In 1737, Francis Stephen, husband of Maria Theresa of Austria and Duke of Lorraine, took power over Florence. The Medici line no longer existed, making Tuscany part of the Austrian empire. Until 1859, the French-Austrian dynasty of Lorraines reigned in the city, and in 1861 Tuscany became a province of the Italian kingdom. 

In 1865, Florence became the capital of Italy and hosted the first parliament of the country. But after six years as part of the kingdom, Rome became its capital. Nevertheless, Florence’s population doubled in the 19th Century and tripled in the 20th, due to the growth of trade, industry, tourism and financial services.

World War I left Florence ravaged and vulnerable to fascist rhetoric. It later became a stronghold for Mussolini. During World War II, Florence was occupied by German forces between 1943 and 1944, eventually being driven out by Allied Powers, with the loss of many Allied soldiers, especially the British and Americans, who were buried in cemeteries outside Florence. The retreating Germans blew up the city’s bridges, except Ponte Vecchio.

In 1996, Florence suffered extensive flood damage, destroying many of its buildings and precious works of art. Some of the buildings is still being restored. However, in the process, restoration techniques were perfected and have been used to salvage art works throughout the world. Florence today is a regional capital and international travel destination.