Florence

From it's humble beginnings as a Roman military camp in 80 BCE it was originally named Fluentia, owing the fact that it was built between two rivers, the name was later corrupted to Florentia. Florence is famous for it's rich history of innovation, art and politics. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. A turbulent political history includes periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, and numerous religious and republican revolutions. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the recently established Kingdom of Italy.

The historic centre of Florence attracts millions of tourists each year, and it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982. Due to Florence's artistic and architectural heritage, it is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is noted for its history, culture, Renaissance art and architecture and monuments.