Piazza della Signoria

The Piazza della Signoria in Florence is one of the great central squares of the city and one of the most famous squares in Italy. At the time of the Republic it was with the Palazzo Vecchio, the political and social center of the city. The name derives from the square was the Signoria, the republican government of the city.

History

Excavations since 1974 have shown that the area around the piazza was already inhabited in the Neolithic period. In Roman times the Piazza della Signoria was an important place with a theater, whose remains were found beneath the Palazzo Vecchio. From the 10th century, the city was reshaped, the pre-existing neighborhood was in favor of the Piazza partially demolished.

Around the year 1268 the place got its present L -shape, as the houses of the Ghibellines were destroyed by the victorious Guelphs. Only later the square was a uniform design in 1385, he became paved. While the Piazza del Duomo were the church, and today's Piazza della Repubblica, the economic center, formed in Piazza della Signoria, the political heart of the city. In the 14th century, the Loggia dei Lanzi was built for public ceremonies and receptions. Also, the Tribunale della Mercanzia, a court for civil and commercial disputes, was built at this time. From 1314 the Palazzo Vecchio housed the Parliament.

The course was also the site of public executions, the most famous took place on 23 May 1498 as Girolamo Savonarola was hanged and burned for heresy. Today is built into the bottom plate reminiscent of the Neptune Fountain at this event.

In the following centuries, not much has changed structurally in place. Some monuments were erected, and the Loggia dei Lanzi was transformed into a kind of open- air museum with many statues.

Between 1865 and 1895, when Florence was capital of Italy, the so-called Risanamento ( cleanup ) took place. The town center had to be adapted to the new conditions, public and private spaces should be more separated, it had to be built new homes, also wanted to give the new capital a modern face. The changes did not stop at the Piazza della Signoria. The Palazzo delle Assicurazioni front of the Palazzo Vecchio was built in the Neo-Renaissance style.

Archaeologists have found remains of the Chiesa di Santa Cecilia and the Chiesa di San Romolo, both churches were demolished during the Risanamento.

Location

The Piazza is located in the medieval part of the city, south of the Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral and near the Ponte Vecchio on Arno river. From Piazza della Signoria is reached by the Via dei Calzaiuoli in the north of the Piazza del Duomo with the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore and the Baptistery of San Giovanni, in the south west of the Ponte Vecchio and to the east of the church of Santa Croce.

Building

The Piazza della Signoria is not for the shape of the square itself nor for the framing architecture to a standard design is based. It is dominated in the southeast by the eponymous Palazzo della Signoria, which is to say since the time of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany Palazzo Vecchio. In addition, the Loggia dei Lanzi is (also called Loggia della Signoria ), between the adjacent elongated Piazza degli Uffizi opens with the Uffizi Gallery.

Palazzo Vecchio

The Piazza is dominated in the southeast by the eponymous Palazzo della Signoria, which is to say since the time of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany Palazzo Vecchio. The building is the architect Arnolfo di Cambio attributed. In 1540, the Grand Duke Cosimo I de ' Medici decided to transfer his residence to the Palazzo. However, the construction work related primarily to the interior and the cultivation, the facade towards Piazza della Signoria was not affected.

Loggia dei Lanzi / Loggia della Signoria

The Loggia dei Lanzi was built in 1376-1381 for official ceremonies and receptions. During the 15th century the loggia lost this function and became an open-air museum.

Tribunale della Mercanzia

The building was constructed in 1359 on the site of the ancient Roman Theatre. At the top of the facade there are the coats of arms of the 21 arts.

Palazzo Uguccioni

The Palazzo Uguccioni was built from 1550 by Giovanni Uguccioni. The bust of Grand Duke Francesco I the entrance.

Palazzo delle Assicurazioni Generali

The Palazzo delle Assicurazioni was built in 1871, this had the church of Santa Cecilia and the seat of the guild Arte del Cambio be demolished. Today the building houses the Café Rivoire.

Statuary

In the square itself contains a copy of the bronze group Judith and Holofernes by Donatello ( the original is in the Palazzo Vecchio), a copy of Michelangelo's David ( the original is over 200 years in the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno ), the marble group of Hercules kills Cacus by Baccio Bandinelli, the Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati, the equestrian statue of Cosimo I by Giambologna and other art works of the Renaissance.

Events

Every year on June 24, the feast of St. John, the patron saint of the city of Florence, the gifts festival took place in the period of the Republic. The conquered by Florence ethnic groups moved past the Grand Duke and offered gifts. Evening took place fire shows that are still the most spectacular part of the festival for the patron saint today.

In the Middle Ages took place in the square, the Giostra del Saracino, a military parade with knights fighting. The game originated in the time of the Crusades and was in the 15th and 16th centuries, very popular in the 17th century it fell into Florence into oblivion.

All main functions of the Medici, such as weddings were held in the Piazza della Signoria.

Every year on May 23, the day of Fiorita is held to commemorate the preacher of repentance hanged Savonarola. After Mass in the Cappella dei Priori in Palazzo Vecchio, the Dominican brothers, the politicians and the citizens of Florence come to the plaque at the Neptune fountain to lay flowers there.

Selection of images

La Piazza della Signoria a Firenze, Bernardo Bellotto, 1742, oil on canvas, 61 x 90 cm, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, left the now defunct Church of San Remolo

Piazza della Signoria, Giovanni Stradano, La festa degli Omaggi in Piazza della Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio, Sala di Gualdrada

View of the Palazzo Vecchio

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