Cosimo I de' Medici in the context of Accademia delle Arti del Disegno

The House of Medici (English: /ˈmɛdɪtʃi/ MED-itch-ee, UK also /məˈdiːtʃi/ mə-DEE-chee; Italian: [ˈmɛːditʃi]) was an Italian banking family and political dynasty that first consolidated power in the Republic of Florence under Cosimo de' Medici and his grandson Lorenzo "the Magnificent" during the first half of the 15th century. The family originated in the Mugello region of Tuscany, and prospered gradually in trade until it was able to fund the Medici Bank. This bank was the largest in Europe in the 15th century and facilitated the Medicis' rise to political power in Florence, although they officially remained citizens rather than monarchs until the 16th century.

In 1532, the family acquired the hereditary title Duke of Florence. In 1569, the duchy was elevated to the Grand Duchy of Tuscany after territorial expansion. The Medici ruled the Grand Duchy from its inception under the builder Cosimo I until 1737, with the death of Gian Gastone de' Medici. The Medici produced four popes of the Catholic Church—Pope Leo X (1513–1521), Pope Clement VII (1523–1534), Pope Pius IV (1559–1565) and Pope Leo XI (1605)—and two queens of France—Catherine de' Medici (1547–1559) and Marie de' Medici (1600–1610). The Medici's grand duchy witnessed degrees of economic growth under the early grand dukes, but was bankrupt by the time of Cosimo III de' Medici (r. 1670–1723).

The Duchy of Florence (Italian: Ducato di Firenze) was an Italian principality that was centred on the city of Florence, in Tuscany, Italy. The duchy was founded after Pope Clement VII, himself a Medici, appointed his relative Alessandro de' Medici as Duke of the Florentine Republic, thereby transforming the Republic of Florence into a hereditary monarchy.

The second Duke, Cosimo I, established a strong Florentine navy and expanded his territory, purchasing Elba and conquering Siena. In 1569, Pope Pius V declared Cosimo Grand Duke of Tuscany. The Medici ruled the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until 1737.

The Fountain of Neptune (Italian: Fontana del Nettuno) in Florence, Italy, is situated in the Piazza della Signoria, in front of the Palazzo Vecchio. The fountain was commissioned by Cosimo I de' Medici in 1559 to celebrate the marriage of Francesco de' Medici I to Grand Duchess Joanna of Austria. Cosimo I de' Medici was the Duke of Florence from 1537-1569 and responsible for a vast number of architectural and artistic elements in Florence that still exist today.

The fountain was designed by Baccio Bandinelli, but created by Bartolomeo Ammannati with the assistance of several other artists between 1560 and 1574. It incorporates a series of mythological figures and iconographies that symbolize both Cosimo I de' Medici's power and the union of Francesco and Joanna.

The Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze (lit. 'academy of fine arts of Florence') is an instructional art academy in Florence, in Tuscany, in central Italy.

It was founded by Cosimo I de' Medici in 1563, under the influence of Giorgio Vasari. Michelangelo, Benvenuto Cellini and other significant artists have been associated with it.

Iacopo VI Appiani (1539 – 15 May 1585) was the lord of Piombino from 1545 until his death, although he was expelled from his state between 1548 and 1557. He was the son and heir of Iacopo V and his wife, Elena, daughter of Giacomo Salviati. He was a child when he succeeded his father, and was placed under the protection of the Emperor Charles V, while his mother presided over a council of regency.

In 1548, Charles invested Cosimo I de' Medici. Duke of Florence, with Piombino in exchange for a cash payment. Iacopo and his mother fled to the Republic of Genoa, which intervened several times to prevent Cosimo from taking possession of Piombino. Iacopo and Elena then paid a visit to the imperial court, where, with the help of certain ministers opposed to the Medici, they convinced Charles to revoke his investiture of Cosimo, save for the island of Elba.

Castrocaro Terme e Terra del Sole (Romagnol: Castruchèira or Castruchêra e Tèra de Sòlis) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Forlì-Cesena in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) southeast of Bologna and about 10 kilometres (6 mi) southwest of Forlì.

The comune consists of three small towns: Castrocaro, Terra del Sole and Pieve Salutare. Terra del Sole, founded as a 16th-century fortress by Cosimo I de' Medici, is believed to occupy the site of the ancient city of Solona, which lends its name to the town Terra del Sole.