The site had been appropriated from the Ardinghelli family prior to the 17th century by the
Medicis, who built a casino, a small house with gardens extending to the river. In 1649, it was purchased by Maria Maddalena Macchiavelli, the wife of the Marchese Filippo Corsini, from the
Grand Duke Ferdinando II de’ Medici. The palace was constructed during the mid-17th to the 18th centuries, built with one side having U-shape wings facing the
Arno to give maximum view of the river. The initial architects were Alfonso Parigi the Younger, followed by Ferdinando Tacca until 1671. Completing the massive structure was Antonio Maria Ferri. The interiors are elegantly frescoed. The artists include
Anton Domenico Gabbiani,
Alessandro Gherardini and
Pier Dandini. The two storey throne room, designed by Ferri during 1694–1696, covers 320 square feet. Ferri also designed the dramatic entrance staircase. The family's fortunes were to peak with the election of Lorenzo Corsini as
Pope Clement XII (1730–1740). The palace still contains remnants of a sculptural collection, but most of the movable artwork was transferred to the family's
palazzo in
Rome. The palace is still owned by the
Corsini family, and rented out for events. ==References==