 Few destinations can reward their visitors so lavishly as Florence. To let this magnificent city welcome you, is to immerse yourself in some of the greatest art treasures in the world. So we offer this brief reminder of Florence as hint of some of the wonders that await you in this marvelous city. In the first century BC, a Roman colony built at the foot of the ancient Etruscan settlement of Fiesole, was called "Florentia". In a short time it grew to include a Forum (now Piazza della Repubblica), thermal baths (via delle Terme), and amphitheater (via Tòrta). In about 1000 AD, Florence began to acquire the characteristics of a medieval town. At the beginning of the twelfth century, the town, then considered a Commune, began to expand until it spread over half of Arno Valley and surrounding hillsides. It endured the internal struggles that plagued the region. The first conflicts arose between rival families, and then between the Guelfs (loyal to the Pope) and the Ghibellines (loyal to the Emperor). From the thirteenth century onwards, Florence began to flourish as a city of art, culture and international trading, reaching its zenith in the fifteenth century under the Signoria of Cosimo and Lorenzo de’ Medici. The period from the 13th century to the end of the 16th century - which includes the Italian Renaissance - is clearly the most important in Florentine history . In this time of enlightenment throughout the European continent, Florence was the cultural capital of he Western world. The fathers of Italian painting, Cimabue and Giotto lived here as did Arnolfo and Adrea Pisano who took the art of sculpture and architecture to new heights.
The founders of the Renaissance, Ghilberti and Della Robbia plus the greatest and most influential artists of all time, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Botticelli all created masterworks in their Florence studios. Their masterpieces – together with those of many other generations of artists, up until the masters of our own time – can still be admired in the streets and piazzas of this city and in it's numerous museums. After Lorenzo de’ Medici’s death in 1492, Florence witnessed a long period of wars that led to the end of the Florentine Republic and saw the birth of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany, ruled first by a younger branch of the Medici family and following, by the Hapsburg-Lorena family. Despite alternating events, the Grand Duchy survived up until the political unification of Italy, of which Florence was capital from 1865 to 1871. This marked the beginning of a profound restructuring of the city that led to the removal of the walls and the ancient quarters in the city center. Thus, began the creation of the Florence we know today. Florentine Art Museums Florence is the guardian of an exceptional art heritage, a splendid testimony to its history and a tribiute to its cosmopolitain civilization. The Galleria degli Uffizi (Uffizi Gallery) which celebrated its 400th anniversary in 1981, was the nucleus of today's assortment of superb Florentine museums. During the fifteenth century, the Medici family started collecting numerous art objects in Florence which, after the erecting of the Uffizi by Cosimo I, Grand Duke of Tuscany and the real initiator of the Medici collections, were displayed on the third floor of the Gallery.
The Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Museum of Precious Stones) was also officially set up in the Uffizi at the end of the sixteenth century. From the Medici’s ousting from Florence (1494-1527) only a few rare examples of this Florentine family's early art heritage still remain today, housed in the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum) in Palazzo Pitti. During the seventeenth century, the Medici’s passion for collecting brought about an increase in the quantity and quality of their collections. And, in 1737, the last heir of the Medici family, Anna Maria Luisa, gave everything to the State linking it to Florence forever. The following galleries were set up in order to gather together the extremely rich heritage of art works and objects: the Galleria dell’Accademia (Academy Gallery) of Fine Arts, the Galleria Palatina (Palatina Gallery) and the Galleria d’arte moderna (Modern Art Gallery) of Palazzo Pitti, the mono graphical museum dedicated to Angelico inside the San Marco complex, and with the passing of Tuscany under the Kingdom of Italy, the Museo Nazionale del Bargello (National Bargello Museum), housing statues, ivory works, majolica ceramics, arms, tapestries, enamels, and fabrics. At the turn of the century, the Museo dell’opera del Duomo, was opened to house the art works that for preservation reasons, had been removed from the exterior of the Cathedral and the Baptistery. In the twentieth century, the Florentine museum system was enhanced with bequests by rich foreign collectors like Stibbert and Horne, with the opening of the communal museums, first and foremost Palazzo Vecchio (1908), as well as the creation of other museums at Palazzo Pitti, and galleries dedicated to contemporary art, like the Collezione "Alberto della Ragione" (donated to the city in 1970) and the Museo Marino Marini. Churches and Bascilicas In Florence, churches and basilicas are found not only in the historic center, but also in the Florence "outside the walls". Typical of Italian Gothic architecture, the Duomo of Florence dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, who commenced works on this building with its extraordinary cupola in 1296, later terminated in 1436 by Brunelleschi, and fully frescoed inside by Vasari and Zuccari.  Flanking this basilica are the splendid Sagrestia vecchia (Old Sacristy), the work of Brunelleschi, and the New Sacristy, by Michelangelo, that together with the Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of the Princes) make up the Cappelle Medicee (Medici Chapels). Also, only a stone's throw from the Duomo, the Church of S. Maria Novella, commenced in 1246, the white and green marble façade of which was completed by Leon Battista Alberti. It houses splendid masterpieces by Masaccio, Filippino Lippi, Ghirlandaio, Giotto and Brunelleschi. Not to be missed on your walk through Florence, the Chiesa di S. Marco e il convento (Church of San Marco and the convent), with frescoes by Beato Angelico, and the Basilica della SS. Annunziata, with splendid cloisters frescoed by Andrea del Sarto, Rosso Fiorentino, Francabigio and Pontormo. Even the most hurried visitor will want to find a moment to visit the Basilica di S. Croce, famous for its splendid architecture and innumerable works of art. Some of the most beautiful Florentine churches rise up amidst the characteristic streets of the Oltrarno district: from the Chiesa di S. Spirito (Church of Santo Spirito), one of the most splendid Renaissance creations, to the Chiesa del Carmine (Del Carmine Church), with its Cappella Brancacci (Brancacci Chapel) world famous for its Masaccio frescoes, and the Chiesa di Santa Felicita (Church of Santa Felicita) housing the Deposition by Pontormo, one of the masterpieces of the Florentine mannerist style. But this is only a short and incomplete list of some of the most famous Florentine places of worship: for example there is also the Badia Fiorentina, the Chiesa di S. Trinita (Church of Santa Trinita), the Basilica di S. Miniato al Monte and many other churches, perhaps less famous, but certainly no less beautiful. Parks and gardens Florence has a rich
heritage of historic parks and gardens, some of which are filled with art,
While not reaching the zenith of the splendor of the Boboli gardens, many of the parks and gardens that once adorned the noble dwellings are still intact, like the Giardino di Palazzo Medici Riccardi (Garden of Palazzo Medici Riccardi), the Giardino Torrigiani (Torrigiani Garden), the Parco di Villa Bardini (Villa Bardini Park) and many others, some of which are open to the public, while others are still private property. Other historic gardens open to Florentines and visitors for relaxing outdoors are the Giardino della Fortezza da Basso (Fortezza da Basso Garden) and Giardino del Bobolino (Bobolino garden). Palazzos and Other Buildings Testimonies to the history of Florence are the civil, public and private buildings, starting with the towers and Palazzo del Bargello, from 1255 was the seat of the Captain of the People, and then the Podestà. The center of political life was subsequently moved to Palazzo Vecchio, the first seat of the Priors of the Arts, and after of the Signoria, as well as the grand-ducal residence. Via the Uffizi and the Corridoio Vasariano (Vasarian corridor) that crosses the river Arno along the top of Ponte Vecchio, this Palazzo was connected to Palazzo Pitti, once the dwelling of the Lorena’s and seat of the Sabauda Court during the years when Florence was the capital of Italy (1865-1871). Instead, the Medici’s resided principally at Palazzo Medici Riccardi, a splendid example of the Florentine Renaissance palazzo, and in their numerous country villas, some of which, like Villa Petraia, Villa di Castello and Villa di Careggi, are located in the immediate outskirts of the city.
The Cuisine of Florence Florentine cuisine reflects a great tradition of simple dishes, often prepared with humble, genuine ingredients like bread, oil and vegetables. However, it does not lack in elaborate and imaginative recipes, like the meats prepared in dolceforte, reminiscent of the splendor and eccentricity of the Renaissance courts when the aim was more to amaze the guests than to satisfy the palate. Some of these dishes have become famous all over the world, like the Florentine steak. Others have vanished from the tables even in the city, probably due to requiring exceedingly long preparation times or calling for ingredients that are increasingly hard to find. The Wines of Florence Chianti In Italy and all over the world, wine and Florence are synonymous with Chianti, the Tuscan wine par excellence, that has made the Florentine hills famous everywhere. However, Chianti wine is not all the same and in the Florentine province there are at least four different denominations in existence. In the area of the most ancient and limited production, the hilly zone found between Florence and Siena, from which this wine has taken its name, the Chianti Classico is produced and subjected to a specific set of regulations. The other denominations originate in three geographical areas into which the rest of the productive area in the province of Florence is divided: the "Colli Fiorentini" Chianti, the Chianti of Rufina, and the Chianti of Montespertoli. Obtained by blending Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Trebbiano Toscano and Malvasia grapes, the wine takes on a bright ruby color tending towards a garnet red hue as it ages. Depending on the area of origin and aging, Chianti wine can be used as an accompaniment for the entire meal, with sauces and stews, or (when it is older and has more body) with roasted meats including game, and mature cheeses. Colli dell'Etruria centrale The "Colli dell’Etruria centrale" label denotes different types of wine: reds, rosés, whites, new, and vinsanto, all deriving from the same Chianti producing area. The red, obtained from the Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot, Pinot nero, and Canaiolo nero vines, is a wine to accompany the whole meal that also goes well with meat. The rosé, with its fresh and lively flavor, is good with roast fish and also with Tuscan cold meats and salami as well as with other typical dishes like bread soup. A good accompaniment with first courses and fish is the white, obtained from the Trebbiano Toscano, Chardonnay, Pinot bianco and grigio, Vernaccia di San Gimignano, Malvasia of Chianti, and Sauvignon grapes. Pomino This wine takes its name from one of the smallest DOC wine-growing areas in the world, Pomino, located on a high hill between Rufina and Dicomano. Already known and appreciated at the beginning of the eighteenth century, Pomino is produced in three different qualities, white, red and vinsanto. Bianco dell'Empolese This wine is produced in the communes of the lower Valdarno: Empoli, Montelupo Fiorentino, Capraia and Limite, Cerreto Guidi, Vinci and Fucecchio. A perfect accompaniment with antipastos, first courses, fish, vegetables and boiled dishes. Vinsanto Vinsanto is one of the most ancient and typical products of Florentine and Tuscan oenology. In Tuscan tradition, vinsanto represents hospitality, being the drink that is always on hand to be offered to guests, both in the homes of peasants and nobles. Even today its preparation still conserves the seals of tradition: the grapes, carefully selected bunch by bunch, are left to dry on mats in well ventilated rooms, and the wine matures for long periods in small wooden kegs. We are grateful to the Italian Government Tourist Office and the Florence Tourist Board (APT) for providing the information and graphics used in this article and issue. For further information you may wish to visit their web sites. Italian Government Tourist Office: http//www.enit.it |
