The original home of Cosimo de' Medici who commissioned his
favourite architect Michelozzo to build the palace in the mid
15th century. The sculptures by Donatello and the paintings of
Uccello have long gone, but the tiny chapel still contains charming
frescoes of the Adoration of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli. They
are some of the most enjoyable paintings of the entire Quattrocento.
Various members of the Medici family, including the youthful
Lorenzo the Magnificent and his brother Giuliano form part of
a colourful procession including camels, hawks and even a leopard
which winds its way round the walls of the chapel. For lovers
of the Baroque, the ceiling of the salone upstairs was painted
by Luca Giordano in the 17th century with a splendid vision of
the Apotheosis of the Medici.
Address
Via Cavour 1
Opening
times
9am-1 3-5pm Mon-Sat;9am-noon Sun; also in Summer 3-6pm
Sun Capella dei Magi open 9am-1pm,3-6pm, Mon-Tues,Thurs-Sat;
9am-1pm Sun.
