The Piazza della Signoria has been the
center of Florentine political life since the 13th Century.
Political speeches would be made in front of the Vecchio Palace facing
the square, then the citizens would line up in the square to vote. It was here
that the religious zealot, Savonarola led a revolt against the humanist revival
of the Medici and convinced the citizens to throw their worldly goods,
including irreplaceable works of art, into the infamous Bonfire of the
Vanities. A few years later, Savonarola was burned alive in the very same
square by orders of Pope Alexander VI. The square in lined with historic
building and replicas are famous sculptures, including of Michelangelo’s David.
Church of Santa Croce
This church is most famous for being the
final resting place of some of Florence’s most famous sons, including Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and Bardi. There is also a monument to Dante. The cloisters
were designed by Brunelleschi. The basilica also
contains numerous examples of typically Renaissance sculpture. The most famous
of these is the Crucifix by Donatello
and his aristocratic Annunciation in gray stone with gilded highlights
Church of San Lorenzo and the Medici Chapels
San Lorenzo is Florence’s second most important church. In the early 15th century, it became the official church of the Medici family and was rebuilt by Brunelleschi as the first church
since Roman times to be constructed in the classical style. The Medici Chapel was used by the family both
as a mausoleum and as the venue of important functions. The most famous
tombs were built for Lorenzo the Magnificent and his murdered brother,
Giuliano. Lorenzo's protégé Michelangelo designed them on the orders of Pope
Leo X.
Piazzale Michelangelo
This square is located on a rise on the
south bank of the Arno and affords the best panoramic view of Florence and the
surrounding valley. It was built in 1869 and contains reproductions of Michelangelo’s
Day, Night, Dawn, Dusk and David.