Piazza della Signoria, Florence

Piazza della Signoria is an L-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. It is the focal point of the origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. It is the meeting place of Florentines as well as the numerous tourists.

The impressive 14th century Palazzo Vecchio is still preeminent with its crenellated tower. The square is also shared with the Loggia della Signoria, the Uffizi Gallery, the Palace of the Tribunale della Mercanzia, and the Uguccioni Palace. Located in front of the Palazzo Vecchio is the Palace of the Assicurazioni Generali

This square is more like an outdoor museum with the centerpiece being a copy of Michelangelo's David. We also saw a bronze equestrian statue of Cosimo from 1594 by Giambologna, The Fountain of Neptunefrom 1575 by Bartolomeo Ammannati. The Lion, referred to as "il Marzocco" with a copy of the "Florentine Lily", originally made by Donatello, "Judith and Holofernes", by Donatello Hercules and Cacus, by Bandinelli ,The Rape of the Sabine Women, by Giambologna, Perseus with the Head of Medusa", by Cellini.

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Whereas the Piazza del Duomo may be considered Florence's medieval heart, the Piazza della Signoria ma represent her Renaissance spirit. As the centre of the Florentine Republic (1115-1533), it still remains a political meeting place today despite attracting thousands of apolitical tourists.

Upon arriving from the Via dei Calzaiuoli, the visitor's eyes are naturally drawn to the mythical 14th century Palazzo Vecchio and its crenallated tower to the far left corner. To the far centre is located the Loggia della Signoria and as one traverses the great square towards these structures, one passes a number of magnificent statues.

One of my favourites is the Fountain of Neptune (1563-1565) by Bartolomeo Ammannati which was commissioned on the occasion of the wedding of Francesco I de Medici (whose face served as Neptune's model) with the grand duchess Johanna of Austria in 1565. The figure stands on a high pedestal in the middle of an octogonal fountain. The pedestal is decorated with the mythical chained figures of Scylla and Charybdis whilst the perimetre of the fountain is decorated by reclining bronze river gods, satyrs and sea-horses.

Il Biancone (the White Giant) has been the target of numerous vandalous attacks, and today its 19th century copy is to be seen in the Piazza, whilst the original is located safely in the National Museum.

Of course, any visitor cannot miss the Piazza della Signoria and it is a wonderous place to find oneself. The cafes around the piazza are expensive, so it may be worth tucking into a back street and grabbing a take-away gelatto, coming back and enjoying the ambiance!

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Piazza Della Signoria is the very heart of downtown Florence. You tend to pass there wherever you go, or from wherever you are coming from. It’s a beautiful square, with several great statues, and overlooked bey the Palazzo Vecchio. Take special attention to the fountain with Neptune.

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Piazza dell Signoria is in the middle of the center area, between Duomo and by Palazzo Vecchio and close to the Uffizi gallery. It is a nice place to congregate and see the people and sites. Michelangelo designed this famed structure of David (a facimile) when he was about 30 years of age. It made him reknowned throughout Italy. Displaying the David statue created a dilemma, and it moved around the city for a while in 1504 until rested for viewing by all outside in the Signori square.
Next to this is the Loggia of Lanzi, a string of fabulous statues that are displayed in open under the arched loggia. It was built in 1376-82, and called this due to the Germans occupying the area to camp while they were here. The Palazzo Vecchio is in Signoria square and inside there is a museum available for seeing, called Academia. It has many sculptures-including the actual DAvid, paintings, and other art. Cost is 10 Euro to enter.

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This shaded platform built in the 14th century was originally for public ceremonies, but today protects some magnificent sculptures from the elements. This is where tourists congregate to admire works by Cellini (Perseus) and Giambologna (Rape of Sabine Women), among others.

While Cellini's bronzework Perseus exudes a profound sense of confidence and victory, I was bowled over by Giambologna's marble sculpture Rape of Sabine Women, for its artistry and powerful emotion conveyed by the characters. It is also quite unbelievable that the sculpture of three distinct characters was made from a single slab of marble. I was so madly in love with this sculpture that I came back one evening, when most tourists have left, to take pictures of the sculpture from different angles (the best way to admire serpentine style of the statue), which was quite impossible to do when the place is filled with tourists. More of the pictures I took in this travelogue.

TRIVIA: The artist Giambologna is actually the Italian name of the Flemish sculptor Jean de Boulogne.

In addition to these two masterpieces, there are also other works to feast your eyes on and stretch your artistic bend a bit. These include Pio Fedi's The Rape of Polyxena and the Roman statue of Menelaus supporting the body of Patroclus.

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This is perhaps the most popular square in all of Florence. Is is dominated by Palazzo de Vecchio and it shares it with the Loggia and the Uffizzi Gallery. There are many statues here, giving the whole area the feeling of an open-air museum. In one part of the square is a great equestrian statue of Cosimo I Medici. The loggia has a number of statues including numerous classical, rennaisance and later works. Most notable of these Perseus with the head of Medusa by Cellini. There are more statues in front of the Palazzo de Vecchio, including a copy of David and the Fountain of Neptune. The square is of course also fringed by cafes and numerous souviner shops.

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Perhaps there is no other place in Florence that has witnessed so much history unfold than Piazza della Signoria. Among other events, this is where the Dominican monk Savonarola staged the bonfire of the vanities - the burning of books, paintings, musical instruments, fine clothes - in 1497, only to be burned himself as a heretic a year after.

Fast forward to today, Piazza della Signoria is the focal point of Florence's tourism industry where thousands of tourists mill around to enjoy faux statues of David (which was bashfully covered while I was there), Giambologna's statue of the mounted Cosimo I (founder of the house of Medicis) and the imposing sculpture of Neptune by Ammananati. There is also the Palazzo Vecchio and of course, Loggia della Signoria, a platform built in the 14th century housing some exquisite sculptures such as The Rape of Sabine Women by Giambologna and Perseus by Cellini.

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In front of the Palazzo Vecchio you find this piazza which is one of the places I liked the most in Italy. In the square you will find the bronze equestrian statue of Cosimo I, the Lion, Judith and Holofernes, Hercules and Cacus, the rape of the Sabine Women, Perseus with the Head of Medusa and the most beautiful sculture in there (at least to me), the fountain of Neptune.

This is a popular meeting point for both locals and toursits and around the square there are a lot of shops and cafes so, grab a coffee, do some people watching while the sun goes down and live a unique moment you'll remember forever as I did.

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Piazza della Signoria is the biggest square in Florence, it´s the focal point of the origin and of the history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political hub of the city. It is the meeting place of Florentines as well as the numerous tourists. Is an oper air museum where you find the fountain of Neptuno, la Loggia dei Lanzi, Palazzo Vecchio or Palazzo della Signoria site of the town hall and the most impressive statue like a reproduction of David, Perseus With the Head of Medusa, Judith and Holofernes, and much more.

La famosa Piazza della Signoria es la plaza mayor de Florencia, donde se encuentra la Fuente Manierista de Neptuno, de Ammannati, la Loggia dei Lanzi y el Palazzo Vecchio o Palazzo della Signoria sede del Ayuntamiento. También se encuentran las estatuas Cosimo el Viejo a caballo, el Hércules y Caco y una reproducción del David de Miguel Ángel que está de guardia al Ayuntamiento junto a Hércules.

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This square is a place to stay and admire the Palazzo Vecchio, the sculptures and fountains, the buildings around... It is the heart of the city. Don't miss the copy of David, Hercules, Perseus and the sculptures in the archade, under Uffizi Gallery.