Florence, Italy City Guide
For over 20 years, Pamela Lanier's Florence, Italy Travel Guide has been your connection to Florence's tourism community with invaluable details on local attractions, restaurants, shopping, museums, history, outdoor recreation and more.
History
 The history of Florence dates back to the civil war when Lucius Sergius Catilina's army was defeated near Pistoia. The survivors soon found refuge in Florentia (Florence), a retirement village for Julius Caesar's veteran soldiers that was established in around 59BC. The location alongside the Arno River was well chosen as a Romans Empire to commence trade with Europe. The people of Florence endured decades of civil wars that almost led to the city's destruction.
Around 1289, the famous poet Dante' was politically involved in the turmoil that surrounded the city until his fraction was defeated and he was exiled from Florence. He went on to write in his famous "The Devine Comedy" about the events and the characters connected with theses dangerous times. By 1434, a very wealthy dynasty, the Medici family ruled the city and "Lorenzo il Magnifico", the first Italian prince from this dynasty, brought about the Age of the Renaissance. He proved to be very popular and persuaded artists Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Botticelli and Benozzo Gozzoli to join him in this splendid city. Throughout the years that followed, Florence was tainted with wars and a great flood that damaged and destroyed the city's most cherished artistic treasures.
Fortunately, Florence has survived all the years of turmoil through the resilience of the great people who love and embrace the city's unique history. Today, the city flourishes with the tourism trade taking center stage along with the high fashion, textile, food and wine industries. |
