Giant 16th-Century 'Colossus' Sculpture In Florence

Giant 16th-Century 'Colossus' Sculpture In Florence, Italy Has Entire Rooms Hidden Inside

Giant16th-Century ‘Colossus’ Sculpture In Florence, Italy Has Entire Rooms Hidden Inside

 This Epic colossus, half man, half mountain, was erected in the late 1500s by renowned Italian sculptor Giambologna as a symbol of Italy's rugged Appenine mountains. This mountain god, Appennino, stands 35 feet tall over the ground of the Villa di Pratolino in Tuscany.

The Rugged, mountainous statue hides a beautiful secret - his interior hides several rooms with different functions that made this colossus come to life. The monster in his left-hand holds spewed water from an underground stream, rumoring that the space in his head was made for a fireplace that would blow smoke out of his nostrils when lit.

There Are chambers inside his body, and even a fireplace in his head that when lit would allow smoke to come out of his nose. One special room could hold a small orchestra to play music for people visiting the site.

Perhaps If Giambologna had built his Colossus in a grand piazza in Florence, it would would now be considered one of the greatest masterpieces in the world, but alas, it resides off the beaten path and is little known. The masonry Colossus once had rooms, caves and inner passageways, and even a hydraulic system that connected the head of the giant to the various water sources in his body, and the fountain that poured from the fish he is squeezing. Today it has some visitors, but no where near the number it deserves.