Also known as: The Old Palace Formerly: Palazzo dei Priori and Palazzo della Signoria Built: 1299-1314 Designed by: Arnolfo di Cambio Type: Government Building Maximum Height: 308 feet / 94 meters Location: Piazza della Signoria, Florence, Italy
T his is the quintessential Florentine building with its clock, its tower, and its ramparts. It is a symbol of the power, influence, and strength of the family that built it. Back then the feuding families of Florence tried to out-do each other on a grand scale. This building was built as the headquarters of the Priori della Arti (Priors of the Arts), constructed in a triumph over the degli Uberti family. In fact, their homes were razed in order to create the square that the building dominates (Piazza della Signoria). Domination is what this building was created for, with its protruding battlements giving it the appearance of a fortress. The tower is flush with this protrusion, making it appear even taller and more imposing. The original bell tower, the de' Foraboschi tower, was considered insufficient and in 1310 was replaced by a second tower built on the old tower's shaft. This Arnolfo Tower contains further protrusions in the form of a walkway around the perimeter of the tower, much like the battlements below. This building served as the hub of activity in Florence during the Middle Ages because it was where the government offices were located until the 1560's. Even after they moved out, the Palazzo Vecchio retained its cultural importance because its location on the Piazza della Signoria always kept it within sight of the people running the city. After all, this is where Duke Cosimo I lived. The government moved on to the Uffizi and the new palace at Pitti simply because there wasn't enough space in Palazzo Vecchio. But they eventually came back. When the Lorraine family fell from power in 1848, this is where the United Italy's provisional government met. From 1865 to 1871 Florence was the capitol of the kingdom of Italy, and this building was the nexus of all political happenings as it was where the Chamber of Deputies met. When the capitol was moved in 1872, the building continued its political life as the seat of the Florentine City Council.
