In 1982 Unesco identified the whole old city of
Florence as one of the most important World Heritage site. During the Renaissance
Florence lived an extraordinary period of artistic, literary and scientific creativity. From the 14th century through the 15th and the 16th centuries a rediscovery of Greek classical writings and imperial Roman art and architecture awakened a strong curiosity in young thinkers and artists. Instead of thinking with superstitious minds, people began to search for human explanations and to scientifical solutions.
The blossoming of the Renaissance in
Florence clashed largely with its wealth. In that time, the city was one of Europe`s most prosperous trading and banking centres. The rich families of
Florence willingly invested their money in art to improve both their own and the city`s image. If during the past the mercantile dynasties had contributed to the realization of the great religious buildings of the city, the richest families of the Renaissance didn’t abandon this old tradition of patronage.
Architects, painters and sculptors were often masters of more than one medium. Leonardo da Vinci, for example, was a big scientist but, at the same time was a great painter too. Similarly, Michelangelo in addition to be an excellent sculptor was as well an outstanding architect and painter.
Less remembered by those who do not read Italian is the literary flowering that preceeded and accompanied the Renaissance. The use of Italian language in literature, to replace Latin, can be attributed to Tuscan writers, among which Dante Alighieri is worth of occupying a preeminent position
At the end of the 16th century the Renaissance began its natural fall. By the time mannerism, and, later, baroque style were in vogue,
Florence was living a moment of cultural decline. Reduced to a marginalized position in European politics and finance, the city seemed equally uninspired in the arts. Brief bursts, notably that of the French Impressionist-inspired painters known as Macchiaoli, attracted the cultural interest back to the city in the 19th century but the arts never regained the relevant position they held during Florence`s golden age: the Renaissance time.
| Romanesque in Florence - After several centuries of decay, Florence experimented a period of economic recovery. At that time the dominating style was Romanesque, which had been spreading in Northern Italy from the VII century. Romanesque buildings (mainly chirches) did not have rich external decorations, whereas their interiors were frescoed and covered with mosaics . Two-colour decorations in marble are characteristic of Tuscan Romanesuqe. Significant .. Romanesque in Florence
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| Gothique in Florence - Italian gothique buildings are very different from the ones in Northern Europe. The gothique style was born in Paris region in the XII century.
Apart from the Cathedral, the most important examples of Florentine Gothique are Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella However, the stateliness of the volumes is the only element they have in common with North-European gothique works. Both of them lack the rich decorations typical of the North-European gothique style .. Gothique in Florence
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| Brunelleschi in Florence - Filippo Brunelleschi (1377-1446), who designed the Dome of Florence Cathedral, is considered the father of Florentine Renaissance architecture. Simplicity and the purity of lines characterize his style. Aiming at celebrating man rationality, he was particularly interested in perspective and in the harmonious distribution of volumes in space. The Dome of Florence Cathedral is certainly Brunelleschi`s most famous work. It has an octagonal base and was built without erecting any scaffoldings .. Brunelleschi in Florence
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| Michelangelo in Florence - The famous Tuscan artist Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) was mainly a sculptor and painter, but he dedicated to architecture, as well. He had already worked in Rome, when in 1516 he was charged with the achievement of San Lorenzo`s façade .. Michelangelo in Florence
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| Mannerism in Florence - One of the few buildings erected in Florence during this period is the Fortezza da Basso, which was rapidly built in 1534. The authorities could shelter there in case of rebellion and its mass was meant to impress the Florentine. The project was commissioned to Pier Francesco da Viterbo and Antonio da Sangallo the Younger. Today all major Florentine fairs and exhibitions - as Pitti Immagine and International Arts and Crafts Exhibition - take place in the Fortezza da Basso .. Mannerism in Florence
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| Baroque in Florence - In Florence there is not any examples of the rich Baroque architecture typical of other parts of Italy, as Rome or Naples. Simplicity has always been the distinguishing mark of Florentine architecture. The Baroque style, therefore, influenced decorations above all. The Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano, by Gherardo Silvani (1579-1675), one of the few examples of Florentine Baroque together with the Chiesa d`Ognissanti .. Baroque in Florence
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| XX Cent. Architecture - In Florence there are only few important examples of XX century architecture.
One of them is the so-called Casa Galleria, by Giovanni Michelazzi (1879-1920), with its façade in the Liberty style ... XX Cent. Architecture
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