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Fiesole, 300 m. in altitude in the main Piazza Mino, is not far from the centre of Florence only 5 Km. The chief town of a municipality of 15.000 inhabitants distributed for almost a third in the ancient town and the remaining between the "Valley of the Arno" and "Valle Mugnone". The territory measures about 42 kmq2., almost the whole area in hills ranging with altitudes from 58 M. On the banks of the Arno river to 702 M. On Poggio Pratone, a true roof on Florence.
The Network of roads is ensured by a thick stitch of ancient roads. The landscape is dotted with olive trees, cypresses, from spots of forest and from houses and villas insert in this framework with wisdom secular.
Fiesole is an area typically residential and Tourist. |
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The time marks the decadence of city reduced to a combination of ruins and used as a quarry of materials to the nearby dominant town. The place shall thereafter be part of the heritage of ancient memories and legends about the origins of Florence that Dante Alighieri draws in comedy. Celebrated by Poliziano, attended by Lorenzo the Magnificent and Pico della Mirandola, considered by Boccaccio place Ameno and ideal Theatre for the imaginary mythological, Fiesole from Renaissance is chosen for the residence or the resorts of affluent Florentine families and later also foreign families. Which still remain the rich houses and villas that you can still see to day. From the 14 th century, the inhabitants of the Chief Town are for the most part devoted to the job of quarrymen and stone-cutters in the renowned quarries of "Pietra Serena" (the raw material already used by Etruscans and Romans for architectures and ornaments). In the Renaissance period the commissioning rich and sensitive to the new taste enriches the houses and churches and disseminates the territory of villas and gardens. It favours the creation of sculptural works, paintings and artistic handicraft that there are still numerous originating in the places. |
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The government of the Medici family had a role fondaméntale in promoting a redesign of the territory functional to the interests of the city of Florence and inspired to a sense of beauty as order and rule common to all the arts. From the second half of the XIX century (when Florence became capital of Italy 1865-1870) in Fiesole it undertakes a vast work of reconstruction and urban enlargement, with new aristocratic residences and dwellings popular and bourgeois. In 1873 combs to light the remains of the Roman Theatre and create the Archaeological Area and the Civic Museum (1878). In 1914 is built the present seat of the Museum (restored, enlarged, reorganized in 1981 1990). In the climate of the rebirth and the rediscovery of the nineteenth century in Fiesole is inserted significant foreign cultural in particular English.
Great part of the charm of Fiesole is linked, in addition to its archaeological and riches artistic history, to its beautiful landscape and its enjoyable views with short excursions over the ancient city walls. |
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The HISTORY
The origins of Fiesole are ancient important remains monumental to attest the existence of a strong Etruscan settlement already in the VII century b.C. Up to reach Hellenistic large. During the Calata dei Galli acquired strategic importance, attended the revolt of Italic against Rome, but was defeated, and in the 90 b.C. Fiesole became a Roman colony. quickly, thanks also to its important buildings, theatre, spa, the Capitol, forum, temples, became the most important centre of the region. After the fall of the Roman Empire also Fiesole knew the employment of the Lombards (VI and VII sec. d. (c) testified in the discovery of numerous burials and objects. The prestige of the city as military stronghold went thus to reduce in favour of Florence.
The church was organised in Fiesole, as elsewhere, within the administrative borders Romans in a wide diocese. Its Bishops had purchased large political influence by combining the religious functions those civil and variables that lead on a vast territory. In the XI century Bishop Iacopo the Bavaro based the Cathedral. In the XII century Florence is organised in free municipality, conquest and destroys Fiesole and forces the Bishop within the territory Fiorentino.
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