War of Siena “Taking of the Port of Ercole” by Giorgio Vasari, Hall of Five Hundred of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence

Fresco - Water Pigments (7,60 x 6.10 metres) 1568-1571

Taking Port Ercole On the eastern wall of the Hall of the Five Cents, Giorgio Vasari represented the taking of the port of Ercole (or port Hercules), an episode of the Siena War following the taking of the city on April 21, 1555.

After the taking of Siena, many Sienese, French and German troops and exiled Florentines took refuge in Porto Ercole under the command of Piero Strozzi, a Florentine rebel.

The Florentine army arrived near Ercole on May 25 1555, and immediately stormed the highest fort in Saint-Hippolyte. After this capture, the Florentines then conquered on June 12 the fortress “Lo Stronco” and on June 18 the fort of “Avvoltoio”.

After these three Florentine victories, the Sienese besieged surrendered on June 20 after a twenty-four-day siege. In Giorgio Vasari's fresco, we can see the movements of troops besieging the defence walls of Porto Ercole, partly destroyed by Florentine artillery.

As when the fort of the Porta Camollia was taken in Siena, the Florentines were commanded by the condottiere Gian Giacomo de Medici, Marquis of Marignano, who can be seen on the right with his command staff.

Taking Port Ercole