Fontana di Nettuno

Record of Our Florence Trip During the Dutch Spring Break (February 28, 2023) Ponte Vecchio at Sunset😍😍😍 Ponte Vecchio, also known as the Vecchio Bridge, is a medieval stone arch bridge located in Florence, Italy, spanning the Arno River. Built in 1345, the bridge features numerous shops and houses. In the 15th century, these shops were primarily butchers and fishmongers. However, the Medici family, displeased with the unpleasant odors, decreed that they be replaced with goldsmiths, silversmiths, and jewelers. Above the shops lies the Vasari Corridor, a covered passageway connecting the north and south banks. To this day, the bridge is still lined with shops, now mostly jewelry stores and souvenir shops. Ponte Vecchio is considered one of the oldest surviving closed-spandrel segmental arch bridges in Italy. Nearby are the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte alle Grazie. Ponte Vecchio is also one of Florence's most famous landmarks.😁😁😁 Piazza della Signoria Also known as the Signoria Square, this "L"-shaped square in front of the Palazzo Vecchio is named after the palace itself. It is the focal point of the origin and history of the Florentine Republic and still enjoys the reputation of being the city's political center. The impressive 14th-century Palazzo Vecchio, with its crenellated tower, continues to dominate the square. Other notable structures include the Loggia dei Lanzi, the Uffizi Gallery, the Mercanzia (Merchant's Court, 1359, now the Agricultural Office), and the Palazzo Uguccione (16th century, with a facade possibly designed by Raphael). In front of the Palazzo Vecchio stands the Renaissance-style Assicurazioni Generali building (1871).😍😍😍 Fountain of Neptune The Fountain of Neptune is located in the Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. This fountain was created by Bartolomeo Ammannati (1563–1565) and his assistants, including Giambologna, and was commissioned in 1565 for the wedding of Francesco I de' Medici and Johanna of Austria. Initially, the task was assigned to Baccio Bandinelli, who designed the model but passed away before beginning the sculpting work.😻😻😻 The face of the sea god Neptune resembles Cosimo I, symbolizing Florence's maritime power. The statue stands on a tall pedestal in the center of the octagonal fountain, with the base adorned with mythological figures of Scylla and Charybdis in chains. The Neptune statue in the square is a 19th-century replica, while the original is preserved in the National Museum. However, upon completion, the work did not receive much appreciation from the Florentines, who instead nicknamed it the "White Giant." They mocked the sculptor with the phrase: "Ammannato, Ammannato, quanto marmo hai sciupato!" #Italy #Florence #FlorenceOldBridge