Travel Bug Origins Tag

The Man Who Sculpted Medusa

Cellini was born in Florence in 1500 and died there 71 years later, after having worked in most of the great renaissance cities. One of his most famous sculptures can be seen around the corner from Ponte Vecchio in Loggia dei Lanzi. It is the bronze of Perseus proudly presenting the snake haired head of Medusa, while her decapitated body is bleeding by his feet.

In mythology Medusa is known to turn men to stone, and the sculpture is appropriately surrounded by marble statues of Hercules, David and Neptune. Not the best recommendation of an ever-lasting relationship between man and woman.

A closer look at some of the love locks found.

Not a Model Guardian of Lovers’ Vows

Added to that, Cellini himself was not exactly monogamous. He did not marry until 1562, but was known to have taken some of his female models as mistresses. And he was officially charged and sentenced for the crime of sodomy with both women and men. Some of the passions have been vividly described in a colourful autobiography from 1563, so Benvenuto Cellini may not be a model guardian of lovers’ vows either.

Cellini’s statue in front of Palazzo Vecchio, more love locks and the bust of Cellini himself.

But that does not bother the couples leaving their love locks on Ponte Vecchio in Florence. They still throw the key to the padlock on Cellini’s railing in the Arno as an eternal symbol of undying love. Until the city administration comes by and removes the tokens.

During our trip to Florence Italie we forgot to leave our love lock on the bridge of Ponte Vecchio in Florence. 

Please bring it back to where it belongs. 

Thank you! 

Tijdens onze vakantie naar Florence zijn we vergeten ons liefdesslotje te plaatsen bij Ponte Vecchio. Zouden jullie dat voor ons alsnog kunnen doen. We komen kijken als hij er hangt. Enorme dank!