How did World War II damage Florence?

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Florence The Florence Cathedral, also known as the Duomo or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence.

During the latter stages of World War II, Florence was occupied by the German army, leading to heavy fighting as antifascist resistance in the city and the surrounding Tuscan region was very strong.1

As the German forces retreated from the city, they blew up all the bridges crossing the Arno River, with the notable exception of the famous Ponte Vecchio. The city eventually fell to Allied forces on August 13, 1944.12