The Loggia dei Lanzi, located on a corner of the Piazza della Signoria, has been built between 1376 and 1391 by Benci di Cione and Simone Talenti in Late Gotic ‘Florentine’ style.
After the construction of the Uffizi, Bernardo Buontalenti modified the Loggia’s roof that became a terrace from which the Medici princes could watch ceremonies in the piazza
The Loggia itself became the place of important municipal events , like the elections of city officials called Priori and Gonfaloniere.
During the reign of Grand Duke Cosimo I the building became the house of German mercenary pikemen called Landsknechts. The name of mercenaries has been shortened by Italians to ‘Lanzi’, hence the present name of the building – Loggia dei Lanzi.
Under three big arcades there is an open-air collection of antique and Renaissance sculptures.
Among them the most spectacular is the bronze work of Benvenuto Cellini from 1545 – 54 representing The triumphant Perseus, with a curved sword holding the head of defeated Medusa,
one of the snake-haired Gorgons, who could turn men to stone.
Perseus has been smart enough to avoid an eye-to-eye contact with Medusa, he hold the mirror instead, and surprised Gorgona turned herself into a stone after seeing her deadly eyesight reflection in the mirror.
The other pieces of art are :
The marble group Menelaus supporting the body of Patroclus, The Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi, Sabines by Giambologna, and several other women sculptures Matidia, Marciana and Agrippina Minor.
[ photo : courtesy of Darren Krape]
Guides: florence, giambologna
