The Jewish Story of Florence, Italy
A unique Florence is one narrated by the places of the Florence Jewish Community. Thanks to the synagogue, the museum and the monumental cemetery, you can discover a privileged lens to look deep into the great history of the capital city of Tuscany. [caption id="attachment_30201" align="alignnone" width="1500"] The Great Synagogue of Florence[/caption] A town of little importance during the early Middle Ages, Florence became more firmly established during the course of the 11th century. During the 12th century, it began to grow at such a rate that it clashed with the other Tuscany city-states. In the 14th century, these conflicts took the form of political rivalry between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions, and when the Guelph government of Florence chose to support the House of Anjou it was able to overwhelm its rivals and maintain lasting power. Florence reached the height of its glory in the 15th century, under Cosimo il Vecchio and Lorenzoil Magnifico, who was the main patron of the extraordinary cultural phenomenon known as the Rinascimento (the Italian Renaissance), which made Italy the cradle of new European art.
