<h2><em><span style="color: #605f00">Citizens revolt against plans to demolish the embodiment of Renaissance Civil Architecture.</span></em></h2>
<p align="left">By Jill Brockmann<strong>,</strong> ONN Contributor, Italy, Florence -- (ONN Bureau)</p>
<p align="left">September 19, 2011 12:05 p.m. EDT</p>


[caption id="attachment_1604" align="alignleft" width="290" caption="The Medici Palazzo ~ Image found: http://otherworldmystery.com/tag/rosicrucianism"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/med_pal_exterior4.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1604" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/med_pal_exterior4.jpg" alt="The Medici Palazzo" width="290" height="117" /></a>[/caption]
<p align="left">Riots broke out in Tuscany's capital today, as the polizia tried to hold back protesters in front of the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the epitome and gold standard of Renaissance Civil Architecture. Hundreds of protesters congregated in front of the strong, yet grim, exterior of the cube-shaped building that was once the most persuasive symbol of the political and cultural authority of the Medici banking family in Florence.<sup>2 </sup> Protesters believe that the building should be preserved because of its long history of provoking ardent political discourse, its owners promoted the preservation of priceless art and they shared their priceless pieces in an effort to enhance the community's love of the arts. The City Council is attempting to exert their power <!--more-->of emminent domain and destroy the building, replacing it with a high-rise apartment complex that would include tax-generating commercial space on the first floor. The building was built by the Italian architect and sculptor, Michelozzo di Bartolomeo Michelozzi (1396–1472) and was commissioned by the head of the Medici banking family, Cosimo de' Medici, between the years of 1445-1460. Today, the building is known as the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, after Gabbriello Riccardi purchased it and expanded its footprint in 1659.<sup>1</sup></p>


[caption id="attachment_1609" align="alignright" width="198" caption="Courtyard at the Medici Palazzo ~ Image found: http://www.goingthroughitaly.com/500/medici-riccardi-palace/"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/med_courtyard.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1609" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/med_courtyard.jpg" alt="Courtyard at the Medici Palazzo" width="198" height="187" /></a>[/caption]
<p align="left">Florentine citizens are protesting the demolition of the building, which they consider the foremost example of the classic theory of magnificence, touted by Aristotle in his famed literary work, <em>Nicomachean Ethics</em>. Aristotle's theory held that "men of means had a moral duty to live in magnificent palaces for the benefit of themselves, their family and society."<sup>2 </sup>Florentinians of today agree with this theory and see the building as an ideal model of political order, civic harmony, and pride.<sup>1</sup> At one time, the Medici Palazzo (palace) was said to be "one of the noblest specimens of Italian fifteenth-century architecture, in which the great taste and skill of the architect has combined with the delicate lightness of earlier Italian Gothic style and with the massive stateliness of the classical style." <sup>2</sup></p>


[caption id="attachment_1606" align="alignleft" width="557" caption="                                         Example of biforal and triforal windows ~ Images found:                                                http://www.florence-gallery.com/monuments/  and http://santatatiana.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/the-magnificent-palace-of-priors-in-perugia"]<a href="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CompareContrast-windows1.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-1606" src="http://jeanatacc.com/2011/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CompareContrast-windows1.jpg" alt="Medici Palazzo (left) and Prior's Palace (right) window examples " width="557" height="174" /></a>[/caption]

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<p align="left">When compared to the Prior's Palace, in Perugia, the Medici Palace offers many considerations of similarity and contrast.<sup> 2</sup> The Prior's Palace was constructed during the same time period and held fast to the custom of resting double-arch (biforal) windows on classic cornices, which echoed ecclesiastical architecture.<sup>2</sup> Medici Palazzo is designed with double-arch windows on the second and third floors. However, the rounded-arches of the windows in the Medici Palazzo deviate from the Prior's Palace windows in that they do not have the classic Gothic point at the top.<sup>2</sup> This rounded-style arch was first seen in a residence when Michelozzo designed the Medici Palazzo to look more secular.<sup>2</sup></p>
<p align="left">An additional architectural differentiation from buildings of its time, including the Prior's Palace, was the optical illusion created when the building is viewed from street level.<sup>2</sup> The stone surfaces from bottom-to-top change in texture from rough to smooth, and the stories are scaled from taller on the bottom level to shorter on the upper levels.<sup>2</sup> This transition of surfaces and story height creates the illusion that the structure looms even taller than it actually is. The cornice along the top of the building, projecting out six feet past the façade, serves as a type of crown for the building and its ornate moldings, coffers, rosettes and flutes further speak to the Medici's preoccupation with social and political status.<sup>2,4</sup></p>
<p align="left">Spokesperson for the uprising, <a href="http://www.google.com/search?tbo=p&amp;tbm=bks&amp;q=inauthor:%22Leon+Battista+Alberti%22">Leona Battista Alberti</a>, (descendent of the author Leon Battista Alberti penned <em>On the Art of Building in Ten Books</em>) stated that the Medici family monopolized Florentine politics and all things cultural from 1434 to 1494.<sup>5</sup>  Alberti claims that Cosimo Medici was a humanist, had amassed a large fortune, and had successfully managed to outwit his political enemies to become the <em>de facto</em> ruler of Florence.<sup>3</sup> Under his rule, Medici took advantage of the open trade routes, throughout much of the world, to bring precious objects to Florence and this enhanced honor and pride within the community. She further stated that the objects he imported  included priceless paintings, rare books, elaborate sculptures, fine tapestries, unusual plants, splendid inlaid marble floor tiles and much more.<sup>3</sup> Alberti clearly prayed that the Medici Palace remain standing as a respectful tribute to the illustrious Medici family and all of the rare treasures they brought to the Florentine citizens.</p>
<p align="left">Opponent of the protest, Frank Pazzi, (descendant of Francesco de' Pazzi) spoke of the political unrest that swirled around the Medici family during the time immediately before and after the construction of the Medici Palazzo. The rising wealth among the merchant class was infringing upon the authority of the Papacy and creating tension within the Church. He spoke of the fact that Medici purposefully chose the unusual design and appearance of the building's façade because he had just returned from exile and was conscientious about upsetting the delicate political climate of the time and arousing envy among the citizens of Florence. Pazzi's family had been political rivals of the Medici family in the 1400s and he noted that one of his ancestors had been hanged at the Palace.<sup>3</sup> Pazzi viewed the Palace as a place of great heartache, political unrest, and the reminded him of the social manipulation running rampant at the time. He stated that he wished the building "had been flattened years ago."</p>
<p align="left">Since the Medici vs. Pazzi family rivalry ended with the Medici's prevailing, the construction of the Medici Palace represented a celebration or re-birth of sorts, and therefor, the building was in a brand-new style.<sup>3</sup>  According to the Curator of the present-day Medici Museum, the Medici Palace was the first private residence in Florence to have an all-stone exterior, elements such as moldings, round-headed arches, elegant wedge-shaped stones in the arches, (called "voussoirs") and the prominent display of the family coat-of-arms.<sup>2  </sup>The Curator further explained that although there were some characteristics of this building that were classically Roman in nature, the predominant reason to preserve this structure was that it was the first time a residence included a gracious nod to civic harmony and lower-class inclusiveness among the wealthy. For example, he stated that Medici placed stone benches, wrought-iron hitching rings for horses, and torch holders on the exterior as a means of welcoming visitors.</p>
<p align="left">Perhaps the welcoming ambience of the Palace was the seed of change and now, present day architects use it in their designs. The Medici were the first to incorporate these community-related elements in to their design and nowadays nearly every building in existence has some sort of bench, railing, fountain, garden, or welcoming landscape. Saying that a building is "inviting" is considered a great accomplishment among commercial architects today. Is it possible that the Medici were the first example of this community-minded trend? If so, this fact alone may be reason enough to preserve the building.</p>
<p align="left">When interviewed, present-day Florentine Architect, Phillip Brunelleschi, (descendant of architect, Filippo Brunelleschi) noted that at the time Medici Palazzo was constructed, building façades had a distinct asymmetry to the placement of the center courtyard and the doors. This created a lack of alignment between the doors and the upper windows.<sup>2</sup> He went on to speak of the misalignment of the doors and upper-story windows of the Medici Palazzo. Despite this similarity to buildings of the day, it was Brunelleschi's opinion that the center courtyard of Medici Palazzo is designed to "evoke a cloister-like sacred space"<sup>2</sup> and this tranquil element was non-existent in other palaces of that time. The Medici incorporated their own chapel within the walls of the Palace. What did having their own church say about their connection to God? Most people in Florence had to walk to church. The Medici could have simply walked into their chapel and hire their own priest. Their social and religious stature must have irritated the Church and that would have further inflamed their political standing in town.</p>
<p align="left">Protest organizer, Loren Vecchio, (descendant of Cosimo Medici) advocates the preservation of the building due to the historic accomplishments of the Medici family in relation to education. Vecchio stressed that under the patronage of the Medici family, the Platonic Academy in Florence was founded in 1462. In 1480, The Medici opened the Garden of Lorenzo de’ Medici. Vecchio noted that the library of St. Lorenzo (Bibliotheca Laurenziana) made available to the public the immense Medici collection of books and manuscripts, and that this one act proved that the Medici's had devoted their lives to the colossal undertaking of educating and promoting the appreciation of the arts for generations to come.<sup>4</sup></p>
<p align="left">One of the protesters, Marisa Ficino, (descendent of Marsilio Ficino), mentioned that one of her ancestors had been hired by Cosimo to translate the works of Plato into Latin and that Medici was a huge patron of the arts and literature. She commented that, according to family stories, the Medici were the first family to use their personal residences to display vast art and cultural collections.<sup>4</sup> Ficino indicated that the practice of inviting guests to visit the Palace was politically innovative at the time because guests were only shown rooms that equaled their favor with the family. Viewing the enormous collection of rare and priceless artifacts became an inducement that led guests to do the bidding of the family. Certain precious pieces were only shown to those members of society that, according to the Medici family, were worthy.<sup>4</sup> At the time, this custom created envy among some circles while delighting others. Could it be that the same practice still exists, in some form, in our society today?</p>
<p align="left">Today, the Palace holds the offices of the <strong>Provincial Governor</strong>, the <strong>Florentine Provincial Authority</strong><strong>,</strong> the <strong>Istituto Storico della Resistenza</strong> and the Biblioteca Moreniana. In addition, upon researching this article, the author found almost three million listings for the Medici Palazzo that were academic in nature or bespoke of its architectural prestige and dominance in the civil architecture movement of the Renaissance. In the humble opinion of this author, it appears that this extraordinary work of architecture is worth preserving and hopefully the Florence City Council will realize the historical importance and, keep the building and give the protestors what they want.</p>