Monument of the Four Moors

The Monument of the Four Moors is a memorial in Livorno with a central marble statue of Grand Duke Ferdinand I. standing on a tall pedestal. Four bronze figures in chains surround the base at each corner and face different directions across the square.

Giovanni Bandini created the marble statue of the grand duke in 1595 for Piazza Micheli near the harbor. Pietro Tacca made the four bronze figures later and completed the ensemble in 1626.

The four figures at the base are bound in chains and show different postures that can be viewed from all directions. The name of the memorial comes from the habit of calling the prisoners Moors after their North African origin.

The memorial stands in Piazza Micheli close to the harbor and is freely accessible at any time of day. A white brick in the ground marks the spot from which all four figures are visible at once.

The bronze figures show anatomical details like tense muscles and tendons that point to living models. Tacca worked with real prisoners from North African conflicts who were held in Livorno.

Location: Livorno

Inception: 1626

Creator: Pietro Tacca

GPS coordinates: 43.54952,10.30476

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:30