Florence’s imposing Pitti Palace was chosen by Cosimo I de’ Medici and his wife Eleanor of Toledo as the grand ducal residence in 1549 and it soon became the new symbol of the Medicis’ power over Tuscany. Its severe façade belied the riches found inside: More than a home, it was a repository for great art. Eventually it housed the courts of two later dynasties: the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, which succeeded the Medici from 1737, and the kings of Italy from the House of Savoy, who inhabited it from 1865.

Today the palace is divided into several sections including the Palatine Gallery, Treasury of the Grand Dukes, and the beloved Boboli Gardens. Join art historian Elaine Ruffolo for a virtual visit to the Pitti Palace, where she highlights a selection of painting masterpieces, discusses the extraordinary objets d'art, and leads a stroll through the Boboli Gardens.

World Art History Certificate elective: Earn 1/2 credit*

Patron Information

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*Enrolled participants in the World Art History Certificate Program receive 1/2 elective credit. Not yet enrolled? Learn about the program, its benefits, and how to register here.