Historic City Centre of Florence
Many hold this site to be the birthplace of the Renaissance. Granted the status as a World Heritage Site in 1982, the exact boundaries of this massive historical site are the ancient walls of the old city, which were the product of the city’s power in the 1400’s. While the origins of the city are hazy in the mists of the past, it is generally held that Julius Caesar founded it upon an older Etruscan settlement at an advantageous ford of the Arno River. According to some histories, soldiers from Rome’s wars were settled here. While it continued to grow in the coming centuries, the city of Florence reached it full flowering in the wake of the Black Death in 1348. In the following years, this city grew into one of the largest, wealthiest centers in Europe, serving as the heart of the Medici banking empire and patronage network.
From a World Heritage perspective, the Historic center of Florence is remarkable in that it meets not just a few of the criterions, but five. First, the sheer amount of artistic genius present here in the art museums, architecture and the very layout of the city itself is held to represent ‘a masterpiece of human creative genius.’ Second, the city has had an undeniable impact on the architecture and the arts that extends far beyond its borders ever since the 1300’s, meeting the second criterion. Third, the city center and its monuments stand as testaments to the power of a unique Renaissance culture. Fourth, it represents a key stage in human history, specifically its status as a European power from the 14th to 17th centuries. Fifth and finally, the center is still tangibly linked to events of universal significance, such as the Renaissance and the rise of humanism and Neoplatonic academia.
The sites within these borders are densely packed, hosting world renowned examples of Renaissance architecture and art. The center piece of this historic city is the Duomo, known as Santa Maria del Fiore. Showcasing incredible statuary and the largest masonry dome in the world, this marvel of Italian architecture and its accompanying Baptistry draw people from every all over the world. Next, there is the Uffizi Gallery, home to world famous pieces of artwork such as the Botticelli’s ‘The Birth of Venus’ and the statue ‘Laocoon and His Sons’ by Bandinelli. Following this, there is Basilica Santa Croce. Dating from 1294, this is one of the oldest and most notable examples of Franciscan basilicas in the world. While home to world renowned art, this Basilica is where many great Italians were entombed. Machiavelli, Galileo, and Michelangelo are only a few of the remarkable men resting within. Palazzo Vecchio is close by as well, the seat of Medici power for centuries as is the Basilica di San Lorenzo, which houses the remains of that potent family line. Spanning the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio takes one from this center of Medici power to Palazzo Pitti, the chief residence of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany for centuries.
