Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Florence

2013-05-18T03:15:03Z

99.244.130.87: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|ACB|ACR|Renaissance|Rbook|ACL|Embers}}
{{WP-REAL}}

{{Location infobox
|image = Firenzelineage.png
|state = Florentine Republic
|rulers = [[House of Medici]]
|factions = [[Assassins]] [[Templars]] [[House of Auditore]] [[House of Pazzi]]
|founded = [[Gaius Julius Caesar|Julius Caesar]]
|date = 59 BCE
|landmark = [[Santa Maria del Fiore]] [[Santa Maria Novella]] [[Ponte Vecchio]] [[Palazzo Auditore]]
|targets = [[Uberto Alberti]] [[Francesco de' Pazzi]] [[Girolamo Savonarola]] [[Painter|The Painter]] [[Doctor (Savonarola's lieutenant)|The Doctor]] [[Preacher|The Preacher]] [[Farmer|The Farmer]] [[Condottiero|The Condottiero]] [[Merchant (Savonarola's lieutenant)|The Merchant]] [[Nobleman|The Nobleman]] [[Priest (Savonarola's lieutenant)|The Priest]] [[Captain Guard|The Captain Guard]]}}
'''Florence''', or '''Firenze''' to its residents, is a major city located in central [[Italy]], and the capital of the region of [[Tuscany]]. During the late 15th century, the city was ruled by [[Lorenzo de' Medici]], a member of the powerful [[House of Medici|Medici family]], and housed four districts: [[Santa Maria Novella District|Santa Maria Novella]], [[San Giovanni District|San Giovanni]], [[San Marco District (Florence)|San Marco]], and [[Oltrarno District|Oltrarno]].

However, the city later fell into a dark age with the [[Bonfire of the Vanities]], when it was under the reign of a tyrannical monk, [[Girolamo Savonarola]].

==History==
===Early development===
Florence was founded during the {{Wiki|Roman Empire|Roman}} era, in the year 59 BCE, although it would be some 1,400 years before it developed into one of Italy's most important cities. After the sacking of [[Rome]] in the 5th century, the Ostrogoths took over. Under their rule, the city was constantly under attack from the [[Byzantines]], who sent the population level below 1,000. However, the Lombards came to power in the 6th century, ending the Byzantine assaults.

Florence grew to a population of 80,000 in the 14th century, of which 25,000 were working in the wool industry. In 1378, a major revolt of the lower class led to the wool combers rising up and seizing the government of the city. Their progressive, radical democracy lasted for less than two months before the upper classes seized control once more, but the revolt so terrified the rich it was still discussed in hushed tones a century later.

The Albizzi family became the de facto rulers after the revolt. Worried about the rise of the Medici family, who were rich bankers rapidly gaining influence in Florence, Maso and Rinaldo Albizzi imprisoned {{Wiki|Cosimo de' Medici}} and exiled him in 1433.

However, Cosimo gained influence behind the scenes, and rose to power in 1434, exiling the entire Albizzi family except for Luca, who had been loyal to Cosimo. Luca Albizzi joined the Signoria, the ruling body of Florence, as Gonfaloniere, succeeding Cosimo's old friend [[Ilario Auditore]] in 1442.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Medici rule===
After Cosimo de' Medici's revolt, the Medici family governed the city in what would come to be known as its Golden Age; a true [[Renaissance]]. The family had a focus on the arts and sciences, as well as an intricate banking system. At the time, the city was also home to some of Italy's most notable figures; including [[Leonardo da Vinci]], {{Wiki|Sandro Botticelli}}, [[Michelangelo]], and [[Niccolò Machiavelli]].<ref name="AC2"/>

At some point after the year 1291, the [[Assassins|Assassin]] [[Domenico Auditore|Domenico]] and his son [[Renato Auditore|Renato]] came to live in Florence, and adopted the name of "[[House of Auditore|Auditore]]". Under this guise of nobility, they quickly assimilated themselves into the city's upper class, and became a well-respected and known family in Florence.<ref>''Assassin's Creed II'' - [[Auditore Family Crypt]]</ref>

The city flourished during the reign of Lorenzo de' Medici. Throughout his rule, great artists, philosophers, and others contributed to the city's development. Various architectural marvels blessed the streets of Florence, such as the [[Santa Maria Novella]], the [[Piazza della Signoria]], the [[Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore|Duomo]], and the [[Ponte Vecchio]].<ref name="AC2"/>

Though the Assassin-affiliated Auditore family abandoned Florence after the [[Pazzi conspiracy]] in 1476, one of its members, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze]], continued to frequent the city.<ref name="AC2"/> During the early 16th century, he would also send his [[apprentices]] to Florence to complete several contracts for the Assassin Order; such as delivering reports, stealing weapons, or delivering forged pardons.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

===Bonfire of the Vanities===
After the death of Lorenzo de' Medici in 1492, he was succeeded by his son, [[Piero de' Medici|Piero]]. Piero ruled as Signore of Florence until 1494, when he was exiled from the city by Girolamo Savonarola.<ref>''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]''</ref>

Between 1497 and 1498, the monk instigated the Bonfire of the Vanities, where paintings, books, and other fineries were publicly burned throughout Florence. Despite civil unrest, Savonarola held control over the people with both the [[Ezio's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]], and the terror of his nine lieutenants.<ref name="AC2 - Bonfire">''Assassin's Creed II'' - ''[[Bonfire of the Vanities (DLC)]]''</ref>

Eventually, in May of 1498, the Assassin Order intervened in his rule. Ezio Auditore tracked down and killed Savonarola's nine lieutenants, while Niccolò Machiavelli, [[La Volpe]], and [[Paola]] rallied the citizens. The Florentine people eventually rioted before Savonarola's residence in the [[Palazzo Pitti]], dragging him to the Piazza della Signoria to be burned at the stake.<ref name="AC2 - Bonfire"/>

==Landmarks==
*Santa Maria Novella District
**Mercato Vecchio
**Santa Maria Novella
**[[Basilica di San Lorenzo]]
[[File:Mercato vecchio.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The Mercato Vecchio in Florence]]
*San Marco District
**Palazzo Medici
**Ospedale degli Innocenti
**Basilica di Santa Croce
*San Giovanni District
**Bottega di Leonardo a Firenze
**Piazza della Signoria
**[[Santa Trinita]]
**Palazzo Auditore
*Oltrarno District
**Palazzo Pitti

==Trivia==
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'', the Battistero di San Giovanni was missing from the front of the main entrance to the Santa Maria del Fiore, despite being built several hundred years before the events of the game. Ubisoft explained that the Bapistry's disappearance was due to hardware limitations.
*Florence appeared in both the [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood|first]] and [[Assassin's Creed: Revelations|second stage]] of the [[Animi Training Program]].
*Florence also appeared in four of Ezio's suppressed Cristina Memories.
*During the Bonfire of the Vanities sequence, the sky over Florence was covered by dark clouds.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="center" widths="180" position="center">
AC2 florence concept.jpg|Concept art of Florence
Florence Map1.jpg|A map of Florence
AC2 florence multiplayer map.jpg|A map of Florence in the Animi Training Program
ACL florence view.png|Florence from a bird's eye view
florencja.jpg|The rooftops of Florence
Florence Panoramic.jpg|A panoramic view of the city streets
EzioFlorence.png|Ezio surveying Florence from a [[View Points|view point]]
EzioFlorenceguard.jpg|Ezio killing a [[Guards|guard]] on a Florentine rooftop
Ac23.jpg|Ezio in Florence at night
Florence Panoramas.png
Assassins Creed 2 panoramas.png
AC2FirenzeDB.png|Florence's Database Icon
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC2}}
{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Florence| ]]
[[Category:Tuscany]]
[[Category:Cities in Ancient Rome]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Lineage locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Revelations (novel) locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Embers locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance locations]]

Villa Auditore

2013-05-18T03:07:09Z

99.244.130.87: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|ACB|PL|Featured}}
{{Quote|A key force in the protection of Monteriggioni for hundreds of years and a source of great architectural innovation...|Commemorative plaque for the Villa Auditore, 2012.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
{{Location Infobox
|name = Villa Auditore
|image = AC2 renovated villa auditore.png
|state = [[Monteriggioni]], [[Tuscany]]
|rulers = [[House of Auditore]]
|factions = [[Assassins]] [[Mercenaries]] [[Thieves]] [[Courtesans]]
|founded = [[Domenico Auditore]]
|date = 1290
|abandoned = 1500
|hidea = yes}}
The '''Villa Auditore''' was a familial home and stronghold of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], located within the city of [[Monteriggioni]].

Purchased by the family sometime after 1321, it remained the home to the Auditore up until the turn of the 16th century, when it was heavily damaged during the [[siege of Monteriggioni]].

==History==
===Domenico Auditore===
The villa was constructed in 1290. Thirty years later, in 1320, a [[Florence|Florentine]] attack left the facade damaged, and in need of reconstruction.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

After the death of [[Dante Alighieri]] in 1321, [[Domenico Auditore]] purchased the Villa, and subsequently erected a new facade, as well as a painting gallery within the building. He redesigned the Villa as both a home, fortress and a training ground for the town.<ref name="AC2"/>

The building itself was filled with several hidden compartments and rooms, whilst the grounds catered to a number of different uses. Following this, Domenico constructed a [[Auditore Family Crypt|family crypt]], which would later be connected to an escape route within the Villa that led out to the north of Monteriggioni.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Mario Auditore===
[[File:CDC 3 v.png|thumb|250px|The decrepit Villa Auditore]]
By 1436, the Villa hosted the newest generation of Auditore [[Assassins]]: the brothers [[Mario Auditore|Mario]] and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]]. Following the death of their [[Renato Auditore|father]] and Giovanni's departure for Florence, Mario became the sole ruler of Monteriggioni, and main resident of the Villa in 1454.<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

Despite Mario's love for the building, both Monteriggioni and the Villa receded into disrepair due to him focusing his spending on warfare and [[mercenaries]], rather than its upkeep. Instead, the Villa was mostly used for the storage of weapons and war equipment, and at one point, even a [[Shroud of Eden|mysterious artifact]] that Mario had discovered hidden under Monteriggioni.<ref name="Project Legacy"/>

During the [[Defense of Monteriggioni|city's defense]] in 1454, the Villa was also where Mario and his mercenaries interrogated [[Luciano Pezzati]], a spy for the invading Florentine army.<ref name="Project Legacy"/>

===Ezio Auditore===
In 1476, Mario's nephew, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], as well as [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|his mother]] and [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|sister]], came seeking refuge in Monteriggioni after the execution of his father Giovanni and brothers, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]]. After resting in the Villa, Ezio intended to take his mother and sister to [[Spain]], much to Mario's protests.<ref name="AC2"/>

Eventually, Ezio decided to remain in Monteriggioni and seek revenge on those responsible for the execution of his male kin. He became, in effect, co-ruler of Monteriggioni with Mario, and the renovations he funded and oversaw proved to herald a rebirth for the Villa and the city's overall state.<ref name="AC2"/>

Although the exact length of time it took for the Villa to be rebuilt is unknown, the Villa once again became an opulent structure and headquarters for the [[Italian Assassins|Italian Assassin Brotherhood]] by late December 1499.<ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

[[File:Villaburn.PNG|thumb|left|250px|The Villa Auditore burning during the siege of Monteriggioni]]
However, on 2 January, 1500, the [[Papacy|Papal forces]] led by [[Cesare Borgia]] besieged Monteriggioni, devastating the town and its Villa, while also killing Mario in the process. After this, the Villa was abandoned, as Ezio left the ruins of Monteriggioni to [[Liberation of Rome|wage war]] against the [[House of Borgia|Borgia family]] in [[Rome]].<ref name="ACB"/>

Sometime before 1554, the Auditore resumed control over Monteriggioni, though the Villa was not rebuilt. In 1554, the Auditore were betrayed by Giovannino Zeti, keeper of the garrison and a Florentine exile, who gave the keys of the city to the [[House of Medici|Medici family]].<ref name="AC2"/>

The Medici conquered Monteriggioni, though they allowed the Auditore to continue ruling the city due to their families' good relationship.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Modern times===
{{Dialogue|Desmond|Wait. We're at the Auditore Villa?|Lucy|Yes. It's our last safehouse in Italy.|The Assassins arriving at the Villa.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:ACB Modern Villa.png|thumb|250px|The modern Villa Auditore]]
By 2012, the Villa had become a World Preservation Site, and was heralded as "''one of the [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] countryside's most beloved landmarks.''" A plaque displayed before the Villa contained details of its construction, as well as how it had been destroyed in [[Rodrigo Borgia|Pope Alexander VI]]'s military campaign in 1500.<ref name="ACB"/>

On 9 September, 2012, [[Desmond Miles]], [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Rebecca Crane]], and [[Shaun Hastings]] set up a temporary base of operations within the [[Sanctuary]] beneath the Villa to escape the [[Templars]] searching for them. Throughout their stay, which lasted until October 10, the Assassins lived within the Villa, and came out only to collect provisions.<ref name="ACB"/>

==Rooms==
The Villa Auditore had several rooms, some of which were hidden.

===Main hall===
[[File:Zw-mainhall.png|thumb|left|250px|The main hall]]
The main hall of the villa served as the entrance, and led to several other rooms, as well as the courtyard which contained the [[Monteriggioni Statuettes|statuettes]] Ezio recovered from the city.<ref name="AC2"/>

It was well-furnished, even in its state of disrepair, and was spacious and featured an elegant design. A large marble staircase occupied the center, leading to the second floor, while a chandelier hung from above. Several paintings purchased by Ezio decorated the walls of the main hall.<ref name="AC2"/>
{{-}}
===Armory===
{{Main|Armory}}
[[File:ACII-Armory 1.png|thumb|250px|The armor room]]
In the armory, Ezio was able to change his equipped weapons or armor within two separate rooms. The armor room contained the five sets of armor available to Ezio. The [[Armor of Altaïr]], once unlocked from the Sanctuary, was situated at the back of the armory.<ref name="AC2"/>

The center of the armory contained a model of the [[Flying Machine]] used during the assassination of [[Carlo Grimaldi]] in [[Venice]], along with a model of the carriage Ezio drove in the [[Appennine Mountains]] with [[Leonardo da Vinci]].<ref name="AC2"/>

[[File:ACII-Armory 2.png|thumb|250px|left|The weapons room]]
The weapons room contained Ezio's weapons, spread throughout several weapons racks. The left rack held the [[Schiavona]], the [[Common Sword|common]], the [[Captain's Sword|Captain's]], and the [[Milanese Sword|Milanese]] [[Swords and maces|swords]]. Meanwhile, the right rack possessed the [[Sword of Altaïr]], the [[Old Syrian sword]], the [[Scimitar]], and the [[Venetian Falchion|Venetian]] and [[Florentine Falchion|Florentine falchions]].<ref name="AC2"/>

The other side had a rack which contained the Mercenario and the [[Condottiero War Hammer|Condottiero]] [[warhammer]]s, the Maul, and the Flanged and Cavalieri maces. The center of the room had a double sided rack that contained the [[short blade|small weapons]], comprised of the [[Dagger]], [[Knife]], [[Stiletto]], [[Channeled Cinquedea|Channeled]] and [[Notched Cinquedea|Notched cinquedeas]], and the [[Sultan's Knife|Sultan's]] and [[Butcher Knife|Butcher's knives]].<ref name="AC2"/>

===Workshop===
[[File:AC2_Monteriggioni_Workshop.png|thumb|250px|The architect and Claudia in the workshop]]
The workshop was a room which contained several shelves lined with books, and a scale replica of Monteriggioni. Claudia Auditore occupied this room during Ezio's hunt for Rodrigo Borgia, keeping track of the city's finances and maintaining records of the Villa's refurbishment.<ref name="AC2"/>

Monteriggioni's resident [[Architects|architect]] was also present here, through whom Ezio made decisions regarding upgrades to the villa. This was also the place where Leonardo da Vinci set up his workshop after being invited to stay at the Villa by Mario Auditore.<ref name="AC2"/>
{{-}}

===Mario's study===
[[File:AC2_Mario's_Study.png|thumb|left|250px|Mario's study]]
Mario Auditore's study was a room where Mario and Ezio would discuss the operations of the Assassin Order, including details of various missions Ezio would undertake.<ref name="AC2"/>

Before Ezio joined in the efforts of the Assassins though, the study had been the room in which his father, Giovanni, and Mario discussed plans for the order and missions.<ref name="AC2"/>

The [[Codex]] Wall was located in the study, and the pages kept within it were added by Ezio once they were found throughout his journeys across Italy, after they had been decoded by Leonardo da Vinci.<ref name="AC2"/>

A few of the pages that had been on the wall were ones decoded by Giovanni. Standing before the Codex Wall was a pedestal meant for holding the [[Ezio's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]]. The pedestal was placed in a way so that the light emitted from the artifact would mark locations on the map beneath the pages.<ref name="AC2"/>

By 1499, Ezio had collected all of the Codex pages. From there, he used his [[Eagle Vision]] to orient the pieces into their proper positions. When the puzzle was solved, the wall revealed a complete map of the world marked with the locations of the [[Pieces of Eden]] and the different Vaults and [[Temples]].<ref name="AC2"/>

Beyond the Codex Wall was Mario's desk, where he did writing work and presumably kept track of the Brotherhood. As well as this, there was a large bookcase in the room, which concealed a mechanism that hid the stairs to a place known as the Sanctuary. Finally, above the study was a balcony, which would connect to a corridor that led to the entrances of the workshop, and Maria and Ezio's rooms.<ref name="AC2"/>

Following the attack by Cesare Borgia, the room had been destroyed in part, but still held Claudia's record book, which was found centuries later by [[Desmond Miles]].<ref name="ACB"/>

===Maria's room===
[[File:AC2 Maria Auditore's Room.png|thumb|250px|Maria's room]]
Maria Auditore's room was the bedroom of Maria Auditore, located on the second floor of the villa. Like the rest of the villa, it was well furnished, and included a box for [[feather]]s that Ezio collected for her in memory of her youngest son and his brother, Petruccio.<ref name="AC2"/>

Maria spent around 20 years praying in this room, constantly in mourning for the loss of Petruccio. However, when Ezio had finally collected one hundred feathers, persisting even after his uncle Mario had written off Maria's grief as a hopeless cause, she finally spoke, thanking her son for not giving up on her.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Ezio's room===
[[File:AC2_Ezio's_Room_Right.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio's room]]
Ezio Auditore's room was located at the top floor of the Villa Auditore. It served as a bedroom, study, and base of operations during his twenty-three year crusade to avenge his fallen father and two brothers, who were executed by members of the Templar Order.<ref name="AC2"/>

Paintings of Ezio's [[assassination targets]] would be hung in his room after he had killed them, with the exception of [[Dante Moro]] and Rodrigo Borgia, which appeared even though Ezio spared their lives.<ref name="AC2"/>

The room was supported by a wooden beam running up from the middle of the floor to the ceiling, and was taken up mostly by a desk littered with letters and documents. Ezio's room was slightly altered just before the siege of Monteriggioni, with the addition of a large bed and a bath tub, with a set of stairs leading up to it instead of a ladder. These were possibly added after Ezio had upgraded the Villa.<ref name="ACB"/>

[[File:Reunion 1.png|thumb|250px|Ezio with Caterina in his room]]
In 1500, Ezio spent the night with [[Caterina Sforza]] when the city was attacked in the siege. A cannonball crashed through the wall of his room and damaged the wooden support beam in the center of the structure, causing the ceiling to collapse and cave in over half of the room.

As a result, debris from the ceiling fell onto the Armor of Altaïr, prompting Ezio to leave it behind to engage in defending the Villa.<ref name="ACB"/>
{{-}}
===Painting gallery===
{{Main|Painting gallery}}
[[File:Zw-gallery.png|thumb|left|250px|The painting gallery in the Villa Auditore]]
At some point during 1454, Mario utilized the painting gallery in the Villa, taking advantage of his brother's connections in Florence to import fine art.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

From 1476 to 1499, Ezio gathered pieces of [[Renaissance]] artwork from [[art merchants]] in several different cities during his travels, which were displayed in the villa's painting gallery. However, the paintings were either destroyed or stolen by the Borgia following the siege of Monteriggioni in 1500.<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="ACB"/>

===Sanctuary===
{{Main|Sanctuary}}
[[File:Sanctuary v.png|thumb|250px|The Sanctuary]]
The Sanctuary was a stone chamber located in Monteriggioni, and was used by Assassins in both the Renaissance and [[modern times]]. It was a well-built chamber found underneath the Villa Auditore, and could be accessed primarily through an entrance hidden behind a bookshelf in the Villa study.<ref name="AC2"/>

Statues of seven legendary Assassins lined the walls. Six of these statues had corresponding [[Assassin Seal|seals]] at their base, which had to be collected and returned, in order to unlock the gate in front of the seventh statue of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]]. This seventh statue also held the Armor of Altaïr until it was recovered by Ezio Auditore.<ref name="AC2"/>
{{-}}
==Trivia==
*The Villa Auditore bears a passing resemblance to the Villa di Maiano in its overall form, central portico, number of floors and tower. The Villa di Maiano is located just outside Florence.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
AC2_Ezio's_Room_Left.png|An alternate view of Ezio's room
Zw-codex-noeagle.png|The Codex Wall in Mario's study
AC2-featherbox.png|Maria's box of feathers
ACB Modern Study.png|Mario's study in the modern times
ACB World Preservation Board.png|The World Preservation Site board in front of the Villa in modern times
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC2}}
{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Tuscany]]
[[Category:Assassin Order]]
[[Category:Monteriggioni]]
[[Category:Landmarks]]

Villa Auditore

2013-05-18T03:03:44Z

99.244.130.87:

{{Era|AC2|ACB|PL|Featured}}
{{Quote|A key force in the protection of Monteriggioni for hundreds of years and a source of great architectural innovation...|Commemorative plaque for the Villa Auditore, 2012.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
{{Location Infobox
|name = Villa Auditore
|image = AC2 renovated villa auditore.png
|state = [[Monteriggioni]], [[Tuscany]]
|rulers = [[House of Auditore]]
|factions = [[Assassins]] [[Mercenaries]] [[Thieves]] [[Courtesans]]
|founded = [[Domenico Auditore]]
|date = 1290
|abandoned = 1500
|hidea = yes}}
The '''Villa Auditore''' was a familial home and stronghold of the [[House of Auditore|Auditore family]], located within the city of [[Monteriggioni]].

Purchased by the family sometime after 1321, it remained the home to the Auditore up until the turn of the 16th century, when it was heavily damaged during the [[siege of Monteriggioni]].

==History==
===Domenico Auditore===
The villa was constructed in 1290. Thirty years later, in 1320, a [[Florence|Florentine]] attack left the facade damaged, and in need of reconstruction.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

After the death of [[Dante Alighieri]] in 1321, [[Domenico Auditore]] purchased the Villa, and subsequently erected a new facade, as well as a painting gallery within the building. He redesigned the Villa as both a home, fortress and a training ground for the town.<ref name="AC2"/>

The building itself was filled with several hidden compartments and rooms, whilst the grounds catered to a number of different uses. Following this, Domenico constructed a [[Auditore Family Crypt|family crypt]], which would later be connected to an escape route within the Villa that led out to the north of Monteriggioni.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Mario Auditore===
[[File:CDC 3 v.png|thumb|250px|The decrepit Villa Auditore]]
By 1436, the Villa hosted the newest generation of Auditore [[Assassins]]: the brothers [[Mario Auditore|Mario]] and [[Giovanni Auditore da Firenze|Giovanni Auditore]]. Following the death of their [[Renato Auditore|father]] and Giovanni's departure for Florence, Mario became the sole ruler of Monteriggioni, and main resident of the Villa in 1454.<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

Despite Mario's love for the building, both Monteriggioni and the Villa receded into disrepair due to him focusing his spending on warfare and [[mercenaries]], rather than its upkeep. Instead, the Villa was mostly used for the storage of weapons and war equipment, and at one point, even a [[Shroud of Eden|mysterious artifact]] that Mario had discovered hidden under Monteriggioni.<ref name="Project Legacy"/>

During the [[Defense of Monteriggioni|city's defense]] in 1454, the Villa was also where Mario and his mercenaries interrogated [[Luciano Pezzati]], a spy for the invading Florentine army.<ref name="Project Legacy"/>

===Ezio Auditore===
In 1476, Mario's nephew, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], as well as [[Maria Auditore da Firenze|his mother]] and [[Claudia Auditore da Firenze|sister]], came seeking refuge in Monteriggioni after the execution of his father Giovanni and brothers, [[Federico Auditore da Firenze|Federico]] and [[Petruccio Auditore da Firenze|Petruccio]]. After resting in the Villa, Ezio intended to take his mother and sister to [[Spain]], much to Mario's protests.<ref name="AC2"/>

Eventually, Ezio decided to remain in Monteriggioni and seek revenge on those responsible for the execution of his male kin. He became, in effect, co-ruler of Monteriggioni with Mario, and the renovations he funded and oversaw proved to herald a rebirth for the Villa and the city's overall state.<ref name="AC2"/>

Although the exact length of time it took for the Villa to be rebuilt is unknown, the Villa once again became an opulent structure and headquarters for the [[Italian Assassins|Italian Assassin Brotherhood]] by late December 1499.<ref name="ACB">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

[[File:Villaburn.PNG|thumb|left|250px|The Villa Auditore burning during the siege of Monteriggioni]]
However, on 2 January, 1500, the [[Papacy|Papal forces]] led by [[Cesare Borgia]] besieged Monteriggioni, devastating the town and its Villa, while also killing Mario in the process. After this, the Villa was abandoned, as Ezio left the ruins of Monteriggioni to [[Liberation of Rome|wage war]] against the [[House of Borgia|Borgia family]] in [[Rome]].<ref name="ACB"/>

Sometime before 1554, the Auditore resumed control over Monteriggioni, though the Villa was not rebuilt. In 1554, the Auditore were betrayed by Giovannino Zeti, keeper of the garrison and a Florentine exile, who gave the keys of the city to the [[House of Medici|Medici family]].<ref name="AC2"/>

The Medici conquered Monteriggioni, though they allowed the Auditore to continue ruling the city due to their families' good relationship.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Modern times===
{{Dialogue|Desmond|Wait. We're at the Auditore Villa?|Lucy|Yes. It's our last safehouse in Italy.|The Assassins arriving at the Villa.|Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood}}
[[File:ACB Modern Villa.png|thumb|250px|The modern Villa Auditore]]
By 2012, the Villa had become a World Preservation Site, and was heralded as "''one of the [[Tuscany|Tuscan]] countryside's most beloved landmarks.''" A plaque displayed before the Villa contained details of its construction, as well as how it had been destroyed in [[Rodrigo Borgia|Pope Alexander VI]]'s military campaign in 1500.<ref name="ACB"/>

On 9 September, 2012, [[Desmond Miles]], [[Lucy Stillman]], [[Rebecca Crane]], and [[Shaun Hastings]] set up a temporary base of operations within the [[Sanctuary]] beneath the Villa to escape the [[Templars]] searching for them. Throughout their stay, which lasted until October 10, the Assassins lived within the Villa, and came out only to collect provisions.<ref name="ACB"/>

==Rooms==
The Villa Auditore had several rooms, some of which were hidden.

===Main hall===
[[File:Zw-mainhall.png|thumb|left|250px|The main hall]]
The main hall of the villa served as the entrance, and led to several other rooms, as well as the courtyard which contained the [[Monteriggioni Statuettes|statuettes]] Ezio recovered from the city.<ref name="AC2"/>

It was well-furnished, even in its state of disrepair, and was spacious and featured an elegant design. A large marble staircase occupied the center, leading to the second floor, while a chandelier hung from above. Several paintings purchased by Ezio decorated the walls of the main hall.<ref name="AC2"/>
{{-}}
===Armory===
{{Main|Armory}}
[[File:ACII-Armory 1.png|thumb|250px|The armor room]]
In the armory, Ezio was able to change his equipped weapons or armor within two separate rooms. The armor room contained the five sets of armor available to Ezio. The [[Armor of Altaïr]], once unlocked from the Sanctuary, was situated at the back of the armory.<ref name="AC2"/>

The center of the armory contained a model of the [[Flying Machine]] used during the assassination of [[Carlo Grimaldi]] in [[Venice]], along with a model of the carriage Ezio drove in the [[Appennine Mountains]] with [[Leonardo da Vinci]].<ref name="AC2"/>

[[File:ACII-Armory 2.png|thumb|250px|left|The weapons room]]
The weapons room contained Ezio's weapons, spread throughout several weapons racks. The left rack held the [[Schiavona]], the [[Common Sword|common]], the [[Captain's Sword|Captain's]], and the [[Milanese Sword|Milanese]] [[Swords and maces|swords]]. Meanwhile, the right rack possessed the [[Sword of Altaïr]], the [[Old Syrian sword]], the [[Scimitar]], and the [[Venetian Falchion|Venetian]] and [[Florentine Falchion|Florentine falchions]].<ref name="AC2"/>

The other side had a rack which contained the Mercenario and the [[Condottiero War Hammer|Condottiero]] [[warhammer]]s, the Maul, and the Flanged and Cavalieri maces. The center of the room had a double sided rack that contained the [[short blade|small weapons]], comprised of the [[Dagger]], [[Knife]], [[Stiletto]], [[Channeled Cinquedea|Channeled]] and [[Notched Cinquedea|Notched cinquedeas]], and the [[Sultan's Knife|Sultan's]] and [[Butcher Knife|Butcher's knives]].<ref name="AC2"/>

===Workshop===
[[File:AC2_Monteriggioni_Workshop.png|thumb|250px|The architect and Claudia in the workshop]]
The workshop was a room which contained several shelves lined with books, and a scale replica of Monteriggioni. Claudia Auditore occupied this room during Ezio's hunt for Rodrigo Borgia, keeping track of the city's finances and maintaining records of the Villa's refurbishment.<ref name="AC2"/>

Monteriggioni's resident [[Architects|architect]] was also present here, through whom Ezio made decisions regarding upgrades to the villa. This was also the place where Leonardo da Vinci set up his workshop after being invited to stay at the Villa by Mario Auditore.<ref name="AC2"/>
{{-}}

===Mario's study===
[[File:AC2_Mario's_Study.png|thumb|left|250px|Mario's study]]
Mario Auditore's study was a room where Mario and Ezio would discuss the operations of the Assassin Order, including details of various missions Ezio would undertake.<ref name="AC2"/>

Before Ezio joined in the efforts of the Assassins though, the study had been the room in which his father, Giovanni, and Mario discussed plans for the order and missions.<ref name="AC2"/>

The [[Codex]] Wall was located in the study, and the pages kept within it were added by Ezio once they were found throughout his journeys across Italy, after they had been decoded by Leonardo da Vinci.<ref name="AC2"/>

A few of the pages that had been on the wall were ones decoded by Giovanni. Standing before the Codex Wall was a pedestal meant for holding the [[Ezio's Apple of Eden|Apple of Eden]]. The pedestal was placed in a way so that the light emitted from the artifact would mark locations on the map beneath the pages.<ref name="AC2"/>

By 1499, Ezio had collected all of the Codex pages. From there, he used his [[Eagle Vision]] to orient the pieces into their proper positions. When the puzzle was solved, the wall revealed a complete map of the world marked with the locations of the [[Pieces of Eden]] and the different Vaults and [[Temples]].<ref name="AC2"/>

Beyond the Codex Wall was Mario's desk, where he did writing work and presumably kept track of the Brotherhood. As well as this, there was a large bookcase in the room, which concealed a mechanism that hid the stairs to a place known as the Sanctuary. Finally, above the study was a balcony, which would connect to a corridor that led to the entrances of the workshop, and Maria and Ezio's rooms.<ref name="AC2"/>

Following the attack by Cesare Borgia, the room had been destroyed in part, but still held Claudia's record book, which was found centuries later by [[Desmond Miles]].<ref name="ACB"/>

===Maria's room===
[[File:AC2 Maria Auditore's Room.png|thumb|250px|Maria's room]]
Maria Auditore's room was the bedroom of Maria Auditore, located on the second floor of the villa. Like the rest of the villa, it was well furnished, and included a box for [[feather]]s that Ezio collected for her in memory of her youngest son and his brother, Petruccio.<ref name="AC2"/>

Maria spent around 20 years praying in this room, constantly in mourning for the loss of Petruccio. However, when Ezio had finally collected one hundred feathers, persisting even after his uncle Mario had written off Maria's grief as a hopeless cause, she finally spoke, thanking her son for not giving up on her.<ref name="AC2"/>

===Ezio's room===
[[File:AC2_Ezio's_Room_Right.png|thumb|left|250px|Ezio's room]]
Ezio Auditore's room was located at the top floor of the Villa Auditore. It served as a bedroom, study, and base of operations during his twenty-three year crusade to avenge his fallen father and two brothers, who were executed by members of the Templar Order.<ref name="AC2"/>

Paintings of Ezio's [[assassination targets]] would be hung in his room after he had killed them, with the exception of [[Dante Moro]] and Rodrigo Borgia, which appeared even though Ezio spared their lives.<ref name="AC2"/>

The room was supported by a wooden beam running up from the middle of the floor to the ceiling, and was taken up mostly by a desk littered with letters and documents. Ezio's room was slightly altered just before the siege of Monteriggioni, with the addition of a large bed and a bath tub, with a set of stairs leading up to it instead of a ladder. These were possibly added after Ezio had upgraded the Villa.<ref name="ACB"/>

[[File:Reunion 1.png|thumb|250px|Ezio with Caterina in his room]]
In 1500, Ezio spent the night with [[Caterina Sforza]] when the city was attacked in the siege. A cannonball crashed through the wall of his room and damaged the wooden support beam in the center of the structure, causing the ceiling to collapse and cave in over half of the room.

As a result, debris from the ceiling fell onto the Armor of Altaïr, prompting Ezio to leave it behind to engage in defending the Villa.<ref name="ACB"/>
{{-}}
===Painting gallery===
{{Main|Painting gallery}}
[[File:Zw-gallery.png|thumb|left|250px|The painting gallery in the Villa Auditore]]
At some point during 1454, Mario utilized the painting gallery in the Villa, taking advantage of his brother's connections in Florence to import fine art.<ref name="Project Legacy" />

From 1476 to 1499, Ezio gathered pieces of [[Renaissance]] artwork from [[art merchants]] in several different cities during his travels, which were displayed in the villa's painting gallery. However, the paintings were either destroyed or stolen by the Borgia following the siege of Monteriggioni in 1500.<ref name="AC2"/><ref name="ACB"/>

===Sanctuary===
{{Main|Sanctuary}}
[[File:Sanctuary v.png|thumb|250px|The Sanctuary]]
The Sanctuary was a stone chamber located in Monteriggioni, and was used by Assassins in both the Renaissance and [[modern times]]. It was a well-built chamber found underneath the Villa Auditore, and could be accessed primarily through an entrance hidden behind a bookshelf in the Villa study.<ref name="AC2"/>

Statues of seven legendary Assassins lined the walls. Six of these statues had corresponding [[Assassin Seal|seals]] at their base, which had to be collected and returned, in order to unlock the gate in front of the seventh statue of [[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]]. This seventh statue also held the Armor of Altaïr until it was recovered by Ezio Auditore.<ref name="AC2"/>
{{-}}
==Trivia==
*The Villa Auditore bears a passing resemblance to the Villa di Maiano, located just outside Florence.
==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" spacing="small" captionalign="center">
AC2_Ezio's_Room_Left.png|An alternate view of Ezio's room
Zw-codex-noeagle.png|The Codex Wall in Mario's study
AC2-featherbox.png|Maria's box of feathers
ACB Modern Study.png|Mario's study in the modern times
ACB World Preservation Board.png|The World Preservation Site board in front of the Villa in modern times
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{AC2}}
{{ACBH}}
[[Category:Tuscany]]
[[Category:Assassin Order]]
[[Category:Monteriggioni]]
[[Category:Landmarks]]

Forlì

2013-02-21T02:40:18Z

99.244.130.87: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC2|ACB|Renaissance}}
{{WP-REAL|Forlì}}
{{Location infobox
|name = Forlì
|image = 4614520019_2b70f32016.jpg
|hidep = No
|state = Forlì
|rulers = [[Caterina Sforza]]
|hideh = No
|founded = Gaius Livius Salinator
|date = 188 B.C.
|hidea = No
|landmark = *[[Palazzo Comunale (Forlì)|Palazzo Comunale]]
*[[Abbazia di San Mercuriale]]
|targets = *[[Checco Orsi]]
*[[Ludovico Orsi]]}}
'''Forlì''' is a city located in the region of [[Romagna]] and the capital of the province of {{Wiki|Province of Forlì-Cesena|Forlì-Cesena}}. During the [[Renaissance]], it was the site of its eponymous battle, the [[Battle of Forlì]].

==History==
===Early development===
Forlì was founded by {{Wiki|Paleolithic}} cavemen in 798,000 B.C.E. who were interested in flint manufacturing, paving the way for its reputation as an industrial center. Forlì's name is derived from the {{Wiki|Roman Empire|Romans}} (''Forum Livii''), who built the city in 188 B.C.E. along the Via Aemilia, one of several roads they laid after pacifying the Gauls in the region.

After the Roman rule, it went from {{Wiki|Lombards|Lombard}} hands into Church control. It became an independent republic in 889, infuriating the Vatican. The Vatican then spent the next 400 years trying to regain control over the city.

===Middle Ages and early Renaissance===
Along with [[Rome]]'s constant machinations, Forlì faced a steady stream of Goth, [[Byzantines|Byzantine]], Lombard, and Frank marauders for the next few centuries. In addition, it faced annual flooding, which was finally brought under control by diverting nearby rivers away from the city center in 1050.

Forlì became a military dictatorship at the end of the 13th century and power was then was passed to the Ordelaffi family. In 1480, with the Ordelaffi fighting amongst themselves over the chain of succession, [[Sixtus IV|Pope Sixtus IV]] stepped in and gave the city to his nephew, [[Girolamo Riario]].

In 1481, the [[Florence|Florentine]] [[Assassin]], [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]], visited Forlì en route to [[Venice]] along with his friend [[Leonardo da Vinci]]. During the visit, Ezio rescued the countess, [[Caterina Sforza]], from a small island where she was stranded.

===Battle of Forli===
{{Main|Battle of Forli}}
[[File:Godfather 2.png|thumb|250px|Checco and Ludovico threatening Ezio and Caterina.]]
In 1488, Caterina hired the [[House of Orsi|Orsi]] brothers, [[Checco Orsi|Checco]] and [[Ludovico Orsi|Ludovico]], to assassinate her husband, Girolamo Riario. At the time, Girolamo had joined the [[Templars]] and had been developing a map of the locations of the fabled [[Codex]] pages.

Later, in 1488, Ezio returned to Forlì along with [[Niccolò Machiavelli]], intending to make the city a haven for the [[Ezio's Apple|Apple of Eden]] obtained from [[Rodrigo Borgia]]. However, before the Apple could be secured, the Orsi brothers, working on behalf of the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]], seized not only Forlì, but also Caterina's two young children, [[Bianca Riario|Bianca]] and [[Ottaviano Riario|Ottaviano]]. The Orsi brothers held them as hostages, intending to trade the children for the Apple.

During the battle, Ezio was able to save the Sforza children and slay Ludovico Orsi easily, but was badly wounded while retrieving the Apple, after being stabbed by a dagger wielded by Checco Orsi. Despite his injuries, Ezio was able to kill Checco as well.

[[File:Warm welcome 7.png|thumb|250px|left|Forlì as the battle begins.]]
Ezio, weakened by his injury, fainted. In the confusion that ensued, a black robed monk was able to steal the Apple of Eden still clutched in Ezio's hand.

Following the battle, Caterina nursed Ezio back to health at the [[Palazzo Comunale (Forlì)|Palazzo Communale]]. Ezio learned from [[Darby O'Callahan]] and the monks of the [[Abbazia di San Mercuriale]] that the thief was a Dominican friar by the name of [[Girolamo Savonarola]], whom Ezio [[Bonfire of the Vanities|tracked down and killed]] in [[Florence]], thus once again obtaining the Apple.

After the events of the battle, Forlì fell solely in the hands of Caterina, who fought to prevent the Vatican from re-taking control. Ultimately, however, Caterina perished and Forlì passed into Church hands.

{{-}}
==Landmarks==
*[[Rocca di Ravaldino]]
*[[Avamposto Veneziano]]
*[[Abbazia di San Mercuriale]]
*[[Palazzo Comunale (Forlì)|Palazzo Comunale]]

==Trivia==
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Renaissance]]'', when the [[Orsi Brothers]] attack Forlì, Caterina Sforza is forced to order the cannons to fire at enemy targets inside the town walls. As a result, parts of the city were destroyed.
*After completing the [[Battle of Forlì (DLC)|Battle of Forlì]] downloadable content, the [[Flying Machine]] may be used in Forlì at any time.
*There are two [[Glyphs]] in the region of Forlì - one at Avamposto Veneziano and the other at Abbazia di San Mercuriale.
*Forli is depicted in-game as being directly on the coastline. In reality, it is several kilometres away from any large bodies of water.
*One of the city districts is used as a [[Multiplayer/ACBH|multiplayer map]] in ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''.

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="180" position="center" captionalign="center" captiontextcolor="#ffffff">
AC2 forli concept.png|Concept art of Forlì.
Scan0007-1.jpg|Map of Forlì and surrounding areas.
z_9e84395f.jpg|Map of Forlì in the Animi Training Program.
ACII-Rocca_di_Ravaldino.png|Rocca di Ravaldino.
Avamposto veneziano.jpg|Avamposto Veneziano.
Palazzo comunalef.jpg|Palazzo Comunale.
BattleofForli4.jpg|Ezio firing his Hidden Gun in the Rocca di Ravaldino.
AC2 forli axe.jpg|Ezio fighting in the countryside just outside Forlì.
</gallery>

==Reference==
*''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''
{{AC2}}

[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Cities of Europe]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer locations]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Renaissance locations]]