STATE AND FINISHES

Based on Federico Fantozzi’s work Pianta Geometrica della città di Firenze (1843) the palazzo can be dated back to the early 14th century, built for the Del Palagio family. It is certain that, between 1480 and 1498, three of the boutiques on the ground floor were used by sculptor and architect Benedetto da Maiano.

Over the 16^th century, the palazzo ended up in the hands of banker Folco dei Portinari’s heirs and from there into the hands of the Pasqui family, whose name is nowadays connected to the property. They reworked the building between 1838 and 1843, giving it its current shape and look and connecting it with other houses in the vicinity.

The building is the typical Florentine palazzo: the main façade, along Via dei Servi, is laid over four floors. The lower one features the light ashlar (bugnato) commonly found in many palazzos dating back to the 14^th and 15^th centuries. A string course marks the lower edge of the second floor, sporting gabled windows (both triangular and half-circular) and well-visible cornerstones in contrast with the white plastered façade. A second course marks the third floor, identical in style to the one below it, which then goes on to the roof without further divisions.

As for internal finishes, the apartments have been recovered and restored by taking into account the building they are located inside: the common areas of the building features marble floors and historic staircases, while inside the apartments there will be parquet floors (with a choice for the pattern), customized finishes and Renaissance-style moldings. The wooden beams on the ceilings have been recovered and valorized, as well as the vaulted ceilings. Windows are ample and well-placed so that the apartments are all extremely bright.

Honoring its original purpose, the ground floor of the building (once the restoration is completed) will be dotted with shops, boutiques and restaurants that will complete the palazzo and offer pleasant recreational amenities where one can spend his free time.

WHAT TO SEE IN FLORENCE

The complex, thanks to its central position in the heart of Florence, allows reaching many of the most interesting landmarks in the city on foot. Ranked by distance these are Piazza del Duomo with its incredible cathedral (150 m; 2’), Palazzo Medici (300 m; 4’) and the adjacent Basilica di San Lorenzo decorated by Michelangelo and Brunelleschi (380m; 4’), Piazza della Signoria (750 m; 10’), the church of Santa Croce with the tombs of many Italian artists (850 m; 10’), the church of Santa Maria Novella (900 m; 10’) next to the central station, the beautiful and unique Ponte Vecchio (1.0 km; 12’), the Uffizi Gallery (1.0 km; 13’), the imposing Medicean Fortezza da Basso (1.2 km; 12’), the impressive Palazzo Pitti (1.4 km; 15’), the church of Santo Spirito in Oltrarno (1.5 km; 15’) and the unique and wonderful panoramic terrace of Piazzale Michelangelo (2.2 km; 20’).

What’s more, the many shops and boutiques in the historic center of Florence can be easily reached in a few minutes’ walk.