t The Palazzo Vecchio, towering above the Florentine skyline
Florence’s public living room and outdoor sculpture gallery, the Piazza della Signoria has been at the heart of the city’s political and social life for centuries.
The great bell of the Palazzo Vecchio, the city’s imposing town hall, once used to summon citizens to parlamento (public meetings) here, and the square has long been a popular promenade for both visitors and Florentines. The piazza’s statues (some are copies), sheltered by the lovely 14th-century Loggia dei Lanzi, commemorate the city’s major historical events, though its most famous episode is celebrated by a simple pavement plaque near the Loggia: the execution of the fanatical religious leader Girolamo Savonarola.
t The Palazzo Vecchio, towering above the Florentine skyline
Experience Florence
t The Palazzo Vecchio, seen from the Piazza della Signoria
Experience Florence
The famous Michelangelo statue symbolizes triumph over tyranny. The original sculpture stood in the piazza until 1873. Damaged during an anti-Medici riot, it was wheeled over to the Accademia for safekeeping and replaced with a replica.
Hidden Gem
Legend has it that this profile of a man’s face etched into the facade of Palazzo Vecchio (the corner near the Uffizi) was carved by Michelangelo for a bet.