- Did you know that the Duomo was built after the Baptistery? It was not only later in time but it was supposed to be the Baptistery, just bigger!
- The Medici Family married into French royalty but before all of that, they were the wealthiest in Europe thanks to the Medici Bank!
- Machiavelli dedicated his famous work “the Prince” to Lorenzo de' Medici
- Nearly a third of the world’s art treasures reside in Florence, according to UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization)
- Pinocchio, the famous wooden boy, came from Florence. Le Avventure di Pinocchio was published between 1881 and 1883 by Carlo Lorenzini (pen-name Collodi), a Florentine by birth.
- "Il Duomo" of Florence took approximately 140 years to build. Construction initially started on September 8th, 1296, but the cathedral was not completed until March 25th 1436. It has 463 stone steps.
- On November 30th, 1786, under the reign of Pietro Leopoldo, Tuscany was the first modern european state in the world to do away with torture and capital punishment.
- The piano was invented in Florence by Bartolomeo Cristofor. First known as the pianoforte which evolved from the harpsichord around 1700 to 1720.
- Remember us complaining about the bread? Well Tuscan bread is traditionally made without salt, and it’s been this way since the 12th century, according to popular legend. That legend says that during the historical rivalry with Pisa, the Pisans thought blocking shipments of salt would force the Florentines to surrender in whatever battle they were involved with at the time. Instead, the people of Florence just made their bread without salt.
http://www.aroundrometours.com/30-interesting-facts-about-florence-italy-art42-uid1.htm