Palazzo Davanzati

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Façade of the palace.

Palazzo Davanzati is a palace in Florence, Italy. It houses the Museum of the Old Florentine House.

[edit] History

Palazzo Davanzati was erected in the second half of the 14th century by the Davizzi, a family of well-going wool traders. In 1516 it was sold to the Bertolini and, in the same century, to the Davanzati family, also rich merchants (1578), who held it until 1838: after the suicide of Carlo Davanzati, it was split into different quarters and modified. After escaping the numerous demolitions of 19th century Florence, it was bought by Elia Volpi, an antiquarian, and restored in the original style.

In 1910 it was opened as a private museum, but in 1916 all its furniture were sold in New York. In the 1920Vitale e Leopoldo Bengujat, also antiquarian, acquired the edifice. After the changes of property, in 1951 it became a state possession, and was adapted as a museum. In the 1990s it was restored. The museum was partially reopened in 2005.

[edit] Architecture

The palace was built in sandstone, with three large portals and three rows of mullioned windows. The last floor has a loggia supported by four columns and two pilasters. The façade has maintained the Davanzati's coats of arms and has traces of other decorations.

The courtyard has arches, vaults and capitals in 14th century-style. Curiously, its ceilings were provided with holes by which it was possible to attack enemies. The walls of the rooms were once covered by tapestries. The so-called Sala dei Pappagalli has frescoes designed to look like patchwork wallhangings lined with miniver, with motifs of parrots painted or embroidered on the blocks. The Sala dei Pavoni's frescoes show instead a false geometrical tapestry and a row of coat of arms of families allied with the Davizzi. There is also a frescoed hallway intended to look like green and red patchwork hangings.

On the third floor is the Camera delle Impannate, a painted hall. The former kitchen, on the last floor, houses now a series of ancient tools.

The museum has a collection of old embroideries from Italy and abroad.