Signoria Square in Florence (Piazza della Signoria) is known far beyond Italy: it has become the embodiment of harmony and a real museum of palaces and sculptures created by Renaissance geniuses. That is why BlogoItaliano decided to tell separately about the history of the square and its most interesting sights.
In Roman times (end of the 5th – 5th centuries AD), the territory occupied by Signoria Square housed therms, artisan workshops and even a theater.
A bit of history
After the fall of the Empire for nearly five hundred years, ancient Germanic tribes and Byzantines fought fiercely for Florence. Only after gaining independence and becoming a commune (X-XIII centuries), did the gradual revival of Florence begin, and with it the construction of a square (1260 g) and the first significant buildings.
Signoria Square - a true open-air museum
For example, the Palazzo della Signoria (later renamed the Palazzo Vecchio) was erected in 1310 specifically to house the government of the Florentine Republic.
The building of the Commercial Court (Tribunale della Mercanzia), which resolved commercial and civil disputes, was erected in 1359. And 23 years later, in 1382, another famous landmark was built on the square - Loggia dei Lanzi, intended for city ceremonies and government meetings.
Sculptures in Signoria Square
In the XIV-XV centuries, Florence became the center of the Italian Renaissance, giving the world brilliant sculptors, architects and painters. Among them, Rafael, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Donatello, Botticelli, Ammanati, Bartolomeo and many others.
Not surprisingly, Florence is literally filled with unique works of art. Signoria Square, which has become a kind of open-air museum, is no exception.
Sculptures: "David" by Michelangelo, "Hercules and Cacus" Bandinelli
What is the marble statue of David, the work of Michelangelo, first exhibited for public viewing at the Palazzo Vecchio September 8, 1504 (today replaced by a copy). Or the sculpture "Hercules and Cacus" by Bandinelli, which took its place at the entrance to the palace in 1534. By the way, on the wall behind the sculpture you can see the profile of a human face. Rumor has it that Michelangelo Buonarroti himself incised him into a dispute.
There are two works by Donatello here - the heraldic statue of "Mardzocco" in the form of a lion with the Florentine coat of arms on the shield (1420) and the bronze sculpture group "Judith with the Head of Holofernes" (1455-1460). Today it is a copy, the originals are in Florence museums.
Judith with the Head of Holofernes, by Donatello (1455-1460)
Neptune Fountain
It is hard to imagine an Italian square without a fountain. So Signoria Square in Florence is decorated with a beautiful octagonal fountain with bronze nymphs and mythical creatures. In the center above them, in a chariot drawn by four fabulous horses, stands the marble sea king.
Neptune Fountain, Bartolomeo Ammanati (1565)
One of the most prolific Florentine architects Bartolomeo Ammanati worked on its creation for ten years. The Neptune Fountain became the first public fountain in Florence, and its opening took place in 1565, just before the marriage of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Francesco I Medici and John of Austria.
In fairness, it should be noted that Ammanati is not the only author of this composition, along with him the famous Florentine sculptor-mannerist Giamboloña worked on the fountain project. By the way, his bronze equestrian statue of Cosimo I of Medici, made in 1594, stands next to the fountain in the square.
Statue of Cosimo I of Medici, Jambolonia (1594)
Loggia Lanzi
Today it houses a composition of 15 sculptures made by famous Italian masters. And once it was a huge balcony, from where the city nobles addressed the people with a speech.
The Loggia was built from 1376 to 1382 especially for receptions and meetings of the Florentine Republic. In the XVI century it housed Landsknechts - German mercenary infantrymen who served the Duke of Tuscany. It was thanks to these troops that the name Loggia dei Lanzi was entrenched for centuries.
Loggia Lanzi
Later, having lost its initial function, Loggia Lanzi turned into an open museum for all with exhibits from the Medici collection. Among them are such famous sculptures as “Perseus with the Head of the Medusa of the Gorgon” by Benvenuto Cellini, the original (1553); "The Abduction of the Sabine Women" (1583) and "Hercules and the Centaur" (1559) - both works of Dzhambolony, copies. The Pergamon sculpture "Menelaus with the body of Patroclus" (I century AD - a copy), "The Abduction of Polyxena", made by the sculptor Pio Fedi (1866), and several other ancient sculptures.
"Perseus with the Head of Medusa" by Benvenuto Cellini, original (1553)
Of course, being in Florence, you can also set aside time for yourself to get to know Signoria Square and its sights. And during his first trip to the city, the author of BlogoItaliano did just that.
But it’s a completely different matter to come to the square with a guide and listen to an amazing story of how the story was made on this very bridge (my review of the guide can be read here). Moreover, literally around the corner is the famous Uffizi Gallery, considered the most visited museum in Italy.
But this is a completely different story.
Photos by: Antonio Conte, Anthony Crider, Bob Hall, Cecil Lee, Romuald Le Peru, cult-turist.ru, Patrick Nelson.
