The Palace, with its facades rising in three orders of rusticated pietra forte, was designed in 1489 by the architect Giuliano da Sangallo for the banker Giuliano Gondi the Elder, over the ruins of the ancient Roman Theatre, on which had been constructed a building that also housed the studio of the Notary Ser Piero da Vinci, Leonardo’s father. Leonardo da Vinci frequented this house, and according to tradition, it was just here that he painted the Mona Lisa, also known as La Gioconda. Palazzo Gondi today is one of the few Florentine palaces still belonging to the descendants of the family that built it. The Palace, now thoroughly renovated, is currently managed by the Gondi family. Palazzo Gondi stands in Piazza San Firenze, separated from Palazzo Vecchio by Via de’Gondi and is just a few steps from the Uffizi Gallery.
A few meters from Palazzo Vecchio, on the roofs at the height of the fifteenth-century belvedere, is an apartment with terraces that dominate the city, affording a sweeping view over the unique panorama of Florence’s most splendid monuments.
In the postwar period, Amerigo Gondi decided to move into the rooms on the top floor of the Palace, in order to enjoy all of its light and its marvellous view over the city. He commissioned Architect Dori to convert the ancient attic into a comfortable apartment, keeping intact its fifteenth-century Belvedere, which was to remain a splendid observation point with a sweeping view over the monuments of Florence. In 1977 Amerigo commissioned the architect Porcinai to redesign the terraces. Pietro Porcinai (Florence 1910-1986) was the greatest Italian landscape artist of the twentieth century.
The apartment, recently restored to adapt it to more modern standards of comfort, offers a breathtaking view over the entire city. By night, from its windows and terraces, Palazzo Vecchio, the Duomo, Santa Croce, the Bargello, the Badia, and the lights on the hills of San Miniato and Fiesole appear above the dark roofs of the city.
You will have the exclusive opportunity to privately visit the building and have a wine tasting or a lunch or dinner in the marvellous penthouse.
You have the options of wine tasting with simple appetizers or lunch / dinner with Gondi wines.
