Strolling through Florence, its squares, bridges, churches and much more can the city be discovered. The main square, both civic and political in Florence is the “Plaza de la Señoría” or in Italian, “Piazza della Signoria”. It is here where Town Hall is located, within what is known as the “Palazzo Vecchio”.
Around the Town Hall there are many sculptures, among which we find the Fountain of Neptune or “Fontana del Nettuno”, a work of Bartolomeo Ammannati, well known during the 16th century as an architect and sculptor. Commissioned by Cosimo I de ‘Medici, the Fountain of Neptune would be the city’s first public source.
The face of the sea god, Neptune was modeled in the likeness of Cosimo I de Medici. It is said that the statue would be in his honor for having created the Florentina naval fleet. It is further thought that it was motivated by the wedding of Francesco I de Medici with the Grand Duchess Giovana of Austria.
Neptune stands on his carriage pulled by four horses resting on the pedestal next to the statues of Scylla and Charybdis (marine monsters) inside an octagonal basin. At the corners of the basin are Tethys, Dorides, Oceans and Nereus, these are other deities associated with the sea.
At a corner of the Palazzo Vecchio, the Fountain of Neptune is a few steps from where Michelangelo’s David stood for many years. A replica of David now stands there.
