Florencia

Florencia is the second largest island (after Neridia) in the Istvanistani-Benacian island chain, and the largest island in the Unified Governorates of Benacia. A county of Shireroth until 1678, it was administered by the Unified Governorates from 1671 until 1679, when the island was expected to become a governorate of its own right within the Unified Governorates. In 1684, the island was ceded to the United Isles until it was reoccupied by the Unified Governorates in the wake of the 1687 Florencian crisis.

In 1664, it had a population of 2,188,568. The overwhelming majority of people on the island speak the Florencian language, a language which, along with Gaian (Tellian) and Cisamarrese, is a member of the Machiavellian family of languages.

Subdivisions

Bailiwick of Fiore

Fiore, Florencian for “flower”, is the oldest region of Florencia and dates back to the first settlements established by pioneers from So Sara. When the Sarans arrived they found a landscape covered in flowers, and thus named the island Florin Sara (later corrupted to Florencia). The region around Capitolia became known as Florie, and like the mutation of Florin Sara, became Fiore. To this day Fiore has a sizable industry selling cut flowers that are shipped around the world, and flower farms still dot the hillsides.

As the Florin Sarans began to develop their own culture, the Sarans language split into Florencian on the island, while Sarein was still spoken in So Sara. It was from Capitolia and Fiore that the rest of Florencia was settled; not always peacefully. In 1477 ASC a group of dissident Fioreans left Capitolia and founded the rival city of Montaperti in Saena – two groups that were destined to come to arms at later dates.

The Fiore of today is a much more open and respectful region than it was in the late 1400s. During the 1500s the island was divided into numerous fiefdoms ruled by petty nobles. By 1500 AN the Boomist Church had fallen out of favor in lieu of Cedrism, but the division was hardly a clean cut, and the island experienced a hundred years of internal fighting between Cedrists and Boomists. The 1600s saw a Florencian renaissance as arts and science were patronized, and religious fighting finally settled down. Over the course of the next century Fiore, and all of Florencia, would slowly progress, modernization fighting against a stubbornly traditional people.

Yet religious differences are no longer hostile. Cedrists, Boomists and followers of a dozen other religions mingle side-by-side. Churches and temples abound, and the bucolic scenery is enticing to locals and travelers alike. Famous sites include the Palazzo Vecchio, or Old Palace, built around 1489 and still used by the Count. The city skyline’s most famous icon is the Cattedrale di Santa Gregorius, or the Cathedral of Saint Gregory. Also of interest is the Giardini di Dio, or Garden of the Gods, an 11-acre sculpture garden featuring sculptures of many Cedrist and Boomist deities.

Outside the city, the Fiorean countryside tends to be rural and picturesque, with farms and villas dotting the landscape. Many small villages exist throughout the country, with only a few large cities. The cities serve as the main commercial and industrial hubs of Fiore, providing urban amenities such as hospitals and airports. Education, however, is still decentralized and there exist many small elementary schools. The University of Florencia provided college-level education, although many people also choose to study at larger campuses, such as the Benacian Academy and Metzler University.

Bailiwick of Saena

The city of Montaperti, founded in 1287, marked the establishment of Saena. Situated on the Saena Peninsula, the area provided isolation from Fiore for the ailing Boomist Church. Comprised mostly of Yardistani descendants, the Saenans were able to keep their anarchist tendencies to themselves and established Montaperti on a hill overlooking the center of the peninsula. The site offered ample defense and a fertile landscape. Its people prospered and soon spread out, expanding the boundaries of Saena until it became on of the most powerful regions of Florencia.

During the tumultuous religious conflicts of the 1500s, the Saenans warred with the Fioreans and fought many bloody battles before finally exhausting each other and declaring peace. Religious fervor subsided during the Florencian Renaissance, allowing the arts to flourish. During this time Saenan muscians became especially popular, travelling to Benacia to entertain in courts and teach at music schools.

Like Fiore, Saena has been slow to modernize, its people rooted deep in their traditions. The area is much less metropolitan than Fiore, with a large population spread out over the region. Montaperti nonetheless features a beautiful skyline popular among tourists. The region is also known for its bucolic coastal villages, resplendent with old castles, colorful houses, and breathtaking beaches. Saenans are also said to make the best pasta sauce in Florencia, and the region is the top grower of tomatoes. Each years Saenans gather in Montaperti's central square to celebrate the Fiesta de la Boom.