It’s almost impossible to visit Florence and miss the Piazza della Signoria, so integral is this vast square to Florentine life. Watched over by the immense castle-like bulk of the Palazzo Vecchio, this piazza is at the very heart of the city, and acts as gateway to many of Florence’s most important monuments and attractions. The square is so well-placed, in fact, that in just moments visitors can reach the Uffizi, the Ponte Vecchio and even the city’s duomo.
Laid out in a sprawling L-shape, the Piazza della Signoria has remained largely unchanged for hundreds of years, with many of the city’s finest buildings still watching over its cobbled expanse. Dotted with numerous grand statues – including a replica of Michelangelo’s David – and ringed by an array of terracotta-coloured palaces, shops and houses, the piazza is today one of Florence’s most atmospheric spaces.
