Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Courtyard, Procession and Chapel
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Courtyard, Procession and Chapel
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Courtyard
Sunlight slants through a rectangular cutout high above, casting a warm glow on the cool stone floor of the Michelozzo Courtyard. The gaze travels upward, past the intricate geometric patterns etched into the soffits, to a dizzying expanse of sky. Cloud formations drift lazily across the cerulean canvas, a fleeting contrast to the enduring grandeur of the courtyard's architectural details.
Procession
Bathed in the warm glow of Benozzo Gozzoli's frescoes, unfolds a vibrant tapestry of the Three Kings' journey. Lush landscapes unfurl, teeming with exotic flora and fauna. The Magi, resplendent in robes shimmering with gold and jewels, lead grand processions that snake across the walls. But look closer. Amidst the throngs of courtiers and attendants, you'll find a surprise. Members of the Medici family, their likenesses immortalized, ride proudly alongside the Magi. It's a scene both opulent and intimate, a testament to the Medici's piety and a subtle declaration of their place at the heart of the story. This isn't just a depiction of the nativity; it's a celebration of faith, power, and the blurring lines between history and self-mythology.
Gallery
A world of shimmering illusions can be found in the Galleria degli Specchi, a jewel within the Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Sunlight dances on walls adorned with hand-painted Venetian glass, each panel bursting with vibrant flora and fauna. The reflections twist and turn, creating a dazzling kaleidoscope that stretches endlessly before you. Crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow, their light catching the gilded frames of unseen masterpieces. Inhale the faint scent of antiquity, a whisper of the Medici court that once walked these halls, their grandeur echoed in the mirrored tapestry.
