About midway between Rome and Venice in the interior of Italy is the city of Florence. It is on the River Arno which empties into the Mediterranean at Pisa. Florence is a city of about 350,000. Many famous men have come from Florence, among whom are Dante the great writer, Michelangelo the great artist, Galileo the astronomer. Amerigo Vespucci from whose name America is derived, was Florentine. Florence is recognized as the art center of Italy, not only because of the superb masterpieces of painting and sculpture which attract art lovers from all the world, but also because of its artistic productions of the present day. It is noted for its university, its art galleries and its schools of music and art. The Ponte Vecchio is one of the sights of the city. It connects the Uffizi with the

Pitti Palace, both filled with priceless works of art. Every foot of availible space is given over to little shops, mostly occupied by goldsmiths. In the Middle Ages it was a common custom to give the bridges in the center of a city the trade. The Vecchio is one of the few survivals of this custom. Florence was a village a hundred years before the time of Christ. During the Middle Ages it was an important independent city and controlled the neighboring towns, even capturing Pisa. Florence reaches its height in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries when the familt of de' Medici, rich bankers, controlled the government of the city. The city was made a part of the kingdom of Italy in 1859, and for five years served as the capital of that country. What city is now the capital of Italy?