FAESULAE, an ancient city of Etruria, on the height 3 m. to the N.E. of Florentia, 97o ft. above sea-level (mod. Fiesole, q.v.) . Remains of its walls of large blocks of stone are preserved on all sides, especially on the north-east. The whole circuit extended for about 1 m. The Franciscan monastery (1,130 ft.) occupies the site of the acropolis, once encircled by a triple wall, of which no traces are now visible. The Roman theatre, below the cathedral to the N.E., has 19 tiers of stone seats and is 37 yd. in diameter. To the north of the theatre was an Etruscan temple with three cellae, apparently converted into the Capitolium in Roman times; while to the east of it are the Roman baths. There was also an ancient temple on the site occupied by the church of S. Ales sandro. A small museum contains the objects found in the exca vations.
Though Faesulae was an Etruscan city, we have no record of it in history until 225 B.C., when the Gauls passed near it in their march on Rome. Eight years later Hannibal seems to have taken this route in his march south after the victory of the Trebia. Sulla expelled some of the inhabitants from their lands to make room for his veterans, but some of the latter were soon driven out in their turn by the former occupiers. Both joined the partisans of Catiline, and Manlius, one of his supporters, made his head quarters at Faesulae. In A.D. 405 Radagaisus was crushed in the neighbouring hills, and Belisarius besieged and took it in A.D. 539.