It’s impossible not to fall in love at first sight with Piazza della Signoria, one of Florence’s most important squares in the historic centre. Here stands the imposing silhouette of Palazzo Vecchio, which has always been the heart of civic power and today houses Florence’s City Council, but at the same time the square showcases a series of Renaissance masterpieces and statues that would be the envy of museums worldwide. You can admire an enormous David by Michelangelo (though stunning, it’s a replica – the original is housed in the Accademia Gallery), the magnificent Fountain of Neptune, and above all the Loggia dei Lanzi, a genuine open-air museum that’s completely free to visit, featuring world-renowned sculptures.
During your visit to Florence, you won’t be able to miss Piazza della Signoria: after all, this is where Via Calzaiuoli ends – the ultimate shopping destination in Tuscany’s capital – and it’s also where Piazzale degli Uffizi unfolds, home to the city’s most important museum, among Europe’s most visited. Finally, among the palaces overlooking Piazza della Signoria, it’s worth mentioning the ancient Tribunal of Merchants, which played a key role in the city’s economy. Today, fully restored, it houses the Gucci Museum.
But visiting Piazza della Signoria isn’t just about museums and admiring artworks: the square is the beating heart of Florence’s historic centre, and it’s lovely to experience it while sitting at one of the outdoor tables of the numerous bars and restaurants that line it. Certainly the prices won’t be cheap, but it’s worth spending a little extra for a coffee with an unforgettable view of Florence. For instance, treat yourself at Bar Rivoire, opened in 1872 and part of the Italian Historic Venues Association.
Piazza della Signoria is undoubtedly one of Florence’s most beautiful locations, worthy of spending an entire day exploring – there’s so much to see. Plus, before or after your cultural visits, soak up its Renaissance atmosphere whilst sipping a drink at one of the many outdoor cafés overlooking the square.
The main monument you can admire in Piazza della Signoria is undoubtedly Palazzo Vecchio. Today it’s home to Florence’s City Council, though historically it has always served as the civic palace. A masterpiece of 14th-century Florentine architecture, inside winds the Palazzo Vecchio Museum, allowing you to visit some of the palace’s splendid halls.
Whether or not you decide to visit the museum, don’t miss the beautiful Michelozzo Courtyard, the first one you’ll encounter upon entering the palace. Entry is free, and you can admire rich frescoes on the ceilings and walls, plus the bronze statue of Putto with Dolphin by Andrea del Verrocchio.
If you do choose to visit the Palazzo Vecchio Museum, you’ll be treated to some masterpieces of art and architecture, such as the majestic Hall of the Five Hundred, Palazzo Vecchio’s largest room at over 50 metres long, or the so-called Studiolo of Francesco I, designed by Vasari and richly decorated with paintings and frescoes.
The Loggia dei Lanzi, officially the Loggia della Signoria, is a covered arcade situated to the right of Palazzo Vecchio, just beside the Uffizi. Built to provide shelter for public assemblies and ceremonies of the Florentine Republic, today it has become an open-air museum, displaying an array of sculptures you absolutely cannot miss.
Look for instance at Perseus with the Head of Medusa, a work by Benvenuto Cellini commissioned by Cosimo I de’ Medici – undoubtedly the most important masterpiece within the loggia. Also worth noting is the Abduction of the Sabines, sculpted in marble by Giambologna in 1583, or Hercules and the Centaur Nesso, also by Giambologna, created in 1599.
Inside the loggia there are also a series of sculptures from the Roman period, some of uncertain origin, others 19th-century reproductions, such as the Abduction of Polyxena by Pio Fedi, dating to 1865.
Entry to the Loggia dei Lanzi is free every day of the year, 24 hours a day. The artwork’s integrity is guaranteed by a surveillance system operating day and night.
The Gucci Museum, or Gucci Garden, is a fashion museum that opened in 2011 within the prestigious setting of the Tribunal of Merchants, an elegant medieval palace on the north-east side of Piazza Signoria. The location choice is no accident: in medieval times, a tribunal here settled disputes between Florence’s guilds, including the textile guild, which held high importance in the city’s economy.
The museum is entirely run by the Gucci company, which opened it to celebrate the brand’s 90th anniversary; the family both owns and manages it, and decided to donate half the ticket revenue to Florence for art restoration.
In 2018, the Gucci Museum became Gucci Garden, and the route flows through 6 rooms across 2 floors. Each room is inspired by a specific theme: on the ground floor you enter the Guccification room, exhibiting items shared on social media, and pass through Paraphernalia, linked to Gucci codes, and Cosmorama, dedicated to historic clientele.
You then climb to the second floor, where there are two rooms named Rerum Natura, recalling natural history museums, and the route concludes in the Ephemera room, where visitors can engage with Gucci’s history through videos and photographs.
The Fountain of Neptune, known to locals simply as the Biancone, sits at the heart of Piazza Signoria, and is a collective 16th-century work: the main statue, Neptune himself, is by Bartolomeo Ammannati and dates to 1550; beneath it extends an octagonal basin, created later, its rim adorned with numerous bronze sculptures: fauns, nymphs and satyrs, plus various decorative elements, by different artists of the period.
Originally the fountain served a dual purpose: it supplied water to the area, whilst also celebrating the greatness of Cosimo I and the entire Medici family, who commissioned it around the mid-1500s. The god Neptune actually stands above a chariot drawn by four horses – two in white marble and two in pink marble – which emerge only partially from the waters.
The Fountain of Neptune is sadly notorious in the city for being the target of repeated vandalism, beginning as early as 1580, with the latest instances in the 1980s and 2005, when Neptune lost a hand. Finally, in 2020, a major restoration campaign concluded, restoring the water jets.
Practically all Florence tours, whether group or private, include a stop at Piazza della Signoria. After all, this is where you can visit Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi, two of the city’s principal landmarks. Be aware that there are no guides available for hire in the square, so you’ll need to book in advance, preferably online.
On hot summer days, the square remains completely exposed to the sun and can get extremely warm. We suggest visiting in the morning when temperatures are still reasonable. If you find yourself there midday or in the afternoon, shelter as much as possible under the Loggia dei Lanzi to enjoy some shade alongside Renaissance sculptures of world importance.
Also remember that Palazzo Vecchio is Florence’s City Council headquarters, so the ground floor is freely accessible. Here too you can find relief from the heat, immersed in a fairy-tale atmosphere, especially after passing through the first courtyard. Inside Palazzo Vecchio, still on the ground floor, there are also public facilities freely available.
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that Palazzo Vecchio hosts civil weddings for Florence’s municipality, so especially on weekends, you’ll often see rice being thrown at newly-wed couples in their finery. A must-see occasion for wedding enthusiasts!
Piazza della Signoria is located in the heart of Florence’s historic centre, so it’s easily accessible on foot from virtually anywhere. From Santa Maria Novella Station, for instance, it takes about 15 minutes walking – though this could stretch to two hours if you stop at shops or to photograph the wonders you’ll encounter, the Duomo included! In any case, you’ll get there in roughly a kilometre by taking Via Panzani and Via Cerretani until you reach Piazza del Duomo: from here take Via Calzaiuoli and follow it to the end to reach your destination.
Piazza della Signoria is also easily reached from Piazza Santa Croce, taking Borgo dei Greci and Via dei Gondi in a walk of less than 500 metres. From Ponte Vecchio the stroll is even shorter: simply take Via Por Santa Maria and turn right into Via Vacchereccia, and in just over 200 metres you’ll have arrived.
There is no public transport that passes through or stops at Piazza della Signoria: if you have mobility difficulties we recommend using taxis, the only vehicles licensed to enter.
Piazza della Signoria lies at the heart of Florence's historic centre. It sits on the north bank of the River Arno, just a short walk from the Duomo and the Basilica of Santa Croce.
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