When talking about Florence, thoughts immediately turn to the Duomo, the Uffizi, and the Ponte Vecchio. But the cradle of the Renaissance is not only art and history: it has also been a laboratory of technological innovation.

The impossible feat: reaching Fiesole

At the end of the 19th century, the challenge was to transport passengers along the steep climb connecting Florence to Fiesole. Steam trams struggled, horse-drawn ones were not enough: the slope seemed insurmountable.

The electric breakthrough of 1890

The solution came with electricity. On September 19, 1890, Florence inaugurated the first Italian electric tramway, an event that left the public speechless. The news caused such a sensation that there was even talk of a special ride with King Umberto I and Queen Margherita.

Florence, a city that never stops innovating

From Michelangelo's genius to the transportation revolution, Florence continues to amaze. A city capable of combining tradition and modernity, always staying one step ahead.