Ancient Florence is surrounded by the mountain ranges of Tuscany, with the Apennines to the north and east. This city is rightfully considered a gem of the region, as its picturesque landscapes are exceptional!
By today's standards, Florence can be considered miniature, with just over 360,000 inhabitants residing in an area of about 102 square kilometers. However, in terms of the number of attractions per square kilometer or per capita, it is a true record holder.
The date of Florence's foundation is believed to be 59 B.C. The city was originally planned to become a prosperous military camp (the name "Florence" translates as "blooming").
During the early Middle Ages Florence was an ordinary town, but gradually its borders expanded and its sphere of influence spread to the entire Tuscan region.
In the present cultural and economic "flower garden" Florence has become during the reign of the clan Medici - in the middle of the XIV century. "The Athens of Italy" - so it became known to travelers and locals, because the city with its picturesque parks and stately palaces boggled the imagination. No wonder Dante, Machiavelli, Rossini, Botticelli, Michelangelo and Galileo created their best works here.
