THE ROOMS OF THE LAST DUCHESS
Palazzo Pitti (Florence) has now opened, for the first time, the sumptuous apartment that once belonged to the last owner, the Duchess Anne of France, widow of Duke Amedeo d'Aosta.
The palace was first purchased in the 16th century from the wealthy merchant Luca Pitti by Cosimo 1 de'Medici who transformed it into a royal residence for Maria de'Medici, his niece and future Queen of France. Subsequently it was reserved as the private residence of various members of the Medici and Hapsburg-Lorraine families until the arrival of the Savoy dynasty, the Unification of Italy and the end of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. Subsequently, the palace was the residence of the Italian royal family until 1911, when it was known as “the Apartment of His Majesty the King”. The present décor and furnishings of the 14 lavish rooms have remained those created by the last inhabitant, the Duchess Anne.
From November 2024 regular guided tours are available for groups of max 10, with entrance from the Modern Art Gallery, 2nd Floor.
