Panorama Photo

We are in one of Tuscany’s most unusual locations, about 12 km north of Florence.
And this is no ordinary statue; it is the work of a famous Flemish sculptor, Jean de Boulogne—known in Italy as Giambologna.
Giambologna created renowned works such as Bologna’s famous Fountain of Neptune and the equestrian statue of Cosimo I in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria.
Standing 14 meters tall, this statue was created around 1580 and originally stood in the grounds of a famous Medici estate, the Villa di Pratolino. The villa fell into ruin over the centuries but was purchased in the 19th century by the Demidoffs, a wealthy and prominent Russian noble family. It is currently owned by the Province of Florence.
The *Colossus of the Apennines* is a figure that is half-man and half-mountain, designed to embody the majesty and ruggedness of the Apennine range.
I find the sculpture, created in 1580, remarkably modern: it is an outstanding example of how art can blend seamlessly with the surrounding nature, creating a sculpture that seems to emerge organically from the landscape.
If you happen to be in the area, do go and see it—the entire park where it stands is beautiful, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apennine_Colossus