Piazza della Signoria is the political centre of Florence and it had been for some centuries also the center of Italian politics: there are the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), the Loggia della Signoria (Seigniory's Loggia) and the palace of Uffizi. In the open space of the piazza there are many sculptures, a real open-air museum.

Palazzo Vecchio (formerly called Seignory's Palace) was built between the end of XIII and the beginning of XIV century on project by by Arnolfo di Cambio. Even if it is inside city walls, it has a fortress shape consisting of a single block with few gothic twin lancet windows, surmounted by crenellation and a defense tower. Initially it was the seat of the city government (the Seigniory) and for this reason called Palace of Seigniory; at the beginning of XVI century Cosimo I dei Medici moved the seat of the government to his new residence of Pitti Palace and its name changed to Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace).

The inner court of the Palace was rebuilt in Reinassance style by Michelozzo, the architect of Medici family, and then decorated during the XVI century by Vasari. In the middle there is the fountain by Andrea del Verrocchio. Inside the Palace there are: the Salone del Cinquecento (Cinquecento Great Hall) on the noble floor, richly decorated by frescos; the Studiolo of Francesco dei Medici; the Sala dei Gigli (Hall of the Lilies, symbols of Florence) on the second floor; la Sala delle Carte Geografiche (Hall of the Geographical Maps).

The Loggia della Signoria (Seigniory's Loggia), where nowadays hosts a collection of sculptures featuring the Ratto delle Sabine by Giambologna and Perseo by Cellini, was built during the XIV century to be the seat of public politic assembly. Under the Medici's government ot became the seat of the mercenary guards of Lanzi (the famous or notorius corp of Lansquenets).