The Arch – Florence, Italy
Florence was originally established by Julius Caesar in 59 BC as a settlement for his veteran soldiers. It was named Florentia (‘the flourishing’) and built in the style of an army camp with the main streets, the cardo and the decumanus, intersecting at the present Piazza della Repubblica. Situated at the Via Cassia, the main route between Rome and the north, and within the fertile valley of the Arno, the settlement quickly became an important commercial centre. The Emperor Diocletian made Florentia the seat of a bishopric around the beginning of the 4th century AD. In the ensuing two centuries, the city experienced turbulent periods of Ostrogothic rule, during which the city was often troubled by warfare between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines, which may have caused the population to fall to as few as 1,000 people. Peace returned under Lombard rule in the 6th century. Conquered by Charlemagne in 774, Florence became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as capital. The population began to grow again and commerce prospered. In 854, Florence and Fiesole were united in one county.
The Arch - Florence, Italy
-
Fears of a mounting death toll are growing in Haiti after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake [/caption] Fears of a mounting death toll are growing in Haiti after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake rocked the impoverished Caribbean nation... -
U.S. to Fine Airlines for Tarmac Delays, Impose 3-Hour Wait Limit By JOSH MITCHELL and SUSAN CAREY WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration said Monday it will begin levying hefty fines against... -
Visit Italy - The UN Official Guide [/caption] Italy is perhaps Europe’s most illustrious country with a rich history and culture that is so irresistibly enticing to...
-
Guide to the Piano Pianos are referred to as the mother of all instruments by many people, and they are also one of the... -
What to Ignore and Watch for in the New Credit Card Rules If you are a baby boomer who is serious about being financially prepared for retirement, there are (in my humble... - Review: Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die by Chris Santella Fifty Places to Fly Fish Before You Die is a unique book that offers 50 short takes on the ultimate...
