Palazzo Strozzi

Palazzo Strozzi is one of Florence's great Renaissance residences. The powerful banker Filippo Strozzi the Elder commissioned the palace's construction in the late 14th century, ordering the demolition of a large number of pre-existing buildings. The Palazzo Strozzi we see today is a beautifully proportioned, freestanding structure that outdoes the palace of the Medici — Strozzi's political and business rivals. The Strozzi family eventually gave up the property during the fascist period, and the Florence City Council has managed it since 1999. Visitors now flock to see some of the most compelling exhibitions held in Italy each year.