In Assassin's Creed II, Ezio Auditore calls Florence home at the beginning of his story.
Florence is the first major city associated with Ezio in the game. He is introduced there as a young Florentine nobleman before a conspiracy destroys his family's position and forces him into a life of revenge and resistance. The city provides the opening setting for the game's Renaissance Italy storyline.
The game later expands beyond Florence to places including Monteriggioni, San Gimignano, Forlì, Venice, and Rome. Florence should not be confused with Monteriggioni, which becomes Ezio's countryside base and headquarters after he leaves the city.
Florence is also historically significant as a center of Renaissance art, banking, and politics. Assassin's Creed II uses recognizable landmarks and streets inspired by the real city, while adapting them for a fictional conflict involving Assassins, Templars, and the Medici family.