Ferdinando I's New Kitchens, le Cucinone
Ferdinando I's New Kitchens (le cucinone) are located on the piano nobile on the southern side of the Pitti. The cucinone, with huge chimneys, ovens, wash basins, and shiny copper tools, were the central kitchens for centuries at Palazzo Pitti.
Ferdinando I's order for the construction of these "new kitchens" represents the largest of the building programs undertaken during his reign, involving a complex of rooms, cubicles, corridors and courtyards, separated from the main building and connected to it by a covered bridge.
The construction began around 1588 and continued until 1599, in time for the lavish festivities around the wedding of Maria de’ Medici to Henry IV of France. In the middle of the next century, between the 1631 and the 1640, the kitchens were incorporated in the main building when it was extended toward the south and Porta Romana.
During the period of the Lorraines, the palace experienced some significant reorganization. Leopoldo II of Lorraine, and after him, members of the House of Savoy, preferred to dwell in the modern and airy Meridiana building rather than in the more sumptuous ducal apartments. Finally, the cucinone were virtually abandoned and turned into permanent storage for unused furniture from the Palatine Gallery.
The most prominent element of the kitchen, highlighted by its recent restoration, is undoubtedly the chimney on the south wall, the first and the largest of the three existing chimneys. It consists of a large central hood to accommodate fires, with side wings containing two circular ovens. These ovens, which must have been in continuous operation, were eliminated in later periods, but they are documented in early plans. The large hood was completely painted a dark red and was silhouetted against the light walls of the kitchen.
The restoration revealed stone columns, perfect cylinders, holding high shelves in stone with rounded ends forming almost a quarter of a circle. Also during the restoration some white tiles with floral design were located above the ovens. These have been recovered, cleaned, and returned to their original location, giving an idea of the original design. New tiles with the same design, shape, and measurements were also employed. A slight break between the tiles highlights the old from the new. All iron grills, grates upon which food was cooked, the doors of ovens, and furnaces were restored and cleaned. When parts were missing, they were supplemented by other replacements that were specially made based on the existing model. The wooden counters on which food was prepared were made to present an image of the kitchen at its maximum functionality. The windows and shutters were also restored, as were the windows in the Lantern.
Ferdinando I's order for the construction of these "new kitchens" represents the largest of the building programs undertaken during his reign, involving a complex of rooms, cubicles, corridors and courtyards, separated from the main building and connected to it by a covered bridge.
The construction began around 1588 and continued until 1599, in time for the lavish festivities around the wedding of Maria de’ Medici to Henry IV of France. In the middle of the next century, between the 1631 and the 1640, the kitchens were incorporated in the main building when it was extended toward the south and Porta Romana.
During the period of the Lorraines, the palace experienced some significant reorganization. Leopoldo II of Lorraine, and after him, members of the House of Savoy, preferred to dwell in the modern and airy Meridiana building rather than in the more sumptuous ducal apartments. Finally, the cucinone were virtually abandoned and turned into permanent storage for unused furniture from the Palatine Gallery.
The most prominent element of the kitchen, highlighted by its recent restoration, is undoubtedly the chimney on the south wall, the first and the largest of the three existing chimneys. It consists of a large central hood to accommodate fires, with side wings containing two circular ovens. These ovens, which must have been in continuous operation, were eliminated in later periods, but they are documented in early plans. The large hood was completely painted a dark red and was silhouetted against the light walls of the kitchen.
The restoration revealed stone columns, perfect cylinders, holding high shelves in stone with rounded ends forming almost a quarter of a circle. Also during the restoration some white tiles with floral design were located above the ovens. These have been recovered, cleaned, and returned to their original location, giving an idea of the original design. New tiles with the same design, shape, and measurements were also employed. A slight break between the tiles highlights the old from the new. All iron grills, grates upon which food was cooked, the doors of ovens, and furnaces were restored and cleaned. When parts were missing, they were supplemented by other replacements that were specially made based on the existing model. The wooden counters on which food was prepared were made to present an image of the kitchen at its maximum functionality. The windows and shutters were also restored, as were the windows in the Lantern.
See also:
Matteo Ceriana, Maurizio Catolfi; La Cuicina comune di Ferdinando I a Palazzo Pitti, Livorno, 2015.
Matteo Ceriana, Maurizio Catolfi; La Cuicina comune di Ferdinando I a Palazzo Pitti, Livorno, 2015.