Famous People Born In Florence

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 1 
Niccolò Machiavelli
(Diplomat & Philosopher Best Known for His Political Treatise 'The Prince')
Niccolò Machiavelli
37
Birthdate: May 3, 1469
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: June 22, 1527
Italian Renaissance philosopher, diplomat, and author Niccolò Machiavelli is remembered for his work The Prince. He believed that the end or the intention behind any action justifies the action. He gave rise to the term Machiavellianism, which signifies the use of deceit and treachery to achieve one’s goals. 
 2 
Catherine de' Medici
(Queen Consort of France (1547 - 1559))
Catherine de' Medici
30
Birthdate: April 13, 1519
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: January 5, 1589

Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who played a key role in the political affairs of France during the rule of her sons, a period which came to be known as the age of Catherine de' Medici. Catherine is credited with saving the monarchy from deposition during the French Wars of Religion

 3 
Dante Alighieri
(Italian Writer and Philosopher Best Known for His Poem ‘Divine Comedy’)
Dante Alighieri
20
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: 1265 AD
Died: September 14, 1321

Dante Alighieri was an Italian writer, poet, and philosopher. His work Divine Comedy is widely regarded as the greatest literary work ever produced in the Italian language and the most prominent poem of the Middle Ages. Often referred to as the father of the Italian language, Dante Alighieri played a crucial role in establishing the Italian literature.

 4 
Amerigo Vespucci
(Discoverer of South America)
Amerigo Vespucci
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: March 9, 1454
Sun Sign: Pisces
Died: February 22, 1512

Amerigo Vespucci was a merchant, navigator, and explorer. Credited with participating in two major voyages of the Age of Discovery, Vespucci's claim that the New World represented a new continent inspired cartographers to associate the name America (a Latinized form of his first name) to the newly discovered continents.

 5 
Guccio Gucci
(Italian Businessman)
Guccio Gucci
30
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: March 26, 1881
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: January 2, 1953
Son of an Italian leather-goods maker, Guccio Gucci was initially reluctant to join his family business and worked in hotels instead. Changing his mind later, he opened the first Gucci shop in Florence in 1921. The year of his death, 1953, saw the opening of the first Gucci store abroad.
 6 
Sandro Botticelli
(One of the Greatest Painters of the Florentine Renaissance)
Sandro Botticelli
7
Birthdate: 1445 AD
Died: May 17, 1510
Italian painter Sandro Botticelli was one of the most influential figures of the Early Renaissance. His works later influenced the Pre-Raphaelites. He is best known for his iconic works Primavera and The Birth of Venus and his versions of the Madonna and Child. He also painted the Sistine Chapel.
 7 
Donatello
(One of the Greatest of All Italian Renaissance Artists)
Donatello
9
Birthdate: 1386 AD
Died: December 13, 1466

Donatello was an Italian sculptor best remembered for his most famous work, David, which is often viewed as the first major work of Renaissance sculpture. Donatello is one of the most popular Italian sculptors of all time. He was played by English actor Ben Starr in a historical drama TV series titled Medici: Masters of Florence.

 8 
Florence Nightingale
(Social Reformer & Founder of Modern Nursing and Known as 'The Lady with the Lamp')
Florence Nightingale
30
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 12, 1820
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: August 13, 1910
The Lady with the Lamp Florence Nightingale is remembered for her relentless efforts in nursing soldiers during the Crimean War. She founded London’s St Thomas' Hospital to train nurses. She also pioneered the use of the polar area diagram and was the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society.
 9 
Aldo Gucci
(Businessman, Fashion designer)
Aldo Gucci
7
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: May 26, 1905
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: January 19, 1990
 10 
Franco Zeffirelli
(Film Director, Producer)
Franco Zeffirelli
7
Birthdate: February 12, 1923
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: June 15, 2019

Franco Zeffirelli went from being a budding architect to a director after watching Laurence Olivier’s Henry V. Starting as a costume/set designer, he gradually deviated to making Shakespearean adaptations, earning an Academy Award nomination with Romeo and Juliet. The openly gay filmmaker was later accused of sexual assaulting two actors.

 11 
Giotto
(Painter)
Giotto
2
Birthdate: 1267 AD
Died: January 8, 1337

Fourteenth-century Italian painter and architect Giotto was one of the chief figures of the Early Renaissance. Mostly taught by Florentine painter Cimabue, Giotto grew up to paint masterpieces such as the frescoes of the Arena Chapel in Padua. He works consisted of human beings and Christian themes.

 12 
Filippo Brunelleschi
(One of the Pioneers of Early Renaissance Architecture in Italy)
Filippo Brunelleschi
15
Birthdate: 1377 AD
Died: April 15, 1446

Filippo Brunelleschi was an Italian architect, sculptor, and designer. Regarded as Renaissance architecture's founding father, Brunelleschi is hailed as the first modern engineer. Among his famous accomplishments is the design of the dome of the Florence Cathedral. He is also credited with inventing hydraulic machinery and designing machinery that was used in churches to re-enact Biblical stories through theatrical performances.

 13 
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
(Holy Roman Emperor from 1792 to 1806)
Francis II, Holy Roman Emperor
7
Birthdate: February 12, 1768
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: March 2, 1835
Francis II reigned as the last Holy Roman Emperor, from 1792 to 1806, and as the Emperor of Austria (as Francis I), from 1804 to 1835. Francis II fought against Napoleonic France in the Napoleonic Wars and lost at Austerlitz. Eventually, his daughter Marie Louise was married off to Napoleon.
 14 
John Singer Sargent
(American Expatriate Artist and One of the Leading Portrait Painters of His Generation)
John Singer Sargent
6
Birthdate: January 12, 1856
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: April 14, 1925

John Singer Sargent, an artist active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation." Prolific in his output, he created more than 2,000 watercolors and around 900 oil paintings. He also made numerous sketches and charcoal drawings. He painted with remarkable technical acumen and was internationally known for his expertise.   

 15 
Benvenuto Cellini
(Italian Goldsmith and Sculptor Best Known for His Sculpture 'Cellini Salt Cellar')
Benvenuto Cellini
1
Birthdate: November 3, 1500
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: February 13, 1571

Benvenuto Cellini was a 16th-century Italian goldsmith, sculptor, draftsman, and artist. The multifaceted artist wrote poetry and a famous autobiography as well. An important figure in Mannerism, he is known for creating pieces, such as the Cellini Salt Cellar and Perseus with the Head of Medusa. He was a member of the prestigious Accademia delle Arti del Disegno of Florence. 

 16 
Matteo Renzi
(Prime Minister of Italy)
Matteo Renzi
11
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 11, 1975
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Italia Viva party leader and the youngest-ever Italian prime minister, Matteo Renzi, was named one of Foreign Policy’s Top 100 Global Thinkers. He was criticized by many for meeting controversial Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In early 2021, he received bullets in an envelope, causing a media frenzy. 
 17 
Antonio Meucci
(Inventor of voice-communication apparatus)
Antonio Meucci
3
Birthdate: April 13, 1808
Sun Sign: Aries
Died: October 18, 1889
Italian inventor Antonio Meucci was born into poverty and had to work part-time as a gate-keeper to support his studies. While working as a stage technician, he invented a pipe telephone. He later invented an electromagnetic telephone-like device, credited by many as the world’s first telephone. 
 18 
Piero the Unfortunate
(Ruler of Florence Known for His Bad Decisions that Led to His Downfall)
Piero the Unfortunate
5
Birthdate: February 15, 1472
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: December 28, 1503

A 15th-century lord of Florence, Piero the Unfortunate was the eldest son of Italian statesman Lorenzo de' Medici. Throughout his 2-year rule, he made foolish errors such as making an agreement accepting all the demands of French king Charles VIII, leading to a revolt in his kingdom.

 19 
Jean-Baptiste Lully
(French Composer, Instrumentalist, and Dancer)
Jean-Baptiste Lully
3
Listed In: Musicians
Birthdate: November 28, 1632
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: March 22, 1687

Born to Italian parents, Jean-Baptiste Lully grew up to be a legendary composer who ruled the French courts. He started his journey as a violinist in Louis XIV’s band and later came to be known for his tragic operas. He had also apparently invented the French overture.

 20 
Roberto Cavalli
(Fashion designer)
Roberto Cavalli
0
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: November 15, 1940
Sun Sign: Scorpio

Roberto Cavalli is an Italian inventor and fashion designer. He is credited with founding the popular luxury fashion company, Roberto Cavalli S.p.A., which sells leather accessories, perfume, and luxury clothing. Over the years, Cavalli’s company has worked with many leading models like Jessica Stam, Natasha Poly, and Eva Riccobono.

 21 
Carlo Collodi
(Italian Author and Journalist Known for His Fairy Tale Novel 'The Adventures of Pinocchio')
Carlo Collodi
2
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: November 24, 1826
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Died: October 26, 1890

Carlo Collodi was an Italian journalist, author, and humorist. He is best remembered for his popular children's novel The Adventures of Pinocchio. The novel and its title character Pinocchio achieved international recognition when Disney adapted it into an animated musical fantasy film titled Pinocchio; the film went on to become one of the greatest films ever produced by Disney.

 22 
Richard Rogers
(British-Italian Architect Known for His Modernist and Constructivist Designs)
Richard Rogers
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 23, 1933
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: December 18, 2021

Richard Rogers is an Italian-British architect best known for his functionalist and modernist designs in high-tech architecture. Rogers is recognized for his work on popular buildings like Lloyd's building in London, the Pompidou Centre in Paris, and the building of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. He is the recipient of many awards, including the Thomas Jefferson Medal. 

 23 
Cimabue
(13th century Italian Painter Known for His Frescoes, Panel Paintings, and Exquisite Mosaics)
Cimabue
0
Birthdate: 1240 AD
Died: January 24, 1302

Italian painter and mosaicist Cimabue was one of the last Byzantine artists. His frescoes adorn the upper church of S. Francesco, Assisi. Though not much is known about his life, Cimabue found a mention in Dante’s Purgatorio, the second part of the iconic narrative poem The Divine Comedy.

 24 
Andrea del Verrocchio
(Italian Painter, Sculptor and Goldsmith Known for His Equestrian Statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni)
Andrea del Verrocchio
0
Birthdate: 1435 AD
Died: October 10, 1488

Andrea del Verrocchio was an Italian sculptor, painter, and goldsmith. He was a master of an important workshop in Florence and his pupils included famous men like Leonardo da Vinci, Lorenzo di Credi, and Pietro Perugino. As a sculptor, he is best known for his masterpiece, the Equestrian statue of Bartolomeo Colleoni in Venice. 

 25 
Oriana Fallaci
(Italian Journalist Famous for Her Aggresive Interviews of World Leaders During the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s)
Oriana Fallaci
2
Birthdate: June 29, 1929
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: September 15, 2006

Oriana Fallaci was an Italian author, journalist, and political interviewer. She achieved international recognition during the '60s, '70s, and '80s for her long and revealing interviews with several world leaders, including Indira Gandhi, Yasser Arafat, Willy Brandt, and Nguyễn Văn Thiệu. Fallaci had a successful journalistic career and won important awards like the Bancarella Prize and the St. Vincent Prize.

 26 
Lorenzo Ghiberti
(Italian Renaissance Sculptor Best Known as the Creator of Two Sets of Bronze Doors of the Florence Baptistery)
Lorenzo Ghiberti
0
Birthdate: 1378 AD
Died: December 1, 1455

Lorenzo Ghiberti was a Florentine Italian artist considered a major figure of the Early Renaissance. He is best known as the creator of the bronze doors of the Florence Baptistery, also called the Gates of Paradise. He was a trained goldsmith and ran a famous workshop for metal sculpture. His son Vittorio followed in his footsteps as a goldsmith. 

 27 
Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici
(Art collector)
Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: August 11, 1667
Sun Sign: Leo
Died: February 18, 1743
 28 
Contessina de' Bardi
(Noblewoman)
Contessina de' Bardi
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1390 AD
Died: September 30, 1473
 29 
Daria Nicolodi
(Actress)
Daria Nicolodi
2
Birthdate: June 19, 1950
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: November 26, 2020
Height: 5'9" (175 cm)
 30 
Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
(Duke)
Gian Gastone de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
1
Birthdate: May 24, 1671
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: July 9, 1737
 31 
Cosimo I
(Duke of Florence and Tuscany)
Cosimo I
1
Birthdate: June 12, 1519
Sun Sign: Gemini
Died: April 21, 1574
 32 
Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence
(Duke)
Alessandro de' Medici, Duke of Florence
2
Birthdate: July 22, 1510
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: January 6, 1537
 33 
Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
(Austrian Field-Marshal and Third Son of Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II)
Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen
3
Birthdate: September 5, 1771
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: April 30, 1847

Archduke Charles, Duke of Teschen, son of Emperor Leopold II, was a major force behind strengthening the Austrian army in early 19th century. He is remembered for his exploits in the French Revolutionary Wars. Though initially successful in the Napoleonic Wars, he was defeated in the Battle of Wagram.

 34 
Philip Neri
(Saint)
Philip Neri
3
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: July 21, 1515
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: May 25, 1595
 35 
Bianca de' Medici
(Piero di Cosimo de' Medici's Daughter)
Bianca de' Medici
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: September 10, 1445
Sun Sign: Virgo
Died: March 31, 1505
 36 
Martina Trevisan
(Italian Professional Tennis Player)
Martina Trevisan
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: November 3, 1993
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Height: 5'3" (160 cm)
 37 
Jacopo de' Pazzi
(Banker)
Jacopo de' Pazzi
1
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: 1423 AD
Died: April 30, 1478
 38 
Robert I, Duke of Parma
(Aristocrat)
Robert I, Duke of Parma
0
Birthdate: July 9, 1848
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: November 16, 1907
 39 
Prince Aimone, Duke of Apulia
(Duke of Aosta)
Prince Aimone, Duke of Apulia
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: October 13, 1967
Sun Sign: Libra
 40 
Marella Agnelli
(Noblewoman)
Marella Agnelli
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: May 4, 1927
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: February 23, 2019
 41 
George P. Cosmatos
(Former Film director and writer, known for Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Leviathan (1989) and Cobra (1986))
George P. Cosmatos
2
Birthdate: January 4, 1941
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: April 19, 2005
 42 
Maurizio Gucci
(Former Head of 'Gucci' Fashion House Who was Assassinated by a Hitman Hired by His Former Wife)
Maurizio Gucci
28
Listed In: Business People
Birthdate: September 26, 1948
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: March 27, 1995

Maurizio Gucci was an Italian businessman. The grandson of Guccio Gucci, Maurizio served as the chairman of the Gucci group in the early-1990s. At the age of 46, Maurizio was shot dead by a hitman hired by his ex-wife Patrizia Reggiani. The murder inspired Sara Forden's book The House of Gucci, which has been adapted into a biographical crime film.

 43 
Bronzino
(Painter)
Bronzino
0
Birthdate: November 17, 1503
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Died: November 23, 1572
 44 
Lucrezia Tornabuoni
(Author)
Lucrezia Tornabuoni
0
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: June 22, 1427
Sun Sign: Cancer
Died: March 25, 1482
 45 
Lorenzo de' Medici
167
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 1, 1449
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Died: April 8, 1492

Lorenzo de' Medici was an Italian statesman. Nicknamed Lorenzo the Magnificent, de' Medici was the most enthusiastic and powerful patron of Renaissance culture in Italy. He is credited with providing sponsorships to artists like Michelangelo and Botticelli, thereby contributing indirectly to the development of art in the Republic of Florence. His life and work inspired a couple of TV series.

 46 
Beatrice Portinari
(Noblewoman)
Beatrice Portinari
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1265 AD
Died: June 8, 1290
 47 
Lucrezia de' Medici, Duchess of Ferrara
(Duchess)
Lucrezia de' Medici, Duchess of Ferrara
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: February 14, 1545
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Died: April 21, 1561
 48 
Lucrezia Donati
(Noblewomen)
Lucrezia Donati
0
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: 1447 AD
Died: 1501 AD
 49 
Elsa Peretti
(Jewelry designer, Fashion model)
Elsa Peretti
4
Listed In: Fashion
Birthdate: May 1, 1940
Sun Sign: Taurus
Died: March 18, 2021
 50 
Alessandro Pavolini
(Politician)
Alessandro Pavolini
18
Birthdate: September 27, 1903
Sun Sign: Libra
Died: April 28, 1945

Alessandro Pavolini was an Italian politician and journalist. A qualified lawyer, he supported Benito Mussolini's fascist movement during World War II. He was notorious for his cruelty against the opponents of fascism. He eventually became the president of the Fascist Confederation of Professionals and Artists. He was finally executed by the partisans in 1945.