In 1581, on the orders of the Grand Duke Francesco I, Bernardo Buontalenti began the construction of the Tribuna in the long wing of the Uffizi; this area was destined to house the treasures of the Medici collections.

Built on an octagonal plan, the Tribuna was inspired by the Tower of the Winds in Athens, described by Vitruvius in his first book on Architecture.

Frescoed in the lantern is a wind rose, connected to the exterior by a wind vane; the ceiling and the drum are decorated with mother-of pearl inlay and the pavement is in commesso of pietre dure
From 1677 this room also housed antique sculptures from the Grand ducal collections.

The Tribuna has undergone numerous transformations over time, a changing showcase for the most important pieces in the Medici collections.

In the most recent layout dating to 1970, the centre of the room was occupied by an octagonal table in commesso of pietre dure, a splendid work from the Grand-ducal Opificio (1633-1649) made to a design by Jacopo Ligozzi. Arranged around it were several ancient statues, including the Medici Venus, a copy from the first century BC of the Aphrodite of Cnidos by Praxiteles, the Wrestlers, a copy from the first century AD of a bronze original from the third century BC, the so-called Arrotino (or Knife-grinder), part of a statuary group illustrating the myth of Apollo and Marsyas, a first century copy of a Hellenistic original. On the walls were numerous portraits, by Pontormo, Andrea del Sarto and Agnolo Bronzino and other paintings historically documented in this room.

At present the room is closed for restoration of the decoration and the furnishings, which is due to be completed by June 2011. The operations on the antique marbles will be performed in the Tribuna itself, while the paintings have been transferred to sala 35 or Sala del Barocci, where they can be viewed set on a temporary structure designed to evoke the octagonal perimeter of Buontalenti’s Tribuna

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