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turies, in sculpture and architecture, in marble and in bronze.—The -
principal monument in this square is the
Palazzo Vecchio, built by Arnolfo di Cambio da Colle
in 1298 for the Commune which ruled the city at that
time; the style of architecture is original and severe. After
the lapse of several centuries this palace is once again the
seat of the Florentine Municipality since 1871. An ancient
inscription over the door, said: Jesus Christus rex florentini -
populi; it was changed for the present one in 1850.
On the front wall is a large bronze slab commemorating
the vote cast in 1860 by the people of Tuscany in favour
of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy. The tall and slender
tower which rises over the second floor of the palace and
which projects more than one metre and a half from the
front, is of marvellous beauty; it is supported by a covered -
parapet with Guelph battlements which crowns the
whole ancient edifice and which rests on brackets in masonry, -
as also the parapet at the top of the tower, which
has Gibeline battlements; i. e. withbifurcated points. To
the right of the large entrance stood formerly Michelangelo’s -
famous statue of David, which was transfered on
August 4, 1873 to the Fine Arts Academy, where it can
now be admired. The group on the left, representing Hercules -
and Cacus is by Baccio Bandinelli. To the right of
the looker-on are the
Loggie dell'Orcagna, also called of the Lanzi. This portico, -
of Gothic-Tuscan architecture, were designed and begun -
in 1375, by Andrea Orcagna, Under the arch to the
left is Benvenuto Cellini’s famous bronze group of Perseus,
holding the head of Medusa in his left hand, which, together -
with the pedestal, the statuettes and the bas-reliefs
which adorn it, is considered one of the best works of the
great master.
On the sides of the, steps leading to this portico are
two lions in cipollino marble; the one on the right is
