Piazza della Repubblica is marks the center of the city since Roman times and is located in one of the oldest sections of the town. The square was the site of the ancient Roman forum and some of its currently existing adjacent streets like: Via degli Strozzi, Via degli Speziali and Via del Corso configured the Decumanus Maximus, while Via Roma and Via Calimaia shaped the Cardus Maximus.
In 1861, subsequent to the annexation of Tuscany to the Kingdom of Italy, the flattening of the Mercato Vecchio (Old Market), accomplished in 1870, enlarged the Piazza della Repubblica considerably. Several significant ancient monuments and buildings were irremediably demolished.
Fortunately, a splendid column from the Mercato Vecchio could be saved and this Column of Abundance (a Roman column crowned by the statue of L’Abbondanza which means abundance sculptured in the 18th century) still stands on the square.
The dominant element of the presently imposing square is the outstanding Arco del Trionfo (triumphal arch) placed on its western side. It was completed in 1895. The “Arco del Trionfo” had been constructed to honour Florence as it had been designated capital city of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1865 to 1871, in the reign of Vittorio Emmanuele II. In 1871, Rome became definitively the capital city of Italy.
The inscription above it
L'ANTICO CENTRO DELLA CITTÀ
DA SECOLARE SQUALLORE
A VITA NUOVA RESTITUITO
And the English translation:
The ancient centre of the city / restored from age-old squalor / to new life
Today, lots of shopping boutiques are found here. La Rinascente is one of the famous shopping centres in Italy and can be found at the Piazza too.
In addition, if you are looking for a Louis Vuitton branch, crossing over the Arco del Trionfo to Piazza Strozzi where a LV branch resides.
Address: Piazza Strozzi, 50123 Firenze.
Tel: 055 2396786
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