Donkey Work

Walking Tours of Florence

Plaque to the donkey

---

The city of Florence is awash with plaques to the great and good, heroes, more often than not, from the worlds of art, literature and politics. But in the courtyard of the Palazzo Pitti, there is a plaque to a very different kind of hero.

The workmen who constructed the courtyard (1588-70) could not have done so without the help of the humble donkey and they have recorded their gratitude to the animal in the form of a beautiful bas-relief.

The Latin inscription notes that the donkey dragged and carried stone and marble slabs, wooden beams, and even the plaque itself!