Cronica di Matteo Villani, vol. 1

The work offers a vivid window into the bustling life of 14th‑century Florence, tracing the city’s politics, commerce, and daily rhythms from the early 1300s up to the devastating plague of 1363. Written by a contemporary Florentine chronicler who witnessed the fierce rivalry between Guelph and Ghibelline factions, it blends eyewitness detail with a keen eye for the social currents that shaped the Republic. Readers will hear accounts of council meetings, market disputes, and the personal tragedies that marked an era of both cultural flowering and relentless disease.

This edition has been carefully revised from a range of medieval manuscripts, smoothing archaic spelling and removing later editorial glosses while preserving the original voice. An extensive index and notes guide listeners through obscure names and places, making the dense historical material approachable. For anyone curious about medieval urban life, the chronicle delivers a richly textured narrative that brings the streets of Renaissance Florence to life.