Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Signoria is the principal civic square in central Florence, Italy, immediately outside the Palazzo Vecchio and forming the political heart of the historic city. The piazza has served as Florence’s public and ceremonial space since the medieval period and is lined with major civic and sculptural landmarks.

The square contains the Palazzo Vecchio, the open Loggia dei Lanzi with several prominent Renaissance and Mannerist sculptures, and the Fountain of Neptune by Bartolomeo Ammannati. The Uffizi gallery flanks one side of the piazza, making it a focal point for visitors moving between Florence’s main monuments.

The space has functioned for public assemblies, civic ceremonies and displays of art since the late 13th and 14th centuries; the Palazzo Vecchio itself was begun in 1299 as Florence’s republican government palace. Over subsequent centuries the square accumulated major public sculptures and became the stage for political events, festivals and public proclamations.

The piazza sits in Florence’s historic centre, a short walk from the Cathedral (Duomo) and across the River Arno from the Ponte Vecchio, placing it at the core of the city’s loop of major tourist sites.

• Best times to visit: Early morning and late evening offer the best light and smaller crowds for photographing the square and the sculptures without heavy tourist traffic.

What to See #

• Palazzo Vecchio: Palazzo Vecchio - a fortified civic palace begun in 1299 that serves as Florence's town hall and contains historic council chambers and a decorated Salone dei Cinquecento.
• Loggia dei Lanzi: Loggia dei Lanzi - an open-air Renaissance loggia on the square housing large sculpted works such as Benvenuto Cellini's bronze **Perseus** and other notable free-standing statues.
• Fountain of Neptune: Fountain of Neptune - a large Mannerist fountain completed in the mid-16th century that stands on the square's eastern side beside the Uffizi façade.