Firenze

59 B.C.	foundation of the roman castrum that will became Florentia, at the confluence between the Arno and Mugnone rivers. The town has a rectangular structure with a perimeter of about 1800 meters (the decumanus maximus lies under via del Corso, via degli Speziali and via Strozzi, the cardo maximus is aligned with Piazza S. Giovanni, via Calimala and via Roma in a contemporary map).
II century	First mention of the cults of S. Lorenzo and S. Felicita, the Christian faith brought maybe by oriental merchants.
250	S. Miniato martyrized with eight other christians during the persecutions organized by Decio.
313	S. Felice is the first bishop of Florence
393	The church of S. Lorenzo is the first Christian religious building. Built in the suburbs outside the city it will became shortly after an episcopal seat.
IV-V century	First structure of the church of S. Felicita.
First years of the V century	S. Zanobi is bishop of the city. Zanobi, Like Miniato, is supposed to have oriental origins.
405	Stilicone defeats the ostrogoth horde lead by Radagaiso, to celebrate the victory the city start the construction of the church of S. Reparata.
541 - 544	The Byzantines build new city walls using the structures of old roman buildings (the Campidoglio, the Theater and the Thermae).
552	Totila conquers the city.
552 - 568	Byzantine domination. The churches of Santa Maria Odrigita (also called Santa Maria In Campidoglio), San Ruffilo and Sant'Apollinare are built.
End of the VI Century	Longobard domination. The main north-south trade route (Bologna - Pistoia - Firenze) is moved west (Milano - Pavia - Sarzana - Piacenza - Lucca); this new route, called francigena or romea, will became the most important artery for the trades between Italy and the lands beyond the alps. The conversion of the queen Teodolinda to the Church of Rome boosts the construction of religious buildings in the city: San Salvatore, San Giorgio, Sant'Andrea in Foro Vetere, San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro, San Miniato tra le Torri, San Pier Maggiore and Santa Maria de Ferlaupe are of this period. A small octagonal temple dedicated to San Giovanni is built in front of Santa Reparata; this unimpressive structure is destined to become one of the most important buildings of the city.
854	By decree of the Emperor Lotario I Firenze and Fiesole are unified in a single county, the marquis of Tuscia gains the title of count of Firenze and with it the control of two diocese.
End of the IX century	First ecclesiastical school founded, new city walls built, the new suburbs on the south side of the city are included but some of the new buildings on the north (Battistero, Santa Reparata, the bishop palace and the Palatium Regis) remains outside the walls.
978	Countess Willa, widow of the marquis Uberto, owner of an entire quarter of the city, foundates the benedictine abbey of Santa Maria Assunta In Cielo. The monastic complex will commonly be called Badia fiorentina and will remain Firenze's most important monastery. Ugo, Willa's son, moves his court from Lucca to Firenze.