Photo: Palazzo Vecchio, Florence, Italy

The clock and the tower of this 13th century palace are a reference point for many tourists who visit Florence.

The palace was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio and built in the Quartieri Santa Croce, in Piazza della Signoria. Cosimo I de’ Medici resided there along with his family. The Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace) also housed Italy’s government offices in the Middle Ages and even today it contains the offices of the city council.

Today it’s monumental appartments, paintings and sculptures are visited by tourists from every part of the world. The Uffizi are seen in the foreground. Night shot.