Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
FLORENCE
POP 357,300
Return time and again and you still won't see it all. Though surprisingly small, Florence
(Firenze) is packed with attractions, laden with history and famous for its robust cuisine
and genteel charm. Towers and palaces evoke a thousand tales of its medieval past; design-
er boutiques and artisan workshops stud its streets; and there's a buzzing cafe, restaurant
and bar scene. Cradle of the Renaissance and home of Machiavelli, Michelangelo and the
Medici, this is a magnetic, romantic and - above all - memorable city.
History
Controversy continues over who founded Florence. The most commonly accepted story
tells us that Emperor Julius Caesar founded Florentia around 59 BC, but archaeological
