Florence

a famous city of northern Italy. It is situated on both banks of the River Arno at the foot of the Apennines--a site of great natural beauty. The surrounding country is noted for its fertility--a fact hinted at in the name which, in the Italian, signifies flowery or flourishing, somewhat akin to our Florida. The site was occupied originally by a force of Roman soldiers. The old military camp grew into a trading city of importance. Like Pisa, Milan, and other commercial towns, it long maintained a sort of independence. The city was laid out four square and was surrounded by massive walls. Several bridges across the Arno connected the two parts of the city. That of Santa Trinita is noted for its graceful arches. With its bridges and quays, the city has one of the most impressive water frontages in Europe. Generally speaking, the walls have been leveled to make public parks and driveways, but, for the sake of their architectural features and historical associations, several of the old gateways have been retained.

So long as traffic with the East was maintained by way of Venice and the caravan routes of western Asia, Florence was one of the most flourishing and powerful cities in Europe. It was for a time the monetary center of the West. During the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, the florin, taking its name from this city where it was first minted, was the chief commercial coin. The money changers, money lenders, jewelers, goldsmiths, and merchants of Florence were the wealthiest men in the world.

As it led in wealth and influence, so Florence was also the first city in the West to rescue the painting, the sculpture, the architecture, and the literature of the Greeks from universal neglect. The city became noted as a center of art and literature. Few cities can boast a longer list of celebrated names. Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio, Raphael, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Savonarola, Lorenzo de Medici, Machiavelli, and several noted popes were either natives or citizens of Florence. The Medici family was the wealthiest and most powerful family. Despite the efforts of Savonarola, the Medicis gradually acquired or assumed ducal authority and the manners of the city became voluptuous.

Though its political influence and wealth have disappeared, Florence is still one of the most noted art centers in Europe. Numerous gardens, museums, palaces, galleries, and churches preserve the paintings and sculpture produced or acquired during the days of civic prosperity. Especially celebrated is the Ufizi Gallery. It surrounds two sides and an end of an oblong. Among the masterpieces of statuary are Niobe and Her Children, The Fawn, The Knifegrinder, and the Venus de Medici, famous as the most beautiful representation of the female form known. The wing devoted to paintings contains many masterpieces also. It is considered by many the most celebrated and precious collection of paintings in existence.

Florence is a city of marble. The public squares are adorned with palaces, statues, and fountains. The Campanile or belltower is a noted structure. There are over 150 churches, many worthy of in spection. The cathedral is surmounted by a vast dome, 138 feet in diameter. Its apex is 380 feet above the pavement. The interior is nearly 500 feet in length. The most celebrated church is Santa Croce, called the Pantheon of Florence. It contains the tombs of Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, and other noted men.

An account of the internal dissensions and factions of Florence would fill many an unprofitable volume. As stated, the Medici family acquired almost royal power. With other medieval cities, Florence lost its position as a free town and became merely the capital of Tuscany. Its government was tossed to and fro. At one time it was an appanage of France, at another of Austria. In 1865 Victor Emmanuel made the city the capital of United Italy, but five years later he removed the seat of government to Rome.

The present population of the city is somewhat more than 200,000. It is still an important center of industry. Silks, straw hats, jewelry, cut stones, perfumes, porcelain wares, alabaster vases, terra cotta work, tiles, leather, and carvings are the chief manufactures. The mildness of the winter, the treasures of art, the cheapness of quarters once occupied by the nobility, and the numerous places of amusement render Florence an attractive place of residence. Many tourists from northern Europe spend the winter months here. Through its selection by the parents of Florence Nightingale, the name of this famous city has become a popular given name for girls.

See Cathedral; Italy; Savonarola; Machiavelli; Medici