🌍 FACTS ABOUT FLORENCE, ITALY 🇮🇹 • Florence is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance. • It was once one of the richest cities in Europe, powered by banking and trade. • The famous Medici family ruled Florence for centuries and funded artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli. • Michelangelo’s David originally stood outdoors in the city, not in a museum. • Florence is home to the oldest public art museum in the world , the Uffizi Gallery. • The city’s historic center is