iPalazzo Pitti
Palazzo Pitti is an absolute monster of a building — its rough-hewn stone facade stretches over 200 metres across Piazza de' Pitti, and the sheer scale of it hits you the moment you walk into the square. Originally built for the banker Luca Pitti in 1458 (reportedly to outdo the Medici), the Medici themselves bought it a century later and turned it into their primary residence, expanding it enormously. It served as the seat of power for Tuscany's rulers right through to Italian unification. Inside, it's essentially five museums in one. The Palatine Gallery is the star — a lavish suite of rooms with paintings by Raphael, Titian, Rubens, and Caravaggio hung salon-style against frescoed walls and gilded stucco, exactly as they were arranged in the 17th and 18th centuries. There's also the Gallery of Modern Art (19th-20th century Italian painting), the Museum of Costume and Fashion (recently renovated with a stunning rotation of historical garments), the Treasury of the Grand Dukes (cameos, silverwork, semi-precious stones), and the Museum of Russian Icons. The palace opens directly onto the Boboli Gardens behind it, one of the earliest and most influential formal Italian gardens, climbing the hill behind the palace with grottos, fountains, and avenues of cypress trees. The combined ticket is worth it if you want both. Compared to the Uffizi, Pitti gets significantly fewer visitors, which makes for a much more relaxed experience.
More in Florence
What's On
The 20th Century in 40 Dresses: New Arrangement of the Museum of Costume and Fashion
Reopened after a four-year renovation, the Museum of Costume and Fashion's new galleries trace haute couture from the 1920s Charleston era through the 1980s across nine rooms, with pieces by Schiaparelli, Yves Saint Laurent, Pierre Cardin, and Roberto Capucci shown alongside 20th-century paintings.
The King's Furniture: Royal Masterpieces across Three Dynasties
Sixteen furniture masterpieces spanning three centuries and three dynasties — Medici, Lorraine, and Savoy — newly arranged in the Palatine Gallery's Niche Room. Pieces range from 17th-century intarsia armchairs and Sèvres porcelain vases to Giovanni Socci's mechanical writing desk and a stipo cabinet that recreates the facade of Palazzo Pitti itself.
Ferdinando Sarmi New York: A Journey in Fashion from Florence to Fifth Avenue
The first exhibition dedicated to Italian couturier Ferdinando Sarmi, who dressed Hollywood legends including Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and First Lady Pat Nixon. Features iconic garments from the Sarmi Foundation alongside period accessories evoking the glamour of 1950s–60s New York.
Plan Your Visit
Getting there
Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Show on mapHours
| Mon | Closed |
| Tue | 08:15–18:30 |
| Wed | 08:15–18:30 |
| Thu | 08:15–18:30 |
| Fri | 08:15–18:30 |
| SatToday | 08:15–18:30 |
| Sun | 08:15–18:30 |
Admission
From €16
€16 same-day, €19 pre-purchased. Combined Pitti + Boboli: €22 (€25 pre-purchased). EU citizens 18-25: €2 + reservation fee. Free under 18.
Accessibility
Treasury of the Grand Dukes temporarily closed. Palatine Gallery: Room of the Iliad temporarily closed for maintenance (route modified); Room of Mars closed Tue 13 Oct 2026, Room of Apollo closed Tue 20 Oct 2026. National strike on 14 Oct 2026: Pitti Palace is not among the guaranteed openings, so it may be closed.
Last verified
Nearby
Good to know
Visitor Information
- How much does Palazzo Pitti cost?
- Standard adult admission to Palazzo Pitti is €16. €16 same-day, €19 pre-purchased. Combined Pitti + Boboli: €22 (€25 pre-purchased). EU citizens 18-25: €2 + reservation fee. Free under 18.. Prices for special exhibitions and timed-entry slots may differ.
- What are the opening hours of Palazzo Pitti?
- Palazzo Pitti is open Tue-Sun 08:15-18:30. Closed Mondays, Jan 1, Dec 25. Ticket office closes 1 hour before.. Holiday hours can vary, so check the museum's website before you go.
- Where is Palazzo Pitti?
- Palazzo Pitti is located at Piazza de' Pitti, 1, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy, in the Oltrarno area of Florence.
- What can I see at Palazzo Pitti?
- A colossal Renaissance palace housing five museums — from Raphael and Titian in the Palatine Gallery to fashion and decorative arts — with the Boboli Gardens behind. Current highlights include Ferdinando Sarmi New York: A Journey in Fashion from Florence to Fifth Avenue, The King's Furniture: Royal Masterpieces across Three Dynasties and The 20th Century in 40 Dresses: New Arrangement of the Museum of Costume and Fashion.
- Do I need to book Palazzo Pitti in advance?
- Booking ahead is recommended, especially for weekends, school holidays, and special exhibitions. Tickets are normally on the museum's website, and a pre-booked timed slot helps you avoid queues at the entrance.
- When is the best time to visit Palazzo Pitti?
- Weekday mornings shortly after opening are typically the quietest, especially mid-week. Late afternoons can also be calmer. Weekends, school holidays, and the lunch rush are the busiest periods.
- Is Palazzo Pitti accessible?
- Treasury of the Grand Dukes temporarily closed. Palatine Gallery: Room of the Iliad temporarily closed for maintenance (route modified); Room of Mars closed Tue 13 Oct 2026, Room of Apollo closed Tue 20 Oct 2026. National strike on 14 Oct 2026: Pitti Palace is not among the guaranteed openings, so it may be closed.
Image credits
8
- Palazzo PittiDavid Vizzoni (Almaak), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ferdinando Sarmi New York: A Journey in Fashion from Florence to Fifth AvenueCourtesy of Palazzo Pitti
- The King's Furniture: Royal Masterpieces across Three DynastiesCourtesy of Palazzo Pitti
- The 20th Century in 40 Dresses: New Arrangement of the Museum of Costume and FashionCourtesy of Palazzo Pitti
- Vasari CorridorFreepenguin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Uffizi GalleryArek N. (Arkadiusz Nanowski), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palazzo VecchioFrancesco Bini / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palazzo StrozziMenkinAlRire / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0