The Piazza della Signoria is the center of modern and historic Florence. It is a huge plaza surrounded by historic buildings, cafes, and restaurants. By day it is filled with tourists individually, and tourists travelling in packs (tour groups.) A great place to people-watch and the place where a number of my Italians Gallery photos were taken. By night, there are talented buskers singing (mostly) or performing in various ways. The acoustics for the singers are terrific. Many are singing cover songs for Simon and Garfinkle or John Denver ... better than they sang them themselves. Fun! Lively! Safe! Recommended!!!
The Palazzo Vechio and the Ufizzi Gallery border on the square. Neptune's Fountain (wherein I was arrested many years ago with a number of fellow students posing for a nude group photo) is in the Piazza. A few copies of the infamous photo still exist, but they're difficult to locate.
Savonarola was twice-executed here in 1498.
I like this place.
History Buffs: Okay, back to Savonarola ... He was a Dominican friar who, towards the end of his life, had great charisma and exercised great influence over the people of Florence. Probably as a result of fasting, he experienced hallucinations and came to believe Florence needed to saved from itself. Specifically, he raved against the excesses of the time characterized by the proliferation of expensive art and conspicuous consumption. He convinced his followers to destroy much of the art in an act known as the "Burning of the Vanities." In the end, he ended up on the wrong side of a political dispute with Pope Alexander VI (arguably the most corrupt Pope in history) and was sentenced to be executed. A wooden board walk was built from the entrance to the Palazzo Vechio to the center of the Piazza della Signoria and gallows constructed at its end. Savonarola was marched to the gallows, hung by the neck, but before he could suffocate, he was burned to death by a fire constructed below the gallows. To this day, there is a stone plaque commemorating the execution, laid among the paving stones of the Piazza.
The Palazzo Vechio and the Ufizzi Gallery border on the square. Neptune's Fountain (wherein I was arrested many years ago with a number of fellow students posing for a nude group photo) is in the Piazza. A few copies of the infamous photo still exist, but they're difficult to locate.
Savonarola was twice-executed here in 1498.
I like this place.
History Buffs: Okay, back to Savonarola ... He was a Dominican friar who, towards the end of his life, had great charisma and exercised great influence over the people of Florence. Probably as a result of fasting, he experienced hallucinations and came to believe Florence needed to saved from itself. Specifically, he raved against the excesses of the time characterized by the proliferation of expensive art and conspicuous consumption. He convinced his followers to destroy much of the art in an act known as the "Burning of the Vanities." In the end, he ended up on the wrong side of a political dispute with Pope Alexander VI (arguably the most corrupt Pope in history) and was sentenced to be executed. A wooden board walk was built from the entrance to the Palazzo Vechio to the center of the Piazza della Signoria and gallows constructed at its end. Savonarola was marched to the gallows, hung by the neck, but before he could suffocate, he was burned to death by a fire constructed below the gallows. To this day, there is a stone plaque commemorating the execution, laid among the paving stones of the Piazza.
This photo was taken one night of the Palazzo Vechio (background) and the 1583 sculpture "Rape of the Sabine Woman" by Giambologna (foreground). For my money, this sculpture is among the top 5 in Florence. This sculpture was an entrance examination of sorts. Giambologna wanted to enter the city's community of sculpters and was given the task of completing a sculpture that would fit perfectly in a cylinder. This is the result. The title was given later and does not refer to rape in the 21st century context. Rather at the time, "Raptus" was more closely associated with theft or abduction. It was not necessarily a sexual crime, or even a crime against the woman, but rather it was a property crime committed against her husband or father. In the statue, the Sabine's father is struggling with a Roman abductor, trying to save his daughter.
This photo was taken one night of the Palazzo Vechio (background) and the 1583 sculpture "Rape of the Sabine Woman" by Giambologna (foreground). For my money, this sculpture is among the top 5 in Florence. This sculpture was an entrance examination of sorts. Giambologna wanted to enter the city's community of sculpters and was given the task of completing a sculpture that would fit perfectly in a cylinder. This is the result. The title was given later and does not refer to rape in the 21st century context. Rather at the time, "Raptus" was more closely associated with theft or abduction. It was not necessarily a sexual crime, or even a crime against the woman, but rather it was a property crime committed against her husband or father. In the statue, the Sabine's father is struggling with a Roman abductor, trying to save his daughter.
