Florence

Florence (Italian: Firenze; pop. 397,400), historic city of central Italy, capital of Firenze province, on the Arno River at the foot of the Apennines. A town on the Cassian Way during Roman times, it grew to become a powerful medieval republic, dominating Tuscany. Florence was a major commercial and artistic center during the Renaissance. It retains many architectural and other art treasures which, together with the proximity of the Apennines, serve to make the city an important tourist center. The great art museums of Florence include the Uffizi Gallery, the Pitti Palace, and the Accademia. Famous figures associated with Florence include Brunelleschi, Dante, Giotto, Machiavelli, Masaccio, Michelangelo, and Savonarola. Glass and leatherware, pottery, furniture, and precision instruments are among its products. In 1966 floods seriously damaged many of Florence's art treasures.

See also: Italy.