scavi archeologici

Tuscan
Archaeological
Service

Archaeological
excavations in Firenze
Directed by Dr.G.Ciampoltrini

H O M E

ARCHAEOLOGICAL AREA OF FIRENZE

Archaeological evidence shows that the site of the modern city of Florence was inhabited from Prehistoric times and especially in the Iron Age (8th century B.C.) and during the period of the Etruscans, thanks to its important geographical position close to the waterway of the River Arno and on the roads that crossed the area to communicate with the Appennines.
The Roman city was founded with the colony of "Florentia" in around 30 B.C. and became very prosperous during the Imperial period, when many monumental structures were built, in particular in the 2nd century A.D., with the result that it was made the capital of "Tuscia et Umbria" from the early 4th century A.D.

The old city centre still preserves the topographical plan of the Roman city which, thanks to the the alignment of the walls and the main streets, as well as the perimeter of the amphitheatre (Via Torta, Piazza de' Peruzzi...), can easily be picked out on maps and in aerial photographs.
Monumental remains of the ancient city can be visited beneath the Duomo (the area of Santa Reparata), the Baptistery (a "domus" with mosaics), Palazzo Vecchio (the structure of the theatre) and the Tower of the Pagliazza, in Piazza Sant'Elizabetta (thermal baths), as well as in Via Calimaruzza (south gate).
Many Roman remains are exhibited in the National Archaeological Museum in Florence (in the Courtyard and small Courtyard) and also, from December 1995, in the "Florence as it was" Museum (section on "The Origins of Florence")