John the Baptist.

It had a special exhibition on the Jews in the Ghettos in Florence

1551: The establishment of the Jewish ghetto in Florence can be traced back to 1551 when the Medici Grand Duke Cosimo I issued a decree segregating the Jewish population. The primary motivation behind this decision was likely a combination of religious and economic factors.

Before the establishment of the Jewish ghetto in Florence, the Jewish community had a complex history in the city, marked by both periods of prosperity and discrimination.

Jews had a presence in Florence during the medieval period, engaging in various professions such as trade, finance, and medicine.

During the 14th century, Florence experienced economic growth and cultural flourishing, attracting people from different backgrounds, including Jews.

The 15th century is often considered a “Golden Age” for the Jewish community in Florence. Jews were involved in various aspects of the city’s economic and cultural life.

Portraits of two most famous Medicis

In 1492, the Spanish Alhambra Decree ordered the expulsion of Jews from Spain. Some Jewish refugees found refuge in Florence, contributing to the city’s intellectual and economic life.

Despite periods of relative tolerance, Jews in Florence, like in other European cities, faced episodes of persecution and expulsions.

The ghettoization of the Jewish population was part of broader trends in Europe during this period, where rulers sought to segregate and control their Jewish communities.

View of the Mercato Vecchio from the Ghetto

Book of Floor Plans of the Ghetto

Ghettos were physically confined areas with restricted access points, often enclosed by walls or gates.

The available living space was limited, and families often lived in crowded conditions.

Jews in the ghetto often faced economic restrictions and were limited in the professions they could pursue.

Many engaged in trades such as money lending, as other opportunities were restricted.

Ghettos were often subject to curfews, restricting the movement of residents, especially during the evening.

Jews were sometimes required to wear distinctive clothing or badges to identify themselves.

Sefer Torah

Plan to enlarge the ghetto’s area

A model of the Florence Ghetto

In the 19th century, with the Napoleonic occupation and subsequent political changes, discriminatory laws against the Jewish population were gradually repealed.