Palazzo Grifoni

History and description

The building was designed by Giuliano di Baccio d'Agnolo in strict Florentine forms and realised by the mid-16th century. It was badly damaged in the last war, but later restored.

It dominates the small square from an elevated position, like Palazzo Pitti, and has a plastered façade, with ashlars in relief along the sides that give the whole the appearance of a fortress. On the ground floor, a large arched doorway framed by blocks of pietra serena is flanked by two kneeling windows, which are followed by two rectangular openings on each side, framed by stone. The family coat of arms in stone hangs above the portal (gold, to the griffin in black accompanied in head (heraldry) by three ball (heraldry) ordered between the four pendants of a red lambello, the central ball in azure, loaded with three gold lilies, and the two lateral ones in red).

On the piano nobile, beyond a marcadavanzale frame are seven ribbed windows, with drop-arched keystones, that echo the design of the portal. The top floor is occupied by a continuous loggia, now closed by stained glass, with elegant Doric columns. At the rear, the palazzo has a courtyard overlooking the panorama of Valdarno.