Description of the attraction
Palazzo Medicio, also known as Palazzotto Medicheo, is an old building in Livorno, located opposite the fortress of Fortezza Vecchia and now the headquarters of the tax office.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the Medici rulers issued a decree to strengthen the defenses of the small castle of Livorno with the construction of the imposing fortress of Fortezza Vecchia. Later, in the 1540s, the Grand Duke Cosimo I Medici ordered the construction of a residence for himself and his court next to the fortress, from which today, unfortunately, only ruins remain. In accordance with the order of the ruler, construction began on the building, now known as the Palazzo Medicio, located at some distance from the defensive moat, next to the disappeared Church of Santa Maria e Santa Giulia.
The construction of the Palazzo was completed in 1543, and during its long history it managed to visit the residence of the military and naval commissioner, the office, the statistics office and the headquarters of the tax police.
Today, Palazzo Medici is one of the oldest residential buildings in Livorno, as the city itself was also built during that era. Next to the palace, you can see the modern Santa Trinita Bridge, built at the end of the 20th century and replacing the bridge that was destroyed in 1939. Santa Trinita connects the Palazzo and Fortezza Vecchia. The palace itself has retained its original structure, despite the numerous transformations that took place throughout the post-World War II era. Recently, a fish market was set up next to Palazzo Medicio.
The main attraction of the old ducal palace is its facade with a balcony on the second floor. Numerous stone details mark the boundaries of the façade facing the Fortezza Vecchia, while others adorn the ground floor windows.
