Piazza della Signoria has been the centre of politics since the first years of the Florentinian republic history. It was in 1268 when the Guelph party, composed by primarily of a cultured upper-class with commercial origins, once again gained control and decided to take down the houses of their Florentine rivals, the Ghibellines. The palace continued to maintain its political function in Florence during the reign of the Medici and later under Duke Cosimo I, who lived there between 1540 and 1565. It was during this time that Giorgio Vasari was commissioned to double the building. Later when the Grand Duke and his family decided to move to the new Pitti Palace in 1565, Palazzo della Signoria began to be known as Palazzo Vecchio. One of the most visited open air attractions of the city where the Uffizi and Loggia dei Lanzi. A number of sculptures are on display under the elegant arches of the loggia which was erected for the public ceremonies of the Signoria. First, there are the six Roman statues against the wall in back representing heroines.