Florence: Lecture 3 of 3. Firenze: The Grand Dowager of the Arts

The Medici, who had long cultivated the arts and sciences in Florence, proceeded to extinguish the political energy and cultural life of the city. As the fortunes of the Medici and Florence deteriorated, the city became far removed from the center of European politics and culture.

But Florence preserved her glorious artistic heritage, and became for Europeans a premier stop on the Grand Tour.