The Lion as a Symbol of Florentine Identity

This exhibition is dedicated to the lion, a figure that has accompanied the political and cultural life of Florence for centuries. Lions can be seen in sculptures throughout the city’s squares and public buildings, as well as in architectural decorations, making the creature one of the most recognizable symbols of Florentine identity.
Hosted in the Sala dei Gigli, the exhibition traces the significance of the lion through the ages, focusing specifically on its connection to power, liberty, and civic identity. It brings together artifacts ranging from the Roman era to the modern age, illustrating how the lion has been used to represent the sovereignty and autonomy of the Florentine community.
At the heart of the exhibition stands the Marzocco — the heraldic lion that served as the symbol of the Florentine Republic. It is no coincidence that the exhibition is held in Palazzo Vecchio, the historic seat of the city’s government; this choice underscores the deep-rooted link between the animal and the representation of public authority.
 

The exhibition and the history of live lions in Florence

Visitors are welcomed by two monumental lion-head sculptures by Baccio d’Agnolo, on loan from the Museum of San Marco, which also provided two Marzocco (heraldic lion) figures dating to 1383, created by Jacopo di Piero Guidi and Francesco Neri, known as "il Sellaio".
The exhibition also features documents and evidence illustrating the prevalence of lion iconography in Florentine culture, including an 18th-century plan by Ferdinando Ruggieri — preserved in the historical Archive of the Municipality of Florence — that documents the lions' enclosure ("serraglio"). 
Indeed, the exhibition is notable for its in-depth exploration of a particularly compelling aspect of Florence’s history: the presence of live lions in the city, dating back to the Middle Ages. As exotic and feared animals, lions were kept in enclosures that served as clear symbols of prestige and authority. Following their presence in Piazza San Giovanni and at the Palazzo del Podestà, the Palazzo Vecchio itself housed an enclosure from the mid-14th century until 1550. This strengthened the association between the lion and the city’s government — so much so that the street behind the building is still known today as Via dei Leoni ("Street of the Lions"). Historical chronicles recount that many such animals were raised in the heart of Florence, and attest to the staging of hunts and combats during significant civic occasions — a practice illustrated in the exhibition by a drawing by Giovanni Stradano, on loan from the Department of Prints and Drawings of the Uffizi Galleries. As a final highlight, the exhibition features a taxidermied lion, provided by the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence.
 

An itinerary in Florence

The exhibition’s narrative extends into other areas of Palazzo Vecchio, highlighting the presence of painted and sculpted lions. This suggests a thematic itinerary — not only within the museum, but also throughout the city — that continues to the Museo Nazionale del Bargello, home to Donatello’s famous Marzocco, and to the Museo Stefano Bardini. At the latter, visitors will be provided with a map identifying the dozens of lions collected by the antiquarian—pieces that perfectly illustrate the enduring popularity of the lion motif from antiquity to the present day.
 

Exhibition included with Firenzecard