Palazzo Strozzi is a Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy, commissioned by the wealthy and influential Strozzi family. Its construction began in 1489 and was completed in 1538, representing the flourishing of Renaissance architecture and art during that era.

The Family

The Strozzi family was one of the most powerful and prosperous families in Florence during the Renaissance. They were bankers, merchants, and politicians, and they played a major role in the city's economic and cultural development. The Strozzi were also rivals of the Medici family, who were the de facto rulers of Florence for much of the Renaissance.

History

The commission for Palazzo Strozzi was given by Filippo Strozzi the Elder, a prominent banker and statesman. Filippo wanted to build a palace that would reflect the wealth and power of his family, and he hired some of the leading architects of the day to design it.

The construction of Palazzo Strozzi was a major undertaking, and it took nearly 50 years to complete. The palace was built on a large plot of land in the heart of Florence, and it was one of the largest and most impressive buildings in the city.

The Strozzi family lived in the palace for several centuries, and it was a center of social and political life in Florence. However, the family's fortunes declined in the 18th century, and they were forced to sell the palace in 1937.

Architecture

Begun in 1489 by Benedetto da Maiano for Filippo Strozzi and finished in 1538 by Cronaca, the massive Palazzo Strozzi marks the end of the era of great Florentine Renaissance palazzi. The pietra forte (a local, light colored stone) used to face three of its four sides was quarried, in part, from the Boboli Gardens.

Palazzo Strozzi is a masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. It is designed in a simple but elegant style, with a rusticated stone facade and a harmonious proportion of parts. The palace is also notable for its central courtyard, which is surrounded by a portico of columns.

Palazzo Strozzi is considered to be one of the most important examples of Renaissance architecture in Florence. It is also a significant historical monument, as it reflects the wealth and power of the Strozzi family and the cultural flourishing of Florence during the Renaissance.

Palazzo Strozzi Today

Today the Strozzi is a museum, and houses two separate exhibition spaces (the main space, and the Strozzina in the basement) with rotating exhibits, a cafè, administrative offices, and a library.

Here is a very good video explaining the history and architecture of the Palazzo:

Here is Palazzo Strozzi on the map: