Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Palazzo Vecchio

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. Michelangelo's David also stood at the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio from its completion in 1504 to 1873, when it was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia. A replica erected in 1910 now stands in its place. In March 2022 it was covered by a black fabric as a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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. As the seat of the city parliament, the "Palazzo Vecchio" was the center of secular power in Florence in the 14th century. Construction of the building began in 1299. The architect and sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio was responsible for planning the palazzo. From its completion in 1314, the building housed the parliament of the Republic of Florence and served as sleeping quarters for the deputies. This also explains the defensive character of the architecture, which met the desire of those gathered for security, for protection against attacks by restless family clans or angry people. Seen in front is a sign of protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). In the center of the Città alta is the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione" (aka "Palazzo Vecchio"), erected 1183 - 1198. It burnt down and got rebuilt at least twice over the centuries. The open ground floor served as a market hall, but it was as well as the place for public trials. There are some very interesting capitals here. This one is near the adjoining Duomo.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). In the center of the Città alta is the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione" (aka "Palazzo Vecchio"), erected 1183 - 1198. It burnt down and got rebuilt at least twice over the centuries. The open ground floor served as a market hall, but it was as well as the place for public trials. There are some very interesting capitals here. This one is near the adjoining Duomo.

Bergamo was the settlement of a Celtic tribe but got conquered by the Romans in 196 BC. Looted by Attila´s troops in the 5th century, it became the capital of a Lombardian duchy a century later. After the conquest of the Lombard Kingdom by Charlemagne, the Franks ruled here. End of the 11th century Bergamo had become an independent commune, with a lot of feuding between the local the Guelph and Ghibelline factions. In 1428 Bergamo was ceded in 1428 by the Duchy of Milan to the Republic of Venice and was transformed into a fortified city, protecting the trade routes leading into the Rhine Valley. The French Revolutionary Army ended more than three centuries of Venetian rule in 1797. Bergamo was part of the "Cisalpine Republic". At Congress of Vienna, Bergamo was assigned to the (Austrian) Kingdom of Lombardy–Venetia. Giuseppe Garibaldi conquered Bergamo in 1859. The city was incorporated into the newly founded Kingdom of Italy. Bergamo has two centres: Città alta ("upper city"), a hilltop medieval town, and the Città bassa ("lower city"). In the center of the Città alta is the Piazza Vecchia and the old town hall "Palazzo della Ragione" (aka "Palazzo Vecchio"), erected 1183 - 1198. It burnt down and got rebuilt at least twice over the centuries. Over the balcony is the "Lion of Saint Mark", as Bergamo was part of the Republic of Venice upto 1797. The Torre Civica was the tower house of the (Ghibelline) Suardi family in the 12th century. Most of the previous uplaoded photos were taken from top of the tower.

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.

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 rain ceased for an hour and so I walked up a hill, to get an overview. Seen here are the "Ponte Vecchio" crossing the Arno (left), the large tower (94m high!) belongs to the "Palazzo Vecchio", today the town hall of Florence. The small dome belongs to the "Basilica di San Lorenzo", the white triangle is the roof of the "Battistero di San Giovanni", next to this with the campanile and the large dome is the "Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore". The small church in front of the cathedral is the "Chiesa di Santa Margherita dei Cerchi"..