Snow and ice in Florence over the centuries

FLORENCE, ITALY – This winter is one of the coldest in decades. But snow and ice have been “regular” events in the history of Florence. There are books that tell of snowfall since the Middle Ages, according to the the website “Aeris Toscana.” Among the “historical” snows the weather events in 1269, 1376, 1389 and 1408.

Giorgio Vasari wrote about Piero de’ Medici, the son of Lorenzo the Magnificent. He asked to Michelangelo to do “a statue that was beautiful” in the courtyard of his palace after the “big snow” of 1493.

Heavy snowfall were in 1510 and 1604. It snowed in May in 1883 and 1886. It snowed several times during the year in 1895, 1904, 1906 and 1915.

The coldest and snowy winter in living memory was in 1929 when it snowed for a day in January,  four days in February, one day in March, one in April and three in December.

More recently, 1985 recorded the lowest temperatures in Florence, -23 ° C. The Arno river was completely frozen: some children used it as a track for their bikes, while others played a football game. The last cold winters have been recorded in 1996 and 1999.

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