While in Florence, Italy a few weeks ago, I just couldnt help but be amazed at the statues and monuments that ae all around the city. The city really did embrace the arts during the renaissance, and it is evident throughout its streets !
Above is the fountain of Neptune, which dates from the 1500s. I just love the colours in the marble of the fountain base - its quite incredible !
And above a statue of Alighieri, a famous philosopher/writer, outside the Basilica of Santa Croce.
Above is a statue of Galileo in the walls of the Uffizi.
And also in the Ufizzi - Macchiavelli. He spent time in Florence working for the Medici in the early 1500s.
We didnt have time to go and see the real statue of David this time, but the one above can be found in the view point looking over the city.
And above is another copy of David, this time outside the Palazzo Vecchio.
And I liked the one above - it remends me of the saying - snatching victory from the jaws of defeat !
And how about Perseus and medusa - throwing in a little greek mythology into the mix !
Someone taking a clubbing from another someone, on a bed of beasts - of course !
A statue designed specifically as a perching place for pigeons - maybe ?
And one of my favs -a football playing lion in the piazza della signoria.
They do like their lions - this time holding a shield in the piazza di santa croce.
Another beauty above !
And from memory the one above was inside the Basilica of Santa Croce.
The city was really full of them. These are just some of the ones that caught my attention. But they literally are everywhere - what a place - they really wanted their city to look beautiful, and they completely nailed it !