An Afternoon at Palazzo Pitti

After a rough day of buying priceless art, building Florence, and making enemies of the Pope, the Medici Family needed a place to kick back and rest their heads.  Enter Palazzo Pitti.

The Palace was originally commissioned the Pitti family and purchased by the Medici family in the mid-1500s. They used it as a residence close to the center of Florence (and of course, their bank).  

The building structure itself was impressive from a size standpoint, but the ground offered beautiful views of the entire city, landscaped paths, and relaxing areas hidden from the main group.

Think they had a thing for lions?

Humble and understated, no?

Interior courtyard, and part of the structure in the photo below.

The backyard.  Think of the cookouts you could have! 

View from the top of the hill behind the palace.

Tourists enjoying the view.

The view from the photo above.

The  "back 40".

Cara and I hid from a rainstorm under this arch.  That's her arm holding a book, btw.

Creepy grotto that I can't find any information about.

Close-up.  I told you it was creepy.

 - B