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The Modern Age in Tuscany Italy

In the first decade of the XXth century the intellectual life in Tuscany, that had flourished in the grand duchy under the Lorraine, and that had lost its vitality compared to Rome, Milan and Naples, gained new vigour thanks to new literary movements and political ideas, fostered by national journals in Florence, as "La voce " by prezzolini and Papini or "Il regno" by Corradini.

The extension of the right to vote and the universal suffrage increased the number of the members of the Left in many medium-sized and rural towns, while the Catholics allied with the Liberals against the Socialists who were gradually gaining power with the increasing industrialization of the country.

("Orlando" shipyards in Livorno, Lima papermills, Larderello plants). Class disputes, however, and the creation of the first socialist communal administration, the growth of new political groups and the decline of others didn’t hinder the general progress of the country thet, as any other place in Italy, could see a period of wealth and prosperity in the first years of the century.

The First World War that broke out when Tuscany was going through a remarkable industrial development caused several economic and political changes that led to a period of violent struggles, widespread in many parts of Italy. After 1922 also Tuscany subdued to fascist dictatorship. The brave attempts to resist (among which the one of the literary group "Non mollare-Don't give up") died down rapidly under the violence of the persecutions that culminated in several murders in 1925 in Florence. In the Second World War (1940-1945) also Tuscan towns were exposed to heavy bombardments, with considerable damages especially in Livorno, Pisa, Firenze. The terrible military events and the premonitory signs of the imminent fall of fascism, led to a fast covert reconstitution of several parties and the beginning of a bitter struggle that, after 8th September, became a battle against the German. The local population, both from the towns or from the country, reacted with great courage, often paying with life, in the resistance and even in Tuscany there were lots of fierce acts of retaliations against the Partisans. When peace was re-established, in the 1946 referendum Tuscany agreed, by a large majority, with the institution of the republic.

Since then the region has been an intellectually stimulating background for people who played an essential role in the political life of the nation. In the economic field, the success of the little and medium-sided enterprise and of handicraft has consolidated the prestige of Tuscany at an international level. At present, one of the most advanced activities in Tuscany is tourism, which aims to enhance the beauty and variety of the environment together with the cultural heritage of the past.

Following the steps of the travellers of the 18th century and of the humanists, artists and aesthetes of the 19th century, today's tourists visit Florence and marvel at some of the most beautiful works of art ever made by man. Today Tuscany still shows, with just a few changes, its universal prerogative as a town characterized by a rapid expansion in business and manufacturing, by the peculiarity of the masterpieces it preserves and the multicultural origin of the tourists visiting it.

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