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 greet you. Entry was controlled through gates such as Porta San Giovanni or Porta Romana, where guards checked travelers and collected tolls.

The surrounding Tuscan countryside was picturesque, with rolling hills dotted with olive groves, vineyards, and farmhouses. As you neared Florence, the massive Duomo’s dome—though unfinished until the 15th century—along with the campanile (bell tower) and the Palazzo Vecchio’s crenellated towers, would dominate the skyline.

Navigating the City Streets

Florence’s streets were narrow, cobblestoned, and often winding, lined with tall stone and timber buildings that leaned inward. The main artery was the Via Calimala, a street that had once been a Roman road, and served as the commercial spine of the city. Markets thrived along streets like the Piazza della Signoria and Piazza del Duomo.

Travel on foot or horseback was common. The city’s population density meant streets were crowded, especially near the markets or religious centers. Wagons and carts moved goods but were limited by the narrowness of the streets. shutdown123