In this fresco made by Giorgio Vasari and Cristofano Gherardi between 1555 and 1557 in the Palazzo della Signoria in Florence, we witness the birth of Venus. The main room celebrates the origin of the world and Grand Duke Cosimo I, whose name I associated with "cosmos." From primordial chaos the elements of the world are generated including Gaia (the Earth) and Uranus (the Sky). One of the son, Kronos enraged because his father had imprisoned him, castrated him with a sickle. The sickle fell to earth and formed Sicily, while Uranus' severed member fell into the sea and generated Venus, here depicted with all the sea minor gods. There is also a hidden political meaning: Venus is the symbol of a new age born thanks to Cosimo I, who stilled the trouble waters of Florentine government.

This is a detail from the Baptistery of San Giovanni in Florence. It is a chessboard. As art historian Francesca R. Valle explained, it is a symbol of choice while reproducing in the light sections a cross. If in fact, as it were, one demolishes a cube, the result in flat form is a cross.

Marble inlays of the church of San Salvatore al Vescovo (Florence). The square containing the diamond is reminiscent of the eight-pointed star or, Rub al-Hizb, the Tartesian star, also known as the seal of Mechisedec. On the left, a star is shown, with a sun, surrounded by hearts, thus love, God's charity for mankind. On the right, however, we find the more complex symbol of Revelation, with the circle, which stands for divinity, and the four semicircles on each side indicating the Evangelists.

At the church of San Salvatore al Vescovo in Florence, there's something special: seven candelabra arranged like a Menorah, a Jewish symbol. It's a reminder that different religions can come together. Instead of focusing on our differences, it teaches us to find what we share. This mix of symbols shows that we can respect each other's beliefs and find unity in diversity. It's a simple but important message of togetherness.

Here is a picture of the Old Bridge after the Germans retreated in August 1944. The photo was taken by an American soldier.

From Pitti's Chapel in  Santo Spirito Basilica the predella showing Luca Pitti in front of his palace, a rare view of the Pitti Palace before the Medici extensions. Luca Pitti was an Italian banker and wealthy Florentine who lived at the time of the de facto rule of Cosimo de' Medici, who initiated the construction of the Pitti Palace named after his family.

The bodies of the Virgin, Christ, and the boy Baptist fill the whole picture. The tender, natural looking embrace of the Mother and Child, and the harmonious grouping of the figures in the round, have made this one of Raphael's most popular Madonnas. The isolated chair leg is reminiscent of papal furniture, which has led to the assumption that Leo X himself commissioned the painting.

In 1501 Michelangelo was commissioned to create the David by Guild of Wool Merchant, who were responsible for the upkeep and the decoration of the Cathedral in Florence. He breaks away from the traditional way of representing David. He does not present us with the winner, the giant's head at his feet, but portrays the youth in the phase immediately preceding the battle: perhaps he has caught him just in the moment when he has heard that his people are hesitating, and he sees Goliath jeering and mocking them. This is the original work by Michelangelo that is now in the Accademia Gallery. The one you see in Piazza della Signoria is a replica from 1873.

Since the Middle Ages, the Bardini Garden has belonged to wealthy families that have succeeded one another. Born for agricultural use, it was transformed over the centuries into a splendid Italianate garden, which in the early twentieth century was also used by the owner from whom it takes its name, the collector Stefano Bardini, known as the "prince of antiquarians," as a spectacular reception venue in which to welcome his wealthy clientele.

The Bardini Garden integrates three gardens, differing in age and style:

The Italian-style garden, with its magnificent Baroque staircase;

The English-style woodland, which, with its exotic elements, represents a rare example of an Anglo-Chinese garden;

The agricultural park in which a new orchard and the splendid wisteria arbor have found their place.

Il Porcellino (Italian "piglet") is the local Florentine nickname for the bronze fountain of a boar. The fountain figure was sculpted and cast by Baroque master Pietro Tacca (1577–1640) shortly before 1634, following a marble Italian copy of a Hellenistic marble original. It was also used in the second movie of the Harry Potter saga the Chamber of Secrets, as you can see from this screenshot!

The Chiostrino dei Voti of Florence's Santissima Annunziata hides alchemical and esoteric meanings.

The ten columns recall the 10 Commandments, six are the roundels, as the days of Creation. In the center is always the One, Creator God (the empty space) on which the Tree of Life with its Sĕfirōt is grafted.

The roundels depict: King David who is the symbol of Keter, the crown. To his right is Joshua pointing to the sun, the symbol of Chokhmah, wisdom. Both represent the element Fire.

Moving forward we find Daniel with lions, a symbol of Binah, discernment, and representing the element Earth. On the next side Jonah. Then follows Noah depicted with the ark. Both represent the element Water. The cycle concludes with Isaiah, representing the element of Fire and Gheburah, the strength.

The Tribune was realized between 1581 and 1583 by architect Bernardo Buontalenti “to keep the jewels and embellishments of the Grand Duke”, Francesco I de’ Medici. The structure is octagonal because, according to Christian tradition, eight is the number that draws near Heaven. Francesco I conceived the iconography of the Tribune’s decorations and furniture as a full cosmos featuring the four elements. Earth is represented by the floor, realized as a wide flower inlaid with polychrome marbles. On the dome, Water is represented by 5,780 mother-of-pearls from the Indian Ocean, all masterly set on a background painted with a scarlet varnish. Fire is represented by the precious red velvet on the walls. Air is symbolized by the towering lantern open to the winds.