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Florence is the capital city of the region of Tuscany, Italy, and lies on the banks of the Arno River. With a population of approximately 400,000 people in the urban area, the large suburban populace brings the total number in the greater area to over 900,000 inhabitants. During the Medieval era, Florence was a hub of European trade and finance, and is regarded as the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance. About one-third of the most important European artists of the last millennium lived or worked in Florence, and the historic center was entered onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982.
The history of Florence goes back to the establishment of a settlement for former Roman soldiers way back in 59 BC, which was known then as Florentia. It was located on the Via Cassia, a major route going between Rome and the North. This positioning allowed the settlement to quickly grow into a significant trading centre. During the 3rd Century AD, Emperor Diocletian made Florentia the capital of the province of Tuscia.
From the start of the 4th Century AD, Florentia was subject to succesively unstable eras of Ostrogothic rule, during which the city was often the victim of sieges and slaughters, with the population dropping to as low as 1,000 people at certain times. Stability was finally regained under Lombard rule in the 6th Century. Then, it was overtaken by Charlemagne in 774 AD, and joined the duchy of Tuscany. Eventually, the population started to rise once more, and the trading scene was revived.
Margrave Hugo selected Florence as his place of residence around 1000 AD, and this move kicked off what’s known as the Golden Age of Florentine Art. The next milestone in the history of Florence was a result of the city’s burgeoning wool industry, and came in the form of an attempted strike by wool combers in 1345. This led to an uprising in 1378, causing a short-lived revolt against oligarchic rule. After this was suppressed, Florence became the dominion of the Albizzi family, who were bitter enemies of the now-famous Medici family.
The power of the Medicis came from the fact that they were bankers to the Pope, along with several other behind-the-scenes factors which contributed to their eventual status as the rulers of the city. Cosimo was the first to rise to power, and he was succeeded by his son Piero, who was then succeeded by Lorenzo in 1469. Lorenzo, a great patron of the arts, commissioned work from Michelangelo, da Vinci and Botticelli.
Lorenzo’s son Piero II took over in 1492, and when French King Charles VIII invaded northern Italy, he had to accept defeat. He was exiled in 1494, ending the first period of Medici rule. During this era, Dominican monk Girolamo Savonarola became famous for his sermons, which cited the exile of Piero II as God’s punishment for their sin, and seizing upon the chance to insinuate democratic reform. Eventually, Savonarola was banned from speaking in public after making an accusation of corruption against the Pope, and was excommunicated after breaking this condition. He was burned at the stake on the Piazza della Signoria in May of 1498.
After regaining rule and once again being driven out in the early 16th Century, the Medici family was once again restored with the support of the Emperor and the Pope in 1537. They ruled for another two centuries after that as the Grand Dukes of Tuscany.
Florence became the capital of Italy in 1865, but was replaced by Rome in 1871. Its population doubled during the 19th Century, and then tripled during the 20th Century as tourists, financial services and industry took hold. During World War II, Florence was occupied by Germany for a year, and the Allied soldiers who gave their lives to free the city are buried in cemeteries just outside its borders. Today, Florence is one of the most beautiful homes to art and architecture in all of Europe, and makes for a very important tourism and business destination.
Some of the highlights:
The most renowned attraction and architectural highlight of Florence is the domed cathedral known as Santa Maria del Fiore, or the Duomo. Constructed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the nearby Campanile Tower and the Baptistery buildings are also worth seeing, and it’s all open to the public and feature great views over the city.
In the Piazza della Signoria, you’ll find Bartolommeo Ammanati’s Fountain of Neptune, a beautiful marble sculpture. And make sure you make it to the Piazzale Michelangelo by sunset, when the bridges there provide absolutely gorgeous lookout points.
One of Florence’s bridges is particularly striking, the Ponte Vecchio, with its many shops constructed along the edges and held up with stilts. Originally built by the Etruscans in ancient times, the Ponte Vecchio is the only of Florence’s bridges to make it through World War II without major damage.
Florence has some great museums, such as the Bargello, which focuses on sculptures and contains a multitude of priceless artwork from such sculptors as Donatello, Giambologna and Michelangelo. The Accademia dell'Arte del Disegno is the home of Michelangelo’s famed “David”, along with his unfinished project known as “Slaves”.
Also, massive Pitti Palace boasts the Medicis former private collection, with many wonderful Renaissance pieces, featuring several from Raphael. Adjacent to Pitti Palace, you’ll find the Boboli Gardens, which contains more fascinating sculpture and is itself elaborately landscaped.
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