Piazza dei Cavalieri for the little ones
- Look at the foot of the statue: what animal do you see and what does it symbolise in your opinion? (Answer 1 at the bottom of the page)
- Observe the palace behind the statue: it is called Palazzo della Carovana because the caravans of the Knights departed from here. Today, however, the order no longer exists, only a foundation remains to remember them. Today, the knights who studied here have been replaced by normal students, it is the Scuola Normale Superiore.
- Look at the façade of the building: how many zodiac signs are there? Only 8, because the other 4 are hidden by the staircase that was added later. Then, have fun finding the turtle: it is one of the symbols of Cosimo I, a turtle with a sail on its back, and represents the motto 'Festina Lente': hurry up slowly, or 'act without delay, but with caution'...
- There are other animals and symbols on the façade : have fun finding more!
The dolphin symbolises the sea, or the Maritime Republic. The Medici wanted to show here the dominion of Florence over Pisa, conquered for the first time in 1406.
