Turistic informations of Florence

Historical informations

Originally Florence in Tuscany was a settlement of the iron Age, but were the Romans in 59 B.C to found the first settlements. It is recognizable in fact, the typical ortogonal construction of the roman streets that in the north of the river Arno are today marked by these buildings: Duomo, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Strozzi. Florence remained a place of secondary importance in Tuscany till when, after dark centuries of barbaric inavsions, it became again a free state in XII century. During the following century an intense commerce of wool and textiles, finaced by a powerful bank, changed Florence into one of the most important place in Tuscany and in Italy, The political governament went from a narrow oligarchy to popular ranks and great power went to the mercantile cooperations (Arti).

In the history of the republic of Florence were leads cruel battles between the two factions, Guelfi and Ghibellini, between the differents Arts and between the noble families. At the end the family of Medici dominates. They were a very rich dynasty of bankers who commanded Florence and Tuscany for more than three centuries. In that period the city was one of the most famous cultural centre i Europe, especially during the lordship of Lorenzo il Magnifico and of Cosimo I il Grande. In 1737 the Medici family lost its power and Florence fell under the control of another family,Asburgo-Lorena, up to 1859. Florence became a part of Reign of Italy, Regno d'Italia in 1860, when it became the temporary capital between 1865 and 1871. The history did not remove Florence from its important role in the culture: during the disastrous alluvium in 1966, young people from evertwhere in the world went to Florence to save the artistic patrimony of the city.

Nowadays Florence is the goal of the tourists who finds hospitability in the numerous Bed and Breakfast and hotels in the city. The main attractions are famous manifestations of Maggio musicale and the historical recalling of the popular traditions like Scoppio del carro, Festa del grillo and Calcio in costume

Enogastronomy

The food of Florence is really poor but full of traditions, made of tastes never lost during the centuries. It is based on dishes invented with the local products generously offered by gardens and forest, accompained by meats breeded by locals, by a oil which is always extra vergine d'oliva, by a bread which is unique a nd by a wine for real connoisseurs. The bistecca alla Fiorentina is a big steak with the bone, high about 3 cm, cut from the loin of the heifer, grilled on the burning coal but without the flame, it is good if it is well cooked outside but underdone inside. Trippa alla fiorentina is tripe sprinkled with parmesan and dressed with a tomato sauce.Pappardelle di lepre is a typical tuscan dish; it is made with a special kind of pasta which is covered by a sauce made with hare meat, which is often cooked in its blood or with the use of a lot of herbs. Fritti misti di carciofi,ribollita carro,panzanella , cencio alla fiorentina, fagioli all'uccelletta, are only few of the wonderful dishes you can taste in this beautiful city.

Useful links

• Comune di Firenze
• Provincia di Firenze
• Università degli Studi di Firenze
• Polo Museale Fiorentino
• Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale di Firenze
• Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
• Osservatorio Astrofisico di Arcetri