A particular fondness for Florence.

- Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) - Palazzo Vecchio 😀😀😀 - In 1299, the people of Florence decided to build a palace to serve as the town hall. Later, in the 16th century, when the rulers of Florence constructed a new palace, the 13th-century building came to be known as the Old Town Hall, commonly transliterated as “Palazzo Vecchio.” - The palace was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, whose flexible and appropriate layout followed the shape of the surrounding streets. The central tower of the palace, standing at 94 meters, is relatively plain compared to the luxurious Flamboyant Gothic style of Northern European town halls. It resembles a fortress, reflecting the Florentines' determination to defend against foreign invasion.😍😍😍 - The 500-person hall on the second floor was built in 1494 to serve as the meeting place for the city's 500-member parliament. Later, it became the ducal hall for the Duke of Florence. In 1503, two great Florentine artists, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, famously held a painting competition here. - Leonardo da Vinci's sketch for the Battle of Anghiari, depicting the fierce combat between Florence and Milan, no longer exists in its original form. However, a version painted by the Dutch master Peter Paul Rubens around 1600, based on some surviving copies, is now housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. - Michelangelo's sketch for the Battle of Cascina, which shows soldiers bathing in a river during a break in the battle between Florence and Pisa, being suddenly called to arms by a trumpet, also no longer exists in its original form. A copy made in 1542 is preserved in the UK. Unfortunately, neither artist completed their work. - Adjacent to the Palazzo Vecchio is the Loggia dei Lanzi, built in 1373 to provide shelter for soldiers from the rain. It is named after the German mercenaries who were stationed there in the 16th century and also serves as Florence's sculpture gallery.😁😁😁 - The Piazza della Signoria, where the Palazzo Vecchio is located, was praised by the 19th-century Austrian architect Camillo Sitte as one of the most important squares in the world. He noted that every technique of urban construction art is exemplified here.😻😻😻 - The shape and scale of the square, the way the roads open up, and the placement of fountains and monuments are all worth in-depth study. - First is the design layout of the square complex. This square is enclosed by buildings on all four sides and is divided into two parts of different sizes, roughly forming an L-shape, by fountains and statues. The practice of using a square complex composed of two or more squares instead of a single large square was common in medieval Italy. It not only meets the needs of large gatherings during specific festivals but also maintains a comfortable scale for the square during most other times, avoiding a sense of emptiness. This is an effective and good method. (To be continued) #Architecture #Florence #GothicArchitecture #ArchitecturalDesign #Italy #GothicStyle #Art #Europe #Travel