The Arno River runs through the center of Florence.
Florence is the capital of the region of Tuscany, on Italy”s north-west coast. The cultural and historical impact of Florence is overwhelming. However, the city is one of Italy”s most atmospheric and pleasant, retaining a strong resemblance to the small late-medieval center that contributed so much to the cultural and political development of Europe.
Where Rome is a historical hot-pot , Florence is like stepping back into a Fiat and Vespa-filled Renaissance : the shop-lined Ponte Vecchio, the trademark Duomo, the gem-filled Uffizi Gallery, the turreted Piazza della Signoria and the Medici Chapels.
The remarkable Duomo , with its pink, white and green marble fa? ade and characteristic dome , dominates the city”s skyline. The building took almost two centuries to build (and even then the facade wasn”t completed until the 19th century), and is the fourth-largest cathedral in the world. The enormous dome was designed by Brunelleschi, and its interior features frescoes and stained-glass windows by some of the Renaissance-era”s best: Vasari, Zuccari, Donatello, Uccello and Ghiberti. Take a deep breath and climb up to take a closer look, and you”ll be rewarded by fantastic views of the city and an insight into how the dome was so cleverly constructed – without scaffolding. The dome still defines the scale of the city, and no building in town is taller.
Florence was founded as a colony of the Etruscan city of Fiesole in about 200 BC, later becoming the Roman Florentia, a garrison town controlling the Via Flaminia. In the 13th century the pro-papal Guelphs and pro-imperial Ghibellines started a century-long bout of bickering , which wound up with the Guelphs forming their own government in the 1250s. By 1292 Florence eventually becoming a commercial republic controlled by the Guelph-heavy merchant class.In the latter part of the 14th century the Medicis began consolidating power, eventually becoming bankers to the papacy . Florence became capital of the Kingdom, and remained so until Rome took over in 1875.
Florence used to be badly damged by war (WWII ) and floods (in 1966), fortunately the salvage operation led to the widespread use of modern restoration techniques（修复技术）which have saved artworks throughout the country.
Tags: Florence, without scaffolding
