The History of Ancient Florence

Florence is an Italian city with roots of a glorious past, since the Middle Ages. Florence became a major urban complex, because of a very good strategic location and residents' ability to trade.

For many centuries people from all over Europe visited this city. Many of them came to Florence for commercial reasons, so we can call it an ancient metropolis. It was a place of choice for economic and social businesses and thus influenced the evolution in the European continent in general.

Here, in this Tuscan city, first banks were born together with first forms of credit. This allowed an important development of commercial activities. Some Florentine families became so rich and powerful, even able to finance wars and many projects of European rulers during that era.

The largest economic prosperity allowed the rulers of this city to acquire and fund works of big value. Florence became one of the most important places in the world for quantity and importance of art works. Therefore, UNESCO declared all the historical center of Florence as the heritage of humanity.

Among the major supporters of the artistic heritage of Florence is certainly the Medici Dynasty. An ancient Florentine family, which became rich while trading as well as making banking business.

Economic activities of the Medici family were so significant allowing the members of this dynasty create and prosper friendly relations with important personages and the most powerful rulers of Europe.

Thus allowing the Medici family to get more and more political power, so finally the Medici family took over the leading position to lead Florence with the support of other rulers in Europe.

The de Medici dynasty ruled the city of Florence for several centuries. Important to note their adaptation of policies favoring the progress and evolution in all fields. They financed the works of great artistic and architectural value which helped Florence to become one of the most beautiful Italian cities in the world.

The most important projects funded by the Medici and realized by the most important art masters from these times are: The Uffizi Gallery, the Vasari Corridor and the elaboration of many still existing beautiful buildings such as Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Pitti and of course, the Boboli Gardens. These are the main points of interest for visitors nowadays, besides countless other properties both inside and outside of the historic center of Florence.

We should also add the incredible collection of artistic works that the family of Medici accumulated over the centuries. This heritage eventually became property of Florence at the behest of the last descendants of this ruling Florentine dynasty.