History Of Florence

Florence is one of the richest art cities in the world and boasts 2,000 years of history, starting from its Roman founders through to the wealthy, art-loving Medici family of the 15th century and the present-day status as a tourist haven.

Beginnings

Florence was founded by the Romans under Julius Caesar in the 1st century BC as a military settlement and was later made the provincial capital. The city grew through trade during the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD and was later taken by the Ostrogoths, Byzantines and Lombards, but it never exceeded the success it achieved under the Romans until the middle of the 11th century, when it became a republic and was governed by intellectuals and nobles.

Florence amassed great wealth over the coming centuries through trade and industry and the fortunes of its rich families were spent largely on beautifying the city.

Medici rule, art and culture

Cosimo de’ Medici came on the scene in the 15th century; a very wealthy banker and patron of the arts. His family, including Lorenzo de' Medici, went on to rule the city and amass a tremendous collection of art over the next two centuries. Florence attracted many prominent artists including: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael as well as prominent poets. A school of music was also set up in the city and Peri's Dafne, one of the first operas, was performed here.

The rule of the Medicis was challenged a couple of times, although the Medicis won each battle. The city expanded at a ferocious rate and came to control most of the Tuscany province - even after the Medici line was extinguished in 1737 - and eventually the city went on to rule the new kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871.

Modern times

Fortunately, much of the great art of Florence went unscathed during the allied bombing of Italy’s towns and cities during WWII, although the flooding of the city in 1966 caused extensive damage. Much of the art has been restored and since this time and the advent of the jet age, Florence has been overwhelmed with tourists.