by Camryn Samuel
With the new Bridgerton season upon us, we are all in the mood for some Regency beauty. Look no further than the birthplace of the Renaissance. Florence is a center for art, history, and fashion, with historical exhibits that will make you feel like the diamond of the season. For a journey into the past, the Royal Apartments in the Pitti Palace will transport you into Netflix’s hit show.
Entering Pitti Palace
Across the Arno River, you’ll find Florence’s largest palace - the Pitti Palace. At this palace, you can explore history and art with pieces ranging from the Renaissance to the Regency era. This palace was home to three royal dynasties throughout the city’s history, and now it houses five museums.
The Royal Apartments museum, in particular, displays the 14 rooms in which the dynasties lived. With three centuries of influence, the architecture and designs of the apartments are a blend of personalities and time periods. This display demonstrates the luxury, drama, and romance of high-society families, making you feel as though you’re experiencing Bridgerton with your own eyes. If you are searching for a real-life encounter of history and sophistication to match the series, the Royal Apartments in the Pitti Palace are a must-visit.
Royal History
Construction of the palace began with Florentine banker Luca Pitti in the mid-15th century, but was only partly completed due to his financial issues. Cosimo I de’Medici and his wife, Eleanor of Toledo, bought the palace and finished construction with the intention of establishing the palace as their main residence. The extravagance of their palace symbolized the Medici’s power over Tuscany.
After the Medici dynasty ended, the influential family was succeeded by the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty when they moved into the palace in 1737. The royal House of Savoy replaced the Habsburg-Lorraines as residents during Florence’s time as Italy’s capital in 1865. With each family contributing to the Royal Apartments, the rooms demonstrate their wealth, influence, and elegance, creating a captivating atmosphere resembling the one in Bridgerton.
Netflix Fantasy Meets Reality
With Bridgerton heavily inspired by the Regency era, you will find similar luxurious styles and fashions in the Royal Apartments. The drama series mirrors the historical palace with a variety of decor, from crystal chandeliers to detailed paintings; both settings present a romantic element sure to fill your heart with fantasy.
The show and the apartments also feature antique furniture and intricate wall patterns to create a polished, aristocratic ambiance. If Regency fashion speaks to you as well, the Royal Apartments display clothing from the stylish past centuries, with many pieces sharing the same silhouette and designs as Bridgerton’s costumes. When watching the Regency era on screen, we are entranced by the romantic and sophisticated designs of the past—and the Royal Apartments bring these styles to life.
Each of the Royal Apartments has its own personality, but a few in particular best match the Bridgerton aesthetic. Napoleon’s Bathroom, for example, is a small room in the apartments covered in marble and sculptures. Commissioned by Napoleon’s sister, this bathroom is fit for an emperor with its luxurious decor and elegant design. This room was built during the Regency era, so its beauty comes directly from that time.
The Queen’s Bedroom is also the perfect example of the eccentricity and sophistication of Regency families. Decorated for Queen Margherita of Savoy near the end of the 19th century, this room mixes furniture and materials from a variety of cultures and periods to curate a chaotic but graceful style. The walls and decor follow the same pattern of dark blue with gold accents, a popular combination for the aristocratic families of the time, as seen in the Bridgerton house with the family’s signature light blue color palette. This room will make you feel part of the leading family and give a sense of daily life in high society.
A Bridgerton experience would not be complete without a ball, and there is no better ballroom than the White Hall. As the largest and brightest room in the Palace, this ballroom is finished with mirrors from Paris and eleven chandeliers. This space remains a symbol of style as it held the first catwalk show in 1951 and international fashion shows for the next thirty years. Walking into the ballroom feels as though you’re walking into a fairy tale, with art and history carved into the walls. It represents the best of the Regency era—the beauty, romance, and passion.
Visiting Tips
The Royal Apartments are open to visit from Tuesday to Sunday. Because of the apartments’ structure, the number of visitors allowed inside at any given time is limited, so tours operate on a strict time-slot system. Tours must be pre-booked online or at the ticket office on the day of admission. Tours are available every half hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The meeting point for the tours is located in the entrance hall near the Palatine Gallery. All visitors must arrive at least five minutes before their scheduled tour time. Due to the size of the palace and the number of museums, it could be easy to get lost in all the history. Accord offers a private guided tour of the Royal Apartments and other Pitti exhibits with expert guides to help you discover Florence’s past. Check out our audioguide available in over 15 languages, so you don’t miss any of the palace’s beauty.
