Welcome back, curious explorers, to our ongoing quest to unveil the world's hidden narratives. Florence, the city we've learned to admire for its art and architecture reaching for the sky, hides an entire other dimension. A parallel world, silent and dark, that extends right beneath its bustling streets and magnificent palaces.
How many times have we walked on its ancient cobblestones without thinking about the world stretching beneath our feet? What if I told you that beneath the Florence we know, there exists another one, older, more mysterious, made of hidden tunnels, Roman foundations, ancient sewers, and secret refuges? What stories of survival, intrigue, and forgotten times does this buried city guard? Prepare to descend below the surface to explore Underground Florence.
The Layers of History: Florence's Hidden Roots
Like many great European cities, Florence is built upon layers and layers of history. Founded by the Romans in the 1st century BC with the name "Florentia," the city has grown, been destroyed, rebuilt, and re-erected countless times over the millennia. Each new era simply "covered" the previous one, leaving intact, but invisible, the vestiges of its past.
This process has created a fascinating subterranean belly that preserves tangible traces of its past epochs, from Roman foundations to medieval cellars, from Renaissance secret passages to 20th-century air-raid shelters. It's not just a mystery, but a true time machine that allows us to walk through the foundations of Florentine history.
Tunnels, Cellars, and Cryptoporticos: Journey into Florentine Subterranean World
The Remains of Roman Florentia: Perhaps the most fascinating secrets are found beneath the most famous monuments. Below the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore and, in particular, beneath the Battistero di San Giovanni (Baptistery), extensive remains of ancient Roman Florentia have been discovered: a cardo and a decumanus (main streets), houses with mosaics, baths, and even an amphitheater. These excavations, partly accessible, reveal the original urban layout and the daily life of the first inhabitants.
Beneath Palazzo Vecchio: In addition to the famous Vasari Corridor that runs above the city, Palazzo Vecchio also conceals a network of tunnels and underground passages. These were not only service routes or escape routes for the Medici family and political figures in times of danger but also ancient prisons and secret storerooms. It is said that tunnels connected the palace to strategic locations in the city, perfect for intrigues and clandestine movements.
Medieval Cellars and Foundations: Walking through the historic center, many Renaissance shops and palaces hide cellars below street level that descend for several levels. These often reveal the solid foundations of medieval tower-houses, old wells and water cisterns, or even the remains of ancient workshops incorporated into the later urban fabric. Every brick and every arch tells a story of buried daily life.
Refuges and Escape Routes: In periods of sieges, wars, or plagues (like the Black Death of 1348), these subterranean spaces became crucial as temporary refuges or escape routes. They were also used for illicit trade, smuggling, or for secret meetings that needed to remain hidden from prying eyes.
A Hidden World to Explore
Underground Florence is another dimension of the city, a labyrinth of history and mystery that reminds us of its deep roots. It invites us to reconsider the idea of "city" not just as a collection of buildings on the surface, but as a stratified entity, where each era has left its mark, visible or invisible.
Next time you visit Florence, take a moment to look up at its magnificent sights, but also to imagine the world that extends beneath your feet. There are many opportunities to participate in dedicated tours that will allow you to explore some of these places. What other secrets and what other cities are hidden beneath the great metropolises of the world, waiting to be rediscovered?
Nessun commento:
Posta un commento