There’s nothing more fascinating than an archaeological dig! And archaeological excavations at Piazza della Signoria have revealed layers of settlements, dating right back to the Roman period. During medieval times, this area was filled with imposing tower houses belonging to the Ghibelline families. At the end of the 13th-century, when Arnolfo di Cambio began building a palace for the town’s leadership magistrates (the“Priori delle Arti”), this spot became the city’s political centre - quite the transformation! Far from the spiritual centre, with the wonderful cathedral and its baptistery, the decision to establish this as the political centre clearly reflected the city’s intention to separate civil and ecclesiastical power.