Florence  (Tuscany): pop. 493,000 [ MAP ]

Since the 14th century the cultural heart of the city has been the Piazza della Signoria with the Palazzo Vecchio (Town Hall), the Uffizi Gallery and a large number of publicly displayed world famous sculptures.

It was the center of the civil, political and social life of Florence. Piazza della Signoria was the place where took place the most popular and important events  and plays. The building, by Arnolfo di Cambio, is conceived as a large block crowned by merlons. The characteristic feature is the Tower, rising up above the palace and similar in style to the upper part of the mansion. In the interior is the "salone dei Cinquecento" with 7th C tapestries, paintings by Vasari, and sculptures representing the "Labours of Hercules". Other works by Donatello, Michelozzo, Verrocchio, Michelangelo, Bronzino etc.  On the 2nd floor opens the "sala dei Gigli" frescoed by Ghirlandaio and Da Maiano. In the mezzanine floor are works by Rubens and Tintoretto.

Piazza della Signoria is very rich in monuments. In the square like a great museum, tourists can admire valuable masterpieces such as the Fountain of Neptune, a gigantic statue featuring the pagan God of the waters  best know by the local people as “Il Biancone” (Big Whitey), thanks to its snow-white bulk. The bronze fauns and the marine divinities are works  by Giambologna

The nearby equestrian monument dedicated to Cosimo I de’ Medici is a work by Giambologna (1594). On the marble base, three bronze reliefs represent scenes from the life of the 1^st Grand Duke of Tuscany. Few meters from Neptune fountain, on the stone paving, a memorial tablet recall the point where  in 1498 was hanged and burned Girolamo Savonarola. In the front of the Palazzo Vecchio, you will see several replicas of prominent sculptures such as: Donatello's "Marzocco", Donatello's "Judith Beheading Holofernes", Michelangelo's "David", and Bandinelli's "Hercules and Cacus”  (1533)

On the right side of the piazza is the Loggia della Signoria, with 3 round arcs placed over massive pillars. The Loggia was built by order of the Signoria  and designed by Andrea di Cione nicknamed Orcagna. Inside the building  is the “Perseus” holding Medusa's head, an excellent bronze by the goldsmith and sculptor Benevenuto Cellini. On the opposite side stands the “Rape of the Sabine women" a masterpiece by Giambologna (1553) who sculpted the 3 figures utilizing a single block of marble. By the same artist are “Hercules fighting the centaur Nessus” (1599) and “Menelaus holding up the body of Patroclus”; whereas “Rape of Polixena” is a work by Pio Fedi. Along the bottom of the wall is a series of 6 Roman statues.  

Numerous restaurants and gelato shops (Italian Gelateria) surround the square, sit enjoy a light snack, sandwich or cappuccino on the Piazza while you people watch.  The period Cafè Rivoire, opposite to the Palazzo della Signoria, serves its specialty "cioccolata con panna", hot chocolate with whipped cream, in the beautiful tea room  or in the outdoor tables facing Palazzo Vecchio.