Palazzo della Crocetta

Palazzo della Crocetta is a Renaissance palace with a U-shaped layout and multiple entrances opening onto different streets in Florence. Its rooms spread across several floors and include a public garden displaying reconstructions of ancient Etruscan burial chambers.

Architect Giulio Parigi built the palace between 1619 and 1651 for Princess Maria Maddalena de' Medici on land belonging to a nearby charity hospital. The National Archaeological Museum moved in during 1880 and has occupied the building ever since.

The National Archaeological Museum has shaped how visitors experience the palazzo since the 1800s, turning it into a major center for ancient collections. Today, people walk through Renaissance rooms to see Etruscan and Egyptian objects from different civilizations displayed side by side.

The museum displays spread across multiple levels, allowing visitors to see ancient objects while moving through different parts of the building. The public garden inside the courtyard provides a pleasant break while exploring the collections.

The palazzo originally featured an elevated corridor connecting it to nearby religious buildings, enabling the princess to move between them without walking through public streets. This hidden passageway was a sign of her status and freedom within the city.