Palazzo Capponi alle Rovinate

Palazzo Capponi alle Rovinate is a Renaissance palace in the Oltrarno district featuring a 15th-century Gothic facade with rusticated stonework on the lower floor and mullioned windows arranged in irregular rows. The building sits on Via de' Bardi with its rear elevation facing the Arno River and overlooking the Hill of San Giorgio.

Niccolò da Uzzano commissioned the palace's construction in 1426, and after his death in 1432, it passed to the Capponi family. Under their stewardship, the building became an important residence of a prominent Florentine family that shaped art patronage in the city.

The family chapel on the main floor displays an altarpiece by Pontormo and painted glass windows that reflect the interior life of the palace. These artworks reveal the artistic sophistication that wealthy Florentine families displayed in their private spaces.

The palace sits on Via de' Bardi, a street that runs along the riverside, making the surrounding landscape features easy to identify from this vantage point. Visitors should note that the building's interior may not be fully accessible, and checking opening conditions beforehand is wise.

The name 'alle Rovinate' comes from the landslides that frequently occurred on the nearby hill until the 16th century and shaped the location's history. This ground instability was so common that it gave the area a lasting name, preserving today the connection between the building and the landscape.