- Museums in Florence
- Florence Fashion Designer
- Florence Artists
- Florence Piazzas
- Florence Bookshops
- Florence Historical Shops
- Florence Transport
- Florence Nightlife
- History of Florence
- Books on Florence
- Markets in Florence
- Hiking Florence
- Florence Parks
- Thermal Baths in Tuscany
- Florence People's
- Florence Festival's
- Florence Shop's
History of Florence, Italy
In 59 B. C. during the time of Caesar a colony was established on the banks of River Arno, where retired servicemen and legionnaires were housed. It was called Colonia Florentia, meaning the "blossoming colony". In the next 200 years Florence developed and grew into an important trading centre as it was connected to all the important cities of the then province of Etruria and was situated on Via Cassia that ran from Rome to Florence to Lucca.
Unfortunately the initial prosperity of Florence was short lived. The burgeoning population was suddenly stunted by numerous invasions such as Ostrogoths, the Byzantines and the Lombards. When the Roman Empire collapsed in the 5th century it affected its economic life. Trading stopped and was diverted away from Arno Valley and the population slowly dwindled. It was at this time that the construction of the Santa Reparata began.
The Medici family was a prosperous family of bankers and merchants who came to power in 1434 under Cosimo il Vecchio (the Elder) when there was great cultural progress. The reign of Lorenzo the Magnificent, grandson of Cosimo was the period known as Florence Renaissance. Botticelli, da Vinci, Ghirlandaio and Michelangelo Buonarroti were some of the famous names of Florence. Arts and architecture flourished.
