17 
of the first places the tourist visits, and as he must 
return to it again and again, J will first sketch its 
surroundings, and then its history. 
On the E. side stands the vast. 
Palazzo Vecchio. — Erected in 1298, as the resi¬ 
dence of the Comune, or Superior Magistracy of the 
Republic, which ruled the City at thàt time. This noble 
structure was raised by Arnolfo di Lapo. The irregu- 
larity and non symmetry of its architecture is owing 
to the fact, that the citizens would not allow it to be 
built on ground formerly occupied by the houses of the 
Überti and other Ghibellines; which were demolished, 
after their banishment as rebels; besides the instru- 
ctions which Arnolfo had, to include the ancient bell 
tower (Torre della Vacca, of 87 metres in height) in 
the new building — This palace bears witness to the 
greatest events of the Republic; as beneath its machi- 
colations are painted the arms of the Republic, and of 
the Sestieri and Quartieri, into which the city was 
divided. The style of architecture is original and severe. 
After the lapse of several centuries, this palace is once 
again, since 1871, the seat of the Florentine Municipa- 
lity. — Notice on the front wall the 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 mar¬ 
vellous beauty. — The Piazza adjoining the Palazzo- 
and the neighbouring Loggia contain numerous stat- 
ues, among which, nearer to the Palace, the famous 
« Fontana di Nettuno. » — An enormous group, 
witht rather a drunkén-looking Neptune, vulgarly cal-