Finding Fiesole

Going to Fiesole is something I have always loved, and I’m not alone. The place has been continuously inhabited and constantly visited by foreigners since the Etruscan era more than 2,500 years ago. The Etruscans built their town on one of the surrounding hills overlooking the valley where, centuries later, the ancient Romans, during the reign of Emperor Augustus, would build Florentia (the original Latin name for Florence) on the flat terrain along the Arno River. This was after they had conquered and colonised the Etruscan city on the hill a few centuries earlier. The Etruscans often built on hilltops but the Romans preferred level ground. The cities are approximately 4km apart, an easy bus ride between them. It’s a place of good vibes!

Archeologically speaking, what we experience today in Fiesole from ancient times is the Roman period. However, if we’re ambitious, traces of the Etruscan fortified city walls can be hunted out. Fiesole is really village-size nowadays, but 2,000 years ago it was a city large enough to sustain a theatre that could hold as many 3,000 spectators. This theatre is now part of the stunning outdoor archeological park museum and can be visited daily by purchasing a ticket. However, every summer, in the evenings for a few weeks, after the ticket office has closed for the day, it is brought to life once again in its true spirit. The Fiesole summer cultural programme hosts concerts to cater for all music lovers, with styles from rock