The Rebirth of Florence

Writers, painters, architects, and philosophers made Florence a model of Renaissance culture. It was a city of trade and finance and was counted as one of the wealthiest cities of the era. The Renaissance later spread to the rest of Europe as a result of high cultural exchange and achievements.

• 14th Century

Florence mainly relied on banking for income. Florentine bankers were known throughout Europe for the reliable purity of their Florentine gold coin, the Florin, which was the standard coinage throughout Europe. The city was an international economic center. The Renaissance saw significant developments in music, art, literature and philosophy. Architecturally too, this period saw changes with the broadening of streets, modified routes, reorganization of the cityscape and recreation in the city's main piazzas.

• 15th Century

Fifteenth-century Florence saw innovations in the fields of mathematics, medicine, engineering, architecture and the visual arts. The Florentine guilds functioned as the seat of municipal government and were considered the most influential people in society and politics. They were dedicated to the welfare of the city. The city turned into a hub of humanist scholarship and artistic production, primarily due to the funding of the powerful Medici family, who exerted their political and financial influence over much of central Italy. Leonardo da Vinci, too, excelled in the fields of art, science, and invention during this century.

• 16th Century

Renouncing its authority for the second time in 1527, the Medicis re-assumed their rule in 1531. The republican government disintegrated in 1532, and Alessandro de' Medici was appointed as the Duke of the Florentine Republic. This "Republic" turned into a hereditary monarchy.

• 17th Century Onwards

This century saw a turbulent period of rule by the powerful Medici family along with several revolutions, primarily religious and republican. Later, in 1869, Florence was termed the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, which led to its urbanization. During this rebirth, a Florentine piazza was designed by architect Giuseppe Poggi and built on a hill near the bank of the river Arno in the Oltarno district of Florence. Dedicated to the Renaissance sculptor Michelangelo, it was named Piazzale Michealangelo - the Michelangelo Square. Originally intended to house a museum of works by Michelangelo, this square offers a panoramic view of Florence.

The city's artistic and architectural heritage still exerts its influence in the fields of art, culture, and politics, ranking it as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

The author is a travel writer by profession who often works with trip planners and offers travel advice online. Italy is one of her favorite destinations in Europe. She suggests that the Piazzale Michelangelo is a must visit when in Florence.