Discover the history of Florence through the Renaissance, the Medici family, historic churches, palaces, famous landmarks, art, architecture, and the people who shaped one of Italy’s most influential cities.
The Corsini family rose from Florence’s merchant elite to become one of Italy’s influential dynasties. Their story encompasses commerce, politics, art, the Church and Lorenzo Corsini’s election as Pope Clement XII. […]
The Corsini Family: Wealth, Politics and Papal Power Read More »
The Gondi family rose through commerce and banking to become part of Florence’s elite. Discover Palazzo Gondi, Giuliano Gondi and the remarkable Florentine dynasty that later gained influence at the French royal court. […]
The Gondi Family: Banking, Power and Renaissance Florence Read More »
The Guicciardini family belonged to Florence’s political elite for generations. Their most famous member, Francesco Guicciardini, became a diplomat, statesman and one of the Renaissance’s most important historians. […]
The Guicciardini Family: Politics, Diplomacy and History Read More »
The Pitti family rose through banking, commerce and politics in Renaissance Florence. Discover Luca Pitti’s ambitions, the creation of Palazzo Pitti and the remarkable story of how the palace eventually passed to the Medici. […]
The Pitti Family: Ambition, Power and Palazzo Pitti Read More »
Florence’s Renaissance masterpieces were created by extraordinary artists, but they also required extraordinary wealth. Discover how banking profits, merchant fortunes and financial networks helped fund the art, architecture and scholarship that transformed Florence. […]
How Banking Financed the Renaissance Read More »
Long before the Medici Bank, the Bardi and Peruzzi created two of medieval Europe’s most powerful financial networks. Their spectacular rise and collapse reveal how Florence became an international banking centre – and the risks that came with financing kings and commerce. […]
Bardi and Peruzzi: Florence’s Banking Giants Read More »
