佛罗伦斯(Florence)
义大利语作Firenze
义大利中部城市，托斯卡尼区首府。人口约379,687（1998）。沿着阿尔诺河两岸兴建，该城历史悠久，曾作为共和国、托斯卡尼公国首府和义大利首都（1865～1871）。约西元前1世纪建立，当时为罗马军队驻紮地。後来相继被哥德人、拜占庭和伦巴底人统治。12世纪晚期成为托斯卡尼的主要城市，1434年开始受强势的麦迪奇家族统治。宗教改革家萨伏那洛拉使佛罗伦斯成为一共和国，在他失势後，麦迪奇恢复佛罗伦斯公爵的地位（1531）。西元14～16世纪商业、金融业、学术，尤其是艺术。均达到突出水准。文艺复兴便是佛罗伦斯文人、画家、建筑师和手工艺人的才华的产物。佛罗伦斯城已成为展示他们成就的活博物馆。该城最伟大的人物中有达文西、米开朗基罗、布鲁内莱斯基、但丁、马基维利、伽利略。该城的建筑物，如︰圣约翰领洗教堂、哥德式的大教堂及乌菲兹美术馆，这些本身就是艺术作品的建筑中，包含了更丰富的艺术作品。重要的宫殿和公园有碧提宫和菩菩利花园。佛罗伦斯大学建於1349年。经济以旅游业为主，但也致力於资讯技术和高级服饰等新行业的发展。人口约379,687（1998）。
English version：
Florence
City (pop., 2000 est.: 376,682), capital of Tuscany region, central Italy. Built on both sides of the Arno River, the city has been during its long history a republic, a seat of the duchy of Tuscany, and a capital (1865-71) of Italy. Founded as a Roman military colony in the 1st century BC, it was controlled in turn by the Goths, Byzantines, and Lombards. A leading city of Tuscany by the late 12th century, it was ruled after 1434 by the powerful Medici family. It became a republic under religious reformer Savonarola, after whose downfall the Medici were restored as dukes of Florence (1531). Florence's vernacular became the Italian language, and from the 14th to the 16th century, Florence was among the greatest cities of Europe, preeminent in commerce, finance, learning, and the arts. Over time, many notables flourished there, including Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Dante, Machiavelli, and Galileo. Its buildings, including the Baptistery of St. John, the Gothic Duomo, and the Uffizi gallery, are works of art themselves abounding in yet more works of art. Among its palaces and parks are the Pitti Palace and its Boboli gardens. Its university was founded in 1321. Florence's economy is based primarily on tourism, though it also has developed newer sectors such as information technology and high-fashion clothing. The region around the city has a modern and dynamic economy based on small industrial production and quality exports.