Courtyard of the Uffizi Gallery

The courtyard outside the Uffizi Gallery was originally designed by Vasari with 28 niches that were purposefully left empty. In the 1830s, however, an empty niche looked wrong to most Florentines. The proposal was to fill the niches with statues of famous Florentines, which happened from 1842 through 1856. Today, a stroll along the walls of the courtyard is an introduction to some of the great minds that came from Florence and Tuscany. Dante Alighieri – Dante’s most famous work is the “Divine Comedy” and today he’s considered to be the father of the Italian language – but this 13th century poet wasn’t always revered in Italy. He was exiled from Florence in 1301 for being on the losing side of a political dispute, and remained in exile until his death in 1321. He actually wrote the “Divine Commedy” while in exile. He is buried in Ravenna, although there is a cenotaph for him in the Santa Croce Church in Florence.

20150921FlorenceItaly01002015Architectural DetailAutumnEuropeFallFirenzaFirenzeProvince of FlorenceSculptureStatueTuscanyUfizzi Gallery