Interactive Map of Renaissance Florence

The Ponte Vecchio The Ponte Vecchio was labeled as an architectural feature of the city and deemed protected by the planning committee. The goals of the preservation were to maintain and uphold the rational order of the bridge's design. While mainly serving a functional purpose, the bridge's artistic design made it necessary to protect. Flanigan, Theresa. “The Ponte Vecchio and the Art of Urban Planning in Late Medieval Florence.” Gesta 47, no. 1 (2008): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.2307/20648957.

City Gardens Social gathering centers and beautification of the city were large influences on Renaissance urban planning. The Renaissance placed a heavy emphasis on natural beauty and preserving the natural world. Gardens throughout the city were preserved natural worlds within the city and provided a place of social gathering and cultural significance. Manganiello, Mark. “Shifts in Urban Planning through the Medieval, Renaissance, and Industrial Periods,” March 14, 2019.

Florence Cathedral The other key aspect of urban planning in Renaissance Florence was centralizing religious centers. The Florence Cathedral, constructed in 1296, was commissioned to be a religious center for the city. Religious centers played a large role in the social and political structures of the city. Goldthwaite, Richard A. The Building of Renaissance Florence: An Economic and Social History. JHU Press, 1982.

Piazza della Signoria The urban planning of Renaissance Florence revolved around two aspects: religious centers and social/cultural centers. The Piazza Della Signoria is a major plaza at the center of urban Florence. It has served as the center of commerce and social gatherings in the city. Goldthwaite, Richard A. The Building of Renaissance Florence: An Economic and Social History. JHU Press, 1982.

Streets The planning of roads and building infrastructure was more theoretical than practical. Urban planners wanted to plan new Renaissance cities with roads fanning out from the socio-economic, cultural, and religious centers of the city. The center of Florence was built before this method was put into practice, so it grew from chaos. The outer edges of the city were planned to fan out from the center. As these important areas of the city were built, streets were planned to fan out.

Medici Chapel The Renaissance was characterized by large patronage networks that enabled the rich to display their power within the city. The Medici family was one of the most prominent cities in Florence and used their wealth to build a variety of works, including the Medici Chapel. Urban planners often designed cities and infrastructure around these works. Evans, Graeme. Cultural Planning: An Urban Renaissance? Routledge, 2002.

Fortezza da Basso Italian city-states were able to expand and protect their holdings with military strength. Foreign interference in Italy led to military infrastructure growing in cities. Florence built their city with a military need in mind.