Ponte Vecchio and other Florence, Italy Things to Do Tips

Ponte Vecchio

Ponte Vecchio is the oldest bridge in Florence, built in 1345 by Neri di Fioravante, with its elegant structure on three arches. It was destroyed two times and have been rebuilt, as it is today, in the middle of the 14th century. The bridge is characteristic for its row of small houses on either side. At the centre of the bridge, the buildings are interrupted, and an opening allows a fine view of the Arno.

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Ponte Vecchio & Arno River: Ponte Vecchio

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 18, 2005

Ponte Vecchio

Above the houses, on the upstream side of the bridge, is so-called Vasari Corridor, built by Vasari for Cosimo I to go from Palazzo Pitti to Palazzo Vecchio. In the middle of he bridge a bronze bust of Benvenuto Cellini have been placed in 1900. There are plenty of shops on either side of the bridge, still working, and most of them are the workshops of artisan goldsmiths.

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Piazza della Signoria: Palazzo Vecchio

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 19, 2005

Palazzo Vecchio

The construction of Palazzo Vecchio begun in 1294 as a palace-fortress for the residence of the Priors. The building, by Arnolfo di Cambio, is conceived as a large block crowned by merlons. The characteristic feature is the Tower, rising up above the palace and similar in style to the upper part of the mansion. The Tower is where Cosimo the Elder and Savonarola were imprisoned. The whole building is in rusticated pietra forte giving it an air of severity.

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Address: Piazza della Signoria

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Things To Do: Fontana del Biancone

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 19, 2005

Fontana del Biancone

by croisbeauty , 2 more photos

Fontana del Biancone, by Ammannati, better known as The Neptune Fountain was carried out between 1563 and 1575. In creating the powerful figure of Neptune, Ammannati was inspired by a drawing of Leonardo da Vinci. He was much succesful in creating the bronze statues representing River Allegories of satyrs and nymphs. One of his collaborators in works was great Giambologna.
Unfortunatelly, in the summer of 2005 right arm of Neptune was severely damaged by a so-called tourist, who climbed up on the figure.

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Address: Piazza della Signoria

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Things To Do: Loggia dei Lanzi

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 18, 2005

Loggia dei Lanzi

by croisbeauty , 2 more photos

Loggia dei Lanzi was built between 1376 and 1391 by Benci di Cione and Simone talenti in elegant late Gothic style. It consists of large round arches on compound pillars. The fine reliefs above pillars are allegories of the Virtues, designed by Agnolo Gaddi.
A number of outstanding sculptures in plaster copy are preserved inside the Loggia, works of Giambologna, while the originals are kept in the Galleria dell'Academia. In the foreground, on the left, is Perseus, Benvenuto Cellini's most famous work.

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Address: Piazza della Signoria

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Things To Do: Statue of Cosimo I de' Medici

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 19, 2005

The Equestrian statue of Cosimo I

by croisbeauty

The Equestrian statue to Cosimo I de' Medici, creating by Giambologna in 1594, is on the left of Palazzo Vecchio. It has a very dignified and noble air in the proud pose of the "condottiere", created by Giambologna as a mature artist.
The remarkable basreliefs of the pedestal show the Entry of Cosimo into Siena, Pio V Giving Cosimo the Insigna of the Grand Duke, The Tuscan Senate Giving Cisimo the Title of Grand Duke.

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Address: Piazza della Signoria

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The Duomo / Campanile & Baptistry: Duomo

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 19, 2005

Florence The Duomo / Campanile & Baptistry

Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore

The magnificent Cathedral of Florence, dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, is the fruit of the commitment of a large number of artists who worked on it over a period of centuries. In 1294, the Art Guilds, that supported the government of the city, decided that Arnolfo di Cambio should construct a new cathedral of Florence. The old cathedral, Santa Reparata, was too small to house the citizens since in the 13th century commune of Florence was already flourishing. Santa Reparata continued being the cathedral until 1375.

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Address: Piazza Duomo

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The Duomo / Campanile & Baptistry: Duomo

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 20, 2005

Duomo Santa Maria del Fiore

Work on the new cathedral, begun in 1296, was interrupted in 1302 when Arnolfo di Cambio died. His place as masterbuilder was taken by Giotto, in 1334. Due to a social situation and certain natural calamities, the construction of the cathedral slowed down. After Giotto's death, in 1337, Andrea Pisano, Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini worked on the cathedral. The building was finished in 1375 with the exception of the dome. The competition for its construction was won in 1420 by Brunelleschi who proposed to build the enormous aerial structure without the use of fixed centring. The dome was finished in 1434 and the cathedral was finally consecrated in 1436. The lantern, at the top of the dome, was also designed by Brunelleschi but its formal and architectural details had not been defined. It was designed and completed by Verrocchio.
The interior is very spacious, both in height and width, following the dictates of Italian Gothic architecture. The most prestigious artists of the age have took place in adorning the cathedrals interior: Nanni di Bartolo, Donatello, Niccolo da Tolentino, Andrea del Castagno, Paolo Uccello, Giorgio Vasari and Giotto of course.

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Address: Piazza del Duomo

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Things To Do: Battistero di San Giovanni

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 20, 2005

Battistero di San Giovanni

The Baptistery of San Giovanni have been built originally around 4th to 5th century, octagonal in plan with a semi-circular apse. In the 11th century it became the city cathedral, since Santa Reparata was being rebuilt. In that circumstances the Baptistery was refaced both inside and out, while in 1128, the smooth pyramidal roof was finished and topped by a lantern with columns. After this works, finished in 1150, the Baptistery looked as it does today.
Thr three bronze doors of the Baptistery are particularly important. The South door, by Andrea Pisano, is the oldest, decorated with scenes from the Life of San Giovanni the Baptist and the Allegories of the Theologian and CardinalVirtues. The North door with stories from the New Testament is by Lorenzo Ghiberti, with the help of Donatello, Paolo Uccello, Bernardo Ciuffagni and Bernardo Cennini. The Eastern door, known also as the Gates of Paradise with ten panels (now replaced by the copies) representing Stories from the Old Testament is by Lorenzo Chiberti, and is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of 15th century sculptures.

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Address: Piazza del Duomo

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Santa Maria Novella: Santa Maria Novella

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Updated by croisbeauty

on Sep 20, 2005