Cosimo de Medici: itinerary in Florence through the fiction

Discovering the Medici dynasty in Florence in an itinerary inspired to the fiction “The Medici – Masters of Florence”

Have you seen the drama on Medici family centred on the figure of Cosimo de Medici in Florence? Are you curious to learn more about this important and intriguing figure of the Florentine history? For more than three centuries, the Medici family has played a central role in politics and in the fortunes of the city of Florence and traces of their presence are still visible today in the historical buildings and monuments of the historic centre. The drama recounts the rise of the Medici family, from the father figure of Cosimo de’ Medici, Giovanni di Bicci de’ Medici (played by Dustin Hofmann) who founded the Medici Bank, and with it he began building a great fortune which passed then to his son Cosimo de’ Medici, called the Elder (or pater patriae after his death).

The protagonist of the fiction is just Cosimo de Medici, played by Richard Madden. Although the plot is heavily fictionalized, it is inspired nonetheless of historical facts that took place in sites symbols of the city of Florence which can be visited still today.

During the episodes of the drama we can note as Cosimo de’ Medici as well as being an intelligent and astute politician, he was also a lover and patron of the arts. He invested part of his assets to beautify and make glorious his hometown.

In particular, it is highlighted the financial support to the construction of the Dome of Florence by Filippo Brunelleschi played by Alessandro Preziosi. At the end of its construction (1314-1315), the Cathedral remained for a long time without its dome and until the beginning of ‘400 still no one was seriously addressed the problem of finding a solution for the coverage.

The symbol of the city of Florence is still today the largest masonry dome ever built in the world. The ticket costs € 15,00 and it gives access to the Brunelleschi’s Dome, Giotto’s Bell Tower and the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

Another historical note in the episodes of the fiction refers to the historic Florentine football, an event to which you can assist even today during the festivities of St. John, the patron saint of the city (24 June). The teams of the city historical districts compete in three games that will lead to the proclamation of the annual winner. In this historical re-enactment there is no lack of exciting moments infighting at the hands of muscular athletes in the race.

Instead if you are wondering how to take place to the political life and where met together members of the rich and noble families of the city belonging to the “Signoria”, you can walk around the streets of the historical centre and visit the Palazzo dei Priori, what today is known as Palazzo Vecchio. Several inaccuracies in the fiction show the magnificent frescoes in the Sala dei Cinquecento but they were made in a period subsequent to that referred to the TV series.

Are you curious to find out the true faces of historical figures of the Medici family? Pay a visit to the Uffizi Gallery. You will find numerous frescoes, busts and paintings that show the true faces of the members of this important European dynasty, often very far from those of the fascinating actors in the cast of fiction.

As all important families also that of Medici had their abode in the city and it is an unmissable stop if you want to taste something more of the Cosimo de Medici’s life, who built the Palazzo Medici, still open today in Via Cavour, museum and headquarters of the Florence Province. At first, Cosimo asked a project to Brunelleschi, which was however discarded for its too much magnificence that would certainly have sparked envy of fellow citizens. So, he commissioned Michelozzo, an architect, as good as discreet, who designed a cubic building with an impressive appearance outside, but sober and austere.

There are many traces of Cosimo the Elder, Pater patriae, in Florence, and his tomb can be visited inside the Basilica of San Lorenzo. His life has led to the consolidation of power by one of the most important families in the history of Europe.

Discover the itinerary about Cosimo de Medici and the dynasty that reigned in Florence and dominated Europe for three centuries!