The grandest private palazzo in Florence, built from 1489 for Filippo Strozzi the Elder — a rival to the Medici who spent his entire fortune on the project and died before it was completed. The building's rusticated stone facade, corner torches, and massive cornice set the standard for Florentine palace architecture. Strozzi wanted to outdo the Medici Palace, and by most measures succeeded.
Today it hosts the city's most ambitious temporary exhibitions — major shows of contemporary art and historical retrospectives that regularly draw international attention. The courtyard is free to enter and worth seeing for the architecture alone. The schedule of exhibitions is the main reason to plan a visit, but even without a show the building makes the detour worthwhile.