Palazzo Davanzati
The Palazzo Davanzati is currently a museum. A typical medieval palace that was built in 1330 for the Davizzi family. In the fifteenth century, the palazzo fell into the hands of the Davanzati family, hence its current name.
In Medieval times, people settled for the plot and its shape dictated the layout (of the Davanzati), so there was no room for symmetry. The cortile, the courtyard, is not entirely centralised and feels somewhat messy. The lower arches of the three entrances at the facade are somewhat pointed. It shows that we are dealing with a gothic palazzo. Typical for Florence are the rustication and floors that successively decrease in height and are clearly separate. The fifth floor was added later and was nothing new for Florence.
The stairs and courtyard
Louis Couperus once wrote favourable words about this gothic palace. Speaking about the courtyard, this Dutch writer had the following to say:
“The courtyard is of a pure, harmonic beauty: light, noble and elegant in proportion, intimate in atmosphere. Five octagonal columns support the construction on capitals, crowned by what resemble portraits of the first inhabitants; the Davizzi, who resided here before the Davanzati. Stone consoles support the three galleries of the staircase, bearing the coats of arms of the Davizzi, sculpted in granite. The walls have antique windows with iron fencing and small, cosy recesses: those enjoyable Medieval wall cabinets, to store something or lock something away. In several places, channels protrude with their narrow mouths. The courtyard is of a pure, harmonic beauty: light, noble and elegant in proportion, intimate in atmosphere. Five octagonal columns support the construction on capitals, crowned by what resemble portraits of the first inhabitants; the Davizzi, who resided here before the Davanzati. Stone consoles support the three galleries of the staircase, bearing the coats of arms of the Davizzi, sculpted in granite. The walls have antique windows with iron fencing and small, cosy recesses: those enjoyable Medieval wall cabinets, to store something or lock something away. In several places, channels protrude with their narrow mouths.” Translated from: Louis Couperus, ‘Uit blanke steden onder blauwe lucht Florence’, Veen, Utrecht/Antwerpen 1986 p. 58.
While not fully authentic, the interior has a gothic style. The piano nobile in particular – the beautiful first floor – offers many fourteenth century furniture pieces.
Sala dei Pappagalli dining room Side
Camara Castellana di Vergy bedroom
“The Châtelaine de Vergi or Chastelaine de Vergi is an anonymously-written short 13th century romance of courtly love in Old French. The Châtelaine de Vergy tells the story of an unnamed knight in the service of the Duke of Burgundy who is the lover of the Châtelaine of Vergy, the Duke’s niece. The Châtelaine has accepted this knight’s love on one condition: that he must keep their relationship secret from everyone, and that when he comes to visit her, he must wait for her little dog to come out to him in the garden, which signals that she is alone and the knight may come see her.” Cited from: Wikipedia were you can read the story
Camara Castellana di Vergy bedroom
However medieval this palazzo may be, the intent traces back to classical times. This is especially evident in Ostia, the old port city of Rome. Homes in Roman times also had higher doors on the ground floor to allow horse carts inside to load or unload their goods. The ground floor was used for stores, offices and storage. The mezzanino above the three wide doors [It: semi-floors], too, can be seen in Ostia. All in all, it was a rather modest palace, with just twelve rooms, very different from let’s say the Palazzo Pitti.