The Tiro Nazionale At Florence

The Tiro Nazionale at Florence, 1862. Engraving from a drawing by M. Mariani. '...a number of military societies have been constituted and organised under Government protection in nearly all the Italian districts. One of the most important of these societies militant is that established at Florence under the name of the Società Nazionale del Tiro, the statutes of which were approved...in the month of March, 1860, when the building was forthwith commenced...[It] has been erected under the direction of Signor Biscardi, an eminent Florentine engineer...In the body of the building are the offices...the depot of arms, and the room for rifle practice...the targets are arranged behind the building...The pavilion on the right of the spectator is occupied by a large salle-d'armes and a gymnasium, occupying a superficies of 7000 square feet. The pavilion on the left hand comprises a pistol-shooting gallery, a workshop for the gunsmiths attached to the establishment, and a vast café...the principal object of the society is to produce first-rate marksmen, and to promote their health and strength by the frequent use of gymnastic exercise. The number of its members is not limited, and foreigners are permitted to join on application to the president...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1862. Creator: Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images)