Exterior view

Vasari attributed a number of important buildings, renovations and urban development projects in Florence and its territory to Arnolfo, among them the structure of the city San Giovanni Valdarno, and the Palazzo Pretorio (known as Palazzo d’Arnolfo) that constituted for centuries the centre of power of the city. In fact, the city was part of the Florence project of 1300, which consisted of designing cities with a rectangular plan having a gate on each side and perpendicular streets that meet in a main square.

The medieval building was remodeled in the fifteenth century, but recently restored to its original appearance and extended both in length and width.

The fa�ade is characterized by over two hundred and fifty coats of arms, representing the coats of arms of all the vicariates of the city, from the oldest of 1410 to the most recent of 1769. These decorations are made of stone, in ceramics, and others are carved into the pillars of the building, or are frescoed.