A few kilometres from Florence, in the Mugello, important Etruscan areas became a place of settlements and villages in Roman times. The Mediaeval Lordships - the Guidi and the Ubaldini- were soon in competition with the Commune of Florence which was expanding and in search of "new lands".
The Medici family, which originally came from this area, and the Lorenesi family made it their pride and joy by investing financial resources to strengthen their presence around Florence.
Important buildings and fortresses, castles, villas and palaces remain to testify the development of the Mugello.
Artists like Giotto, Beato Angelico and Andrea del Castagno were born here; the features in the landscape of many Florentine paintings have found their inspiration here.
