7 days in Italy-5-19 to 5/25/2022

Day 1- Florence

Arrival/Dinner

Day 2- Florence

Abbey Fiorentina

Piazza della Signoria

Palazzo Vecchio Museum

Lunch at All'antico Vinaio

Santa Maria del Fior Basilica

Boboli Garden

Dinner at Golden View

Day 3- Florence

Basilica San Croce

Ponte Vecchio/Lunch

Discovering Florence

Discovering Florence, cont'd

Dinner at il Santo Bevitore

Florence at night

Day 4-Cinque Terre

Riomaggiore/arrival

Lunch/Quick tour

Church of San Giovanni Battista

Dinner at Dau Cila

 

 

Day 5-Manarola/Corniglia

Manarola

Corniglia

Lunch at Terrarossa

Discovering Corniglia

Vernazza

Dinner at Belforte

Day 6-Monterosso/Vernazza

Monterosso/Beach

Monterosso/Old Town

Blue trail hiking

Blue trail continuation

Dinner at Macelleria Trattoria

 

Day 7- Riomaggiore

Walking tour

Walking tour continuation

Sunset boat tour

Dinner at Dau Cila

 

Day -8-Train to Milan

Day 2- Florence-5/20/2022

Piazza della Signoria

We are now walking to the Piazza della Signoria.

   

Small streets leading to the Piazza

 

We are now entering the Piazza della Signoria

 

A nice restaurant in the open air right at the entrance of the Piazza.

 

Looks like a garden inside of the restaurant.

 

The first monument you see when you enter the Piazza is the Palazzo Vecchio which is preeminent with its crenellated tower.

 

View of the 14th century Palazzo Vecchio which is the town hall now.

 

The Piazza used to be the meeting place of Florentines.

 

Panoramic view of the Piazza with the Palazzo Vecchio in the center, to the right is the Loggia della Signori, and on the left is the equestrian statue of Cosimo, the 1st Duke of Florence.

 

More panoramic view of the Piazza with the fountain on Neptune on the right.

 

 

The equestrian statue o Cosimo I, is a bronze statue executed by Giambologna form 1589 to 1594 and was erected in 1594 in the Piazza.

The base of the statue has reliefs with scenes from the life of Cosimo, including his coronation in Rome as Grand-Duke in 1570 and his entrance into Siena as a ruler (1557) after his victory over that republic.

 

The Cosimo statue stands in front of the north corner of the Palazzo della Signoria.

 

On the right is the fountain of Neptune.

 

Fountain of Neptune was commissioned in 1559 to celebrate the marriage of Francesco De Medici to the grand Duchess Joanna of Austria.

It has sustained a great deal of damage over the years due to vandalism and general neglect but a major restoration was completed in 2019 and bringing it to its original glory.

 

The colossal figure of the sea god on a chariot drawn by four houses is ringed by 3 young Triton and figures that represent the ocean spirit Doris, her daughter Thetis the Nereid, and two other marine divinities.

These effigies only serve to highlight the central figure, Neptune himself, who towered over the other statues.

 

Neptune's face was carved to resemble Cosimo De Medici one of the first dukes of Tuscany who had always envisioned a monument to the Roman god of the sea in the center of Florence.

 

The bronze statues which decorate the fountain are from Flemish artist Jean de Boulogne.

 

 

 

The Loggia della Signoria, also known as dei Lanzy was built by Benci diCione and Simone di Francesco Talenti between 1376 and 1382, as the place to hold the public ceremonies of the Florentine Signoria.

Located on a corner of the Piazza and is next to the Uffizi Gallery (on the left).

 

On the outside, between the arches and above the pillars, are niches semi circular lobes with portrayals of the Virtues carved by Agnolo Gaddi between 1384 and 1389.

 

 

Side view of the Loggia. It is known as "dei Lanzi" after the lansquenets, the guards whom Cosimo I de'Medici had stationed there.

 

The Loggia was restored by Pasquale Poccianti between 1837 and 1840.

 

In the center is s marble statue of Aiace holding the body of Achille

Roman copy of a Greek original (240-230BC) with major restorations by Ludovico Salvetti, according to a model by Pietro Tacca (1640) that was discovered in Rome.

 

Close look at the statue.

 

Bronze statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa by Benvenutto Cellini who worked almost ten years on this bronze statue.

Mythical Greek hero holding his sword in his right hand and holding Medusa's severed head in his left.

 

Marble statue of Hercules and the Centaur 1549-1599.  It was been on display in the Loggia since 1841.

It was sculpted from one solid block of white marble.

 

Lion -1594-1598, Marble from 1598.  Formerly at the Villa Medici, Rome but moved to the Loggia since 1789.

 

View of the Piazza from the Loggia

 

There are a lot of horse carriages in the Piazza.

 

Horse sharing his food with the pigeons.

 

 

NEXT.... Day 2-Palazzo Vecchio Museum

 

 

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