Since there was more daylight, and even better dusk for those wonderful images of cities coming alive as the sun goes down, I pressed onto Piazza della Signoria.
One last photo of the Duomo before walking to the Piazza. But note the police car, and some people in white shirts and dark pants. Hmmm....
Entrance
Palazzo Vecchio
I entered the Piazza from the right of the left image above - that street (pedestrian mostly) leads to the Duomo, just a few blocks away. The photo on the left was taken standing about the middle of the photo on the right.
The Palazzo Vecchio is Florence's City Hall. It began life in 1299 when Arnolfo di Cambrio (Duomo builder too!) built it to house the city government (Signoria). In 1540 Medici Grand Duke Cosimo I and his wife Eleanor of Toledo transformed it from a bureaucratic building into a sumptuous residence. The tower was used to hold political prisoners.
Moonrise over Uffizi Gallery which leads from Palazzo Vecchio to Ponte Vecchio; on the very right, surrounded by scaffolding, is the Loggia dei Lanzi, which was built in the 14th century as a covered area for civic events, but Medici Grand Duke Cosimo I converted it to its present form, notably an outdoor sculpture gallery.
Some of the very impressive statuary in front of Palazzo Vecchio; from left to right the Neptune Fountain (leftmost figure, with green coloured bronze - guess - figures) from 1575; between the two green statues (though not very clear) is Donatello's Marzocco (the lion, symbol of the city), then (a copy of) Michelangelo's David (original is now safely inside since 1873), and Hercules and Cacus to the right. Behind David is the Uffizi Gallery.
Better views of David (left) and Hercules and Cacus at the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio. ALso visible are the city's lions above the doorway.
Well, here they come, marching into Piazza della Signoria, complete with police escort, though they had already passed by the time I took this photo.
All settled in, conductor's ready, and off they went. I don't recall what they played, but I quite enjoyed it.
David enjoying the concert - I wonder how many he has "heard" over the years. This is taken from the verandah of Loggia dei Lanzi.
The Piazza della Signoria in it's night time finery. There is one other interesting statue in this piazza: Cosimo I riding a horse - the first such statue in Europe! It was created by Giambologna in 1594, and has led to a plethora of bronze horses!
By now it was time to head back to the hotel. This is a view along Via Calzaiuoli, the street from Piazza della Signoria to Piazza del Duomo. And the way back to my hotel, just by coinicidence.
Duomo by night.
Well, I had achieved my goals for the day - finding my way to Florence, to the hotel, and the immediate area. And I was ready for bed.
To Florence
Italy In July