THROUGH THE ARTS AND CRAFTS OF FLORENCE
This itinerary winds through what were once the streets and historical palaces where the Arts were performed. The powerful civilian corporations, between the 12th and 13th centuries, in good part due to Florence’s extraordinary economic development, contributed to render the city one of the most important in medieval Europe. The route will touch on the most important public and private buildings like Orsanmichele, Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Strozzi, and the squares and streets where major political events were conducted for the conquest of liberty for the republic.
THE MEDICI DISTRICT
This itinerary includes the quarters north-west of the historical center, an area that stood up until the construction of the first communal circle (1173-1175), outside of the city walls. In the 1400 and 1500’s, these “new” quarters, along with the area of San Marco, became the center of Medicean Florence. Here the Palazzo Medici-Riccardi and the church of San Lorenzo were raised to symbolize the political and religious powers of the Medici’s. It was in this district, in the Academy of the Orti Medicean, from which the hotel “Orto de’ Medici” gets its name, where famous artists like Donatello, Michelozzo, Pollaiolo, Verrocchio and Michelangelo were formed and the new architectural lines were destined to inspire the fortunate Renaissance style.