Sculptures of Piazza della Signoria in Florence is a kind of open-air museum . Here you can see works by Michelangelo, Donatello, Bandinelli, Giambologna and others completely free of charge.

Piazza della Signoria has been the main square of Florence since ancient times. The government of the Republic of Florence was located here, and later the city leadership. The square has an unusual curved shape in the form of the English letter L. It seems to go around on both sides Palazzo Vecchio, the residence city government. From the square you can take beautiful photos of this palace.

Piazza della Signoria has a curved shape in the shape of the letter L. The Palazzo Vecchio is visible on the right.

The main advantage of the square is the sculptures, which, as it seems at first glance, are chaotically scattered around its perimeter. However, it is not. All the sculptures placed here form a single composition. They, for the most part, were created during the Renaissance and the heyday of Florence (mid-15th – 16th centuries) by famous masters of that era, including Michelangelo and Donatello.

General view of Piazza della Signoria in Florence

So, what can you see in Piazza della Signoria?

1. The sculpture “David” by Michelangelo(he created it in the early 16th century). It is located to the left of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. They symbolize the struggle of the people of Florence against tyranny (the image of the tyrant is personified by Goliath).

Sculpture of David by Michelangelo. More precisely, its copy.

2. The sculpture “Hercules defeating Cacus” by BandinelliIt is located to the right of the entrance to the Palazzo Vecchio. Interestingly, behind it there is a stone with a person’s profile scratched on it. According to legend, the stone was scratched by Michelangelo himself.

Sculpture of Hercules from the back. Piazza della Signoria is visible in the background

3. Sculpture “Judith with the Head of Holofernes” by Donatello(work on it was carried out from 1455 to 1460). It is a symbol of the autonomy of the Florentine Republic.

The sculpture of Perseus, by Cellini, is located in the Piazza della Signoria in the Loggia Lanzi

4. Ammanati‘s “Fountain of Neptune” (built in 1570). This is the city’s first public fountain.
5. Sculptures of several stone lions(the sculpture of a lion with an iris on a shield was created by Donatello).
6. A complex of several sculptures placed in the “Loggia Lanzi”(a kind of niche in the facade of the house overlooking the square, built in the second half of the 14th century). Here are sculptures of mythological ancient characters: “The Rape of Polyxena” by Pio Fedi, “Hercules and the Centaur” by Giambologna, “Perseus with the Head of Medusa” by Cellini and “The Rape of the Sabine Women” by Giambologna.
7. Equestrian bronze statue of the ruler Cosimo I de’ Medici Giambologna(created 1594). It is located on the side of the Palazzo Vecchio.

Fountain of Neptune. The equestrian statue of Cosimo I de’ Medici is visible in the distance

Piazza della Signoria has long been the center of political life in the city. Here was another Uguccio Palace, a commercial court, death sentences for criminals were carried out (by hanging), and bonfires of the Inquisition were organized. Now this place is chosen by tourists, of whom there are simply crowds.

Almost all the sculptures that are now located on the square are their exact copies (the originals are protected in museums). Entrance to the square is free.

Near the square there is Ponte Vecchio.

Hercules defeating Cacus by Bandinelli

When you arrive in Florence, be sure to visit the local museums. We recommend that you purchase tickets to Uffizi Gallery and Academy galleryto avoid queues.