# Palazzo Vecchio, Florence > Palazzo Vecchio is Florence's medieval town hall, its tall crenellated tower rising over Piazza della Signoria — and it's still the city hall today. Inside are the vast Hall of the Five Hundred with Vasari's frescoes, the painted Medici apartments and studies with secret passages, plus a tower with city views. The courtyard is free; museum and tower are ticketed. Allow 1.5–2 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio - City: [Florence](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence), Italy - YesGo score: 52/100 (Yes, go) - Time on site: 1 h 30 min - Entry: Courtyard free, museum paid - With kids: Fine with kids - Courtyard: Free - Museum and tower: Paid, separate or combined tickets - Opening hours: Daily, Thursday mornings only - Tower: ≈ 94 m, about 400 steps - Highlights: Hall of the Five Hundred, Studiolo, Medici rooms - Time needed: 1.5–2 hours - Coordinates: 43.76944, 11.25611 - Facts checked: 11.11.2026 ## Key facts - **1299** — construction of the town hall began (source: English Wikipedia) - **≈ 94 m** — height of the Arnolfo Tower (source: English Wikipedia) - **Five Hundred** — ≈ 54 × 23 m hall, among Italy's largest (source: English Wikipedia) - **Medici** — Cosimo I lived here in the 16th century (source: English Wikipedia) - **City hall** — the palace still houses Florence's mayor (source: English Wikipedia) ## A short history The palace was begun in **1299** for the government of the Florentine Republic, the signoria, to a design attributed to **Arnolfo di Cambio**, architect of the cathedral. It's a true fortress of rough stone with battlements, an upper gallery and a slender **tower** about **94 m** tall, visible from almost everywhere in the city. In the 16th century Duke **Cosimo I de' Medici** moved in with his family, turning austere halls into lavish frescoed, gilded apartments. When the Medici later moved across the river to the Palazzo Pitti, this became the **Vecchio** — the "Old" palace. Today it's both a museum and Florence's **city hall**. ## The Hall of the Five Hundred and the apartments The great **Hall of the Five Hundred**, about 54 m long, was built for the republic's Great Council; **Giorgio Vasari** later covered its walls and ceiling with scenes of Florentine history, and statues line it, including Michelangelo's Genius of Victory. Murals by Leonardo and Michelangelo were once planned here but never finished. Next door is the tiny windowless **Studiolo of Francesco I**, its walls covered in painted cupboard doors hiding secret collections. Beyond lie the **Medici apartments** — the Hall of the Elements, the Hall of Lilies with gold lilies on blue, Eleonora of Toledo's chapel and a room of huge painted 16th-century **world maps** with a globe. ## What to see - **Hall of the Five Hundred** — Vasari's frescoes and Michelangelo's Genius of Victory. - **Studiolo of Francesco I** — a study of painted cupboards. - **Hall of Lilies** — gold lilies on blue. - **Hall of Maps** — 16th-century world maps and a globe. - **Arnolfo Tower** — views of the cathedral and city. - **Michelozzo's courtyard** — a fountain and gilded columns. > **Secret passages** The museum runs "secret passages" tours: the Duke of Athens' hidden stair, the concealed rooms behind the Studiolo, and the attic above the Hall of the Five Hundred with its giant roof trusses. Groups are small — book ahead on the museum site. ## Climbing the tower About 400 steps lead up the **Arnolfo Tower**, first by palace stairs, then a narrow passage inside the tower, to a terrace facing **Brunelleschi's dome**, the piazza, the Arno and the surrounding hills. The tower closes in rain and strong wind, and young children usually aren't admitted; a roof terrace above the Hall of the Five Hundred, on the museum ticket, also offers fine views. ## How to get there 1. The palace stands on [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria). 2. From [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral), 5 minutes on foot. 3. Beside it: the [Uffizi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/uffizi) and the Loggia dei Lanzi. 4. From the [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio), 5 minutes on foot. ## Is Palazzo Vecchio worth it? Yes — it's the best way to see how the Medici lived and ruled, and one of Florence's most impressive buildings. Short on time? Step into the free courtyard with its gilded columns and climb the tower. Children love the secret passages, the world maps and the tower view, and there are family routes for them. ## Before you go Tick off what's ready — your ticks are saved in this browser. - [ ] Buy a museum and tower ticket - [ ] Book the secret passages if you're keen - [ ] Note Thursday morning-only hours - [ ] Climb the tower in clear weather - [ ] Peek into the free courtyard ## Florence's palaces: compare and choose Palaces and museums in Florence rated by YesGo. - [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid - [Palazzo Pitti](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-pitti) — YesGo score 48/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Paid - [Palazzo Medici Riccardi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-medici-riccardi) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Paid - [Bargello](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/bargello) — YesGo score 40/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Paid - [Palazzo Strozzi](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-strozzi) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 15 min · Courtyard free, exhibitions paid ## The heart of Florence in half a day The cathedral, Piazza della Signoria, the Palazzo Vecchio and the Ponte Vecchio. 1. [Florence Cathedral](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/florence-cathedral) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 2 h · Free; dome paid 2. [Piazza della Signoria](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/piazza-della-signoria) — YesGo score 53/100 (Yes, go) · 40 min · Free 3. [Palazzo Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/palazzo-vecchio) — YesGo score 52/100 (Yes, go) · 1 h 30 min · Courtyard free, museum paid 4. [Ponte Vecchio](https://yesgo.io/italy/florence/ponte-vecchio) — YesGo score 60/100 (Yes, go) · 20 min · Free ## Don't mix it up Palazzo Vecchio isn't Palazzo Pitti: the Vecchio is the medieval town hall on Piazza della Signoria, the Pitti the Medici's Renaissance palace across the river with the Boboli Gardens. ## Tips - The courtyard is free. - The tower is about 400 steps. - Book secret passages tours. - Thursdays — mornings only. ## Questions ### What is there to see in Palazzo Vecchio? The Hall of the Five Hundred, the Studiolo of Francesco I, the Medici apartments, the Hall of Maps and the Arnolfo Tower. ### Can you climb the Palazzo Vecchio tower? Yes, about 400 steps; it closes in rain and wind. ### Is Palazzo Vecchio free? The courtyard is free; the museum and tower are ticketed. ### How long do you need? 1.5–2 hours including the tower. ### What is Palazzo Vecchio used for today? It's a museum and Florence's city hall. ## How we checked History and rooms from English Wikipedia. Prices and hours weren't confirmed with an official source — hence the 'checking' badge. ## Sources - English Wikipedia, Palazzo Vecchio - Official Florence civic museums site musefirenze.it --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.