20 Amazing Florence Facts

By Karin Lehnardt, Senior Writer

Published February 5, 2025

Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the piano in Florence. Other famous inventions from Florence include the telescope (1609), the modern chain (1400s), eyeglasses, Renaissance perspective, early parachute designs, and the mechanical clock (14th century)._[5]
Guccio Gucci established the House of Gucci in Florence in 1921, reflecting Florence's reputation for fine leather craftsmanship._[5]
Over 15 million tourists visit Florence each year._[9]
Florence's entire historic center is on UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list. The city houses treasures such as the Uffizi Gallery, Ponte Vecchio, the Florence Cathedral, and the Palazzo Vecchio._[10]
Famous cultural giants from Florence include Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Dante, Machiavelli, Galileo Galilei, and the Medici family._[10]
Florence is Italy's 8th largest city by population, after Rome, Milan, Naples, Turin, Palermo, Genoa, and Bologna._[10]
Florence was the capital of Italy from 1865–1871._[10]
Stendhal Syndrome is a condition specific to Florence in which people become ill after seeing how beautiful the city's art is._[6]
A block of marble sat in a Florence churchyard for 25 years after two artists gave up on it. Michelangelo found the marble and turned it into the Statue of David._[3]
Scholars believe that a lost Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece titled "The Battle of Anghiari" exists on a wall inside Florence's town hall. The problem is that a priceless fresco is on top of it._[7]
Florence is consistently ranked as one of the most beautiful cities in the world._[2]
The only bridge in Florence that survived WWII is the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge. Hitler thought that the bridge was beautiful and avoided bombing it. Built in 1218 and rebuilt in 1345, the bridge represents a brilliant sense of proportion and harmony._[4]
The Florence Cathedral (The Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore) has the largest brick dome in the world._[5]
Opera originated in Florence in 1597, with the performance of Jacopo Peri's Dafne._[5]
Since the 11th century, the symbol of Florence has been a lily._[5]
The oldest church in Florence is the Badia Fiorentina. Built in 978, the church is allegedly the spot where Dante first laid eyes on Beatrice._[1]
In 1339, the Black Death killed half of Florence's population._[5]
The Museo Salvatore Ferragamo houses over 10,000 privately commissioned shoes, including shoes made from dyed fish skin._[11]
Michaelangelo designed the Laurentian Library in Florence. The library houses thousands of rare manuscripts and is considered an architectural feat._[8]
The man who designed the dome of Il Duomo had zero architectural experience._[10]