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Whom did John Milton meet in Florence during his travels in Italy?

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Engraved portrait of John Milton by Jacob Houbraken, showing Milton with shoulder-length hair, a lace collar, and period clothing, facing forward in an oval frame. — John Milton John Milton, engraving by Jacob Houbraken, 1741.

During his travels in Italy in 1638, John Milton spent significant time in Florence, where he engaged with the local intellectual community. He befriended young members of the Italian literati, finding their shared humanistic interests deeply gratifying.12

Most notably, while in Florence, Milton met with the astronomer Galileo, who was then living under virtual house arrest. Although the specific circumstances of how a 30-year-old English traveler gained access to the aged and blind scientist remain unknown, the encounter was significant enough that Galileo became the only contemporary figure Milton mentioned by name in his epic poem, Paradise Lost.12