Roman Florence: Historical Self-Guided Audio Tour

This guide accompanies you on a journey into the ancient splendour of Florentia, the Roman foundation beneath modern Florence. The route has been planned to let you retrace the principal phases of the city’s Roman development and to point out the most important archaeological findings that survive in the urban fabric.

Florence hides many memories of its past: defensive walls, an aqueduct, a theatre and amphitheatre, the forum, and traces of early Christian buildings. Your exploration begins at the Piazza della Repubblica, where the Forum and Capitolium once stood, and the narrative reveals how later medieval and Renaissance constructions incorporated these monumental elements.

As you progress you will encounter the distinctive Pagliazza Tower, set upon the remains of a circular Roman bath, and you will be invited to examine the stone pavements of Via del Proconsolo where archaeological traces can still be seen. The route moves on to the area of Palazzo della Signoria and Palazzo Gondi, locations that sit above what was once the theatre of Florentia and the Thermae Maximae, one of the city’s largest public complexes.

Throughout this self-guided audio experience you will gain a clearer sense of continuity between ancient and later cityscapes, learning to spot subtle remains embedded in streets and buildings. The commentary combines archaeological detail with historical context to make the invisible past visible, helping you to appreciate Florence not only as a Renaissance capital but as a layered urban palimpsest.

Feel like an archaeologist as you search for traces of ancient life across one of the world’s most remarkable cities, discovering how Roman Florentia shaped the Florence you see today.