Pandolfini Palace

The Pandolfini Palace, located in via San Gallo in Florence, is an extraordinary example of Renaissance architecture designed by Raphael Sanzio between 1513 and 1514. Commissioned by Giannozzo Pandolfini, bishop of Troia, the palace was intended to represent the power and sophistication of the Pandolfini family, closely linked to the Medici. Before the construction of the palace, the land was occupied by the Monastery of San Silvestro, which passed to the Montesenario friars in 1447. In 1494, Giannozzo Pandolfini rented a part of the land with the intention of building a new residence there. However, economic difficulties delayed the start of the works, which only began in 1516. The facade of the palace is one of its distinctive features. Characterized by a majestic rusticated stone in pietra serena and pietra bigia, it features a play of pedimented windows alternating between triangular and curved shapes. The windows of the main floor, adorned with half-columns and balustrades, give elegance and symmetry to the structure. The facade is completed by an imposing cornice, under which runs an inscription in large letters celebrating the favors received from the popes Leo X and Clement VII, benefactors of the Pandolfini family. The interior of the palace is equally fascinating. The grand hall of the festivities, with allegorical and mythological frescoes, reflects the splendor of Renaissance noble residences. The architectural furnishings and the gold and silver furnishings testify to the luxury in which the family lived. A notable example is the monumental staircase, designed by Raphael, which stands out for its intricate decorations and elegant structure. The palace garden, described by the poet Benedetto Varicensio in 1525, is a green oasis that extends behind the building. Originally set up as an Italian garden, with geometric flower beds and fruit trees, it was transformed in the 19th century into an English park by Eleonora Pandolfini. This change reflected the romantic fashion of the time, with sinuous lawns, hedges, and a grove of cedars and lemons. The garden also houses a loggia-lemon house, used to protect ornamental plants during the winter. During the period of Florence as the capital (1865-1871), the palace housed the Brazilian embassy, emphasizing its prominent role in the city’s political and diplomatic life. Between 1870 and 1885, Alessio Pandolfini led a series of significant restorations, which included modifying the internal staircase and transforming the oratory of San Silvestro into a private chapel. Alessio’s wife, Sofronia Stibbert, further contributed to the embellishment of the garden, creating a greenhouse for orchids that became a focal point of the park. The palace has undergone various restoration interventions throughout the 20th century. One of the most important was carried out between 1994 and 1996, designed by the architecture studio Gurrieri Associati, with the aim of consolidating and restoring deteriorated architectural elements. This intervention has preserved the beauty and historical integrity of the building, ensuring its use for future generations.