Palazzo Bini Torrigiani in Florence, commonly known as ‘La Specola’ due to the presence of an astronomical observatory, is home to the Natural History Museum. During the Early Modern period, this stately residence was inhabited by illustrious figures such as Bernardo Bini, Giovanni Luigi Vitelli, Bianca Cappello, and Pietro Bini. From 1771, the Palazzo, which was purchased by Pietro Leopoldo d’Asburgo-Lorena from the Torrigiani family, became the home of the Physics and Natural History Cabinet. Until 1860, it was continuously renovated and expanded by architects of considerable importance, including Niccolò Gaspero Paoletti, Pasquale Poccianti, and Giuseppe Martelli. Analysis of archival sources has revealed the main construction phases of the Palazzo over the centuries, including the Renaissance interventions that can be attributed to Baccio d’Agnolo.

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