Markets and Food If you wandered through the markets, you’d find a variety of goods: fine cloth from Flanders, spices from the East, Tuscan wines, olive oil, cheeses, and fresh produce. Street vendors sold bread, roasted chestnuts, and simple fare. Florentine cuisine was rooted in local

The Guilds and Merchant Class Florence’s wealth came from the banking and textile industries, and the city was governed largely by the guilds—organizations of craftsmen and merchants who regulated trade, maintained quality, and controlled access to political power. The Arte della Lana

The Cathedral Complex The most striking landmark was the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, still unfinished in 1380 but already a symbol of Florentine pride. The great dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi would not be completed until 1436, but the cathedral’s façade and campanile

Approaching the City As a medieval traveler arriving in Florence in 1380, you would likely approach the city through one of the main roads, perhaps from the north via the road from Bologna or from the south via Siena. The city’s imposing walls, reinforced after frequent conflicts, would gre