ROMAN FLORENCE
WALK 1
“Florentia”
Discovering the ancient Roman florence
The Roman colony of Florence is founded on the right bank of the Arno river. In a flat area that had already been inhabited by the Villanoviani (starting from 9 century BC).
The foundation date of the colony is uncertain, now attributed to General Silla 82-79 BC, now to General Giulio Cesare around 59 BC. Many historians believed that Florence had taken the name of Florentia because it had been founded during spring “floral games”.
The urban layout of the colony is the classic model of Roman urban planning, a military camp, a “Castrum”.
Definition of “Castrum”: Ancient Roman fortified camp.
Florence: Roman “castrum”
The internal road network is bounded by blocks “insulae” (60×60 m.) and it is organized orthogonally around the main 2 axes: Cardo maximus (north-south direction) Via Roma and Via Calimala; Decumanus maximus (east-west direction) Via del Corso, Speziali, Via Strozzi.
Florence was also surrounded by an outer wall which is now almost completely disappeared. The ancient wall is mentioned in some medieval documents as "first wall" or "old wall".
At both ends of the two main roads where they met the wall there were four gates flanked by circular turrets.
Among all the gates, one is well documented, the north gate. This was known in the Middle Ages as “Porta del Vescovo” (Bishop’s gate) due to its proximity to the Bishop’s palace. It was also near what we know today as “Borgo San Lorenzo”, which continue to be called “borgo” because it stood outside the city walls.
At the other end of the road, in the south of the city by the river, was the “Porta di Santa Maria” (St. Mary’s gate). To this day, the old town that had stood between the gate and the river has been know as “Por Santa Maria”.
The other two gates, one was in the east where now, Via del Corso runs into Via del Proconsolo; the other was in the west, where Via Strozzi joins Via Tornabuoni.
Forum and capitol of florence
Forum. At the point where the two main axes met was the “Forum”. WALKS around and through the actual Piazza della Repubblica.
Definition of Forum: it is the center of social and political life. It is the main square of the Roman city, born with the function of market, becoming to follow the political, religious and commercial center of the city.
Become the hub of city life. On one side there often stood the Capitol, or other important temples where the pagan rites were celebrated.
The forum occupied a rectangular area, now covered by Piazza della Repubblica. At one point, this area was turned into a market, and later became the former Jewish ghetto at the end of the 16th century.
The column which stands in the center of the square still acts as a remainder of the city’s links with the Roman era.
The forum was enlarged and made even more monumental in the Hadrian period (117-138 AD).
The capitol of florence
The Capitol. Definition of Capitol: it is the religious center of the city.
The temple stood on a quadrangular podium, about 3 meters high. It was accessed from the forum through a staircase. The temple had a square plan, and was oriented to the east. The temple was dedicated to the important deities of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.
The temple represented the divine protection of the city and the state.
Facade: Central portico, surmounted by a triangular pediment.
Inside: 3 cells, of which the central one was larger than the lateral ones. Until the end of the 19th century the name and the sacred character of the place were preserved by the church of Santa Maria in Campidoglio, built on a corner of the podium of it.
The church was destroyed at the end of the 19th century. Today only the street dedicated to it remains, Via del Campidoglio.
Roman theater of florence
Theater. The area of the Roman theater is now occupied by the Palazzo della Signoria and the Palazzo Gondi, which have incorporated a large part of the monument into their foundations. (WALKS from Piazza Signoria, along the left side where Palazzo Vecchio is located and Via Gondi)
The archaeological excavations carried out at the end of the 19th century have confirmed that the theater dates back to the 1st century AD and had a capacity of about 15,000 people.
This confirms a phase of great demographic development for Florence. The Roman theater building is directly inspired by the Greek model, namely the Hellenistic one.
“Theater” comes from the Greek “théatron”, means I look, I contemplate. it is a building used for representation. It’s main ground plan is semi-circular.
In Ancient Greece, the theater offered more than entertainment; it was used as a vehicle for the communal expression of religious beliefs through music, poetry and dance.
AMphitheater of florence
Amphitheater. The building appears to be located between Piazza Santa Croce and Borgo de'Greci. (WALKS from Piazza Peruzzi, Via de’ Bentaccordi e Via Torta).
It is possible to determine the precise location of the Roman amphitheater as the medieval buildings were set up on the remains of the perimeter structures and the wedges of the steps.
The building technique and the use of polychrome marble date the building to the 2nd century AD when Florence achieved great urban expansion even outside the walls.
The amphitheater is an original Italian architectural model.
It is an arena surrounded by steps for spectators. The area is oval, enclosed by continuous and concentric steps.
The building was intended for performances by gladiators and wild beasts, hunting, events that attracted a large number of spectators. The most important example in Italy is the Colosseum in Rome, the Flavian amphitheater destroyed in a fire in 64 AD but immediately rebuilt.
GLOSSARY
CASTRUM
DECUMANUS MAXIMUS
CARDO MAXIMUS
FORUM
CAPITOLIUM (CAPITOL)
THEATER
AMPHITEATER
BORGO
POR or PORTA
