Founded by the Romans on the river Arno not far from an Etruscan settlement, Florence reached its maximum splendour in the Renaissance between in the15th and16th centuries, when the artists and intellectuals gathered at the Medici court marked the history of western culture.
The city and its heritage represent a favourite destination for millions of visitors from all over the world. Additionally, Florence is also a major trade fair centre, and a choice of cultural events is available throughout the year.
Firenze by Net offers an Art Guide to the city with about 700 pictures and over 300 pages of text, a searchable events and entertainment database (ViviFirenze), maps of the town and environs, useful information for tourists and residents, and many other resources, in a website updated weekly and fully available in English and Italian.