Along the Arno

For two miles, the river Arno cuts its way through the breadth of Florence—from the bridge of San Niccolo down to the Porta San Frediano. Though the fortunes of the city depended on this waterway from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century, the Arno was useful from the outset, when lumber was taken from the mountainous region east of Florence and carried along on rafts as far as Pisa. It wasn’t until the 12th century that the Arno became an organic part of Florence itself. With the reawakening of trade, the considerable increase in the population of Florence, and the desire to incorporate newly developing neighborhoods into the city, the Arno and its bridges were taken into the protection of the city walls. From that point on, the Arno played a major part in the city’s life. Follow the flow of the river with Elaine Ruffolo as she highlights its history and the major monuments found along the Arno.