When any art fan thinks of Florence, there is always a
connection to Michelangelo. No artist has put his mark on the
city quite like he has. Yet, how much do we really know about
him? Although his reputation has spanned centuries, he was human
like the rest of us – with ups and downs in his own life. Here
are a few things about this iconic artist that you might not
know. 1. Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni was born
March 6, 1475. 2. The family business was small-scale banking, a
trade that had been passed down for generations. But his father
struggled to keep the business successful, and took government
positions to supplement the family income. Because of this break
in tradition, Michelangelo was free to explore other career
opportunities. 3. At the age of 17, Michelangelo worked as
Bertoldo di Giovanni’s apprentice, as did fellow contemporary
Pietro Torrigiano. It was Pietro who punched Michelangelo,
resulting in a broken nose that is clearly reflective of every
portrait of Michelangelo. 4. When M