Who Founded the City of Florence, Italy?

Florence, the capital city of Tuscany, is one of the most beautiful and famous towns of the world. It is mostly known as the capital of the Renaissance, and its artists and painters are known worldwide. Florence has a long history; it was founded as a Roman military colony in the 1st century BCE, and during its history, has had many important roles. It has been a republic, a seat of the duchy of Tuscany, and also capital of Italy.

Romans called the town Florentia. Today it’s still possible to see the first ancient streets founded in the Roman era: ‘Cardo Maximus’ in the actual Via Strozzi, Via degli Speziali and Via del Corso; and the ‘Decumanus’ in Via Calimala, Via Roma, and Via Por Santa Maria. Place of Repubblica, indeed, was the ancient Foro, which is the main square of a typical Roman town, and is considered the exact central point of Florence.

In the 14th–16th centuries, Florence became one of the most important cities in the world and the centre of commerce, finance and especially the arts in Italy. Who doesn’t know Michelangelo, Botticelli, Brunelleschi or Leonardo da Vinci (just to name few)? Well, all of them, and many others, are linked to the Tuscan town.

The historic city centre of the town is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1982 because of its uniqueness and splendour. The family who had a fundamental role in the growth of Florence is Medici, the most renowned rulers of the town. Thanks to their power and love for art, Florence became the hub of art in Italy and one of the most powerful cities in Europe and beyond.

That’s not all. The Florentine vernacular became the official Italian language, and the local coin, the florin, became a world monetary standard. Thanks to its important history, it’s not difficult to understand why Florence is still today considered one of the most loved and appreciated Italian towns by tourists, who come here from all over the world to admire its beauty.