CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STREET USED AS ENTRY ROUTE IN EARLY MODERN FLORENCE

Abstract

 The entrance ceremony is one of the keys to understanding the spatial and social structure in urban space in early modern Florence. This thesis aims to explore the property values, social characteristics, and landscape features of Tornabuoni Street, which was used for entrance ceremony in early modern Florence, and to compare these characteristics with those of Calzaiuoli Street, which was the main street of Florence, and Proconsolo Street, which was also a part of the entrance route.
 Tornabuoni Street was part of the Roman wall, and it was included in the route in many entrance ceremonies, so this street has a historical background.
 Analyzing the property reports in 1561 Decima clarified that almost 60% of houses on Tornabuoni Street as well as Calzaiuoli Street were tenant houses. However, the rent in Tornabuoni Street was higher than that in the main street of Calzaiuoli. Comparing it with another street on the festival route, the rent in Proconsolo Street was half of that in Tornabuoni Street. It is clear that the property values in Tornabuoni Street were relatively high.
 Comparing the registration list of the noble class called “Libro d'oro” and the Decima, it was found that Tornabuoni Street had a larger population of nobles than other streets. On the other hand, Calzaiuoli Street had few nobles and much more religious and official buildings.
 Based on an old 1584 map by Stefano Buonsignori, half of the palazzos in Tornabuoni Street were constructed in the Renaissance style with cornice, and they largely occupied the urban block. Examining the festival documents of 1565 revealed that the palazzos were regularly adapted for important festivals as scenic devices for the festive occasions.
 In conclusion, through high property values, social characteristics, and an urban landscape, Tornabuoni Street obtained a privileged character, which gave it historical importance. It could be said that this street attained these privileges because of not only the thoughts of people like Cosimo I and other nobles who evaluated the historical continuity in the urban space but also the repeated festivities that offered many opportunities to highlight the historical privileges of streets like Tornabuoni Street.