Top 20 Facts about the City of Florence


 

The capital city of the Tuscany region, Florence, is located at the heart of beautiful Italy. It once was the capital of the kingdom of Italy, when it was still a monarchy. So captivating is the City of Florence, that it was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO in 1982. If visiting Florence, be prepared to marvel at the city’s culture, monuments, renaissance art and architecture.

A look at the top 20 facts about the city of Florence is an eye-opener and will reveal why it deserved the world heritage site tag.

1. The City of Florence fended off Germany during World War II

Florence Skyline- by echiner1- Wikimedia Commons

Germany had a staid interest in the City of Florence and made two serious stabs at taking it over during World War II. During the war, Florence was besieged by the Germans on more than one occasion. All of the city’s beautiful bridges were blown up, save for one, Ponte Vecchio which Hitler found too beautiful to destroy.

At least one-third of the medieval Florence was lost.

2. The City of Florence birthed great artists

Amerigo Vespucci- by
Crispijn van de Passe the Elder- Wikimedia Commons

The big wig artist and inventor Leonardo da Vinci was born in the surroundings of Florence, a day before Amerigo Vespucci, the merchant, explorer, and navigator; fun fact, America was named after Amerigo the explorer! America is feminine for Amerigo.

During his voyages, Amerigo reached Rio De Janeiro and believing he had discovered a new continent, he called South America the New World.

Lorenzo de’ Medici, Rose McGowan, Catherine de’ Medici, Niccolò Machiavelli, Dante Alighieri, Pope Leo X, Giotto, Roberto Cavalli and Pope Clement XII are just but a few names of renown men and women born in Florence.

3. Modern nursing was founded in the City of Florence

Painting of nurse Florence Nightingale- Wikimedia Commons

Modern nursing was founded by the famous nurse Florence Nightingale. She was born to a British Family, but in Villa Colombaia, in Florence, Italy. She was named after Florence, her birthplace.

You will find a memorial monument of her in the cloister of the Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence, erected 3 years after her death.

4. Gucci, the famous fashion brand was developed in Florence

Gucci store in Sydney- by Sardaka- Wikimedia Commons

Guccio Gucci is another famous person born in Florence. His luxurious brand ‘Gucci’ is renowned in the world. Celebrities and the affluent don his line of shoes, leather goods, watched and jewellery, bags, and ready to wear clothes.

 5. The City of Florence is Pinocchio’s home

Pinocchio statue in Sweden- by Stuart Chalmers- Wikimedia Commons

As a child, you must have read about Pinocchio, the boy whose nose grew with every lie he told. This fairy tale is set in Florence, first told in Italian in the book Le Avventure di Pinocchio, published by the Florentine Carlo Lorenzini between 1881 and 1883.

Just in case Pinocchio’s story is unfamiliar, his nose grew long because he told lies, but it was reset to regular size by a flock of woodpeckers, courtesy of the Blue- haired fairy who watched over Pinocchio.

6. The City of Florence gave up torture and the death penalty

Savonarola burned at the stake- Wikimedia Commons

Torture and death were common tactics for delivering justice during medieval times. Girolamo Savonarola is an example of a Florentine citizen who underwent torture at the hand of the government of the day in Florence, for being a charlatan, pretending to receive instruction through visions sent by God.

When Pietro Leopoldo came to power, he brought an end to torture and the death penalty in Florence, much to the delight of the citizens.

7. Building the City of Florence’s Cathedral took at least 140 years

City of Florence Cathedral- by Florian Hirzinger- Wikimedia Commons

If you catch a glimpse of the City of Florence’s Cathedral, it might make sense why building it took so long! The Cathedral boasts a dome over 10 feet, standing tall over the city. The church grew larger than the original plan, inspired by the ancient Romans.

This building is considered one of the most spectacular ones in the world and is the third-largest in the world. Locals call it Santa Maria del Fiore or Duomo Cathedral of Florence,

The Cathedral proudly displays sculptures of great Florentine people on its front, such as Arnolfo, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Andrea Pisano, Petrarca, Dante, S. Ambrogio, Guido Monaco, Palestrina, Beato Angelico, Leonardo, Raffaello, Orcagna and Giotto.

8. The largest Renaissance art collection in the world is found in the City of Florence

Uffizi Museum hallway- Wikimedia Commons

Florence’s Uffizi Gallery has the largest Renaissance art collection in the world. In 2016 the museum recorded approximately 2.02 million visitors! The museum boasts a collection of paintings, architecture, sculptures, prints and drawings, books and archives.

Some notable works exhibited at Uffizi include ‘The Birth of Venus’ by Sandro Botticelli, ‘Coronation of the Virgin’ by Fra Angelico, ‘Laocoön and his Sons’ by Baccio Bandinelli, ‘Madonna with the Long Neck’ by Parmigianino and the ‘Portrait of Pope Leo X with Two Cardinals’ by Raphael.

Most of its artworks were collected by the influential Medici family, who powered the Italian Renaissance and thus much of Western civilization. These artworks include a collection of ancient statues and busts from it displayed along the corridors, consisting of ancient Roman copies of lost Greek sculptures.

9. The City of Florence was flooded twice

Marker on wall showing how high the 1966 floodwaters got- by Gryffindor- Wikimedia Commons

How bizarre is it that on November 14th in 1333 and November 4th in 1966, the City of Florence was flooded. Such a stark coincidence on the date. Many lives were lost- the 1966 flood claimed 101 lives while the 1333 claimed approximately 3,000 lives. Art masterpieces and rare books were also lost; the magnificent Ufizzi gallery was a casualty.

These floods, particularly the 1966 one are remembered as the worst natural disaster to lay siege to the city at the heart of the Renaissance.

It’s a good thing that the Ponte Vecchio bridge was spared during the World War II as its surviving the floods gave hope to the Florentines who felt that their city would survive if it survived- people headed to find out the fate of the bridge after the flood.

10. The City of Florence is a tourist magnet

Tourists at the Cathedral’s dome- by Mattes- Wikimedia Commons

The City of Florence attracts approximately a whopping 13 million tourists each year and growing! From its magnificent buildings to world art heritage, there is plenty to see and do in Florence.

Tourist activity has been so much in Florence, and Italy so that there have been petitions to intervene and reduce or control the tourist numbers.

With a population of around 350,000 people, it seems likely to get overwhelming with such high records of tourists.

Prince Ottaviano, representative of the Historic House of the Medici has proposed that Florence is added to UNESCO’s endangered list, with concern that Florence’s cultural significance has been radically altered with the mass tourism.

11. The Piano was invented in the City of Florence

The piano was developed by Bartolomeo Cristofori between 1700 and 1720. It was developed from the harpsichord, which was an instrument played by means of a keyboard. The harpsichord didn’t provide the control that musicians needed.

Cristofori first called the piano “Gravicembalo col piano e forte” which is Italian for “harpsichord with soft and loud”. This was shortened to the pianoforte, which then became piano, Italian for ‘soft-loud’.

Many magnificent compositions have been made and recorded over the piano.

12. Cobbled streets were first seen in the City of Florence

Cobbled wall in Florence- by r Txllxt TxllxT- Wikimedia Commons

Cobbled streets were preferred for their longevity- the oldest cobbled street in the City of Florence is from the 1300’s- in 1339, Florence began building cobbled streets, the first European city to do so.

You will find cobbled streets in, among other countries, Belgium, France and the United States of America.

Cobblestone is a natural building material with cobble sized stones. They are used on streets, buildings and pavement roads,

13. The Italian gelato was invented in the City of Florence

Different flavors of gelato- by Maksym Kozlenko- Wikimedia Commons

Gelato is a popular Italian frozen dessert, made from milk and sugar with choice flavoring. Its invention is credited to Bernardo Buontalenti. Gelato was popularized in the 16th century by the court of Catherina dei Medici, who held festivals characterized by lavish and spectacular entertainments.

The next time you enjoy your favorite gelato, remember to thank the City of Florence for it!

14. The City of Florence gave birth to the Stendhal Syndrome

Apparently one can be in a state of mind where they become lightheaded or dizzy from looking at outstanding art. It may seem stranger than fiction but Stendhal, a French author visited Florence in the early 1800s and experienced dizziness and faintness when he saw all the art in the beautiful city.

His was however not an isolated case that could, therefore, be dismissed. An Italian doctor handled over 100 cases exhibiting similar symptoms from other people visiting Florence, hence the conclusion was made, naming this the Stendhal Syndrome, also known as the Florence Syndrome.

15. Florence’s Tuscan bread is saltless

Most bread recipes the world over call for salt. Not so for the Tuscan bread- it has traditionally made without salt since the 12th century. Recipes incorporating Tuscan bread today keep the tradition and benefit from the lack of salt. After all lots of salt is not recommended!

16. The Florentine Iris is the emblem representing the City of Florence

Florentine Lily- by Jebulon- Wikimedia Commons

The Giaggiolo, the Lily, is a special flower to Florentines.  It has been Florence’s symbol for over 1,000 years- since the Florentine Kings participated in the first crusade. The red lily used to be the white Florentine iris, a white very common in the local area.

If you are in the City of Florence in May, you can see the beautiful Florentine iris in its glory at the Iris garden, off Piazzale Michelangelo.

The red Iris features on Florence’s flag.

17. The Opera was invented in the City of Florence

The late 16th century in the city of Florence gave the world the gift of the Opera. A small group of men, members of Camerata- Italian for society or group of like-minded people, who came up with a new art form that they intended to be tremendously expressive, with naturally sung words as if they were spoken and with very simple musical accompaniment that wouldn’t drown the lyrics.

Jacopo Peri developed the first significant Opera, which was performed in 1594.

18. The City of Florence boasts a shoe museum

Museo Ferragamo- by Manuelarosi- Wikimedia Commons

The artistic qualities of Italian shoe designer Salvatore Ferragamo must have been too superior to keep secret. Florence, therefore, opened Museo Salvatore Ferragamo in 1995.

This museum is an art and shoe lover’s haven, with at least 10,000 models of shoes created and owned by Ferragamo from the 1920s until his death in 1960 on display.

The museum also features films, press cuttings, advertising materials, clothes and accessories from the 1950s to the present day.

19. The City of Florence has a food speciality- bistecca alla Fiorentina

Bistecca alla Fiorentina plate- by mike packard- Wikimedia Commons

One of the most popular dishes of Tuscan cuisine is bistecca alla Fiorentina. This special delicacy is a high cut steak of veal or heifer.

This delicacy is a Florentine speciality, and cooking it is an art!

It’s cooked from room temperature and on very hot flames with no condiments. Establishments such as Alla Vecchia Bettola, L’Osteria di Giovanni, Trattoria Sostanza, Buca Lapi, and I’ Brindellone are famed for their bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Traditionally the meat for Bistecca alla Fiorentina specificallt comes from a Tuscan breed of cattle called the Chianina.

20. The City of Florence has amassed as much a one-third of the world’s art heritage.

Sculptures in the Loggia dei Lanzi- by Freepenguin- Wikimedia Commons

UNESCO found the City of Florence to be of outstanding universal value. The organization concluded that Florence’s art was equivalent to one-third of the world’s art heritage! No wonder tourists flock the city; this can only mean that you are highly unlikely to run out of things to see and do while in Florence.

The City of Florence boasts at least 600 years of extraordinary artistic activity.

 

Beautiful Florence is surrounded by the Tuscan hills and divided by the Arno River. The City has remained unchanged throughout the centuries. With awareness of their heritage, Florentines have been able to reserve some of its architecture, and some unique Florentine handicraft and traditional shops.

The City of Florence sure is enchanting, and worth a visit in one’s lifetime.