Palazzo Pitti (Picture 1 and 2) was designed by Brunelleschi for Luca Pitti (tel. 055 94 48 83; Piazza de Pitti 1). However, once finished, the family was forced to sell it as their wealth was rapidly dwindling.
After the decline of the Medici’s power, the Habsburg-Lorraine took it as their residence. It was the Savoy family's residence during the period in which Florence was capital of the Kingdom of Italy.
The Museo degli Argenti, surprisingly enough, is not devoted to silver, but is an exhibition of frescoes and temporary exhibitions. Frescoes can be admired in the audience chamber, built for him and his court to entertain visitors and the Sala di Giovanni da San Giovanni fully painted honouring Lorenzo il Magnifico’s events in life, where it is possible to actually find Michelangelo depicted if you look closely.

Access to the Palatine gallery  (open 8.15am-6.50pm, closed Mon)  is by means of the central courtyard in the palace. The Medici and the Habsburg Lorraine built up this comprehensive collection ranging from the 16th to18th century. Raphael and Rubens’ masterpieces are among the stars of the show. The original organization of the paintings has not been altered, which makes viewing the pictures a little difficult.
Stroll around the different rooms to find the following masterpieces:
The Sala di Prometeo’s Madonna and Child with stories from the life of Saint Anne (Fra’Filippo Lippi, 1452-53) and Madonna with Child and a Young Saint John the Baptist (Botticelli, c 1490-95). The Madonna of the Window ( Raphael, 1513-14) in the Sala di Ulisse. Sleeping Cupid (Caravaggio,1608) in the Sala dell’Educazione di Giove. Many Raphaels in the Sala di Saturno (here checkout the Madonna of the Chair).The Lady with a Veil (Raphael, c1516) and Three Ages of Man (Giorgione, c1500) in the Sala di Giove. A portrait of Leopoldo de’Medici (Tiberio Titi) in the Sala di Apollo. Portrait of a Lady (Titian, c 1536) in the Sala di Venere.

The Royal apartments (open 8.15am-6.50pm, closed Mon and Jan) have been kept with their original style and decoration from the 19th century when the royal family was situated in Florence, the city being the capital of the kingdom.
The rooms, each with a different colour palette follow the style of Spanish royal palaces, decorated with fine chandeliers, the best silks and draperies.

The Modern Gallery in the Palazzo Pitti has pieces of art from across the 18th and 19th centuries (open 8.15am-6.50pm, closed Mon). On the 2nd floor centre stage is the Macchiaioli Scuola, the Florentine version of Impressionism. Some artists represented here are Telemaco Signorini and Giovanni Fattori.

The Galleria del Costume (open throughout the year 8.15am, to 7.30pm Jun to Aug, to 6.30 Mar-May and Sep, to 5.30pm Oct, to 4.30pm Nov-Feb, closed 1st and last Mon each month) does not receive the number of visitors it should. Perhaps because it is a little grim in that it exhibits the burial attire of Eleonora di Toledo, Cosimo I and Don Garzia. In spite of being in the tomb for centuries they are in quite good condition. Maurizio Galante made a reproduction of these costumes which will no doubt amaze visitors.