Piazza della Signoria

Culture vultures make a beeline for the Piazza della Signoria, gateway to the Uffizi Gallery and the Loggia dei Lanzi. This lively square has been a popular meeting place for Florentines since the 14th century, and day or night you’re sure to find something going on.

The Uffizi (Galleria degli Uffizi) houses a priceless collection of works by the giants of the Italian Renaissance, including Botticelli, da Vinci, Caravaggio and Raphael. Originally in the private ownership of the wealthy Medici family, the collection was officially opened to the public in 1765, making it one of the first modern museums in the world. In high season in particular, the queues can be very long, so it’s worth buying an admission ticket in advance.

Many of the sculptures in the open-air arches of the adjoining Loggia dei Lanzi are replicas, the originals having been removed to museums for safe keeping. On either side of the steps are the famous Medici lions, the heraldic symbols of Florence, while Cellini’s sculpture of Perseus holding the head of Medusa is a reminder of the power that this notorious family once wielded.

Perhaps the most photographed sculpture in the world is Michelangelo’s David, which stands proudly outside the 14th-century Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s main town hall. A replica was installed in its place when the original was moved to the Accademia Gallery (Galleria dell’Accademia) in 1873. The palace contains a remarkable collection of paintings and sculptures, and visitors can tour the sumptuously decorated private rooms of the Medici court and climb the tower for a panoramic view of the Arno and the city skyline.

The Piazza della Signoria is a popular spot for people-watching, with many lively cafés and bars where you can find a quiet corner to survey the endless parade of fashion-conscious Florentines against a backdrop of some of the city’s most exquisite buildings. The civic square which was once the scene of riots and public executions is now alive with a more cosmopolitan crowd of pleasure-seekers.