Palazzo Davanzati: Florentine Medieval Mansion

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a Medieval-turned-Renaissance palace in Florence.

Originally built on a narrow medieval street, Palazzo Davanzati is a fine example of transitional architecture of the early Renaissance period. Above the ground floor and its open courtyard, three floors rise topped by a loggia added in the 16th century. Fourteenth century sandstone arches, originally open from the courtyard to the street, are topped with upper stories of smooth sandstone, culminating in the Renaissance loggia. The intricately carved Davanzati family crest adorns the facade. vvoe/Shutterstock

Rising from a piazza in the city of Florence, the Palazzo Davanzati is an outstanding example of architectural transition—a medieval tower house becoming a Renaissance palace. The palazzo’s architecture provides a window into the life and times of two important Florentine families: the Davizzis and the Davanzatis.

The structure was first built in the 14th century when the prosperous Davizzi family, who were wool merchants, put together several properties they owned and built the tall edifice. The home was open at street level through a series of arches, which provided a place of commerce for the family’s wool trade. A magnificent staircase ascended in the central courtyard that was formerly open to the sky. The palazzo also featured modern Renaissance culture’s finer conveniences, such as indoor toilets (or “agiamenti”), copper bathtubs, and water provided to each floor with a rope and pulley.