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Hidden gems in Florence

Last Modified: November 16, 2021

Firenze è una delle città italiane più belle e conosciute. Però, come ogni città italiana, anche Firenze nasconde delle vere e proprie gemme.

Florence is one of the most beautiful and known Italian cities. However, as every Italian city also Florence has its share of hidden gems.

Scopriamo una di queste gemme nascoste: La statua di Perseo con la testa di Medusa.

Let’s see one of these hidden gems: The Statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa.

La storia della statua – The story of the statue

La statua di Perseo con la testa di Medusa è stata creata da Benvenuto Cellini tra il 1545 e il 1554, e adesso si trova a Firenze, in Piazza della Signoria

The Statue of Perseus with the head of Medusa was made by Benvenuto Cellini between 1545 and 1554 and now stands in Florence, in Piazza della Signoria.

La statua è alta 319 cm e, ovviamente, richiama la famosa storia mitologica dell’eroe Perseo contro Medusa.

This statue is 319 cm high and, obviously, recalls the famous mythological story of the hero Perseus against Medusa.

Medusa era un essere mostruoso con dei serpenti al posto dei capelli e uno sguardo pietrificante.

Dal momento che Perseo non poteva rischiare di guardarla negli occhi per non essere pietrificato, usò lo scudo donatogli dalla dea Atena per cercare il suo riflesso e localizzarla. Una volta trovata, usò la spada che Efesto gli aveva donato per decapitarla.

Medusa was a monstruous being with snakes instead of her hair and a petrifying glaze.

Since Perseus couldn’t risk to look her in the eyes not to be turned into stone, he used the shield Goddess Athena gave to him to search for the monster’s reflections and localize her. Once he found her, he used the sword Hephaestus gave him to behead her.

Però, la statua ha anche un significato politico. Rappresenta la vittoria del duca Cosimo I sui repubblicani.

However, the statue has also a political meaning. It represents the victory of the duke Cosimo I over republicans.

Un’altra cosa interessante su questa statua è che il materiale di cui è composta la testa di Medusa è leggermente diverso da quello di cui è composto il corpo di Perseo. La ragione è che Cellini si rese conto che finire la statua sarebbe stato più difficile di quanto si aspettasse. Così difficile, infatti, che quando terminò tutto il materiale che poteva usare per la statua, dovette fondere le proprie ciotole e i propri piatti per finirla – Puoi leggere i dettagli nella sua autobiografia La vita di Benvenuto Cellini.

Another interesting thing about this statue is that the material the head of Medusa is made of is slightly different than the one used for the body of Perseus. The reason is that Cellini found that finishing the statue was harder than he expected. So hard, indeed, that when he finished all the material he could use for the statue, he had to melt his own bowls and plates to finish it – You can read the details in his autobiography La vita di Benvenuto Cellini.

Quando Cellini finì la statua, chiese a Cosimo I 10.000 scudi come pagamento. Però, Cosimo I gliene diede solo 3.500, una somma che Cellini prese a malincuore.

When Cellini finished the statue, he asked Cosimo I for 10,000 scudi as a payment. However, Cosimo I gave him only 3,500, a sum that Cellini took unwillingly.

Se andate a Piazza della Signoria, oltre ad ammirare la bellissima statua, se andate dietro la statua in un giorno di sole, troverete una sorpresa.

If you go to Piazza della Signoria, in addition to admire the beautiful statue, if you go behind it in a day of sun, you’ll find a surprise.

Infatti, se guardate attentamente l’elmo di Perseo, noterete il colto di un uomo. Si dice sia l’autoritratto di Cellini stesso!

Indeed, if you look carefully at the helmet of Perseus, you’ll notice the face of a man. It’s said it’s Cellini’s portrait himself!

Have you seen this statue? What do you think about it? What are in your opinion some of the hidden gems in Florence?

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