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. Galileo – 16th century scientist Galileo Galilei is known as the father of modern science, although during his lifetime his declarations were not widely embraced. Through his telescope, Galileo found evidence that the earth moved around the sun, which went agains the church and the prevailing wisdom of the time. He was investigated by the Roman Inquisition, put on trial by the Vatican, and forced to recant. He lived under house arrest in Florence until his death.

20150921FlorenceItaly01032015Architectural DetailAutumnEuropeFallFirenzaFirenzeProvince of FlorenceSculptureStatueTuscanyUfizzi Gallery