Another fascinating & captivating piece by @Ada_Palmer on the historic & vibrant city that is Florence.
Brought to mind to so many lovely memories 👏
In no way a substitution for reading its entirety, here are just a few of my favorite highlights!
exurbe.com/vasari-the-pal…
Brought to mind to so many lovely memories 👏
In no way a substitution for reading its entirety, here are just a few of my favorite highlights!
exurbe.com/vasari-the-pal…
1/ The crazy & bizarre system that was the Signoria
"Every two months nine names were pulled out, and these nine men became the Signoria, the ruling council, to rule the city for two months. At the end of these two months new names were drawn, so no one ever ruled alone,..."
"Every two months nine names were pulled out, and these nine men became the Signoria, the ruling council, to rule the city for two months. At the end of these two months new names were drawn, so no one ever ruled alone,..."
2/ The infamous Palazzo Vecchio, where the Signoria dwelled
"while in office they were held within the palace and never permitted to leave, since outside they could be bribed, kidnapped, even contaminated by passing heretics or devils (horror!)."
"while in office they were held within the palace and never permitted to leave, since outside they could be bribed, kidnapped, even contaminated by passing heretics or devils (horror!)."
3/ Foreign diplomacy & the lack thereof
"Needless to say, the Signoria system was not popular with foreign powers who needed to negotiate with Florence’s government, nor with Florentines who needed to negotiate with Florence’s government..."
"Needless to say, the Signoria system was not popular with foreign powers who needed to negotiate with Florence’s government, nor with Florentines who needed to negotiate with Florence’s government..."
4/ Medici, banking, & power
As the "Official Bankers to the Pope, which meant that it was their job to escort donations, church taxes, land rents, indulgence fees and every kind of income from every church in Christendom back to Rome, taking a healthy cut."
As the "Official Bankers to the Pope, which meant that it was their job to escort donations, church taxes, land rents, indulgence fees and every kind of income from every church in Christendom back to Rome, taking a healthy cut."
5/ Medici monarchy
Palazzo Vecchio, "redecorated with new, more beautiful (and expensive) gilded ceilings, pseudo-Roman frescoes, and a beautiful but unsubtle mural of the Medici besieging Florence, with the simple message: you are here, my troops are here – think about it."
Palazzo Vecchio, "redecorated with new, more beautiful (and expensive) gilded ceilings, pseudo-Roman frescoes, and a beautiful but unsubtle mural of the Medici besieging Florence, with the simple message: you are here, my troops are here – think about it."
6/ Arguably one of the most eloquent & enduring descriptions of the Uffizi
"elegant symmetrical gray window frames and pediments in harmonious mathematical precision, creating a square which feels at the same time new and ancient, and above all planned, intentional"
"elegant symmetrical gray window frames and pediments in harmonious mathematical precision, creating a square which feels at the same time new and ancient, and above all planned, intentional"
7/ Vasari's lasting achievement & legacy
"Florence’s history, as you can tell, needs concise summary or it turns into a saga. Vasari turned it into a vista, and was in that perhaps a better biographer of Florence than he was of his fellow artists."
"Florence’s history, as you can tell, needs concise summary or it turns into a saga. Vasari turned it into a vista, and was in that perhaps a better biographer of Florence than he was of his fellow artists."
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
