The Historic Centre
Built over the Roman city, the historic centre of Florence may best be described as a treasure chest of works of art and architecture. Marked off by the 14th century walls, and built up thanks to the enormous business and economic power which Florence achieved, the two hundred years afterwards were Florence’s golden age.
The spiritual focus of the city is the Cathedral Piazza of Santa Maria del Fiore, with Giotto’s Campanile on one side and the Baptistery of St. John in front, with the gates of paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti. Going north from here, one comes across the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi by Michelozzo, and St. Lawrence’s Basilica by Brunelleschi with the sacristies inside designed by Donatello and Michelangelo. Further on are the Museum of St Mark’s, with Fra Angelico’s masterpieces, the Galleria dell’Accademia with Michelangelo’s David (1501 – 1504) and the Santissima Annunziata Piazza with the Lodge of the Holy Innocents by Brunelleschi.
On the south side of the Cathedral is the political/cultural centre of Florence, with the Palazzo Vecchio and the Galleria degli Uffizi nearby. Close to these are the Museo del Bargello and the Basilica of the Holy Cross. Going across the Ponte Vecchio, one arrives at the Oltrarno quarter, with the Pitti Palace and the Boboli Gardens. Still in the Oltrarno, mention must be made of the Holy Ghost Basilica by Filippo Brunelleschi and the Carmelite Church, with its frescoes by Masolino, Masaccio and Filippino Lippi.
To the west of the Cathedral are the imposing Strozzi Palace (where important exhibitions are held) and the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, with the facade designed by Leon Battista Alberti. The historic centre may be admirably viewed in its entirety from the surrounding hills, especially Piazzale Michelangelo (just under the Romanesque Basilica of San Miniato), or Fiesole, both of which offer some of the most spectacular views in the Arno Valley.
History, art and culture
Founded in 59 BC as a Roman colony known as Florentia, only in the 11th century did the free commune of Florence begin to succeed – both politically and economically – where other cities of Tuscany had failed, with the slow but unrestrainable process which culminated with the annexation of Sienna in 1557.
In the Quattrocento (15th century), the city reached the apex of its splendour, thanks partly to the presence in Florence of such geniuses as the architects Filippo Brunelleschi and Leon Battista Alberti, the painters Masaccio, Paolo Uccello and Sandro Botticelli, and the sculptors Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti and Luca della Robbia, not to mention the unforgettable Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Still in the 15th century, the republican government was done away with, and the Medici family took over; despite repeated attempts – all in vain – to return to a republic, the Medici dynasty ruled of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany.
The dynasty died out in 1737, and rule passed to the Lorraine family, which remained in power until 1859 when was annexed by the kingdom of Italy. It was the political capital of Italy between 1865 and 1870, in addition to being the cultural capital. Her most dramatic moments in recent times were in August 1944 – with liberation from the forces of Nazism – and November 1966.
UNESCO INSCRIPTION
The historical centre of Florence, enclosed within the area of the avenues where the old, mediaeval walls used to be, houses the most important works of art in Florence, declared a Heritage of Mankind by UNESCO in 1982. Proof of their importance is given by Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, Palazzo Vecchio, the Basilicas of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo Medici-Riccardi, Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo degli Uffizi.
As the centre from which the Italian Renaissance spread out, Florence’s art treasures are known the world over. Every year, millions of tourists come to Florence to visit her most important museums. Mindful of such a great inheritance, the local authority advances cultural life in the city by organising important events (exhibitions, concerts, conferences, etc.) and undertakes restoration work for the recovery, preservation, and harnessing of the artistic and architectural heritage.
From the report of the 6th session off the UNESCO World Heritage Committee:
Historic Centre of Florence
Id N° 174 1982 C (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (vi)
Criterion (i): a masterpiece of human creative genius.
Criterion (ii): shows an important exchange of human values, in one period all cultural area of the world, in developing architecture and technology, monumental or town art, or landscaping.
Criterion (iii): bears unique (or at least extraordinary) testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation, either currently existing or from the past.
Criterion (iv): is an extraordinary example of a type of building or architectural, technological, or landscaping ensemble which bears witness to important stages in the history of mankind.
Criterion (vi): is directly or materially connected to modern events or traditions, by way of ideas, via creeds or artistic or literary works having exceptional universal values (the committee believes that this criterion justifies the inclusion in lists only in exceptional circumstances, when taken together with other cultural or natural criteria).
