36 Interesting Facts About Florence, Italy (history + fun facts!)

The Main Florence Facts

1. Florence was once the capital of the Kingdom of Italy

In 1861, Tuscany became part of the Kingdom of Italy. 4 years later, in 1865, Florence became the new capital of Italy, replacing Turin.

This only lasted 5 years though, as Rome became the capital of Italy in 1870.

Sunset over the Arno river and the Ponte Vecchio in Florence

2. Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance

The Renaissance was a period following the Middle Ages, from the 14th to the 17th century. It was a period of rebirth, in all industries: cultural, artistic, political and economic, with the cultural & artistic parts being the most famous ones.

This new era was born in Florence, which was a thriving city at the time. It then reached other cities in Italy such as Venice & Rome, and later spread out to the rest of Europe.

3. More than 15 million visitors explore Florence each year

In 2018, there were more than 15 million tourists who came to Florence.

And that’s only people who stayed at least 1 night in the city: the total number of people who visited Florence is way higher.

 In comparison, the total population of Florence was 707,000 in 2018; that’s 21 times less than the total numbers of tourists!

View from the top of the Florence Cathedral

4. The Ponte Vecchio bridge is a famous landmark of Florence

The Ponte Vecchio, Italian for Old Bridge, is an icon of Florence.

Built in 1345, the bridge spans over the River Arno with 3 arches, an innovative design for the time.

The bridge is easily recognizable with all the shops built on it, and the covered passage above it, a private aerial walkway built for the ruling family, the Medici Family.

5. Hitler prevented the destruction of the Ponte Vecchio in World War II

During World War II, the German army was occupying the city of Florence.

At the end of the war, the Germs were forced out of the city by the Allies; when they fled, they destroyed all of the bridges in Florence.

Well, not all of them: legend has it that Hitler loved the bridge so much that he instructed to not destroy it, and Ponte Vecchio was left untouched.

6. Florence was the first city in Europe to pave its streets

While Romans paved their roads in ancient times, pavement was not used anymore after the fall of the Roman Empire.

That’s until 1339, when Florence got money from the local banks & merchants, and paved the streets of the city.

Florence was the first city in Europe to pave its streets, and the trend soon extended to the rest of Europe.

7. Florence is the birthplace of Gelato

This is the first of our food facts about Florence.

The delicious frozen dessert  gelato was invented in Florence in the 16th century. It was first invented by Cosimo Ruggieri, then many other people contributed to the wide spread of this sweet treat. Definitely a must try when in Florence with kids! 

8. The David statue from Michelangelo was created in Florence, and is currently still in Florence

Perhaps one of the most famous work of art produced during the Renaissance, David is a marble sculpture made by Michelangelo in 1504.

The statue was created in Florence, by a Florentine. To this day, the statue is still in Florence, in the Galleria dell’Accademia, an art museum in the city.

9. The arm of the David statue was broken

This is one of the little known facts about Florence Italy: the David statue had its left arm broken.

In 1527, the statue was placed in the seat of the city authorities. During a riot against the Medici family, a chair was throw at the statue, breaking its left arm in 3 pieces. The statue has since been repaired, and moved to a safer location while a copy remained in the original spot.

10. The Stendhal Syndrome first happened in Florence

The Stendhal syndrome, also called Florence syndrome, refers to accelerated heartbeat and even fainting when someone is exposed to art masterpieces.

It first afflicted French author Stendhal when he visited Florence in 1817.

It was then experienced by many other people, and local hospital staff in Florence is used to patients with similar conditions after seeing the beauty of Florence.

Portrait of French author Stendhal

11. The Florentine language is the basis of the Italian language

The Italian language is not so ancient. In fact, there wasn’t an universal Italian language in Italy until the 14th century.

Florence-born poet Dante wrote poems in Florentine, the local dialect; these poems spread throughout the country, and they helped spread the dialect, which soon became the most widely understood dialect in the country.

This is how Florentine became the basis of the Italian language, still used to this day.

12. There’s a taxidermy museum in the city

This is one of the fun facts about Florence, though a bit morbid.

La Specola, part of the Museum of Natural History in Florence, has the largest wax anatomical collection in the world, as well as plenty of taxidermy of even extinct species.

The museum is the oldest public museum in Europe, and displays wax models in semi-erotic poses, with their stomach open to reveal the anatomy of the body.

La Specola museum by I, Lucarelli / CC BY-SA

13. Leonardo da Vinci was born in Florence

Leonardo da Vinci is one of the most famous artists of the Renaissance, talented in many forms of art: painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing & more.

This genius was born in Vinci on April 14th 1452 in the village of Anchiano, right outside the town of Vinci, all included in the Republic of Florence.

14. Pinocchio was invented in Florence

No, Pinocchio wasn’t invented by Disney.

In fact, it was invented way before by a man named Carlo Collodi, born in Florence on November 24th 1826.

15. The Cathedral took 140 years to be completed

The Florence Cathedral is one of the main landmarks of the city. It’s also known as Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, or Duomo di Firenze.

Construction started in 1296, and the cathedral was only finished in 1436, 140 years later. 

16. The dome of the Duomo is the largest brick & mortar dome in the world

The main feature of the Duomo is its massive dome. It’s made of more than 4 million bricks, and weighs an impressive 37,000 metric tons.

The dome is incredibly large, and over 10 stories high. To this day, it remains the largest brick dome in the entire world.

Visiting the Duomo is an awesome experience you can’t miss if you’re in Florence. 

17. The city was founded by Julius Caesar

Florence was founded by Roman Emperor Julius Caesar, in 59 BC.

It was originally meant to be a settlement for the soldiers, and was built just like a garrison town.

A few years later, the settlement has grown in a full-blown city, and the Romans now refer to it as Florentia, the Flourishing Town.

18. The symbol of the city used to be a white lily

The Lily, or Giglio as locals call it, is the symbol of the city, and you can see it on the flag.

The flag today is a red lily on a white background, but it wasn’t always the case.

In fact, it used to be a white lily on a red background. In 1266, the colors were switched by the Guelphs (supporting the Pope), to celebrate their victory over the Ghibellines (supporting the Holy Roman Emperor).

The flag of Florence

19. The world explorer Amerigo Vespucci was from Florence

Amerigo Vespucci was a famous explorer, born in Florence on March 9th 1454.

He was the first to recognize that America was a new continent, when at the time explorers (including Columbus) thought it was part of Asia.

Portrait of Amerigo Vespucci

20. The piano was invented in Florence

The inventor of the piano, Bartolomeo Cristofori, was initially in Venice. He was already experimenting with new instruments there.

During one of his visits to Venice, the Grand Prince of Tuscany Ferdinando de Medici, spotted Cristofori. He took him to Florence and offered him an invention studio, where he eventually invented the piano, in 1700.

21. The Basilica di San Lorenzo is the oldest church in Florence

The Basilica di San Lorenzo, or Basilica of Saint Lawrence, is one of the biggest churches in Florence.

It’s one of the oldest churches in Florence, if not the oldest, and was built in 393. It was the main cathedral of the city, before Santa Reparata (on which Florence Cathedral was built later on).

In the 15th century, the basilica got completely renovated by masters from the Renaissance: Donatello, Michelangelo and Brunelleschi.

Basilica di San Lorenzo in Florence by Peter K Burian / CC BY-SA

22. There is a shoes museum, the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo

The Museo Salvatore Ferragamo is a fashion museum in Florence, opened by the Ferragamo family.

It contains more than 10,000 pairs of shoes made by Ferragamo, and it’s any shoes lover paradise.

23. The fashion brand Gucci was born in Florence

Another fashion fact with Gucci, the famous Italian luxury fashion brand.

Gucci was founded in 1921 by Guccio Gucci in Florence, and it’s today one of the most profitable Italian fashion brands.

24. The city is one of the top fashion capitals of the world

As you might have guessed from the 2 previous facts, Florence is one of the top fashion cities in the world.

While Milan remains the true Italian capital of fashion, Florence is a top contender, with many fashion brands founded in the city (Ferragamo, Gucci, Lotti, …).

The Florence Fashion Week is one of the main events not to miss if you’re into fashion.

25. Operas were created in Florence

Florence is considered to be the birthplace of modern opera.

A local group of artists, writers and musicians, known as the Florentine Camerata, set out to recreate Greek plays through music; following their movement, a rival Jacopo Cordsi created Dafne in 1598, the first opera.

26. Tourism is the most important industry in Firenze

The most important industry in Florence is tourism, and the city’s economy heavily relies on it.

In the high season, from April to October, there are more tourists in Florence than locals. As of late, an increasing part of the tourism is cultural tourism, with people flocking from all over the world to visit the great museums & art collections of Firenze.

27. The Medici Family ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737 and led the Renaissance movement

The Medici Family, or House of Medici, ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737.

The Medici was a wealthy family of merchants and bankers who accumulated money, to the point of being the wealthiest family in Europe. They then used the money to control the city, and expand their influence to the rest of Italy & Europe.

They were most famous for investing in art & culture, and their support made Florence the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

It’s interesting to note that the Medici Family had 4 Popes and 2 Queens of France.

Painting of the Medici Family by Benozzo Gozzoli

28. The Arno River flooded in 1966 killing 101 people

In 1966, the river Arno flooded after a long period of steady rain, and submerged the city of Florence.

The water reached 6.7 meters at its highest point (22 feet), and it was a true disaster for the city.

101 people lost their lives, and 5,000 families lost their homes. On top of that, millions of books and art pieces were damaged and even today restoration work is ongoing.

After the 1966 flood in Florence

29. A famous dish is Lampredotto, meat made from the stomach of a cow

Lampredotto is a typical street food in Florence.

It’s actually the 4th stomach of a cow, slow-cooked to be tender meat, and it’s usually served as a sandwich.

30. The Florentine money financed cities all over Europe in the Middle Ages

The Fiorino d’oro, or Gold Florin, was the official money of Florence from 1252.

It was the first gold coin to be produced in large quantities in Europe, large enough that it had a huge commercial role from the Middle Ages all through the Renaissance.

The bankers from Florence (and the Medici Family) used the Gold Florin to finance cities all over Europe. They helped during the Hundred Years War by financing the English Kings, and even financed the papacy.

31. It was under threat of a crazy serial killer between 1974 and 1985

This is another little known fact about Florence: the city was the home of a crazy serial killer in recent years.

Il Mostro di Firenze, or Monster of Florence, is a serial killer who killed 16 people in Florence, from 1968 and 1985.

The crazy fact is that the case was never solved: no one knows who committed the crime, and the serial killer was never apprehended.

32. Close to 1/3 of the World’s Art Heritage is in Florence

Yes, that’s a crazy number!

According to the UNESCO, Italy has around 60% of the most important pieces of art. And out of the 60%, half is in Florence.

This makes for close to 1/3rd of the world’s masterpiece located in Florence, most from the Italian Renaissance.

33. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular museums in the world

While we’re on the masterpieces subject, let’s talk about the Uffizi Gallery.

This art museum has the best collection of Italian Renaissance art: paintings, sculptures, antiques, drawings & prints.

It’s the most visited museum in Italy, and the most popular attraction in Florence with more than 2 million visitors in 2018.

The Uffizi Gallery in Florence

34. The traditional bread from Florence is made without salt

This is something that surprises many visitors: the bread in Florence is made without salt.

The Florentines will tell you that their cuisine is so rich of flavors that it doesn’t require any additional savor in the bread, which is why they don’t put salt.

History has it that back in the Middle Ages, there was such a heavy tax on salt that most people couldn’t afford it: they just made bread without salt.

35. Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a famous local dish, perfect for meat lovers

Our last food fact about Florence, about a famous local dish.

The Bistecca alla Fiorentina, or beefsteak Florentine style, is a massive veal T-bone steak from 450g to 1kg. It’s grilled on charcoal, and it must be browned on the outside & rare on the inside. 

Definitely a must-try when you visit Florence if you’re a meat lover!

36. A street can have 2 different names in Florence

And finally, the last of our 36 Florence facts.

It’s very easy to get lost in Florence, as the same street can have 2 different names – or more!

For example, the Via Martelli is a famous street, right next to the Cathedral. Right after it crosses another street to the north, it changes name and becomes Via Camillo Cavour. And down south, it becomes Via dei Calzaiuoli after crossing another street.

Good luck!

So there you have them, the 36 interesting facts about Florence Italy!

If you want to learn more about the city, keep reading for some general facts and info. 

General Florence Italy Facts

You’ll find below a few general Florence Italy facts, to learn more about this Italian city:

• Name: Florence | Firenze (Italian)
• Province: Metropolitan City of Florence
• Region: Tuscany
• Land area: 102.4 km² / 39.5 square miles
• Population: 383,083
• Name of inhabitants: Florentine | Fiorentino (Italian)
• Website: Citta di Firenze

Where is Florence? Florence on a Map

Florence is a city located in central Italy, in Tuscany. It’s east of Pisa, and not far from the famous Cinque Terre.

Here you can see it on the map, to have a better understanding of where it is in Italy:

Florence Flag

More Facts!

Do you want even more facts about Italy?

Check out the following posts:

• Sicily facts
• Sardinia facts
• Verona facts

Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there is A LOT of them.

The Full List of 36 Florence Facts

1. Florence was once the capital of the Kingdom of Italy
2. Florence was the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance
3. More than 15 million visitors explore Florence each year
4. The Ponte Vecchio bridge is a famous landmark of Florence
5. Hitler prevented the destruction of the Ponte Vecchio in World War II
6. Florence was the first city in Europe to pave its streets
7. Florence is the birthplace of Gelato
8. The David statue from Michelangelo was created in Florence, and is currently still in Florence
9. The arm of the David statue was broken
10. The Stendhal Syndrome first happened in Florence
11. The Florentine language is the basis of the Italian language
12. There’s a taxidermy museum in the city
13. Leonardo da Vinci was born in Florence
14. Pinocchio was invented in Florence
15. The Cathedral took 140 years to be completed
16. The dome of the Duomo is the largest brick & mortar dome in the world
17. The city was founded by Julius Caesar
18. The symbol of the city used to be a white lily
19. The world explorer Amerigo Vespucci was from Florence
20. The piano was invented in Florence
21. The Basilica di San Lorenzo is the oldest church in Florence
22. There is a shoes museum, the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo
23. The fashion brand Gucci was born in Florence
24. The city is one of the top fashion capitals of the world
25. Operas were created in Florence
26. Tourism is the most important industry in Firenze
27. The Medici Family ruled Florence from 1434 to 1737 and led the Renaissance movement
28. The Arno River flooded in 1966 killing 101 people
29. A famous dish is Lampredotto, meat made from the stomach of a cow
30. The Florentine money financed cities all over Europe in the Middle Ages
31. It was under threat of a crazy serial killer between 1974 and 1985
32. Close to 1/3 of the World’s Art Heritage is in Florence
33. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the most popular museums in the world
34. The traditional bread from Florence is made without salt
35. Bistecca alla Fiorentina is a famous local dish, perfect for meat lovers
36. A street can have 2 different names in Florence

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