History of Science Tour

This thematic, three-hour walk traces the explosion of scientific progress and the rise of humanism during the rule of the Medici family in Renaissance-era Florence. The Medicis Cosimo I and Ferdinand I were fervent patrons of the sciences, especially astronomy. Under their rule, Florence became a shining beacon for experimentation, which the Roman Church was frantically trying to suppress with the Inquisition. At the same time, humanism, stemming from the study of ancient Greek and Latin texts, was a new way of thinking about man's place in the world and became a recurring theme in Renaissance literature, art and social history. This walk will uncover some of the sites around town that stand as testament to this era of intellectual progress.