Florence (Italy)

»Florence on the Elbe« and the Italian original ... could there ever have been a more beautiful couple? Raffael's Sistine Madonna resides on the Elbe; with King Johann, a renowned Dante translator guided Saxony's fate in the 19th century. The two grand centres of art and Culture have been cultivating their partnership since 1978.

• Inhabitants:
  402,000
• Geographical location:
  Central Italy, Arno valley
• Profile:
  Mecca for art-lovers, major tourist centre, showcase for traditional craft arts (leatherware, jewellery, drapery) and fashion (shoes, clothing), trade and banking centre, ambitions to become a centre for high-tech industries
• Tips:
  »Pitti« – fashion fairs (January); music festival »Maggio Musicale Florentino« (annually April to June); »Calcio Storico Fiorentino« – historical soccer tournament between teams of the mediaeval City districts (second half of June)