Piazza della Repubblica, Florence

The Piazza della Repubblica in Florence is a historic center of the city situated, right-angled space in the extent of about 75 × 100 m, which is a typical example of urban " redevelopment efforts," the short capital period 1865-1871 and the subsequent early days.

History

Here the city center, the meeting point of the axes Cardo was already in Roman times (today via Roma, via Calimala and via Por Santa Maria), and Decumanus, now Via del Corso, Via degli specialization and Via degli Strozzi. In the Middle Ages, it served the Piazza del Mercato Vecchio and the Ghetto.

The Mercato Vecchio was a low, long building. Here Cosimo I moved to the city's Jews. There were an Italian and a Spanish or Levantine synagogue in the ghetto. In the environment, there were also numerous smaller churches. What remains is of this medieval setting only the Colonna della Colonna Dovizia or dell'Abbondanza, which is regarded as " the hub of the city."

From 1865 onwards, it was namely to a "rehabilitation" of the district according to the French model in the spirit of Georges- Eugène Haussmann. The focus of the redesign was in the decade from 1885 to 1895. A number of important historical building was sacrificed during this key period in modern history of Florence.

On the east side of the square is the famous literary café Le Caffè Giubbe horses.

The "rehabilitation"

Medieval towers, churches, mansions, etc. had to then give way to urban modernization efforts. 1890 an equestrian statue of Vittorio Emmanuele II was unveiled, after which the newly created square was originally named ( it was later transferred, however ). The surrounding buildings, built in the style of historicism, come from fashion designers of the time as Vincenzo Micheli, Luigi Buonamici, Giuseppe Boccini. As a result, the Piazza was with their representative hotels, cafes, department stores and other modern facilities become a popular meeting place for the middle classes of the city. Called A triumphal arch, " Arcone " (architect Micheli ) points with his inscription proud mourned by many renovation work:

« L' ANTICO CENTRO DELLA CITTÀ

DA Secolare Squallore

A VITA NUOVA RESTITUITO »

( roughly: . OLD CITY CENTRE / FOR CENTURIES OF MISERY / NEW LIFE BRINGS The term Squallore is a strongly negative, awakens associations with darkness and dirt).

Were at the top of the arch itself until 1904 three allegorical female figures, which should symbolize the art and science of Italy.

Inauguration of the monument to Vittorio Emanuele II, September 20, 1890

Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II, circa 1896

Piazza della Repubblica, 2007

More images

Scorcio

Building

La piazza with Orsanmichele

La piazza with Via Roma

Giubbe rosse

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