Municipal coat of arms Location of Florence in Italy Country

Italy Region Tuscany Province Florence (FI) Mayor Leonardo Domenici (Democratic Party) Elevation 50 m (164 ft) Area 102 km² (39 sq mi) Population (as of 2006-06-02)  - Total 366,488  - Density 3,593/km² (9,306/sq mi) Time zone CET, UTC+1 Coordinates 43°46'18?N, 11°15'13?E Gentilic Fiorentini Dialing code 055 Postal code 50100 Frazioni Galluzzo, Settignano Patron St. John the Baptist  - Day June 24 Website: www.comune.firenze.it Florence (or Firenze, Florentia and Fiorenza) is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany, and of the province of Florence. It is the most populated city in Tuscany with 364,779 people. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. 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 ruled by the Medici family. In fact, the city has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages.[1] The "Historic Centre of Florence" was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 1982.