Piazza della Signoria

This impressive square has served as a hub of the city for centuries. There are smashing historical buildings around, dominated by Palazzo Vecchio, the town hall of the city. It takes its name after Signoria of Florence, the government of medieval and renaissance Florence.

The square witnessed the return of the Medici in 1530 and the Bonfire of the Vanities which happened in 1497 and involved destroying many valuable works of art. It was prompted by the Dominican priest Savonarola, who was later excommunicated and burned at the stake here. The location is marked in the middle of the square.

The square boasts the Fountain of Neptune created by a sculptor Bartolomeo Ammannati in the 16th century. It also features several statues, such as an equestrian statue of Duke Cosimo I, and a copy of Michelangelo's David. The original can be found in Galleria dell'Accademia.