Finally, after 2 months, I'm labeling my photos of Italy and creating a scrapbook. I have a photo of an arch in Florence with the following on itI can't make it all out) Antico Centro Della Citta<BR>__secolare squallor__<BR>vita nuova restituit__<BR><BR>Sorry-I don't have a magnifier. This may have been near Piazza della Republica; we saw it several times walking between the Duomo and Rialto Bridge. When we were there in late March, there was scaffolding erected.<BR>I hope someone can identify this, as I've looked in all my guidebooks and can't find anything. Thanks, Barb

You might consider posting this picture on www.travel-baord.com - - you can post the picture right in your quesion (assuming you have it scanned, or digital) there.<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

Barb: You refer to Florence, the Duomo and Rialto Bridge. Do you mean Ponte Vecchio (Bridge) which is near Florence's Duomo? The Rialto Bridge is in Venice.

Mark--of course I meant Ponte Vecchio-it's a long walk from Florence to the Rialto. Thanks for catching my error--I was having a senior moment.

hi. you are probably looking at the arch built in the mid-19th century by the municipality to to celebrate florence. it is in the piazza della republica and stands perpendicular to the river. you see it as you head up to the duomo from the ponte vecchio. the area was the central market for florence and sort of dingy so they cleaned it up and built the piazza. there you go.

Bill--thanks for the help. Your input sounds on the mark. Any idea where I could find more info? thanks, Barb

<BR><BR>Attention all Fodorites!!!<BR>Wow! <BR>REX didn't know the answer but had to say something anyway

Yeah so what. what is your point. any useful suggestion to help get the question answered helps, as far as I can see.<BR>

hey barb: i think that it is sort of a curiosity rather than a significant monument so i am not sure where you could look. i like it because it usually has that big advertisement for coffee hanging off it: vernassa or something like that. anyway. it is a great looking arch. good luck with more info.

Florentines find it more than a bit ironic that the inscription reads something like "out of squallor, we've built this beautiful square.." because they are very embarrassed about the 19th century goofiness of Piazza Repubblica. It seems so tackily out of place in the midst of somber early Renaissance buildings. Every Florentine I ever knew would love to have the old "squallor" back. Whoever actually built/designed the arch and square was probably run out of town! Personally I've never found it that offensive, though it is quite a contrast to the surrounding structures.