Palazzina Reale: A Royal Stop in Florence

Located adjacent to the Santa Maria Novella train station, the Palazzina Reale is a striking example of 20th-century Italian architecture. Designed by the Gruppo Toscano, led by Giovanni Michelucci, the palace was inaugurated in 1935 to provide a regal stopover in Florence for King Vittorio Emanuele III and his court. The building's exterior stands in contrast to the traditional Florentine stone of the station, featuring white marble with delicate gray, pink, and peach-colored veining. A basin with a sculpture group by Italo Griselli, depicting the Arno River and its valley, adorns the exterior. Inside, the Palazzina boasts luxurious materials, including red Levanto marble, green serpentine marble, and Murano glass appliques. The interior is characterized by its geometric design and the artistic details such as the mosaic wall with the Savoy knot symbol. After serving its original purpose for a short time, the Palazzina Reale has been repurposed and now serves as the headquarters for the Architecture Society of Florence. It also hosts temporary exhibitions, meetings, and workshops, allowing visitors to appreciate its architecture and design.