Florence, Italy
 |
Palazzo
Vecchio and the Galleria Degli Uffizi -- These
structures are consummate symbols of the ruling Medici family at the
height of their power. The towering "old palace" served as
both residential and administrative quarters of Florence's civic leaders,
until Duke Cosimo I of Tuscany deemed it necessary to expand.
The ducal household moved across the Arno to the Palazzo Pitti, while the newly-built Uffizi or "offices" sheltered the bureaucrats and the Medici's ever-growing art collection by 1554. All structures are connected via a 2km long corridor built by Vasari, traversed only by the duke and his closest entourage. Inside these buildings, citizens enjoyed modern amenities such as running water and the toilet. This photo was taken with the Canon Pro70 digital camera. |
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