The Palazzo Pitti revolution continues: the grand ducal palace opens a new entrance

According to Director Simone Verde: “a project desired since the 1980s has become a reality” 

Starting today, Palazzo Pitti has a new entrance.  

This new arrangement relocates the visitors’ entrance, along with the metal detector and security, from the traditional centre door to the one to the right of the façade facing Piazza Pitti, near the ticket office; visitors will now exit through the centre door. Allowing entrance and exit flows to be clearly separated, this solution streamlines access management while also finally giving the workers an enclosed, climate-controlled space for their inspection operations. The project, then, was conceived and carried out not only to better orient visitors, but also – and above all – to improve the employees’ well-being while making the complex’s historic spaces fully legible once again, starting with Bartolomeo Ammannati’s courtyard: at last uncluttered and free of barriers and metal detectors, it can now be appreciated in all its splendour.  

Promoted by the Uffizi Galleries as part of its large-scale programme to upgrade and promote the former Grand Ducal residence that today houses numerous museums, the project marks a decisive step forward in the reorganization of entrances to what is one of the world’s most important cultural hubs in addition to being an integral part of the Historic Centre of Florence UNESCO Heritage Site.  

The heart of the intervention is the new reception and control system put in place inside the vestibule. All the measures were conceived in accordance with criteria of reversibility and minimum visual impact: the work is discretely integrated into Palazzo Pitti’s historic settings, preserving their artistic and architectural value. 

One of the most significant results of the operation is certainly the restoration of the Ammannati Courtyard to its full monumental dignity. The removal of the control posts previously placed beneath the loggia eliminates elements extraneous to perception of the historic space, thus improving the palace’s image and allowing its architecture to be properly utilized. Moreover, the project responds to the needs that have emerged in recent years as relates to employee protection and security. Now that security personnel can operate in enclosed, climate-controlled environments that comply fully with the regulations in force, the critical areas reported on several occasions in the past have been overcome.  

The operation marks yet another step forward in the renovation of Palazzo Pitti. With it, the Uffizi Galleries confirm their commitment to combining functionality, promotion of the historic heritage, and employee well-being – all without losing focus on the visitor experience and the quality of the reception spaces. 

Simone Verde, Director of the Uffizi Galleries, comments: “A project desired since the 1980s has only now – finally – become a reality: the relocation of Palazzo Pitti’s entrance to the southern door. The purpose of this is to separate the Palace’s entries and exits, with clear benefits for safe egress; to unclutter the courtyard, ridding it of the inspection systems with their cables, monitors, and all the instruments that previously encumbered that monumental space; but above all – and most importantly, to allow security employees to work in an enclosed space. No longer are they working out in the open, exposed to the wind and cold of winter and to torrid summer heat, as they were in the past – and this marks an advance in terms of civility.