Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Girolamo Savonarola

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Piazza della Signoria is the most important point of origin and history of the Florentine Republic and still maintains its reputation as the political center of the city. On May 23, 1498 Girolamo Savonarola was hanged and burned here for heresy. The "Fontana del Nettuno" (here seen in the late afternoon) was designed by Baccio Bandinelli, but created by Bartolomeo Ammannati between 1560 and 1574.

Ferrara appears first in a document of the Lombard king Desiderius of 753 when he captured the town from the Exarchate of Ravenna. Later the Franks, after routing the Lombards, presented Ferrara to the Papacy in 754. In 988 Ferrara was ceded by the Church to the House of Canossa, but at the death of Matilda of Tuscany in 1115, it became a free commune. During the 12th century, the history of the town was marked by the wrestling for power between the Guelph Adelardi and the Ghibelline Salinguerra families. The Ghibellines won and in 1264 Obizzo II d'Este was proclaimed lifelong ruler of Ferrara. His rule marked the end of the communal period in Ferrara and the beginning of the Este rule, which lasted until 1598. Girolamo Savonarola was born here in 1452. He was an Italian Dominican friar and a rebellious preacher active in Renaissance Florence. His flaming speeches against the depravity of the ruling classes were cheered by large sections of the people. In 1495, Pope Alexander VI forbade Savonarola to continue preaching, but soon after he denounced the abuses in the church again. In February 1497, Savonarola had crowds of youths and children ("fanciulli") parade through Florence, confiscating "in the name of Christ" everything that could be interpreted as a symbol of human depravity. This included paintings, jewelry, cosmetics, mirrors, secular musical instruments, playing cards, elaborately crafted furniture, and expensive clothing. In February 1498, all these items were burned on a huge pyre in Piazza della Signoria. Already in May 1497, Savonarola had been excommunicated by Pope Alexander VI as a "heretic". When the Pope demanded that the magistrate Florence imprison Savavarola an enraged crowd dragged Savonarola from the monastery. He was imprisoned, tortured, and sentenced to death after confessing to the misdeeds with which he was charged. Before his execution, he recanted his confessions, but they falsified his trial record in this regard. Savonarola was finally hanged and then burned with two confreres in front of a huge crowd on 23 May 1498. Martin Luther considered Savonarola to be a vital precursor to the Reformation.

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already, when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic was ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families. In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was, when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art loving, power hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance. The Palazzo Vecchio overlooks the Piazza della Signoria. Originally the building was called "Palazzo della Signoria", as here the nine elected member of the Signora the government of Florence lived during their term. The building started in 1299, some years after the guilds had taken over the politcal power, as only guild members were electable into the goverment. The Piazza della Signoria was the place, where in February 1497 "Falò delle vanità" (bonfire of vanity") burnt. The fire destroyed thousands of objects of vanity, art and immorality such as books, paintings, fine dressings, playing cards, mirrors, sculptures and musical instruments. This fire had been organized by the friar Girolamo Savonarola, a charismatic preacher of an early "Cultural Revolution". His young followers, named "fanciulli" have very much in common with the Mao Zedong´s Red Guards. Actually for about four years Savonarola and the fanciulli "ruled" Florence. In May 1497 Pope Alexander VI excommunicated Savonarola. The local support for him dwindled, when his enemies (and rain) hampered an ordeal by fire. He was imprisoned and got tortured in the tower of the Palazzo Vecchio. On May 23 1498 he and two confrères were sentenced to death and in front of a large crowd were hanged on this Piazza. Under the gallows fires were ignited to consume the bodies. The ashes of Girolamo Savonarola and his confrères Fra Domenico and Fra Silvestro were scattered in the Arno to prevent followers to collect relics. There is a little plaque on the ground, where Girolamo Savonarola died. It is near the blue umbrella. - P.S. The statue of Michelangelo´s "David" near the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio is a replica. The original statue was removed from the piazza in 1873 and since then can be admired in the Accademia Gallery.