Visit Florence and Tuscany

The history of Tuscany begins in the mists of time. The earliest definite traces of human presence date back to the Paleolithic era. Between the 10th and 8th centuries B.C., the Etruscan civilization appeared, reaching its peak around the 6th century B.C., a time when cities like Pisa, Arezzo, Chiusi, or Volterra were founded, which later inspired Roman urban planning. The remarkable level of civilization achieved by the Etruscans is evidenced by the equality of rights between men and women, truly unusual for their time (actually, even for ours!).

In the 3rd century B.C., the Etruscans were defeated by Rome, and the entire region quickly declined economically, culturally, and socially. The Romans founded new cities, including Florentia (modern-day Florence) and Cosa (modern-day Ansedonia: one of the best-preserved, with its walls, forum, acropolis, Capitolium…).

After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the region passed through several centuries from one invader to another. Among these: the Ostrogoths, Byzantines, Lombards (who transformed it into a duchy with its seat in Lucca), or the Franks of Charlemagne, just to name a few. Centuries, in short, not exactly bright, during which each city grew as it could. Thus, in the 11th century, the most powerful and important city in Tuscany was Pisa, which, becoming a Maritime Republic, dominated almost all of the Tyrrhenian Tuscany, Sardinia, and Corsica. Meanwhile, however, Siena also grew, destined to become so beautiful and powerful as to compete with Florence.