Florence-Flood.com is an independent, English-language reference site on the flood that struck Florence on November 4, 1966 - what happened, the volunteers who came to help, the rescue of the city's art and books, and the films, photographs and books that record it.

I started the site in 2006, during my second year living in Florence, the year of the flood's 40th anniversary. I lived in Florence until 2013 and now write from New York's Hudson Valley, returning to the city regularly. I also edit Florence-On-Line, a guide to the city.

Because it is in English, the site has drawn letters over the years from people who were there: Florentines, students, soldiers, volunteers. Some sent their photographs and memories, and many of them are published here. One of those letters, from Joe Blaustein, an American who had photographed the flood in color while it was happening, led to the donation of his color slides of the flood to the city archive of Florence and their first exhibition in 2013 - the story is on our Color Photographs page.

That is still the most important thing this site can do. If you were in Florence in November 1966 - as a resident, a student or a mud angel - or if you have photographs, film or letters from that time, I would very much like to hear from you.

- Anthony Finta