Museo di Palazzo Davanzati is a 14th-century merchant’s home on Via Porta Rossa in central Florence, now arranged as the Museum of the Old Florentine House. Its rooms give you a sense of how a wealthy family lived, from the kitchen and bedrooms to the inner courtyard. Look for the painted wooden ceiling in the Sala Madornale, the decorated Sala dei Pappagalli and Camera dei Pavoni, antique furniture, lace and medieval household objects. A visit takes less than an hour; a guided tour can open access to the upper levels.
A merchant’s home in medieval Florence
Palazzo Davanzati began as a private residence in the mid-14th century. The Davizzi family, wool merchants who rose to prominence through the wool guild, built it from several medieval tower houses. Its stone exterior and multiple floors recall the defensive homes that once rose above Florence’s streets. Inside, the building’s arrangement preserves the sense of a residence, with a courtyard and rooms for receiving visitors, working and sleeping.
The Davanzati family acquired the palace in the 16th century and lived there until the early 20th century. The museum now arranges the rooms to evoke an affluent Florentine household. The furnishings are not all from one date: the collection includes pieces from the 15th, 16th and 19th centuries, alongside older objects. This mix gives the house the feel of a lived-in setting rather than a single-period display.
Rooms to look for
The inner courtyard is a good place to notice the building’s structure. Stone staircases and balconies rise around the open space, and carved faces appear on the pillars. The central loggia connects the domestic rooms with the architecture of the house.
On the first floor, the Sala Madornale, or reception room, has a painted wooden ceiling. The Sala dei Pappagalli takes its name from its playful painted decoration, while the Camera dei Pavoni is another bedroom with painted walls. Elsewhere, frescoes depict plants and animals, and some walls carry Renaissance graffiti. The rooms were decorated to recall richer coverings such as tapestries.
The domestic details are as revealing as the formal rooms. The museum includes a medieval kitchen with cooking utensils, bedrooms, a crib and an early indoor toilet. Wooden shutters close the windows, a reminder of how the house was arranged before modern glass windows became usual.
Planning your visit
Allow less than an hour for a straightforward visit through the house. If you want to see the upper levels, arrange to join a guided tour; guided access makes it possible to explore parts of the building that may not be available on an independent walk-through. An elevator is also available for moving between floors.
The palace can work well for families when children have someone to explain what the rooms were used for. A guide can help turn objects such as the well, kitchen tools and crib into clues about everyday life. The museum is on Via Porta Rossa in central Florence, and it is closed on Mondays. Check the museum’s current schedule before visiting, since the available opening information differs.
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How long should I allow for Museo di Palazzo Davanzati?
A visit takes less than an hour. Allow extra time if you join a guided tour to see the upper levels.
What can you see inside Palazzo Davanzati?
The rooms include a medieval kitchen, bedrooms, frescoes, antique furniture, lace and household objects. Look for the Sala Madornale’s painted ceiling and the courtyard pillars with carved faces.
Is Museo di Palazzo Davanzati suitable for children?
The house has details that can interest children, including a well, a crib and an early indoor toilet. A guide can explain how the rooms and objects were used.
Is Museo di Palazzo Davanzati closed on Mondays?
Yes. Check the museum’s current schedule before your visit.
