Welcome to Fiesole
From
Jesse's Journeys in Italy
Population: 14,278 (2004)
Official site:
Fiesole
Wikipedia:
Fiesole
Map:
MapQuest
The
history of the Florence region as a
whole is barely distinguishable from
that of Florence itself, which was
founded in 59 B.C. before it was
actually built some twenty years later,
or from that of the even more ancient
city of Fiesole.
Although this city was originally a
major Etruscan township which the Romans
had colonised in 80 B.C., a wealth of
ancient finds from the 15th and 14th
centuries B.C. (Middle Bronze Age)
exhibited in the Archaeological Museum
bear testimony to an even more distant
past. Considerable parts of the 3rd
century B.C. city walls are still
largely intact, as is the large Roman
theatre which was probably completed
just before the middle of the 1st
century A.D. Fiesole also pre-dates
Florence as a seat of bishops. Its early
11th-century cathedral and 13th-century
bell tower overlook the large square
named after the famous Renaissance
sculptor Mino da Fiesole.
The
Bishop's Palace (Palazzo Vescovile)
situated right opposite the cathedral
dates back to the same period, but was
rebuilt in the 17th century.
The nearby Seminario building was
constructed at the close of the same
century, as was the road which climbs up
as far as the seat of the ancient
Etruscan acropolis, San Francesco. It
was there that Franciscan friars built a
convent in the 14th century and began to
put together what today is one of the
most important collections of Chinese
bronzes extant in Italy (Museo
Missionario).
On the
opposite side of the square, facing the
Seminario, are the Town Hall (Palazzo
Comunale) and a church (chiesa di Santa
Maria Primerana). The Museo Bandini
houses a valuable collection of
paintings and sculptures (10th-18th
centuries), while 19th century documents
and works of art are preserved on the
premises of the Fondazione Primo Conti.
Among the countless prestigious ancient
residences belonging to the main
Florence noble families which are dotted
around the outskirts of the city,
particular mention should be made of the
Villa Medici, which was built by
Michelozzo at the instigation of Cosimo
the Elder in 1458.
Halfway along the road from Fiesole to
Florence is the 15th century monastery
of San Domenico, where Friar Beato
Angelico lived and worked. The
magnificent altar piece inside the
church illustrates scenes from his life.
The abbey named Badia Fiesolana stands
just below.
Added by Vian Andrews, July 25, 2007
using
notes from the website of Hotel Villa
Fiesole
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