FLORENCE.
94
down at the corner of the house, marking the site of a
pulpit from which S. Pietro Martire exorcised the Evil One.1
The simple habits of the Vecchietti are commemorated by
Dante :
E vidi quel de’ Nerli e quel del Vecchio
Esser contenti alla pelle scoverta,
E le sue donne al fuso e al pennecchio.’—Par. Xv. 115.
Il Diavolo del Mercato Vecchio.
The quarter south of the Mercato Vecchio was occupied
by the Amieri, whose chief, Messer Foglia, decorated the
walls of his houses with sculptured fig-leaves, in allusion to
his name. These may still be traced on houses near the
Church of S. Andrea. Close to this spot stood the beautiful
tabernacle of Fra Angelico, now in the Uffizi, in a sculptured
marble frame which is preserved in the Bargello. Near the
Piazza di S. Miniato tra Due Torre2 is the old palace of the
Castiglione, of whom was the giant-warrior Dante da Cas¬
tiglione, celebrated for his share in the famous duel fought in
1529 in the presence of the Florentine and Imperialist
armies.
* Formerly there were two of these Devils, one was stolen a few years ago.
2 The name bears witness to the former abundance of the towers, which were a
necessity with the ancient Florentine nobles.