Michelozzo Giorgio Vasari and Pierino da Vinci Cortile of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in Italy

The first courtyard entering Palazzo Vecchio from Piazza Della Signoria is called Cortile di Michelozzo Michelozzi, Cosimo the Elder of Medici’s architect.

Michelozzo, Vasari and Pierino da Vinci Cortile, courtyard of the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence in Italy

Courtyard Palazzo Vecchio Michelozzi began this courtyard's works in 1453.

Giorgio Vasari also intervened in the decoration of this courtyard, even in haste, intending to give it all the necessary splendour for the celebration of Francis Ist of Medici's wedding with Joan of Austria.

In honour of the future wife, Vasari made frescoes depicting landscapes and 14 cities of the Austrian empire, notably Vienna, and Prague, which was part of Austria.

All the columns were covered with stucco and grotesques.

A fountain by Francesco Ferrucci, topped by a Putto and a dolphin by Andrea Verrocchio, adorns the courtyard's centre.

One can also see a sculpture from 1550, made by Leonardo da Vinci's nephew, Pierino da Vinci, depicting Samson killing a Philistine.

Courtyard Palazzo Vecchio