In Assassin's Creed II, Florence serves as Ezio Auditore's family home and a major game setting.
Ezio begins the story as a young Florentine nobleman in 1476. The city's Renaissance streets, churches, rooftops, and political districts form the setting for the opening chapters and establish his family background. After tragedy strikes the Auditore household, Ezio's personal search for justice develops into a wider Assassin mission.
The game later takes Ezio to other Italian locations, especially Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Forlì, and Venice. Florence therefore should not be confused with Venice, which becomes another important setting later in the adventure.
The historical Florence shown in the game includes recognizable landmarks such as the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Palazzo della Signoria. Assassin's Creed II uses real Renaissance locations while combining them with fictional characters, secret societies, and speculative historical events.