Florence - Davanzati Palace and Museum of the Old Florentine House Palazzo Davanzati con Museo dell'Antica Casa Fiorentina
The austere and majestic five-story facade of the Palazzo Davanzati is divided up on the ground floor by three massive doors, topped by a loggia and decorated in the center by a splendid coat of arms of the Davanzati family (in the summer the curtains are fastened to the iron bars in front of the windows).
The Davizzi built a townhouse here in 1300; one of the family was Gonfaloniere of the Republic in 1294. In the 16th century the palace was acquired by the Bartolini family and later (1578) by the Davanzati.
The Davizzi built a townhouse here in 1300; one of the family was Gonfaloniere of the Republic in 1294. In the 16th century the palace was acquired by the Bartolini family and later (1578) by the Davanzati.
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In 1906 the building was bought by the art dealer Elia Volpi and restored to its former glory. Since 1956 it has held the Museum of the Old Florentine House.
The museum covers three floors and contains furniture, drawings, sculpture, tapestries, ceramics, textiles and everyday objects from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque period. The "Parrot Room" on the first floor is especially interesting. It gets its name from its decoration. The walls are painted to look like tapestries with parrots. The room has a painted wooden ceiling. The exhibits have been assembled from the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, other collections in Florence and from gifts. They provide a glimpse of the highly-cultivated life of the citizens of Florence who furnished their houses with valuable art treasures and other items.
The Davizzi family wealth was founded on the wool industry, which was the most important industry of the 15th century. Wool merchants were major patrons of the arts at this time.
The museum covers three floors and contains furniture, drawings, sculpture, tapestries, ceramics, textiles and everyday objects from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque period. The "Parrot Room" on the first floor is especially interesting. It gets its name from its decoration. The walls are painted to look like tapestries with parrots. The room has a painted wooden ceiling. The exhibits have been assembled from the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, other collections in Florence and from gifts. They provide a glimpse of the highly-cultivated life of the citizens of Florence who furnished their houses with valuable art treasures and other items.
The Davizzi family wealth was founded on the wool industry, which was the most important industry of the 15th century. Wool merchants were major patrons of the arts at this time.
