Florence is the opening major setting of Assassin's Creed II. The game begins in Renaissance Italy and introduces Ezio Auditore da Firenze in his home city before sending him through several other Italian locations.
Florence was one of the most influential cultural and political centers of fifteenth-century Italy. In the game, players explore landmarks inspired by the real city, including the Basilica of Santa Croce and the Florence Cathedral. The narrative also uses historical figures such as Leonardo da Vinci and Lorenzo de' Medici.
Venice becomes another major setting later in the story, which is why the two cities are sometimes mixed up. Assassin's Creed II also includes Monteriggioni, Forlì, and the Vatican district of Rome. The game's historical setting is broadly based on the Italian Renaissance, though its secret societies and supernatural elements are fictionalized.