Florence is the kind of city that rewards curiosity. Beyond the museums, piazzas, and postcard views, there are small details and quiet facts you’d only know if you lived there, talked to a local—or accidentally overheard the right conversation at the right café.
Here are a few Florence facts that surprised me, stuck with me, and made me love the city even more.
1️⃣ Il Porcellino Is More Than Just a Statue
Tucked inside Mercato Nuovo is a bronze statue of a wild boar known as Il Porcellino. Locals—and very informed visitors—rub or kiss its snout for good luck, safe travels, and a guaranteed return to Florence.
During my study abroad, someone told me that if I kissed it, I’d find my true love. I did. Make of that what you will.
Pro tip: if the snout looks suspiciously shiny, you’re doing it right.
2️⃣ The Baptistry’s Famous Gold Doors Aren’t Outside
Those iconic golden doors across from the Duomo? The ones everyone photographs?
They’re replicas.
The original doors—often called the Gates of Paradise—are safely housed inside the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo. Seeing them up close, without crowds pressing in, is a completely different experience and well worth the visit.
Sometimes the real treasure isn’t the one outside.
3️⃣ Florence Holds the Blueprints to St. Peter’s Basilica
Yes—that St. Peter’s Basilica.
The original blueprints for the Vatican’s most famous church are kept right in Florence at the Uffizi Gallery. It’s one of those facts that makes you stop and think about just how deeply Florence influenced the art, architecture, and imagination of Europe.
History here isn’t just preserved—it’s quietly tucked away in unexpected rooms.
4️⃣ Leonardo da Vinci Invented in Florence—but the Mona Lisa Lives in France
Leonardo da Vinci spent much of his life in Florence, where he invented, experimented, and sketched endlessly. Yet the most famous painting in the world, the Mona Lisa, isn’t there.
Because Leonardo passed away in France, the painting remained with him—and never returned to Italy. A small heartbreak, really.
Florence shaped him, but France kept the smile.
Florence isn’t just about what you see—it’s about what you learn along the way. The city reveals itself slowly, through stories, symbols, and details most people walk right past.
And honestly? That’s part of the magic. Pro tip: Take time to explore small streets; some of the best gelato and artisan shops are tucked away
TRIPPY TULIP 