Palazzo Antinori, Florence

Palazzo Antinori is the Renaissance palace occupying the unusual corner where Via de’ Tornabuoni meets several adjoining streets. Its restrained stone front gives way to a more intimate world inside: the courtyard has rounded arches, cross-vaults, and pietra serena columns with carved capitals. The building took shape from 1461 to 1469, commissioned by Giovanni di Bono Boni; Giuliano da Maiano is considered its possible designer.

In 1475, the unfinished palace passed to the Martelli family, and Nicolò Antinori acquired it in 1506. The Antinori family still owns the building, and family members occupy its upper floors. If the interior is accessible, follow the arcade around the courtyard and look for the details carried by the vault supports.

Beyond the palace, an internal gate leads toward the garden, whose design helped connect later work with Baccio d’Agnolo. The garden contains a wall fountain made with sponge-like rocks and a Venus sculpture set within a niche in an eighteenth-century manner. A tiny wine-selling opening on the Trebbio passage still bears the word “Vino” on its frame, recalling the family’s long wine trade.