PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA

Piazza della Signoria is the main public square in Florence, Italy. It is named after the Palazzo Vecchio, which has housed the city's government since 1299. The Palazzo Vecchio is still the seat of local government in Florence today. The piazza is also notable for its numerous statues and sculptures.

Piazza Della Signoria is an L-shaped town square in Florence city which is famous for sculptors and artistic architecture. Being an open-air museum and political center of the Tuscan city, Piazza Della Signoria is more than just a regular town square.

The aura of this place is full of the names of great artists like Botticelli, and Leonardo da Vinci. Della Signoria is located at the heart of the city and is tucked among many other prominent historic sites. Palazzo Vecchio or the old palace is in front of Della Signoria which flaunts the Renaissance art at the city center.

The other side of this piazza is adorned by the largest museum, Uffizi Gallery which flaunts paintings from the 13th to 18th centuries. The historic center of Florence, Piazza Della signoria invites many history buffs and connoisseurs from far away to get a sneak peek into the Italian renaissance.

As you visit this open-air museum you can witness an amalgam of the past and the present as the piazza underwent modernization over the centuries. Piazza Della Signoria experiences a whopping number of tourists and locals regardless of the time or year as to organizes fairs and concerts quite frequently.

Besides that, this town square is always jam-packed with the locals passing by hence, you can get an insight into the life of locals. There are a number of restaurants and cafes nearby that serve Italian cuisine which is an added perk if you are visiting Piazza Della Signoria.

Highlights

• View the sculptures at the Loggia dei Lanzi which is an open-air gallery of Renaissance sculptures that includes works by Michelangelo, Donatello, and Cellini.
• Admire The Fountain of Neptune which is a 16th-century fountain located in the centre of the piazza.
• Visit Palazzo Vecchio grand palace that has been Florence's city hall for centuries and it is now open to the public as a museum. Be sure to visit the secret passageway that leads to the Pitti Palace.
• Piazza della Signoria is one of Florence's most popular meeting spots and a perfect place to grab a coffee or gelato.
• If you're interested in art and history, Piazza della Signoria is a must-visit spot in Florence.
• Great place to visit if you are looking to see some of the amazing art and architecture that the city has to offer. 
• There are also a variety of shops and restaurants located around the square, so you can easily spend a few hours exploring everything that it has to offer.

How To Reach

There are multiple ways through which you can reach Piazza Della Signoria. The distance between the Florence airport and the open-air museum can be covered in little time by train, bus, tram, Towncar, or taxi. 

By Train: You can take a train from Aeroporto to Unita and reach Piazza Della Signoria in about 20 minutes. To reach the exact destination you have to travel 5 km more from the Unita. Taxis are available from Unita to Piazza Della Signoria. 

By Car: The quickest way to reach Piazza Della Signoria is by taxi which will take 13 minutes and 20 euro. 

By Tram: Tram is the cheapest way to reach Piazza Della Signoria in about 32 minutes. A tram ride from the airport to Della Signoria would cost you only 2 euros. 

By Bus: You can catch a bus from T2 Guidoni to Corso Dei Tintori which will take no less than 38 minutes to reach the stop. Piazza Della Signoria is 750 m away from the bus stop, you can take a private taxi or walk the distance to the museum.

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Best Time To Visit

The months of April, May, and September are ideal to visit Florence as the weather is pleasant so you can roam around the city experiencing Florentine food and devour the Italian history and art. If you want to visit Florence for a reviving experience then you should avoid the scorching heat of summers and the cold, rainy weather in the winters. 

To capture the moments into pictures along with a peaceful walk at the historic center, you must visit the Piazza Della Signoria early in the morning. This would not only provide you with a pleasurable experience but you can also enjoy the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Vecchio without bothering about the crowd. Once you are finished consuming the art, you can grab a coffee and snacks from the nearby cafes during the early hours.

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Other Essential Information

Location: Piazza Della Signoria, Florence, Italy

Distance from nearest Airport: 10.3 km from Florence Airport

Timing: Open 24x7

Entry Fee: Free

History of Piazza Della Signoria

The Piazza Della Signoria belongs to the 13th century when the followers of pope defeated the followers of the Roman Emperor and all the property that belonged to his followers were taken away. Under the democratic rule of the Signoria, Palazzo Vecchio and Loggia Dei Priori (now Loggia Dei Lanzi) were built around the Della Signoria in the 14th century.

Later, the Medici family ruled Florence who was replaced and exiled by the monk Savonarola(1452-98). As Savonarola was sentenced to death, many revolts started to happen during 1527 and 1530 by the foreign troops, in those years statues like Judith and Holofernes were designed and hosted at the Piazza Della Signoria that symbolized Florence’s longing for freedom. 

In 1540, Piazza Della Signoria saw a turn of events as Cosimo I de Medici took hold of the power and displayed the sculptors of Perseus with the head of Medusa and commanded the construction of the Neptune fountain. Therefore, the historical events that took place at Florence were witnessed by the Piazza and years added to the other statues at the town square as well as the paintings at the museums nearby.

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The Bonfire of The Vanities

On 7th February 1497, the Piazza Della Signoria witnessed the ill-famed bonfire of the Vanities in which the disciples of Dominican Friar Savonarola burned all the objects that were said to tempt people to commit sins. The cosmetics, vanities, mirrors, and play cards were all considered to cause sin and thus they were burnt.

There were also many musical instruments, books, manuscripts, and many famous paintings which were thrown into the fire as they were contemplated to mislead people. Savonarola, for his bad deeds, was infamous as ‘Mad Monk’ and his rigidity towards his idea of religious purity influenced people very strongly.

Even the greatest painter Botticelli was also embangled by Savonarola’s beliefs and tossed his masterpieces into the fire. Later, Botticelli only focussed to creating paintings of religious importance. Later on, in 1498 the Savonarola paid for his ill deeds as he received a death sentence at a similar bonfire.

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Tips for Visiting Piazza Della Signoria

Florence has many historic art and sculptures to offer and thus, it is important to plan your trip to enjoy all of them in a limited time.

1. Visit Piazza Della Signoria in the morning hours and not during peak hours. 
2. Stroll around rather than taking a taxi.
3. Save time to visit Piazza Vecchio and Loggia dei Lanzi. 
4. Do your homework before visiting for a better understanding of the sculptors.
5. Take a guided tour and let yourself sink in the Italian Renaissance. 
6. Don’t forget to have delicious cuisines around Piazza Della Signoria.

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Attractions Near Piazza Della Signoria 

1. Bargello National Museum: The Bargello palace which is now a National Museum houses the work of Michelangelo in huge numbers along with the other prominent works of great artists like Donatello, Benvenuto Cellini, Ghiberti and many more. The Museum is decorated by bronze and stone sculptures as well as presents a view of the Tuscan craft.  

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2. House of Dante: Dante Alighieri was a 13th-century poet who is still recognized for his extraordinary work especially for his masterpiece, The Divine Comedy. The House of Dante belonged to the Alighieri family but as Dante was barred from the city, he did not live here. However, the place is now furnished as a popular museum that exhibits documents and paintings depicting the life of Dante. 

3. Piazza di San Firenze: The Baroque-style complex of the 17th century, San Firenze is a popular tourist attraction for unconventional architecture. The building is a sandwich of a palace and two churches which were built in 1715 and 1775 respectively. Now the building belongs to the Tribunale which is Florence’s judicial authority.

4. Orsanmichele: Orsanmichele, also known as the church of San Michele in Orto belongs to the 14th century. The building was initially used as a trading hall however the exquisite stone carvings over the window arches done by artists like Ghiberti and Donatello lure tourists in large numbers. Bernardo Daddi’s painting of the Madonna inside the church is also a masterpiece.  

5. Palazzo Gondi: The palace of the powerful Gondi family is inspired by the other buildings of the 15th century. Although the main reason for its popularity is not its architecture but the interiors which define the exceptional wealth of the Gondi family. Tourists never miss this place for the picturesque of Piazza Della Signoria, and the upper of Piazza Duomo from the roof of the palace.

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