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This statue's base has a plaque with a mesmerizing pattern on it.
The statue of Ferdinando I, astride his horse in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, is a familiar sight. But take a closer look at the bees on the plaque at the rear of the statue. On the bronze plaque at the rear of the statue is an irregular circle of bees, all facing the queen in the center: the bees represent the state of Florence as an industrious community ruled by the grand duke. Some say that it is impossible to count the number of bees using only your eyes. Because of the irregular concentric arrangement, those who try will always lose count—said to be a deliberate trick on the part of Tacca and Giambologna, who finished the statue started by their teacher, Giambologna.
