Difference between revisions of "Florence"

<p> (1): (n.) A kind of cloth. </p> <p> (2): (n.) An ancient gold coin of the time of [[Edward]] III., of six shillings sterling value. </p>

<p> A famous [[Italian]] city, situated 50 m. from the sea; it lies in the valley of the Arno, and is built on both sides of the river, but chiefly on the N.; the outlying suburbs are singularly beautiful, and are surrounded by finely wooded hills, bright with gay villas and charming gardens; the old city itself is characterised by a sombre grandness, and is full of fine buildings of historic and artistic interest; chief amongst these is the cathedral, or Duomo, begun in 1298, with its grand dome and campanile (293 ft.), by Giotto. It is the city of Dante, Petrarch, [[Michael]] Angelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Boccaccio, Machiavelli, [[Galileo]] and many more of Italy's great men, and has a history of exceptional interest; it has many fine art galleries; is an educational centre, and carries on a trade in straw-plaiting and silk. </p>