Certini
Il Bisonte
Tourist informations
Where is it: at the crossing point of Viale Micchelangelo, Viale Galilei and Viale Poggi.
Piazzale Michelangelo is one of the most famous squares of Florence thanks to the wonderful view on the whole city it offers.
History
The demolition of the city walls and the building of the ring road when the capital of Italy was transferred to Florence (1861) included also a panoramic road across the hills surrounding the Oltrarno. This road was to be completed with a wide square dedicated to Michelangelo, who designed the fortress built around the near church of San Miniato al Monte.
The building of the square begun in 1873 and was completed two years later: it was conceived from architect Giuseppe Poggi as a monument to Michelangelo, and the in his view the loggia should be a museum in which all statues of the great artist should be exposed.
After the fortress of Belvedere was opened to visitors (1955), Piazzale Michelangelo is no longer the only "panoramic terrace" on the city, but is nevertheless preferred from Florentine and tourists wanting tto admire Florence and its monuments from above.
Click to enlarge pictures.
The Loggia near the big fountain never became a Michelangelo-museum as Poggi desired, and today a restaurant is located in it. In the centre of the square is the Monument to Michelangelo, including copies of his most famous statues (David and figures from the Medici graves in San Lorenzo).
