Florence (or Firenze, Florentia and Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italianregion of Tuscany, and of the province of Florence. It is the most populated city in Tuscany and has a population of approximately 364,779.From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.On a side note, Florence lies on the Arno River and it is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance, the city is often considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and was long under the de facto rule of the Medici family. In fact, the city has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.The "Historic Centre of Florence" was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.read full wikipedia reference about Florence, Italy