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FLORENCE
Wavy mountains and beautiful
coastlines; gentle hills stretch through vineyards and olive
trees, creating and enchanted, picturesque, pastoral scenery
of Tuscany that has never ceased to charm the travelers since
ancient times. Florence is located in the central cities in
beautiful Tuscany.
In the streets of Florence,
there are numerous precious cultural legacies scattered throughout
the city with the ambience of its past and present fused together,
giving a travelers for a moment, an illusion of wondering into
a segment of history.
History of Florence
Tuscany was initially inhabited
by a tribe higl rich
in culture, said to be the ancestors of today's Italian people,
between 10th and 8th century B.C. By 11th century A.D., Florence
later transforms itself into one of the most important city-states
after the occupation by the Roman Empire, followed by the ancient
German invasion. By then, significant artistic movements occured
that helped culture the Artistic Giants that later emerge in
the 13th Century, such as Chimabue, Giotto and Dante.
In the
early 12th Century, Florence became a self governed city-states
commune, and later in 14th Century, inspired by realism and
the modern human-centered spirit , the people started questioning
the way of the medieval Christian world. This greatly influenced
the decline of the absolute authority and power of papacy.
In consquence, the Renaissance movements were the first to
flourish in Florence, nurturing a miriad of the greatest artists
and geniuses of all times, while the city enjoyed the age of
unprecedented prosperity and peace under the political leadership
of the Medici family.
Although Florence temporary
becomes a republic state
between 1494 and the Medici family soon regained the power,
with Cosimo I appointed as the first grand Duke of Tuscany
in 1570, celebrating the city's "Golden
Age." Yet the regin does not last - the throne is taken
over by Prince Loreine
of Austria Upon the death of the last Medici Family Member.
In 1860 when the 'Risorgimento'
movement grew throughout
Italy, the first unification of Italy was carried out under
the reign of Vittorio Emanuele II. Florence served as Italy's
capital city since 1986 for five years.
However, ever proud
of its rich culture even after the unification movement and
supported by the "campanilismo" feeling
(patriocy for one's home town), Florence has defended and conserved
all of their unique culture and rich traditions. defends her
own unique culture and the tradition. In fact ijust like in
any other region of Italy, Florntines are especially famous
for boassting bout their home town. A chronicle writer, Dino
Compani who lived in the same era as Dante, praised his country,
saying "The air is fresh, the manners
and hospitality of the
residents are extraordinary, women are beautiful, well
dressed, and the residencial
homes are especially beautiful." |
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