In the latter part of the 1700’s engravings of important cities became fashionable. Probably the most well-known engraver of this period is Giovanni Battista Piranesi, who recorded views (vedute) of Rome from 1748–1774. The artist Giuseppe Zocchi, who documented the city of Florence, Italy, is not as well-known as Piranesi, but Zocchi produced views which are of equal importance.
Giuseppe Zocchi published his Florentine engravings in 1744. This lesser known series consists of 25 views under the title Choice XXV views of the main districts, squares, churches and palaces of the city of Florence.
Below are the views from this series/ Accompanying each engraving is a present-day aerial photo of Florence, with a diagram showing the direction the engraving has been drawn. The very last image is a plan of Florence, which includes a corresponding number for each engraving.
(View of Florence from the Capuchin Monastery in Montughi)
(View of the Royal Palace of Pitti, House of the Sovereign Rulers)
(View of a part of Florence taken outside the Porta alla Croce from the Arno River)
(View of a part of Florence taken outside the Porta à S. Niccolò from the Arno River)
(View of a part of Florence taken from the Vaga Loggia)
(View of a part of Lung’Arno, and of the Ponte à S. Trinita, taken from the Palazzo del Sig: March: Ruberto Capponi)
(View of Lung’Arno and the Ponte à S. Trinita, taken from the Terrazzo de SS: Rucellai)
(View of a part of Lung’Arno from the opposite side of the Palazzo del Sig: P.e Corsini)
(View of the Church, and Piazza d’Ognissanti)
(View of the Strozzi Place, the Centauro, and the Street Leading to Santa Maria Novella)
( View of the Church of S. Michele Bertelde, of the order of Theatines)
(View of the Palaces Corsi, and Viviani)
(View of the Palace of Strozzi, on the road that leads to the Bridge S. Trinita)
(View of the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, Equestrian Statue of Ferdinand 1st, fountains, and two Lateral Loggia)
(View of the Bridge at S. Trinita, the Church of S. Trinita, and the Column raised by Cosimo 1st)
(View of the Hospital, and of the Piazza of S. Maria Nuova)
(View of the Church, and Piazza of S. Pier Maggiore)
(View of the Badia Fiorentina, and the Palazzo of Potestà, taken from the Piazza of the Church of the Oratory)
(View of the Piazza and Church of S. Giovannino of the order of the Jesuits, and the Palaces of Riccardi, and Panciatichi)
(View of the Uffizi from the Loggia near the Arno River)
(View of the Duomo and Baptistery during the Procession of Corpus Domini)
(View of the Piazza and Church of Santa Maria Novello, with the Festival of the Chariot Race)
(View of the Palazzo Vecchio, of the Loggia, and of the Piazza, with the Feast of Homages on the Solemnity of San Giovanni Battista, Protector of the City)
(View of the Church, and Piazza of Santa Croce, with the Football Festival held in the year 1738 in the Royal presence of Sovereign Kings)
(View of the Fishing on the Arno outside the Gate at San Frediano)
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