A Short History of Florence

by Fabrizio Ricciardelli

The book traces the history of Florence in a synthetic and accessible way, starting from 59 BC, traditional date of the foundation of the Roman colony, until 1967, the year after the terrible flood of the Arno river. The main events, the historical places, the great characters remind us why Florence is considered to be not simply a city, but a real cultural model, the origin of the values of democracy and freedom, of rational thought and of modern scientific method, homeland of some of the greatest geniuses of humanity.

Genres: History

144 pages, Paperback

Published December 30, 2019

Reviews

[Haak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I was looking for during my trip in Florence. A concise and short (political) history about the city. It could have gotten full marks if it wasn't for clumsy and cumbersome language here and there.

[Joel · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short and easy read. It's well organized and clearly written. Unfortunately, the author uses a lot of outdated language, mostly forgets that women existed throughout Florence's history, and narrowly characterizes the Renaissance giants as business people and "entrepreneurs" when they were much more than that. I was especially shocked at the end to note the book was first published in 2019, a year that leaves no excuses for the above. I learned a fair bit from reading it, but really struggled with all of these shortcomings of the author.

[Camilo García · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very brief history of Florence. It is a good introductory chapter for what should be a much longer book. If you're a tourist that fell in love with Firenze and want a quick read to satiate your Florentine hunger, this is for you.
Some of the book's commentary on social relations through the city's history is interesting, but shallow.

[Amalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

When the title says "short" it means it. It was a decent introduction, but the shortness was often at the cost of clarity, and the part about the Guelphs and Ghibellines was especially messy.

[Marc · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up the book on the last day I visited this extraordinary city. The book gives you a quick view of the important history of Florence. The 100 pages try to capture so much information that the reader sometimes has a hard time keeping track.
On the other hand, it's also a skill to pack so many historical facts into a short story.

If you want to read a calm story about the history of Florence, maybe this book isn't for you. If you want a quick and overwhelming trip through a brief history, then I suggest you read it.

[Melissa Buckley · Rating 3 out of 5]

My husband picked this up after a trip to Florence peaked our interest in the city. Pretty dry but thorough history. Quick read.