Florio family

For the surname, see Florio (surname).
Florio
Sicilian entrepreneurial family
Vincenzo Florio (1799–1868), the founder of the family business
Current regionSicily
Founded1830s
FounderVincenzo Florio Sr. (1799–1868)
MembersIgnazio Florio Sr. (1838-1891)
Ignazio Florio Jr. (1869–1957)
Vincenzo Florio (1883–1959)
Connected membersFranca Florio (1873–1950)
Dissolution1935
Cadet branches

The Florio family was a prominent entrepreneurial Italian family who started many lucrative activities in Sicily involving the export of Sicilian products (such as Marsala wine) in the 19th century, in some ways redeeming Sicily from feudal immobility.[1] The family extended its interests to shipping, shipbuilding, fisheries, mining, metallurgy and ceramics.[2] The Florio economic dynasty was one of the wealthiest Italian families during the late 19th century.[1] In the heyday of the Florio business empire reportedly some 16,000 people depended on the family, and the press sometimes referred to Palermo as 'Floriopolis'.[3]

Symbol of the Florio family companies - a lion drinking from the spring[4]
  1. ^ a b (in Italian) Florio, Treccani Dizionario di Economia e Finanza (2012), (retrieved 10 April 2018)
  2. ^ (in Italian) L'Ora: la sua storia, Agave (Contributo allo studio delle fonti della storia dell'arte in Italia nel Novecento - Università degli Studi di Palermo)
  3. ^ Dickie, Cosa Nostra, pp. 111-112
  4. ^ "Perché i Florio si chiamano "Leoni di Sicilia"". sicilytourist. Retrieved December 30, 2023.