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Fiesole and its 3,000 years of History Florence’s elder Sister
[Maddalena Delli]
Fiesole is a charming ancient town and episcopal see perched on a steep hill overlooking the Arno and Mugnone valleys some 8 kms northeast of Florence. A chief city of the Etruscan confederacy, it probably dates from the 9th-8th c. BC, but its first written record (as Faesulae) is in 283 BC, when it was conquered by the Romans. In 80 BC it was occupied by the forces of the dictator Lucius Cornelius Sulla, and a splendid town sprang up, which was conquered by barbarians in AD 405. It later declined and was superseded by Florence. A substantial portion of the town's Etruscan walls - so imposing that they were once believed to have been built by giants - still survive, while the well-preserved Roman baths, Minerva temple and 2,000-seat theater (discovered in 1809, excavated from 1873) date from the 1st c. BC. Lying to the north of the ancient Forum (present-day Piazza Mino da Fiesole), these remains are comprised in a well equipped archaeological park over three hectares of hillside.
Notable medieval landmarks include the church and friary of San Francesco on the site of Etruscan and Roman citadels, the Romanesque cathedral (dating from the early 11th c.) and the 14th c. Palazzo Pretorio, with the coats of arms of the town mayors from 1502 to 1808. The Bandini Museum displays art and furniture collections and fine Della Robbia polychrome terracottas, while the San Iacopo Chapel (formerly the Oratory of the Archbishop's Palace) houses a unique range of religious objects in gold and silver dating from the Middle Ages to the 20th c.
Fiesole is a noted tourist destination and makes a pleasant half-day excursion from Florence. Ataf and Fiesole Musei offer a combined ticket allowing you to travel to and from Fiesole (bus line number 7 from the city center) and visit the all four Fiesole museums - Archaeological Area, Archaeological Museum, Museo Bandini and San Iacopo Chapel - for just € 7,20, or as little as € 5,60 if you are a student with proof of identity! This special ticket can be purchased from selected Ataf sales points including the Ataf kiosk in piazza Stazione.
In the 18th and 19th c. Fiesole bacame a popular resort with foreign (especially British) visitors, who dotted its countryside with villas surrounded by magnificent formal gardens. The Fiesole town council often organizes guided visits to discover these treasures which - being private property - would otherwise be unaccessible to the public.
The stone quarries in the Montececeri area - now a natural reserve - have provided for centuries the pietra serena (blue and grey limestone) now adorning many buildings in Florence. In fact it has been estimated that more than half the original mass of Montececeri has been incorporated into the city of Florence in the form of thousands of architectural and ornamental items.
Needless to say, the bars and cafés on the Fiesole hill are a favorite destination with Florentines looking for some respite from the heat on any sultry summer night.
Each year on 6th July Fiesole celebrates the feast of its Patron St. Romulus - early bishop of the town and martyr - with a colorful fair in Piazza Mino and a firework display in the evening.
For more info call:
Freephone 800.414240
Tourist office 055.598720
MORE
http://www.fiesolemusei.it
http://www.comune.fiesole.fi.it/