14/29.- Flanders: Antwerp, Town Hall Square

The Antwerp Town Hall was built in the 16th century, and combines Flemish architectural styles with those of the Italian Renaissance. The market square in front of it is lined with the richly decoarated houses of merchants' corporations. In the middle of the square, a monumental fountain commemorates the 16th-century legend according to which Silvius Brabo chopped off the hands of a giant, Antigon, who pillaged ships passing on the Scheldt. His heroic action supposedly gave the town its name, Hand-werpen = throwing hands, because he cast the giant's hands into the river.

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