The
Monumental Apartments take up the right wing of
the main floor of the Pitti Palace and are an
important record of the history of the palace
over three subsequent historical periods.
To the first period (mid 16th century –
end of 17th century), characterised by the sumptuousness
of the Medici court, belong the rooms along the
facade that were specifically built for the heir.
The corresponding rooms on the side were destined
to his wife. Today, they retain the layout given
by the Grand Prince Ferdinando dei Medici who
lived in this palace until he died (1713). There
are still a few treasures from the Medici period,
including the precious ebony and semi-precious
stone cabinet that belonged to the Grand Duchess
Vittoria della Rovere, the wife of Ferdinando
II (17th century) and the chapel, once the bed
alcove of the Grand Prince Ferdinando. Its late
17th century character is still evident in the
stucco decoration and in the gilded inlaid work
by G. Battista Foggini (1652-1725) and the Madonna
by Carlo Dolci (1616-1686) with its precious frame.
After the extinction of the Medici dynasty (1734),
the apartments passed to the reigning House of
Lorraine and were therefore restored and re-furnished
according to the changing taste of the period.
To this period belong many of the ceilings decorated
with stucco and representing neo-classical subjects
and the oval room, known as the Queen's Dressing
Room, with light hand-embroidered silk panels
to the designs of Ignazio Pellegrini and a ceiling
decorated with coloured Rococo stucco, typical
of the 18th century.
At the time of Italy's Unification and when Florence
was briefly chosen as capital of Italy (1866-70),
the Apartments were used by King Victor Emanuel
II of Savoy. Some rooms were entirely re-furnished
and carpeted according to the taste of the period,
as the mid 19th century Baroque red damask in
the throne room shows.
The three different styles that correspond to
three different historical periods, are harmoniously
balanced in these precious rooms that were reopened
to the public in 1993 after the restoration and
general reorganisation of the inventory of the
Pitti Palace, performed in 1911, that gives us
an idea of its appearance before its transfer
to the State (1914).
In addition to the above-mentioned rooms, it is
worth visiting also some of the rooms located
on the sides of the first group, like the Room
of Bona frescoed by Bernardino Poccetti in 1608,
and the White Room, which was entirely decorated
with stuccoes by Grato Albertolli during the reign
of the House of Lorraine.
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