| Piazza
della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio
From inauspicious beginnings (squabbles between rival florentine
factions the Guelphs and Ghibelines) the Piazza is the Political
centre of Florence. The square is dominated by the Palazzo
Vecchio which is the town hall of Firenze where Michelangelo's
David stood sentry for almost 4 centuries... (David has since
been moved to the safety and security of the Accademia Art
Gallery or Galleria dell'Accademia as it is known locally)
If you think that moving the original David
to a museum was a little over cautious think again. In 1991
a madman smashed of his big toe... Even more recently some
vandals damaged a 16th-century statue of Neptune who tried
to climb up it during the night in August 2005.
1 of these 3 fruitcakes snapped the statue's right arm and
chipped the large shell at the base of the statue... luckily
police cctv filmed the nutcases and all 3 were arrested. They
will no doubt receive a hefty fine. The Italian Cultural Arts
Organisation Belle Arti will now start restoration work but
ultimately the statue will probably be removed to the safety
of a Museum.
The 4.2-metre statue, known to Florentines at the ‘biancone’
or White Giant, has suffered damage from nutcases in the past.
In 1981 one of the stone horses pulling Neptune’s shell-shaped
chariot had its front hooves broken off. Almost exactly 1
year later the evening Fiorentina won the serie A football
championship, the statue’s shoulder was painted bright
violet the colour of the local team!
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Hotel Villa Carlotta Florence > Florence Virtual Tour > Piazza della
Signoria 
