Italy - Florence

Florence is considered to be the birthplace of Renaissance with an unparalleled heritage which left its mark on arts across Europe for centuries to come. Half millennium ago Giotto, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello, Botticelli, to name a few, set for us the high standards of human beauty. Plazza della Signoria is literally a museum of public art, with Loggia della Signoria full of masterpieces of Roman and Renaissance sculptures.

The copy of Michelangelo's David guards the entrance to Medici's Palazzo Veccia. The original was removed from piazza in 1873 to protect it from damage - almost four centuries after it was created.

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An imposing Fountain of Neptune was created in 1565 by Bartolomeo Ammannati. Neptune is surrounded by satyrs, nymphs, and stands,  literally, "between  Scilla and Charybdis" - chained figures which decorate the fountain.

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Loggia dei Lanzi, or Loggia della Signoria is an open-air sculpture gallery of antique and Renessaince art, and a quintessential representation of human body in public art. 

Perseus with the Head of Meduza, Benvenutto Chellini, 1541

 

This is a decoration of the pedestal for Perseus with Head of Medusa

The rape of Polyxena, Rio Fedi, 1854

Another rape, The Rape of Sabine Women, by Giambollogna. 

The whole sculpture is made of one imperfect block of marble

Seems to be a copy of a Roman sculpture

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Of course, there is much more to Florence than Renaissance. Just keep your head up,  and you will be rewarded with sights of beautiful statues adorning windows, balconies, and arches. 

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  From a balcony- I'm watching you...

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In "Profumo-Farmaceutica Di Santa Maria Novella"

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In an arcade

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On a bridge across Arno river

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This lady on top of a very high obelisque seems to be all dressed up 

But even the iron armor can not hide the natural human forms. 

                                                                                                                     Click photos for full screen