PER LE SUPPLICHE = FOR SUPPLICATIONS
The Uffizi Palace: An itinerant printseller ambles by the Porta delle Suppliche - the Gate of Supplications (alternately: “petitions”, “appeals”, or “requests”). Bearing an armload of lushly romantic views of no place on earth.
From 1580 until the end of Medici rule (1737), this was the most famous doorway in Florence - or at least, the doorway that embodied the most intense hopes and fears.
The Grand Dukedom of Tuscany was an absolute monarchy. Here at the Porta delle Suppliche, the ruling prince accepted formal appeals from his subjects - for stays of execution, for government contracts, for personal advancement...and so on.
Usually by way of the Bocca delle Suppliche ("Mouth of Supplications") - now sealed with cement.
Grand Duke Francesco dei Medici (ruled 1574-87, founder of the Uffizi Gallery) gazes down from the cusp of a dramatically split pediment (designed by Giorgio Vasari).
More MEDICI?
More MYSTERIES OF FLORENCE?
PHOTOGRAPHS: Florence: Bocca delle Supliche; Street Scene
©Lyle Goldberg
Heywhat is the address of this doorway? I would like to go see it someday I have been in Florenz a few times but never saw this one
ReplyDeleteThe Porta delle Suppliche is on the Piazzale degli Uffizi at the corner of Via Lambertesca. Thousands of people pass it every day without noticing - which is why it remains a "Secret Place"!
ReplyDeleteI took a picture of it myself not knowing exactly what was the purpose of it ..i'm glad you explained it to me
ReplyDelete