Signoria Square

For eight centuries Signoria square has been the political and civic centre of Florence. Dominated by the massive asymmetrical Palazzo Vecchio and by the exquisitely beautiful Loggia dei Lanzi, the Piazza della Signoria contains important works of art.

Fontana  di Nettuno.  The statue  of the Roman sea god, surrounded by water nymphs, commemorates Tuscan naval victories.

The Rape of the Sabine Women  by Glambologna 1583

This masterpiece is a magnificent and elaborate serpentine composition; the figures are carved from a single block of flawed marble.

Perseus by Cellini 1554

The bronze statue of Perseus beheading the Medusa was intended to warn the enemies of Cosimo I of their fate.

The great goldsmith and sculptor wrote in his "Autobiography" the serious difficulties he encountered in casting the statue.