About Florence

The history of the Florence region as a whole is barely distinguishable from that of Florence itself, which was founded in 59 B.C. before it was actually built some twenty years later, or from that of the even more ancient city of Fiesole. Although this city was originally a major Etruscan township which the Romans had colonised in 80 B.C., a wealth of ancient finds from the 15th and 14th centuries B.C. (Middle Bronze Age) exhibited in [^Archaeological Museum bear testimony to an even more distant past. Considerable parts of the 3rd century B.C. city walls are still largely intact, as is the large Roman theatre which was probably completed just before the middle of the 1st century A.D. Fiesole also pre-dates Florence as a seat of bishops. Its early 1 Ith-century cathedral and 13th-century bell tower overlook the large square named after the famous Renaissance sculptor Mino da Fiesole.

The Bishop's Palace (Palazzo Vescovile) situated right opposite the cathedral dates back to the same period, but was rebuilt in the 17th century. The nearby Seminario building was constructed at the close of the same century, as was the road which climbs up as far as the seat of the ancient Etruscan acropolis, San Francesco. It was there that Franciscan friars built a convent in the 14th century and began to put together what is today one of the most important collections of Chinese bronzes extant in Italy (Museo Missionario). On the opposite side of the square, facing the Seminario, are the Town Hall {Palazzo Comunale) and a church (chiesa di Santa Maria Primerand).
The Museo Bandini houses a valuable collection of paintings and sculptures (10th-18th centuries), while 19th century documents and works of art are preserved on the premises of the Fondazione Primo Conti.
Among the countless prestigious ancient residences belonging to the main Florentine noble families which are dotted around the outskirts of the city, particular mention should be made of the Villa Medici, which was built by Michelozzo at the instigation of Cosimo the Elder in 1458.
Halfway along the road from Fiesole to Florence is the 15th century monastery of San Domenico, where Friar Beato Angelica lived and worked. The magnificent altar piece inside the church illustrates scenes from his life. The abbey named Badia Fiesolana stands just below.
Leaving the city of Fiesole and proceeding eastward in the direction of Settignano we reach an impressive 13th century castle, the Castel di Poggio. On a lower level not far from the castle, at Vincigliata, is a church consecrated to Saint Lawrence (chiesa di San Lorenzo), whose apse is entirely decorated with one of the largest terracotta reliefs in the world, which was carried out by Amalia Dupre.

On the opposite bank of the river Amo stands San Pietro, the earliest Romanesque parish church (pieve) in Bagno a Ripoli.
Other parish churches in the same style in the area are San Donnino at Villamagna and Santa Maria dell'Antella. Nearby, at Rimezzano, a noteworthy oratory (Oratorio di Santa Caterina delle Ruote or Oratorio di Santa Caterina d'Alessandria) is entirely frescoed with 'stories' of this saint painted in part by Spinello Aretino.

The area boasts numerous castles, among which Belforte, Monte Acuto and Quarate, in addition to many villas once owned by the Medici family (Lappeggi and Mondeggi). On the banks of the Arno the towered 14th century Gualchiere di Remole is the site where cloth was fulled before being taken to Florence for further processing.

The Castello di Montauto towering above Grassina belongs to the municipality of Impruneta, which is world-famous for manufacturing terracotta.
The Torre Civica, the municipal tower with its impressive clock, is incorporated in the facade of a church, the Basilica di Santa Maria. Next to the latter is a museum (Museo del Tesoro).

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