Piazza della Signoria was named after the Palazzo della Signoria, also known as the Palazzo Vecchio, which stands prominent in the centre of the square.
Since its foundation, in the end of the 13th century, this L-shaped square has been the centre of the Florentine political and administrative life. Even today Piazza della Signoria still maintains its unique magnificence: although not that vast, it is extremely lively, and considered one of the main meeting hubs for both locals and tourists.
To a first-time visitor Piazza della Signoria will appear as an open-air museum, with plenty of beautiful statues, such as the splendid Fountain of Neptune, built in 1565, or the Michelangelo's David replica, one of the masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture (the original of which is in the Academy Gallery).