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<\/p>\nFlorence is a city unlike any other. For centuries, numerous scholars have told of its affairs in an attempt to capture the reasons for its singularity, born of the encounter between artistic genius and personal, familial and political ambition. Good fortune of that kind, however, also stems from the fact that Florence between the 13th and 16th century provided a privileged observatory, not only for the history of Italy, but also for the history of Europe in its entirety. It is a history that is often unclear and contradictory, marked by ferocious partisan battles, hate and vendettas, and yet also capable of continually devising new political solutions. It is a history of banks and industrial businesses, of merchant adventures and of flagrant displays of wealth, but also solidarity with the poor, sick and orphaned. In the end, it is a history of an unscrupulous people of not infrequent blasphemy, as well as men of unwavering and ardent faith. In this fount of life, the Florentine society of these centuries never ceases to communicate with those who want to understand the past and present world. For this reason, we wanted to tell a story about Medieval and Renaissance Florence. This book is not a new contribution of research on the city, nor is it a manual that systematically addresses the sequence of events of those centuries. In its chapters, we wanted to open a window into Florentine life and its different characteristics, a gallery of scenes and of perspectives that permit entry into this creative and fertile world at its prime. Short chapters give readers time for further consideration and for those who may be lucky enough to visit (perhaps with the book in hand), the rest of the story can be found outside, in the streets and piazzas of Florence.<\/p>\n
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