Whether you’re thinking of visiting Florence soon, or you’d just like to learn more about this incredible city, you’ve come to the right place! Here we have 11 fun facts about Florence, so you can decide if this is somewhere you’d like to visit for yourself. Take a look at them and see what you could discover if you planned a visit. Enjoy!
Photograph of the Duomo in Florence
Nearly A Third Of The World’s Art Treasures Are Located In Florence
If you’re interested in art, Florence is the place to be. It’s not only a piece of art in itself according to UNESCO, it also has a third of the world’s art treasures here. The Uffizi Gallery, for instance, has the largest collection of Renaissance art. There are so many more art museums in Florence it would take longer than a month to visit them all! If you’re there for the art, try to make sure you book an extended trip! You can enjoy beautiful sites, as well as art in the many museums and galleries here. Don’t forget your camera.
Florence Was The First City In Europe With Paved Streets
It was in 1339 when Florence became the first city in the whole of Europe to have paved streets. Maybe this means all roads lead to Florence!
The People Of Florence Are Called Florentines
You should call the people of Florence ‘Florentines’, or ‘Fiorentino’ if you’re practicing your Italian. Florentines actually have their own unique dialect. This dialect is the parent dialects for modern Italian!
Pinnochio Is From Florence
You must know of Pinocchio, even if you’ve only ever heard of the Disney film. Pinnochio is actually a Florentine! The original book was published between 1881 and 1883 by a Florentine named Carlo Lorenzini. This pretty much makes Pinocchio a Florentine too.
Florence Nightingale Is A Florentine
Florence Nightingale is named after the place she was born. She was born in Florence on May 12th 1820. A famous nurse who helped nurse soldiers from the Crimean war back to health, she was the founder of modern nursing, making people see that clean hospitals and trained nurses helped people to get better. She died in 1910 after electricity, cars, and planes were invented.
The Emblem Of Florence Is A Red Lily
This flower is derived from the Florentine iris; a white flower that can be commonly found in the local area. See if you can find one on your travels!
Florence Is Traditionally Divided Into Four
Florence is traditionally quartered and named after the most important churches in the area. The Santa Maria Novella, San Giovanni and the quarter of Santa Croce are on the right hand bank of the Arno river. The only quarter south of the river is the Santo Spirito church. That’s a funny way to quarter a city, but it works for them! If you wanted to see these for yourself and learn more, there are lots of Florence tours you could look into booking.
The Piano Was Invented In Florence
The piano actually came to be in Florence. The instrument was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofor. It was originally known as the Piano Forte, and evolved from the harpsichord around 1700-1720. If you play the piano or anything similar, you may have Florence to thank.
Tuscan Bread Is Made Without Salt
The story behind this is very interesting. The bread has been this way since the 12th century, due to a historical rivalry with Pisa. Pisa blocked shipments of salt to Florence to force them to surrender, but Florence just decided to make their bread without any salt. They still do to this day! The bread is still lovely though, so don’t be afraid to eat it!The
Food Is Almost As Important As Their Art
The Florentines consider food to be almost as important as the art in the city. Here you can sample the best wine, cheese, and steak you’ve ever had. Just beware that the steak is almost rare! Locals are very passionate about food, so you can guarantee to strike up a conversation or get into their good books by bringing it up. Bear in mind that Florence is in Italy, so pizza, pasta, seafood, and ice cream all make delicious choices too.
Florence Used To Be The Capital Of Italy
Florence was actually named the capital of Italy back in 1865. It was named so thanks to it’s incredible art and architecture, as well as it being the birthplace of the Italian renaissance. However, it later switched due to the symbolism of Rome as the head of the Roman empire. The ancient city was also more central than Florence. After just six years, in 1871, the government officially moved to Rome. Although only brief, Florence’s time as the capital had some benefits. The population grew tenfold, and the city continued to grow well into the 20th century. If it wasn’t for this brief stint, who knows where Florence would be now?
There are so many more amazing things to learn and see, so make sure you plan a visit soon. You can learn just about anything there is to learn by taking a tour with a reputable guide, or even by buying a guidebook and going on your own walking tour. Many of the things you can see here are beautiful and free, so don’t worry about spending a fortune.
Have you traveled to Florence in the past? Leave your own thoughts and tips below!
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