In Florence, there are very few palaces which are occupied by the descendants of the originally commissioned family and the Palazzo Rucellai is one of them. The Palazzo Rucellai in Florence, Italy is a landmark Renaissance palace which was designed by a humanist scholar, a natural scientist and an architect, Leon Battista Alberti. He designed the façade so splendidly that it was the first to proclaim the ideas of Renaissance architecture.
The Palazzo Rucellai represents the originality of the Renaissance architecture with the use of entablatures and pilasters.The Palazzo Rucellai lies in the heart of Florence and a visit to it, provides you a great opportunity to experience the beautiful renaissance past. The main attraction of this palace is the Renaissance art as well as the ceilings that are beautifully vaulted with decoration of motifs and mythological figures. The Institute of Palazzo Rucellai resides in the Palazzo Rucellai palace. The main floor which contains several administrative offices, is the main portion of the institute. The upper floors of the Palazzo contain library, classrooms as well as a welcome center. The top floor of the Palazzo Rucellai is still occupied by the Rucellai family. In Florence, the façade is the only one of its kind.
The Palazzo Rucellai was the only palace in the city that was first to crowned with a stone cornice. The decorated stone bench running along the palace’s entire length is also very unusual. Giovanni Rucellai had built the façade a bit abrupt on the right side as he wanted to expand the palace in the neighbouring property by buying it. But this hope of his was never fulfilled.
To create the palace, eight small buildings were combined in an enclave, in order to form the architectural complex which was placed around a central courtyard. The splendid Loggia Rucellai is also an important historic construction that lies diagonal to the Palazzo Rucellai. The Palazzo Rucellai is the Florence’s most prestigious and one of the oldest historic architectures which add to the city’s patrimony by holding an important resident place.
