Palazzo Vecchio and Piazza della Signoria
The open-air sculpture gallery and the town hall of the Florentine Republic
Piazza della Signoria has been the political heart of Florence for seven centuries. Its Loggia dei Lanzi is a free open-air museum with Cellini's bronze Perseus holding the head of Medusa and Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Women. Nearby stand the copy of David and Ammannati's Neptune fountain.
Palazzo Vecchio, with its tower 94 metres high, is still the town hall. Inside, the immense Salone dei Cinquecento was decorated by Vasari over the lost battle scenes of Leonardo and Michelangelo, and the Medici apartments and the Studiolo of Francesco I reveal the private life of the court. You can also climb the tower, or visit the hidden passages on a "secret paths" tour.
Tip: the museum stays open in the evening on most days of the week, ideal after a day in the museums.
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