Schmap Florence Historical Background

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Florence - Historical Background
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Florence Home
Schmap Florence guide and map

The history of Florence stretches back as far as the eighth century B.C. when a primitive settlement lived in the valley, close to the Arno. ‘Florentia' is recorded as an official Roman colony in 59 B.C. and was designed according to the typical Roman road system, which can be seen in many Italian cities today. There are two principal roads: the ‘cardus' descends from the Baptistery to Via Roma and continues on to Via Calimala, while the ‘decumanus' stretches from Via del Corso to Via degli Speziali until it reaches Via degli Strozzi. The Forum (public meeting place and market) was built at the point where the roads meet, on what is now the Piazza della Reppubblica. During Roman rule, Florence was the most important city in Roman Tuscany.

Invasion!

Florentia was invaded by numerous tribes in the following centuries: Goths, ‘Silicone', Ostrogoths and Longobards. Many inhabitants adopted Christianity at the time of the Silicone, and the first churches appeared outside the Roman walls of Florentia: San Lorenzo and Santa Felicita were built during the fourth century A.D and can be visited today.

A Cultural & Economic Success

Charlemagne's arrival put an end to the colony's expansion. Buildings were still constructed however, and the ‘Battistero di San Giovanni' dates back to this time. The city flourished in the ninth and tenth centuries, a great deal of money was spent on the construction of many religious buildings e.g. the ‘Badia Fiorentina'. Many public works were undertaken, including the building of the city walls in 1078. Florentia was a cultural and economic success!

A Growing City & A Cultural Revolution

Florence's wealth and power grew at an enormous pace; a second set of city walls had to be built; the district of Oltrarno became part of the city and Romanesque-style architecture ruled (e.g. San Miniato and Santi Apostoli churches). Florentine craftsmen became involved in the textile trade (beginning with the trading of wool and silk), which lead to gradual urbanization. Political tension began to rear its ugly head in the thirteenth century as two political factions (the Guelphs and the Ghibellines) fought for power. At the end of the thirteenth century, there was something of a ‘cultural revolution'. A major player in this revolution was the architect Arnolfo di Cambio who designed the Palazzo dei Priori (which became the Palazzo della Signoria a century later) and also started work on the reconstruction of Santa Maria del Fiore, which was completed in successive centuries. Arnolfo also continued with the construction of the third and final set of city walls.

Plague & Politics

The city was devastated by plague in 1348, and political conflicts were still rife. The “Ciompi Riot” occurred as a result of the people's frustration - the poor reacted against their 'unjust' governor. Meanwhile, Florentine merchants and bankers were already working hard to increase their wealth in order to attain power over the nobility.

Lorenzo de' Medici

Lorenzo de' Medici played an important role in Florence's history; he strengthened the political interests of the nobility, while dedicating himself to his love of the Arts and philosophy. The city underwent a cultural rebirth, which became known as Humanism. After Lorenzo's death in 1492, the city came under the harsh, puritanical rule of the Dominican friar, Girolamo Savonarola, who was elected to the leadership of the Republic. He was so unpopular that he was burned alive six years later by angry citizens. The leadership of the city was unstable for several years after that, but the de' Medici clan regained power and Florence had her first Duke in 1530.

The Kingdom of Italy

The succession of the Grand Dukes of the Medici family continued until the end of the eighteenth century, but Florence gradually lost the central role it had occupied in preceding centuries. The last heir of the Medici's handed over power and all the family's riches to the House of Lorena, whose rule continued until 1859, when Florence was united with the rest of Italy (which later became the Kingdom of Italy). Florence was only the capital of this kingdom for a few years and the court transferred its official residence to the Palazzo Pitti. A lot of urban design and restructuring took place during the nineteenth century, including the construction of embankments along the Arno and piazzas in the centre of the new districts of Barbano and Mattonaia (which are now Piazza dell'Indipendenza and Piazza D'Azeglio). The 'arnolfiane' wall and the Jewish Ghetto were demolished, to make way for a series of ring roads which were to lead to the Piazzale Michelangelo, and the Piazza della Repubblica.

World War Two had a devastating effect on Florence. The city sustained many damages, especially to its bridges and the area inside the 'Ponte Vecchio'. The flood of 1966 further hindered the preservation of valuable Florentine treasures.

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Badia Belltower

The Badia belltower

Via del Proconsolo, 3
Florence 50122
Italy

The Badia belltower is one of the main reference points in the panorama of the city. Under restoration for some time now, the Badia is part of the monastery which was the home of the Benedettini. It was founded in 978 by the mother of a famous Florentine figure, Ugo of Tuscany. The Pandolfini chapel, which is in front of the 15th Century atrium, was restructured on the remains of the previous smaller church of San Stefano. There are lectures of Dante given here in memory of the first public reading by Giovanni Boccaccio of Dante's Divine Comedy which happened in 1373. Inside the Badia, there are two works in particular which should be noted: the marble tomb of the Marquis Ugo of Tuscany (which was made by Mino of Fiesole), and the Apparition of the Madonna to St. Bernard by Filippino Lippi. Admission: Free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Fabio Venni

Badia Belltower photo by Luis Manuel Guaida Escontría

Photo: Luis Manuel Guaida Escontría

Photo: Irene Ferrando

Baptistry

Roman baptistery Piazza San Giovanni
Florence 50129
Italy
+39 55 230 2885 Although the Baptistery's precise origins remain unclear, its foundations are known to date back to Roman times. The central doors are stunning works of art, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament and they have been called The Gates of Paradise. Lorenzo Ghiberti who worked on them from 1403 to 1424 designed these ornate doors. Inside, the octagonal structure is richly decorated with Roman columns and gilded column heads. The floor's marble inlay features Islamic-style patterns and the apse is decorated with 13th-century mosaics. Coppo di Marcovaldo and Cimabue were among those involved in the cupola's decorative mosaic work. Admission: EUR 3.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Piazza D'Azeglio

A 19th-century piazza with handsome gardens Piazza D'Azeglio
Florence 50121
Italy
This piazza was formed in the Mattonaia quarter of the city, inside the city walls, at the end of the 19th century as a result of the development plan devised by the architect Giuseppe Poggi in the 1870s. Once established, the bourgeoisie then considered the area both residential and desirable. The area then saw the creation of Prince Umberto's theatre. Sadly, though it was destroyed two decades later. Another building appeared on the piazza at the beginning of the 20th century but today, this remains one of the few green spaces in the city center. There are amusements for young children including a merry-go-round, slides and a wooden castle in a cordoned-off area; and there are also areas for older children such as a basketball court.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Piazza D'Azeglio photo by wcities
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Piazzale Michelangelo

Fantastic view over the city Piazzale Michelangelo
Florence 50100
Italy
Renowned for its panoramic views of Florence and the Arno valley, this terrace is a popular spot with locals and tourists. Created as part of major restructuring of the city walls, Giuseppe Poggi's sumptuous terrace is typically 19th century. In 1871, Poggi designed a monument base dedicated to Michelangelo. The monument itself was to be composed of copies of Michelangelo's works, including David and the Medici chapel sculptures from San Lorenzo. When the terrace was finished, Poggi designed the hillside building, now a restaurant, as a museum for Michelangelo's works.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Pitti Palace

Ex-Royal residence Piazza Pitti, 1
Florence 50125
Italy
+39 55 238 8614
http://www.polomuseale.firenze... Halfway through the 15th century Luca Pitti entrusted Brunelleschi with a large building project in the Boboli hills. Work began in 1457 but was only completed after the middle of the 16th century by the Medici brought it from Pitti who went bankrupt in the process of trying to outdo the palatial splendor the Medici. The building was enlarged, the interior decorated luxuriously and the Boboli hills were landscaped into gardens. It then became the residence of the Lorena family who constructed, in the 18th century, two lateral wings with porticoes which came round either side of the central piazza. It was the residence of Vittorio Emanuele II when Florence was the capital from 1865 to 1871. In 1919 it became state property and visitors were permitted entry to the Royal Apartments, the Galleria Palatina, the Museo degli Argenti, the Galleria d'Arte Moderna, the Galleria del Costume, the Museo delle Porcellane, the Museo delle Carrozze (closed for restoration) and the Giardino di Boboli. Temporary exhibitions are shown in the White Room.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Ponte Vecchio

Florentine icon Ponte Vecchio
Florence 50125
Italy
Best known of all Florence's treasures, this glorious bridge was the only one of six spared by the retreating Germans on 4 August 1944. Over the centuries flooding unfortunately took its toll; few traces of the 10th-century bridge remain. Today's bridge, built in 1345, was filled with butcher's shops which would routinely discard the carcasses into the Arno causing quite a stench. Grand Duke Fernandino I issued an edict to replace the butchers with goldsmiths to eradicate the smell and gentrify royalty's route to Palazzo Pitti, reached via the Vasari Corridor that passes over the bridge. Also, do not padlock anything to the statue of Benvenuto Cellini, often practiced by lovers who padlock a lock to the gate of the statue and toss the key into the river - otherwise face a fine of EUR 50!

Review © 2007, Wcities

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SS. Apostoli

Romanesque Basilica Borgo SS. Apostoli, 3
Florence 50123
Italy
+39 55 29 0642 The architectural history of this church began in the Romanesque period in the 11th Century. The foundation of the Basilica is maintained on the inside, where the space is arranged into three naves divided by green marble columns from Prato, typical of decorative Florentine architecture, and bare columns which come from the ancient Roman baths of the first century. In the side chapels (15th-16th Century) the late baroque decorations are still visible, while at the far end of the left nave there is the Sepulchral Monument of Oddo Altoviti which was made at the beginning of the 16th Century by Benedetto da Rovezzano. Admission: Free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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San Lorenzo

Medici family church Piazza San Lorenzo
Florence 50123
Italy
+39 55 21 6634 Encompassing the Biblioteca Laurenziana (the Laurentian Library - one of the most prestigious libraries in Italy) and the Cappelle Medicee, this basilica is a testimony to the political power and patronage of the Medici family. Its origins date back to 393 when St. Ambrose consecrated it in memory of the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. Adorned with fabulous artwork, including the marble Altar of the Sacrament carved by Desiderio da Settignano, the basilica features major artists of the period, including Donatello, Verrocchio, Filippo Lippi and Brunelleschi. This church contains the tombs of many members of the Medici family as well as that of one of their favorite artists, Donatello. Admission: EUR 4.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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San Miniato al Monte

Romanesque church on the Florentine hills Via Monte alle Croci, 34
Florence 50125
Italy
+39 55 234 2768 San Miniato is one of the most striking examples of Florentine Romanesque architecture, characterized by its bicoloured (white and green) marble façade. The altar, pulpit and transept recess feature fine marble décor, while the floor, in keeping with the Romanesque style, is decorated with symbolic ornamental motifs. Halfway along the nave on the left is another chapel, the Cappella del Cardinale Portogallo, which was designed by one of Brunelleschi's pupils, its architectural and decorative style resembles one of Brunelleschi's first creations, the Sagrestia Vecchia (Old Sacristy), which can be seen in San Lorenzo church. Admission: Free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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Santa Felicita

Early Christian church Piazza Santa Felicita, 3
Florence 50125
Italy
+39 55 21 3018 The foundations of one of the city's oldest churches date back to the 4th century, when Christianity was in its infancy. Named after Roman martyr St Felicita, the church gradually took shape during the Romanesque period. In the first half of the 18th century Ferdinando Ruggieri made changes to the building, one of which was the inclusion in the structure of the Vasari Corridor that connected the Palazzo Vecchio to Palazzo Pitti. During the reign of Medici successors the Lorraine family, the church was used as a court chapel. Designed by Brunelleschi for the Barbadori family, little of the original structure of the chapel (later known as the Capponi Chapel) remains due to renovation work carried out during the 18th century. It does however contain two sixteenth-century masterpieces - the Deposition and the Annunciation - by Jacopo Carrucci (also known as Pontormo) that were commissioned by Ludovico Capponi. Admission: Free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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The Duomo

The Renowned "Duomo" of Florence Piazza del Duomo
Florence 50122
Italy
+39 055294514 As the city's skyline symbol, the legendary Duomo is famous above all for its dome: Filippo Brunelleschi's Renaissance masterpiece, completed in 1436, created a double dome shell so that the dome is entirely self-supporting. It still stands as the largest masonry dome in the world, containing over 4,000,000 bricks! Climb to the top (all 463 steps) to get an unforgettable panoramic view of the city which has changed little in the past 500 years. Construction started in 1296 on the site of the Roman basilica of Santa Reparata of which there are still visible remains with a design by the great Florentine architect, Arnolfo di Cambio. The existing neo-Gothic façade was added in the 19th century by Emilio De Fabris. Covering a massive 3,600 square meters, the frescoes inside the dome depict the Last Judgement, painted by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari. For those interested the two frescoes on the left-hand wall of the nave are dedicated to two of the most famous mercenaries in Florentine history who are buried in the cathedral: Giovanni Acuto (the Italianized name of the Englishman Sir John Hawkwood) by Paolo Uccello and the other Niccolò da Tolentino by the great Andrea del Castagno. If you can stand the throngs of people and get a good spot early, come on Easter Sunday for the Scioppo del carro (Explosion of the Cart) where a oxen-drawn cart stuffed with fireworks comes from Prato to the center of the city and ignited. Admission to Church: Free; Admission to climb the cupola: EUR 6.

Review © 2007, Wcities

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