Did you know that the first U.S. consular agent to serve Florence was Vice Consular Agent James Ombrosi, who was under mandate from the U.S. Consulate at Livorno? Ombrosi was accredited on April 2, 1819. The British Institute of Florence. The British Institute of Florence hosted a talk by #USCGBen Wohlauer examining 200 years of diplomatic history and the U.S.’s diplomatic activities in Florence.

The talk looked at the context in which the newly-minted United States decided to open for business in Florence as well as a few key moments in shared U.S.-Tuscan history. Consul Benjamin Wohlauer also took the opportunity to review the current state of relations between the U.S. and central Italy and highlighted events both past and future in celebration of the bicentennial across the consular district. The talk was followed by a lively Q&A session.

The Consulate thanks British Institute Director Simon Gammell, Cultural Program Coordinator Mark Roberts, British Institute Library staff, and all those who attended for celebrating our bicentennial with us!