Florence - David

Florentina was established in Roman times as a settlement for veteran soldiers. The name had changed already when young Charlemagne conquered the town in 774. It became part of the Duchy of Tuscany, with Lucca as the capital. Around 1000 Margrave Hugo chose Florence as residency instead of Lucca. After the death of Matilda of Tuscany (1115), the Florentines formed a republic ruled by a council. The town prospered, despite a constant fight between the different factions and noble families.

In the 15th century, Florence was among the largest and wealthiest cities in Europe. This was when the Medici family entered the political scene. As a dynasty of art-loving, power-hungry bankers, they made Florence the birthplace of the Renaissance.

Michelangelo's David also stood at the entrance of the Palazzo Vecchio from its completion in 1504 to 1873, when it was moved to the Galleria dell'Accademia. A replica erected in 1910 now stands in its place. In March 2022 it was covered by a black fabric as a protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.