Loggia Lanzi

The Loggia of Lanzi, sometimes called the Loggia of Orcagna or Signoria, differs from the usual loggias located in modern residential buildings and architectural monuments. The arched structure, which appeared in Florence in the 14th century, is located entirely on the ground. It is believed that this gallery became the ancestor of all other loggias, which arose in a wide range throughout Europe.

History

The Loggia Lanzi was erected for mercenary soldiers, landsknechts, who defended the Grand Duke Cosimo de' Medici. While the ruler was engaged in important state affairs, soldiers could hide from the scorching sun or rain under the roof of an open gallery facing the Palazzo Vecchio. Unlike most buildings of that time, the Loggia Lanzi got its name not from the name of the customer or the architect, but from the abbreviated word landsknecht: the Italians apparently had as much difficulty pronouncing this term as modern people, so they shortened it a little. According to another version, the building received its name from the name of the Duke’s main bodyguard. A little later, the loggia played the role of a divider between ordinary people and honorary citizens of Florence during all kinds of ceremonies, holidays and public meetings.

And a few more years later (after the construction of the Uffizi Gallery), the roof of the gallery turned into a nice terrace, from which members of the ruling family could watch all the events that took place in Piazza del Signoria, for which the gallery received its third name. Today, the Loggia Lanzi has turned into an open-air museum, providing everyone with the opportunity to view sculptures created during Antiquity and the Renaissance.

Description

The Loggia Lanzi differs from the slightly gloomy Palazzo Vecchio in its “live” and open appearance. Built in the late Gothic style, it impresses with its light proportions, graceful columns and sculptures. The first of them (Judith) appeared here as a sign of the expulsion of the Medici family, who ruled the city for more than 150 years. It was no coincidence that the figure was located here; it was this woman who beheaded the commander Holofernes, who captured the heroine’s homeland. The townspeople liked the allegory, and the sculpture began to represent the end of the Medici reign. But the Medici themselves were not going to give up, and soon returned to their places.

They liked the idea of ​​arranging an open museum, and within a short period of time the indoor gallery became the owner of a sculpture of Perseus beheading the Gorgon Medusa. And this choice was also not made by chance: in this way the Medici warned all those who were dissatisfied. Today there are 15 sculptures in the Loggia Lanzi, but only two of them are originals. All the others are beautifully executed copies. On the steps of the Loggia there are still the Medici family coats of arms, and there is an inscription on the wall indicating the change of the calendar. The entrance is decorated with two stone lions. Moreover, one of them is already 2000 years old, and the second lion barely reaches its 500th anniversary.