Palazzo Strozzi

Among Florence’s most striking Renaissance palaces, Palazzo Strozzi stands out prominently, situated in the piazza of the same name in the heart of the historic centre. It’s an imposing three-storey palace, built at the behest of the Florentine merchant and banker Filippo Strozzi the Elder, whose family were historic rivals of the Medici. It’s precisely for this reason that its grandeur exceeds that of Palazzo Medici, which is also developed across three storeys.

Today, Palazzo Strozzi houses four institutions: the Vieusseux Cabinet, the National Institute for Renaissance Studies, the Institute of Human and Social Sciences, and most notably the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, which periodically hosts important temporary exhibitions dedicated to modern artists, or those in stark contrast with the Florentine Renaissance. Among the most significant exhibitions held at Palazzo Strozzi are those dedicated to Cézanne in 2007, Ai Weiwei in 2017, Marina Abramović in 2019 and Jeff Koons in 2021.

The palace’s history began in 1489, when 15 buildings were demolished to make way for the future home of the Strozzi family. Construction was completed in 1538, and for centuries the building served as the official residence of the family. However, in 1907 Piero Strozzi died without heirs, and in 1937 the palace was ceded to the insurance group INA, which in turn handed it over to the Italian state in 1999.

Today, thanks to the enormous efforts of the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi, the palace represents a unique venue in Florence, where the city’s most striking, controversial and intriguing exhibitions and displays are staged, never failing to spark debate, and inevitably, as often happens in Florence, not always viewed favourably by locals.

Exhibitions at Palazzo Strozzi

Palazzo Strozzi is not accessible in the traditional sense: there is no admission fee to pay to visit its rooms. However, it does host temporary exhibitions and displays by artists of all kinds, which typically last several months. The exhibition calendar is packed with events of international significance: in recent years artists such as Jeff Koons, Ólafur Eliasson, Marina Abramović, Tomás Saraceno and Natalia Goncharova have exhibited here, practitioners of modern art that creates a unique contrast with the Renaissance forms of the building.

Palazzo Strozzi also hosts performances of all kinds, and displays installations or exhibitions dedicated to specific historical periods, such as the American Art 1961-2001 exhibition held between May and August 2021, or the exhibition dedicated to Donatello from March to July 2022.

At times, the façade of Palazzo Strozzi itself has been the centrepiece of an installation: such as the famous La Ferita, a work by contemporary French artist JR, which “tore open” Palazzo Strozzi with a massive 33-metre-high by 28-metre-wide installation, intended to provoke reflection on accessibility to cultural spaces during COVID-19.

The exhibitions at Palazzo Strozzi attract art enthusiasts from around the world, and often receive critical acclaim. However, Florentines don’t always welcome an influx of modern art in the city as, according to some, it would be too at odds with the Renaissance history and culture that permeates the centre.

Free entry with the FirenzeCard

Palazzo Strozzi is one of the attractions included in the FirenzeCard, so consider purchasing one if you plan to visit multiple museums across three days in Florence.

Guided tours

It’s always possible to have a private guide accompany you round an exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi, for a private tour or group tour. You’ll find numerous guides in the city happy to escort you through the palace’s installations; you can contact them locally or book their services in advance directly online.

How to reach Palazzo Strozzi

Palazzo Strozzi is located in Piazza Strozzi, in the very heart of Florence’s historic centre. It can only be reached on foot or by bicycle, as we’re in the heart of the ZTL, an area where it’s virtually impossible to obtain a car permit. It’s about a 10-minute walk from Santa Maria Novella station, crossing Piazza della Stazione and heading down Via degli Avelli, which runs alongside the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. From here you take Via delle Belle Donne, which intersects Via della Spada and leads onto Via degli Strozzi.

From the Florence Cathedral, it’s just 5 minutes and 450 metres on foot, taking Via dei Pecori and Via dei Pescioni, which opens directly onto Piazza Strozzi. The same distance separates Palazzo Strozzi from Piazza della Signoria: reached by way of Via Vacchereccia, Via Calimala and Via Porta Rossa.

Wherever you’re coming from, the walk to Palazzo Strozzi will be most pleasant: you’ll pass along some of the most beautiful streets of Florence’s historic centre, beside monuments that have shaped the city’s history.

Entry to Palazzo Strozzi is possible from 3 open sides: the main entrance is on Piazza Strozzi, but there are also side entrances along Via degli Strozzi and Via Tornabuoni.