Florence in Tuscany Italy, Tuscany Travel Guide, Tuscanweb

Florence- capital city of the Tuscany region, with the municipal territory extends for 3,514 square kilometres and is one of country's most important and historic cities.

Florence has a population of 374,500 inhabitants, spreads on the banks of the river Arno, on Italy's northwest coast. The glory of Florence is big, the city is one of Italy's most atmospheric and pleasant, late-medieval centre that contributed so much to the cultural and political development of Europe.

It leads the quiet dignified life of a regional capital, and constantly visit by tourists. Its streets could almost beguile you into thinking you've walked into a former age, because he has not changed greatly since the 16th century.

Florence was founded as a colony of the Etruscan city of Fiesole in about 200 BC, than by the Romans was named "Florentia", the florid one,in 59 BC and it was a settlement for retired Roman soldiers.

In the early Middle Ages, Fiesole was more powerful than Florence in the valley below, and many wars arose between them. In 1010 and 1025 Fiesole was sacked by the Florentines.

Florence became a free comune and by 1138 it was ruled by 12 consuls, assisted by the Council of One Hundred, a bunch of rich merchants. In 1207, due to intractable problems with faction fighting, the council was replaced by a foreign governer. The great plague of 1348 had destroyed the city's population.

In the latter part of the 14th century the city came under the sway of the Medici family, rich bankers. Cosimo Medici was the first of the Medici rulers of Florence, not only in political way, he also had great influence in culture, science and the arts, using the family treasure to enrich Florence. He was a patron of artists such as Donatello, Brunelleschi, Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi. After his death, he was named as "Father of his Country," and buried in Church of San Lorenzo.

The great Medici family, gave all support and sponsorship to fameous Italy`s artists and in the same time to the Renaissance. Thanks to the powerful Medici, rulers of Florence during most of the Italian Renaissance, many of great artists, as Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, had design and create beautiful buildings, gardens, squares and artworks that still today can been seen.

In 1494 the Medicis went broke and lost their hold on power. The city fell under the control of Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican monk who led a puritanical republic until he fell from public favour and was hanged and burned as a heretic in 1498. The Medicis returned to Florence in the 16th century, having united themselves by marriage with Emperor Charles V, and ruled for the next 200 years. In 1737 the Grand Duchy of Tuscany passed to the House of Lorraine, which was incorporated into the Kingdom of Italy in 1860. Florence became capital of the Kingdom and remained so until Rome took over in 1875.

In 20th century Florence thrived on the back of tourism, financial services, heavy industry and its old staple – trade. But the 20th century was in many ways disastrous for Florence. The city was one of Mussolini's most faithful strongholds, and it was badly damaged by the retreating Germans, who blew up all its bridges except the Ponte Vecchio, built in 1345.

Devastating floods ravaged the city in 1966, when the Arno burst its banks, causing inestimable damage to its building and artworks, some of which are still being restored. One good thing to come of the disaster, which left the city covered in a mantle of slimy mud and left countless families homeless, was the evolution of modern restoration techniques. The salvage operation led to the refining of methods which have since saved artworks throughout the world.

Today, even if much of Florence’s greatness lies in its history, it has wonderful shopping, peaceful parks, excellent eating, an great atmosphere and breathtaking views.

Places to Visit

The Duomo

The Duomo- Gothic cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The fourth largest cathedral in the world, it is the spiritual heart of Florence. The building work took around 200 years, and its green, pink and white marble fasade contributes to the chromatic harmony of the square; its imposing dome is visible for miles around. The interior houses many masterpieces including frescoes by Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno rub shoulders with terracottas by Luca Della Robbia and the sarcophagus of Saint Zanobi. It is possible to climb up to the top from where there is an extraordinary view over Florence.

The Piazza della Signoria

Florence’s most famous square, it was used for centuries as a backdrop by artists, then by film-makers. The former political centre of the city, it includes some of Florence’s main historic buildings and contains the most admired sculptures in the world.

Palazzo Pitti

One of the most visited sites on the southern bank of the Arno, this palace was designed by Brunelleschi for the Pitti family, rivals of the Medicis. It's a huge and imposing building, and a treasure house of the Medici family's massive art collection including works by Raphael, Filippo Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese and Rubens, all hung in lavishly decorated rooms.The palace also houses a gallery of modern art and a costume collection.

Ponte Vecchio

Old Bridge, has been built in 1345, this beautiful bridge, is only one who survived second word war, and it is the oldest bridge in Florence, souranded with many shops and goldsmiths. There is a secret passageway which is connected with Uffizi Gallery and the Pitti Palace, today big touristic attraction.

The Basilica of Santa Croce

Geometrically coloured marble decorates the building's fasade, but the real treats lie inside where many famous Florentines lie in peace. The walls are lined with tombs, and 276 tombstones pave the floor. The church's most famous inhabitants are Michelangelo, Macchiavelli, Galileo and Bardi. Its various chapels feature works of art by Giotto and della Robbia, and the serene cloisters were designed by Brunelleschi.

The church of San Lorenzo

The former parish church of the Medici family in Florentine Renaissance style, built from 1420 by Brunelleschi. Donatello, who designed the bronze pulpits, lies in one of the chapels. Passing through the cloister, you reach the Laurenziana Library, commissioned to house the family's huge collection of books and featuring a sublime staircase by Michelangelo. The Medici Chapels are sumptuously decorated with precious marble and semiprecious stones; the most powerful Medicis were buried here. The New Sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and contains his Night and Day, Dawn and Dusk sculptures.

Boboli gardens

Adjacent to the Palazzo Pitti, this garden is one of the most famous in the world. It was created from 1549 by Tribolo then by Vasari, Ammannati and Buontalenti. Its fountains, lakes, geometric flowerbeds and terraces lined with trees wonderfully represent the Renaissance style. At the top of the hill stands the Forte di Belvedere built in a star shape by Michelangelo with a magical view over Florence.

Cascine park

This huge farming estate, situated between the Arno and the Mugnone rivers, which belonged to the Medici family, was turned into a park by Giuseppe Manetti towards the end of the 18th century. The enthronement of Ferdinand III took place here in 1791.

Museums & Galleries

Galleria degli Uffizi

This former palace of the Medici houses one of the most impressive art collections in the world. It shows the evolution of Italian painting from the primitives to the 17th century. Worth seeing: Botticelli’s’ Birth of Venus, Titian’s Venus of Urbino, Michelangelo’s Holy Family or the Portrait of the Duke of Urbino by Piero della Francesca.

Museo Nazionale del Bargello

It houses sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio and various collections of enamelware, jewellery, weapons...

Galleria dell’Accademia

19th century statues, Byzantine paintings, Russian icons, paintings by Florentine Renaissance painters, notably Botticelli’s Madonnas and above all sculptures by Michelangelo, including the original of the famous David.

Galleria Pitti

Gallery of modern art, museum of silverware and Galleria.

Museo della Casa Fiorentina Antica in Palazzo Davanzati

A museum of Florentine domestic life: furniture, fabrics, domestic objects from the 14th to 18th century.

Events

Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Artigianato

The International Handicrafts Fair-is the craft show not to be missed. You can enjoy Florence at its best in spring and take advantage of the many opportunities from discounts on the admission ticket and meals to the playroom for small children.Art exhibits many handmade products including clothing and accessories, silverware and jewelry, furniture, beauty and health products and food and wine.

The Festival dei Popoli

is Florence's film festival with an international category and an Italian category. When it was founded, its leitmotif was to transport its public to places far away in terms of both time and distance; to bring the world to Florence.

Florence Biennale

Every two years the Fortezza da Basso hosts the International Arts Biennale in Florence.The Florence Biennale is uniquely open to expansion and diversity as participants are chosen without prejudice as to style, theme or school. If you are in Florence in December then don't miss this chance to experience fresh, new art in a unique surrounding.

Pitti Immagine

Florence hosts five fashion events that are among the most important in the international calendar; Pitti Immagine Uomo, Bimbo, Filati, Casa and ModaPelle. Pitti Immagine's mission is to stage fashion fairs and events in the sense of production-consumption, and esthetic and cultural design. The shows have shifted from fashion as a product to fashion as global lifestyles, as striking settings, as social relations and communication among classes, generations and cultures. The shows are spread out through the year so there is likely to be one taking place while you're in Florence and you'll realise that they become the talk of the town.

Calcio Storico

Saint John the Baptist is the patron saint of Florence, and on the day of San Giovanni, 24th June, there is a large fireworks display in Piazzale Michelangelo. The following Sunday sees the final of the 'ancient football' a hybrid of football, rugby and wrestling with a side order of mindless mayhem. The rules are non-existent and the winning team (there are four, representing the historic quarters of Florence) gets to eat the prize - a calf - in the subsequent street party.

Festa Della Rificolona

The 'Festival of the Lanterns' is said to be one of Florence's oldest festivals, and has its origins in the most important farmers market of the year, held in the Piazza of St. Annunziata. The farmers and their families would get up very early, put on their Sunday-best and walk to Florence by the light of candles held in tissue-paper lanterns on the end of poles. The sophisticated Florentines would mock the dull yokels attempt at elegance and the children would make their own brightly coloured lanterns and follow along, jeering and whistling. Today, the night of the 7th sees the children off Florence running through the streets with their rificolone, and there are street parties, theatre and a huge market in the square. Tuscanweb - Tuscany News & Events

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

This musical event made its name initially through the originality of its programme. Held annually since 1937, it is Italy’s oldest music festival and Europe’s oldest along with Salzburg and Bayreuth. It has always played host to the most prestigious directors: from Max Reinhardt to Visconti, from Luca Ronconi to Zhang Yimou, including Liliana Cavani and Bob Wilson.The festival is held during May and June but activities continue all year round at the Teatro Comunale with a season of opera in the autumn and a symphonic season in the winter.

Some Famous People

Giovanni Cimabue (artist, 1240-1302), Dante Alighieri (poet, 1265-1321), Giovanni Boccaccio (poet, 1313-1375), Filippo Brunelleschi (architect, 1377-1446), Lorenzo Ghiberti (sculptor, 1378-1455), Donato dei Bardi, called 'il Donatello' (sculptor, 1386-1466), Luca della Robbia (sculptor, 1400-1482), Filippo Lippi (artist, 1406-1469), Antonio Pollaiolo (sculptor, 1432-1498), Alessandro Filipepi called 'il Botticelli' (artist, 1445-1510), Domenico Bigordi called 'Ghirlandaio' (artist, 1449-1494), Lorenzo the Magnificent (the most famous of the Medicis, 1449-1492), Leonardo da Vinci (artist, 1452-1519), Amerigo Vespucci (explorer who gave the name to the continent of America, 1454-1512), Michelangelo Buonarroti (artist, 1475-1564), Francesco Guicciardini (historian, 1483-1540), Andrea del Sarto (artist, 1486-1530), Niccolò Machiavelli (politician and historian, 1489-1527), Benvenuto Cellini (goldsmith, 1500-1571).