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"Momuments in Florence"

TWO STOLEN WORKS BY GIOTTO ARE FOUND
After almost seven centuries, two small works by Giotto di Bondone, the patriarch of medieval Italian painting, have returned to the light. "This is one of the most sensational discoveries relative to gothic art in recent years", commented the ex-minister of culture, Antonio Paolucci, currently superintendent of the arts in Florence, participating at a press conference at the Uffizi Gallery. The two circular paintings were part of the treasure of the noted Florentine antiquarian Carlo De Carlo, who died in December 1999. Only a tight circle of experts and confidants knew of the existence of these two works by Giotto in his collection that was then stolen. Police recovered it just a month ago during an operation against the illegal marketing of art works and they have now been officially proclaimed works by the famed artist.

PALAZZO VECCHIO OR PALAZZO DELLA SIGNORIA
Palazzo Vecchio is one of the symbols of Florence which has made it through centuries of battles and rebirths, brought it through the hands of gentlemen and merchants. Its impressive figure gives the piazza a strange but beautiful perspective. Arnolfo di Cambio was commissioned for the construction by the Guild Priors, who called it "Palagio Novo". In the fifteenth-century it was the seat of the Signoria until the Medici family moved to Palazzo Pitti: then, to distinguish it from the Grand Duke's residence, it was named Palazzo Vecchio.
It is one of the masterpieces of fourteenth century architecture. The façade, covered with rustic stone, is divided into three levels divided by cornices on which rest the beautiful mullioned windows whose arches are covered and underlined with the same stone. The small balcony, sustained by small arched supports underneath, opens out through an arched window, providing great architectural effect. Between these supports are the different family crests and shields of the ancients. A second patrol balcony is on the top floor and is protected by Ghuelf battlements.

THE BRIDGES OF FLORENCE
In addition to being roads that connect the various parts of the city, the bridges of Florence are real works of art in the open air. All of them have a long and complicated history made up of damage due to the flooding of the Arno and all of them, with the exception of the symbol of the city, the Ponte Vecchio, were destroyed by the Germans when they retreated from the advancing Allied army in 1944. Here is their history.

Ponte Vecchio: It is the most famous bridge of Florence, the symbol of the city. Renown for the goldsmiths' shops that give it an even more romantic appearance, it was built in 1345 by Taddeo Gaddi and Neri di Fioravanti to substitute the ancient Roman bridge that had been destroyed many times by the flooding of the Arno. Its place in history was made even more secure when it was the only bridge that the Germans spared in their 1944 retreat. It is made of three arches and hosts a bust of Benvenuto Cellini by Raffaello Romanelli, and is crossed by Vasari's corridor.

Ponte alle Grazie: This bridge was built in 1957 according to a plan by Giovanni Michelucci and other important architects to replace the old Ponte di Rubaconte from 1237, last rebuilt in 1876.

Ponte di San Niccolò: This bridge has a very interesting story. It was built in 1890 to replace the bridge named after San Ferdinando, which was from 1835. In 1939, after falling down several times, it was rebuilt in iron; the bridge we see today was built on a plan by Riccardo Morandi and completed in 1949.

Ponte da Verrazzano: This bridge was built in 1965 by C. Damerini, L. Savioli and V. Scalesse and is the newest bridge across the Arno; it connects the southern part of the city.

Ponte di Santa Trinita: In its long and complex history, this bridge has seen many collapses due to flooding of the Arno. The wood original was built in 1252. It was later replaced by one in stone, which collapsed in 1333. It was then rebuilt by Taddeo Gaddi, but this bridge too collapsed in 1557. Cosimo I ordered Ammannati to plan a new bridge; at the four corners are statues of the seasons put into place in 1628. It was destroyed by the Germans in 1944 and reconstructed in 1952 by R. Gizdulich.

Ponte alla Carraia: The 1218 original was destroyed by a flood in 1274 and was rebuilt, but it collapsed again in 1304 (according to legend, due to the weight of a crowd that was watching a spectacle). Its replacement was also destroyed in 1333 and again in 1557. Mommissioned by Cosimo I, a new bridge was built by Ammannati which lasted until the German retreat. Today's bridge is from 1948 on a design by E. Fagiuoli.

Ponte alla Vittoria: The original was called Ponte San Leopoldo and was ordered by Grandduke Leopold. Ruined in 1925, it was replaced by another which was destroyed by the Germans in 1944. Today's Ponte alla Vittoria is from 1946.

THE UFFIZI PALACE
Intended by Cosimo I around the middle of the 16th century, the Uffizi Palace was designed by Giorgio Vasari. In order to realize the project, Vasari had many houses that surrounded the area demolished. Its construction also included the church of San Pier Scheraggio, which was reserved to worshipping until 1743. The purpose of the extraordinary building was to host the thirteen Magistratures or Uffizi, where the Palace later received its name from, at the time located in different seats. When Vasari died, the building of the Uffizi Palace was entrusted to Buontalenti and Alfonso Parigi. The construction of the Teatro Mediceo, inside the palace, belongs to Buontalenti. Built for Francesco I in 1586, the Theatre was, afterwards, destined to other uses: it was, in fact, the seat of the Senate when Florence was the capital of Italy. In the building, moreover, many laboratories reserved to artisan and artistic productions were built, which were reserved to the environments of the palace. The building has an unusual horseshoe shape: it's formed by two parallel buildings united by a passageway. The two floors of the building stand over a portico sustained by two pillars and decorated by niches, where the statues of Florentines who distinguished themselves from the Middle Ages until the 19th century are placed. Today the Uffizi Palace is one of the most important art galleries in the world: the Uffizi Gallery. In 1993 the Palace was involved in the bombing attack at the Accademia dei Gergofili, but in no time it was brought back to its original splendour.

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