File:Italy (1907) (14743579146).jpg

Identifier: italy00finn (find matches)
Title: Italy
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Finnemore, John, b. 1863
Subjects: Italy -- Description and travel
Publisher: London : A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: New York Public Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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The centre of Florentine city life is the splendidsquare where stands the Palazzo Vecchio, the grand oldpalace raised nearly seven hundred years ago as a resi-dence for the Chief Magistrate of Justice. In front otthis grim and powerful fortress, with its great and nobletower, the life of Florence ebbs and flows to-day, as ithas done for so many centuries. The history of thecity clings closely about this grand old building, whichhas seen riots, revolts, executions, scenes of public andprivate torture; has been the home of Chief Magistratesor of Grand Dukes, as forms of Government changed;and is now occupied by the council which deals withthe municipal affairs of Florence. The square before it seethes with Florentine life—above all on Fridays, when, after market, a vast throngof townspeople and peasants from the country roundabout pack it full from side to side. As a rule, theTuscan peasant is a graceful specimen of humanity,dark and intelligent-looking, with a delightful habit of 32
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I- bJ ii 0 ^ 1 - X 5 2° o < . The City of Flowers gesticulating with his hands in a manner which makesit almost possible for him to dispense with words. Inwinter these peasants wear long coats in wonderfulshades of bright brown and a peculiar vivid green, withcollars and cuffs of fur, and in summer they are cladfrom head to foot in cool linen. Among the gesticu-lating groups, cabs and carriages, with much shoutingand cracking of whips, slowly thread their way, scatter-ing to right and left the ever-shifting, brightly-colouredcrowd. The square is decorated with some of the grandeststatues of Florence, but there is also a plain slab orstone in the pavement before the palace which drawsmuch attention. This slab marks the spot whereSavonarola, the great preacher and reformer, was putto death in 1498. Savonarola was the Prior of theConvent of St. Mark, and his soul was greatly troubledby the wickedness of the time. Florence was ruled byLorenzo the Magnificent, and the city stood at the

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