Florence

Did You Know?
-Julius Caesar founded Florence in 59 BC as the retirement location for his veteran soldiers.

-People who live in Florence are called "Florentines."

-The Italian name for Florence is "Firenze."

-The city of Florence is considered the "birthplace of the Italian Renaissance" and the "Athens of the Middle Ages."

-Florence was home to the infamous Medici family from the 14th century to the 18th century.

-Leonardo da Vinci, polymath; Niccolo Machievelli, poet and philosopher; Galileo Galilei, astronomer and physicist; Amerigo Vespucci, explorer; Donatello, sculptor; Rafael, painter; Robert Cavalla, fashion designer; and Guccio Gucci, fashion designer and founder of the Gucci label all lived in Florence.

-In 1339, Florence became the first city in Europe to have paved streets.

-Florence Nightingale was born in and named after the city of Florence.

-There are 465 steps to the top of Brunelleschi’s cupola.

-Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence to have survived WWII intact. Hitler declared it was too beautiful to destroy.
-Regional dishes include: Crostini Toscani, sliced bread rounds topped with chicken pate; Bistecca alla Fiorentia, a large very rare T-Bone steak cooked over charcoal; and Tagliata, sliced rare beef served on a bed of arugula, topped with slices of Parmesan cheese.