Palazzo Serristori, Oltrarno

Palazzo Serristori is a Renaissance palace in the Oltrarno district with a U-shaped layout centered around a rectangular courtyard. Three arched openings frame views toward a garden facing the Arno River, and the structure has undergone substantial restoration in recent years.

Bishop Lorenzo Serristori commissioned the structure between 1520 and 1522 during the height of the Renaissance. His nephew Averardo later oversaw expansions that added new rooms and enhanced the original design.

The rooms feature frescoes and decorative works created by local Renaissance artists who left their mark on the interior spaces. The ballroom displays chandelier fixtures made from Venetian glass that reflect the refined taste of those who once lived here.

The palace is now divided into residential apartments and cannot be visited inside by the public. You can view the exterior architecture and facade from the streets surrounding the Oltrarno district.

Julie Clary, the sister-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte, spent her final years in exile within these walls until her death in 1845. She was related to one of Napoleon's key generals and found refuge in this Florence residence away from European political turmoil.