The Medici dynasty is one of the most famous in history. The story of the family was inextricably bound with Florence, the city of the Renaissance, and influenced its destiny from the time of Cosimo the Elder (1389-1464) up to the reign of Gian Gastone (1671-1737). It maintained a firm grasp of political and economic power while also fostering literature and the arts. This book tells the story of the Medici, offering a varied and fascinating portrait of this great dynasty, tracing its origins back to the Middle Ages and dwelling on its most famous exponents, by now emblematic figures in the co