FLORENCE (Ital. FIRENZE), a city of Italy, capital of the former duchy of Tuscany, is situated in the valley of the Arno, in lat. 43° 46' u., and long. 11° 15' east. It is about 123 ft. above the level of the sea, 60 m. from Leghorn, 40 from Siena, and 44 from Arezzo. Pop. '71, 167,003. The Arno, spanned by four fine bridges, divides the city into two unequal parts, the chief of which stands on the northern bank of the river. In shape, an irregular pentagon, F. is inclosed by walls of about 6 m. in extent, and communi cates with the exterior by means of eight gates, which conduct to thickly peopled suburbs, and a lovely, fertile, and salubrious neighborhood, encircled by sloping hills, and studded with picturesque villas and fruitful vineyards and gardens. F. and her environs, viewed from the heights of Fiesole, appear but one vast city. The influx of population consequent on the establishment here, in 1865, of the seat of the Italian gov ernment, necessitated a considerable extension of the city, and it is now nearly double its former extent. Many causes render this city a most attractive place of residence to foreigners—a lovely country and healthful climate, cheap living, and the universal courteous intelligence of the people, united to the immense sources of interest poSsessed by the city in her grand historical monuments and collections of art. The massive and austere forms of Florentine architecture impart an air of gloomy grandeur to the streets, for the most part regular andWell kept. The chief monuments of the city are II Duomo, or the cathedral. the foundations of which were laid with great solemnity in 1298. The Florentines having ambitiously resolved on erecting a monument which for architectural splendor and proportions should outvie all preceding structures, the honor of preparing the design was intrusted to Arnolfo de Cambio da Colle. On his death Giotto superin tended the works; and many eminent architects were employed before this splendid edifice was completed—Brunelleschi, the last, conceived and erected the grand cupola, so much admired by Michael Angelo as to have served him as a model for that of St. Peter's. At the side of the cathedral springs up the light and elegant bell-tower, detached, according to the custom of the times. In front is the baptistery of San GM in form an octagon, supporting a cupola and lantern; all three edifices being entirely coated with a varied mosaic of black and white marble. Three bronze gates in basso-rilievo are a great additional adornment of the baptistery; the two by Ghiberti have been immortalized by Michael Angelo with the name of gates of paradise. See *nilli's description. The church of the Santa Croce, the pantheon of F. (built in 1294—architect, Arnolfo), contains monuments to Galileo, Dante, Macchiavelli, Michael Angelo, Alfieri, etc. The church of San Lorenzo was consecrated as early as 393 by St, Ambrose, and rebuilt by Brunelleschi in 1425, by command of Giovanni and Cosmo de' Medici. It
contains an interesting monumental memorial of Como it Vecchio, bearing inscribed the title Pater Patrice which had been conferred on his memory by public suffrage the year following his death. In the .i\ruova Sagrestia, or neW sacristy, are the two famous monuments of Michael Angelo to Julian and Lorenzo de' Medici. The figures of these two statues are marvels of deep and living expression, and unsurpassable in their mute and eloquent beauty. The Medicean chapel, gorgeous with the rarest marbles and most costly stones, agate, lapis lazuli, chalcedony, etc., stands behind the choir, and contains the tombs of the Medici family, and those of the grand.dukes their successors. Annexed to the church is the Laurentian library, with its inexhaustible store of rare MSS., founded by Giulio de'Medici. Bandini has published the catalogue of the Greek, Latin, and Italian MSS.; and Biscioni and Assemani those of the Hebrew and oriental ones. Amongst the numerous palaces, it Bargello, now converted into a prison, is one of the most ancient, and was formerly the abode of the republican magistrate, the podestl. In 1841, some interesting portraits were brought to light by the removal of a coating of whitewash from the revered features of Dante, Brunetto Latini, Corso Donati, etc., in the chapel of the palace. The palazzo Vecchio, the seat of the republican government from its establishment till 1530, when it wasabolishcd, is an imposing mass of building, surmounted by a lofty tower 260 ft. high, the great bell of which used to warn the citizens of danger or summon them to defense. Adjoining the palace is the piazza del palazzo Vecchio, a square containing a fine collection of statues, and a noble arcade, the loggia de' Lanzi, under the porticos of which are magnificent groups of sculpture (see Rastelli's lllustra zione Storiea del Palazzo della, Signoria, detto Palazzo Vecchio); Gli Uffizi, a handsome building between the palazzo Vecchio and the Arno, founded by Cosmo I., in the first floor of which are deposited the archives of the court of justice and other public offices, also the Magliabechi library of 150,000 volumes, and 12,000 MSS. On the second floor, in a circular suite of 23 rooms, is contained the famous Florentine gallery of art; rich in paintings, engravings, sculpture, bronzes, coins, gems, and mosaics. A splendid apart ment, known as the tribuna, contains the rarest treasures of the collection, and is in itself a wonder of art, with its cupola inlaid with mother of pearl, and its rich marble pavement. The palazzo Pitti, the modern grand ducal residence, boasts of a superb gallery of paintings, and of a collection of 70,000 rare volumes, and 1500 MSS.