11 juin 2007
History of Florence
Florence (in Italian Firenze) is a town of Italy, capital of Tuscany and chief town of province. Located at the foot of septentrional Apennin, it is crossed by Arno.
The site was occupied as of the prehistoric time, as proves it some discovered.
Towards
200 front J. - C., the Etruscan city of Fiesole melts a colony. At the
time Roman, this one becomes Florentia, a garrison town protecting it
via Flaminia which connects Rome to the north of Italy and Gaule.
The
foundation of Florence thus dates from the Roman time, in 59 front J. -
C. In the oldest part of the city, one can see the traces of this Roman
occupation, when the site was a colony of César. To be defended, the
city was built inside the junction of two rivers: Arno and Mugnone,
where the first populations had been established.
Of
rectangular plan, it was locked up inside walls, a 1800 meters length.
Delimited space, like all the cities rested by the Romans, is
characterized by right streets which cross with right angle.
The
two principal roads lead to 4 doors and are rejoingnent on a central
place, Urbis del Forum, today Piazza della Reppublica, place which was
then left with the Curia and the Temple built in the honor of the Triad
Capitoline (Jupiter, Junon and Minerve). The archaeological lucky
finds, mainly made during work “having given a new life” to the old
urban centre, made it possible to identify the remainders of important
infrastructures like the Temple of Iside, on Piazza San Firenze.
At
that time, Arno was not inside the walls of the city; it was a river
port, which represented a very important infrastructure for the bus
city at the time Roman the river was navigable from its mouth to its
confluence Affrico, upstream of Florence.
The
first indices of the naisssance of the Christian religion speak about
the worship of the Lorenzo senior and of Holy Palestinian, Felicita.
Thus, the first built churches with Florence were: San Lorenzo, devoted
into 393, first diocese of the city, and Santa Felicita, whose origins
go in IVème or the 5th century. However, the florentins did not seem to
have of évèque before the end of IIIème century. The first évèque one
of Florence east San Felice (Holy Felix) which took part in a Roman
synod into 313.
In
541-544 the new walls of the city were built, on the structure even
various great Roman constructions: Campidoglio, the water tank of the
Baths and the théatre. The walls were of trapezoidal form.
During
the domination of Lombards, particularly after the conversion of the
Teodolinda queen to the Church of Rome, several religious buildings
were built including the Baptistry of San Giovans it was remakes since
naturally which one can still see the foundations in the undergrounds
of the church.
For
the Carolingian period, VIIIème century, one founded a feudal system
and Florence was transformed into one Told of the Empire Romain Sacré.
Testimonys speak about a rebirth of the city during the Carolingienne
period: in IXème century a ecclesiastic public school was born and the
bridge on Arno, who had been destroyed previously, was rebuilt.
Towards
the end of Xème century, Contessa Willa, widow of the Marquis of
Tuscany, which had a whole district inside the walls, founded a
Benedictine abbey
http://www.aboutflorence.com/florence/histoire-de-Florence.html
Santa Croce
History of Santa Croce
If
the origins of the first oratory franciscain remain vague, we have on
the other hand much documents on the construction of the new Basilica
of Santa Croce, which began officially losrque on May 3, 1294 the
architect Arnolfo di Cambio posed the first stone by carrying out one
of the chiefs of work of the Italian Gothic style.
Built
with the expenses of the people and the Republic florentine, it rose on
the foundations of a small church built in 1252 by the brothers little
time after the death of Francois, Saint out of the walls of the city.
The remainders of the old building could be localised only in 1966
when, following the floods which invaded and devastated the city, part
of the pavement of the current church broke down. As of its origin, the
history of Santa Croce is very closely related to the history even of
Florence.
During
seven centuries which were passed since its foundation, it constantly
was the subject of rehandlings and new projects of modernization,
acquiring thus progressively new connotations symbolic systems: 
of
its primary nature of church franciscaine until acquiring the role of
religious municipe for the great families and the corporations of the
Florence médicéenne, of laboratory and artistic workshop - humanistic
first of all then Rebirth - until theological center, of the Pantheon
of Italian glories until moulting in a place of reference, with the
XIXe century, political history of pre and post-unit Italy.
The
thin walls, supported by pointed arches on octagonal pillars, point out
the basilicas paleochrétienne of Rome where Arnolfo worked a long time
and the structural problems constituted a true challenge with the
technical capabilities of time. It is about the largest church
franciscaine in the world. According to the tradition franciscaine, the
ceiling of the principal nave is arranged with simple rafters out of
wooden.
Interior of the Basilica.
It
was built according to the plan of an Egyptian cross (in form of T),
with an interior with three naves (long 114,45 m), a heart and a
transept filled with vaults whose patronage was reserved to the most
famous families of the district. The walls of this vault and the
interior of the church were immediately covered with frescos, all works
of Giotto and its pupils, making basilica a museum of painting
florentine of XIVème century. These same artists also drew the splendid
ones and luminous stained glasses.
From
time immemorial, Santa Croce was a symbol prestigious of the town of
Florence and a place of meeting for the largest artists, theologists,
monk, men of letters, humanistic and politicians. But it was it also
for the powerful families which, in happiness as in the adversity, took
part in the creation of the identity of the Florence of the end of the
Middle Ages and the Rebirth.
Its
convent offered hospitality to famous characters of the history of the
Church, holy Bonaventure, holy Antoine de Padoue, holy Bernardin of
His, holy Louis of Anjou, bishop of Toulouse.
It
was also a place of rest and reception for several popes, Sixte IV,
Eugene IV, Leon X, Clément XIV. With its imposing Gothic architecture,
its marvellous frescos, the retables of furnace bridge, the invaluable
stained glasses, the many sculptures, this church represents one of the
most important pages of the history of art Florentin as of the
thirteenth century.
The
presence, in particular, of Giotto and all its school in fact a very
complete work, invaluable testimony of art Florentin of the fourteenth
century.
Santa Croce is considered the Pantheon of large Italian. Indeed, Michel-Angel, Galileo, Alfieri, Machiavel, Foscolo, Rossini and other “geniuses” have their tombs there.
http://www.mega.it/fra/gui/monu/xbasilic.htm
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Croce
San Lorenzo
It
is one of the most famous churches in Europe and of most visited in
Florence. It will be devoted first once by the holy bishop Ambroise of
Milan into 393, then one second time in 1059 following important work
of enlarging.
Drawing
up itself with the top of its broad staircases, the church was rebuilt
several times. The current one is considered the first religious
building of Renaissance style. Its absolutely pure proportions inside
make it possible without any doubt to recognize the genius of
Brunelleschi there.
Inside,
one finds two sacristies (the old woman of Brunelleschi and the news of
Michel-Angel), who represent the mausoleum of Médicis, and which are
the best examples of architectural structures Renaissance.
Unfortunately, the photographs are prohibited.
It
is one of the most famous churches in Europe and of most visited in
Florence. It will be devoted first once by the holy bishop Ambroise of
Milan into 393, then one second time in 1059 following important work
of enlarging.
San Miniato Al Goes up
The
beautiful Romance church of San Miniato is located on one of the hills
of Florence, from where one has a very beautiful sight on the city.
It was built some time after the year 1000 on the preexistent Oratory built by San Miniato (Holy Minias), the first evangelist and Christian martyr of Florence.
Victim
of persecutions of the emperor Decio (249-251) one says that Miniato
was perhaps a Armenian prince: the legend tells that after being
decapitated, it collected its head, gave it on its neck and went itself
from there to die in the cave of the top of the Fiorentinus mount,
called the mount alle Croci today where it lived as a hermit and where
then one built the oratory and the church bearing his name. Its tomb is
in the crypt.
The
construction of the temple, which remains one of the most beautiful
examples of pure Romanesque architecture florentine, started in 1018
thanks to évèque Ildebrando and continued until 1207. The frontage was
made out of white marble of Carrara and green of Prato (XII-XIIIème
centuries) and was divided into two orders connected to each other by
marquetries of form rhomboidale which refer to the opus reticolatum,
typical Roman mural weaving of the imperial age, which was also taken
again by Leon Battista Alberti for the bases of the Rucellai Palate. It
is characterized by three naves and an elevated chorus above the crypt.
It
is about a Romance church in basilical plan with 3 naves and monastery
which replaced the initial vault in 1018 on the orders of évèque
Hildebrand.
The
frontage comprises a mosaic on gold bottom, of XIIème century in which
are gathered the Virgin, Christ and San Miniato. The gold eagle of the
corporation florentine Calimala throne at the top.
It inspired Alberti for the completion of the coating of the frontages of Santa Maria Novella, the Dome and Santa Croce.
But
the originality of San Miniato lies in the columns of the nave which
come from Roman buildings, of a nave which has a comprising pavement of
the marble and inspired of the zodiac and of a polychrome wooden
carpentry what makes the unit even more disparate.
The
crypt with 7 naves, with XIe century dedicated to the relics of the
saint, is partly covered with vestiges of frescos of Taddeo Gaddi going
back to 1341.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Miniato_al_Monte
http://www.florencewelcome.com/eglises-florence/san-miniato-eglise.htm
Orsanmichele
This
site was a convent Benedictine at the beginning of the Christian era,
and the grounds cultivated around in truck farm, probably to Arno.
In
750, the oratory became a small church, dedicated to St Michel
Archange, “San Michele in Orto” (St Michel with the Garden), shortened
in a name which still remains: Orsanmichele.
The
first church was demolished completely in 1240, when the Florentine
Republic decided to build a public building on the site, to shelter a
market with cereals.
Built
by Arnolfo di Cambio (1284-1290), the building was destroyed by a fire
in 1304, and was replaced (1337-1350) by the current building whose
realization was entrusted to the most famous architects florentins of
the time: Francesco Talenti, Benci di Cione, Neri di Fioravante which
also built the Vecchio Big shot. The project comprised the enlarging of
the room, and the addition of additional stages. The external pillars
were allotted to the various corporations, which had the load to
decorate them with stat
The
structure of the building is modified in 1367-1380, then finished in
1404 by Simone Talenti: the arches were closed, and the building was
again devoted to the religion. With the top of the church remained of
the attics with grain, until the Large Duke Cosimo makes them transform
into center of solicitors records, in 1569.
Currently,
this part of the building which is visited on go, is used for the
conservation of files, and the exposures of art. These parts are
accessible also since Palazzo dell' Arte della Lana, located opposite
Orsanmichele, the stages of the two buildings being connected by a
broad arch of XVIème century. Outside, one can admire 14 statues,
sheltered in niches, each one being financed by one of the major
corporations of the time. The corporations asked the most famous
artists of the moment to decorate the niches and to carry out bronze or
marble statues, dedicated to their patron saint.
http://www.creusot.net/creusot/histoire/monuments/statues/st_eloi/florence.htm
Santa Maria Novella
The
church, the first basilica of Florence, is located on the place Santa
Maria Novella. Built in XIIIème century by the Dominican ones, it
replaces the oratory Santa Maria delle Vigne, built on the same site as
of IXème century (from where its qualifier of Novella).
The tower of the Gothic bell-tower of style and the stripped posterior
part of the church make a beautiful contrast with the frontage.
The
complex of Santa Maria Novella is composed of the church, three
monumental cloisters and the dependences of the Dominican convent.
Chiostrino dei Morti, or Small Cloister of Deaths, is oldest of the
three.
It
was built about 1270 and was modified in XIVème century. Inside the
funerary vault of Strozzi is decorated with frescos with Andrea
Orcagna. Chiostro Large or Large Cloister also dates from XIVème
century but underwent important modifications in XVIème century.
The
most famous cloister of the convent is Chiostro Verde, or Green
Cloister, thus called because of the green tonality (verde will terra
it) frescos of Paolo Uccello which decorate its walls. Carried out
between 1430 and 1446, they represent scenes of the Old Will among
which the Universal Flood and the Intoxication of Noah are especially
remarkable.
The
church owes in particular its celebrity with the fabulous frescos which
it has: Giotto, Brunelleschi, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Benedetto da Maiano,
Masaccio, Domenico Ghirlandaio Filippino Lippi, Andrea Orcagna di Cione
for his retable of the Strozzi Vault, and in the cloister, the frescos
and greyness of Paolo Uccello.
The
frontage rebirth of the building, out of marbles white and black,
started in 1300, is finished by Leone Battista Alberti, in 1470.
Beside the church a cemetery is in which rest a number of noble florentins which financed the building.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_Novella
http://www.galilei.it/ecolelangueitalienne/visitesflorence.html
Santa Maria del Fiore
The
cathedral or Dome of Florence such as we see it today is the result of
a long work which crossed more than six centuries of history. The basic
architectural plan is that drawn by Arnolfo di Cambio at the end of
XIIIème century; the cupola, become a symbol for all Tuscany, is the
fruit of the genius of the Rebirth, Filippo Brunelleschi, while the
frontage supplementing the building was supplemented only at the end of
the XIXème century.
All
the structural and decorative interventions were carried out between
these two periods, as well outside as inside and enriched the history
by the monument: that goes from the construction of the two sacristies
on the marble ground of XVIème century, of the realization of the
sculptures to that of the signed frescos of Paolo Uccello, Andrea del
Castagno, Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari (the Universal Judgement
of the cupola).
The cathedral
Of
a 153 meters length, that is to say 23 meters more than
Our-Lady-of-Paris, and of a width of 38 meters, the Gothic building is
dominated by an octagonal cupola culminating with 115 90 meters broad
meters, built between 1420 and 1434 by Filippo Brunelleschi.
The
church of Santa Maria del Fiore is the cathedral of Florence. It is the
fourth church of Europe by its size, after Saint-Pierre of Rome,
Saint-Paul in London and the cathedral of Milan. Its plan particular,
is composed of a body of basilica with three naves welded with a
bedside in trefoil arch which supports the immense cupola. It is the
largest cupola out of apparatus built ever built. One can see, inside,
one of the largest narrative frescos: 3.600 m2 of frescos, carried out
between 1572 and 1579 by Giorgio Vasari and Frederico Zuccari.
The
construction, started on the old foundations of the church Santa
Reparata, in 1296 by Arnolfo di Cambio, was continued by Giotto of 1334
(which will start only the construction of the Bell-tower) until its
death in 1337. Francesco Talenti and Giovanni di Lapo Ghini will
continue construction in 1357.
In
1412, its name was changed into Santa Maria del Fiore, making thus
clearly allusion to the lily, symbol of the city. The church was
devoted on March 25 of the year 1436, at the end of work of the cupola
of Brunelleschi, by the Pope Eugenio IV. At present, it is the
cathedral of the archdiocese of Florence.
At
the end of XIIIème century, “Platea Episcopalis”, the episcopal whole
of Florence, presented the three buildings which still make it up, at
the space relations and reports/ratios completion different.
The
current place San Giovanni was hardly more than one widened street
making the turn of the baptistry of San Giovanni, which was then the
true heart of the unit. It was just supplemented by its attic and its
roof out of marble in the shape of octagonal pyramid. In the east,
crossed at once the “Door of the Paradise”, which was not decorated yet
its doors out of bronze made by Ghiberti, appears the threshold of the
church of Santa Reparata which had at its Eastern end a true harmonic
heart provided with two bell-towers.
As
crowning of this “Platea Episcopalis” draws up also the old church of
San Michele Visdomini, later moved more in the north, which was on the
same axis Baptistère - Dome, as well as the oldest Florentin hospital.
In the south draw up the dwellings of the canons, organized around a
central cloister. On this line a significant number of sanctuaries is
found, which leaves me think that it belongs to the crowned lines.
The
cathedral of Santa Reparata, although old and venerated, is not
appropriate any more as a church of a city in strong expansion, rich
person and powerful, which has just regulated its accounts with its
rival, His, and imposed its hegemony on a chaotic chess-board Tuscan.
Santa Reparata is described by Villani like “Good too much the coarse
and small shape in comparison of a city if established” and in the
communal documents like “collapsing by its extreme state”.
As in other religious structures, the seat of the government of the Republic of Florence is held to with it, and finally, in 1294, it decides the rebuilding of the church with dimensions such as it must eclipse the cathedrals of the unfavourable cities, of which Pisa and His.
The
cardinal Pietro Valeriano, papal legate Bonfiface VIII, solemnly poses
the first stone of the new basilica during the festival of the nativity
of the Virgin in 1296. The construction of the building was a vast
project which lasted at least 170 years (much more if one takes account
of the end of the construction of the frontage of the XIXème century),
to which will take part of many important artists. She was in the
center of the collective efforts of many generations.
Under
the cathedral of difficult work of excavation were realized between
1965 and 1974. The underground zone of the cathedral was used to bury
the évèques ones of Florence during centuries.
The
archaeological history of this zone was reconstituted recently,
according to the remainders of Roman dwellings and pavements
paléo-Christians until the ruins of the old cathedral Santa Reparata.
One reaches the excavations by a scale in the nave of left.
The baptistry
Place
of worship constuit between 5th and XIIIème century now dedicated to
saint Jean Baptiste - patron saint of Florence - and whose tradition
claims that it is an old Roman temple dedicated to the god Mars.
It
underwent important modifications in XIème and XIIème centuries. This
octagonal building is completely covered with white and green marble to
the geometrical reasons. The interior walls are decorated with
Byzantine mosaics artists florentins carried out in XIIIème century.
The
most known works of the baptistry are the three bronze doors decorated
by Andrea Pisano and Lorenzo Ghiberti, known as “the doors of the
paradise”.
Inside,
a baptistry draws the attention, as well as the pavement which seems to
indicate quelquechose to us. The atmosphere is serene there, in spite
of the visitors.
The bell-tower
It
was built between 1334 and 1359 by Giotto, first architect of the
Bell-tower which will direct the building site of 1334 to 1337 - year
of its death - and will carry out only the lower carved register of the
building. It is composed of seven hexagonal panels on with dimensions
the west, south and is, representing the walk of the man towards the
perfection. The seven figure is the biblical symbol this objective.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_del_Fiore