Florence History
The warmly lit, evening cityscape of Florence, Italy; (c) Josh Hild/PEXELS
Florence history began in the 1st Century BC, when it was founded by the Romans. As an Allobrogian border town, it was fortified against the Helvetii tribe when the Romans took it in 121 BC.
City residents became predominantly Christian under the Late Roman Empire, and acquired their first bishop in the 5th century AD.
The first notable wave of African people arriving in Florence dates back to the Renaissance (15th and 16th centuries), when Florence was at the height of its cultural and economic power. Africans came for trade and diplomacy. This makes sense because Florence had large banking networks connected to global trade routes, including those touching North Africa and West Africa. Some Africans arrived as diplomats via the port cities of Genoa and Venice.
Many Africans were also brought to Italian city-states as part of the Trans-Mediterranean Slave Trade. While slavery in Renaissance-era Italy was not plantation-based like in the Americas, enslaved Africans were often employed in domestic roles. Florence’s wealthy Medici family and others kept African servants, some of whom appear in Renaissance art and court records.
Michelangelo’s David statue since 1504 AD in the Accademia Gallery; (c) Soul Of America
Some Africans came as converts to Christianity or were integrated into religious institutions. A small number achieved freedom and integration into local society.
Another migration began after Italy’s unification (1861) and after Italy’s colonial efforts in Eritrea, Somalia, Libya, and Ethiopia. That period saw many African intellectuals and students come to Florence for its universities and cultural institutions, particularly during the early 20th century.
Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, designed by two Dominican friars and built in 1470 AD; source Wiki Commons
The largest sustained wave of African Diaspora communities in Florence came from the 1980s onward, as Italy transitioned into a country with a larger percentage of immigrants. Economic opportunities and political instability in parts of Africa led to significant migration from Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, and other nations.
Florence’s hospitality, fashion, and tourism sectors have employed many African immigrants, led to growing communities, particularly in neighborhoods like Le Piagge and Novoli. Today, African Diaspora communities are an essential part of the city’s diverse cultural fabric.