Typical Tuscan truthfulness led us over the centuries to consecrate in the collective memory proverbs and sayings which are still commonly used.
The Accademia della Crusca in Florence, the prestigious Institute of linguistic and philological Tuscan secular experience of Italian, decided to keep track of this immense heritage of culture and history. The most important collection of sayings is due to Giuseppe Giusti (1809-1850 humorous poet) and Gino Capponi (1792-1876 politician and linguist), published in 1871. A timeless repertoire containing 7,500 proverbs, which still arouse curiosity and fun.
The popular saying in fact is based generally on the common sense of the people, are the fruit of wisdom.
For example, walking through via Calzaiuoli or in piazza della Signoria, have you ever heard a Florentine exclaim: "eat a ufo".
Now let me explain what that means.
"A ufo" is an expression that is used to indicate one thing free, free of charge. The saying derives probably from A.U.F. (in Latin "Ad usum fabricae" or be used in factory) that he marked, in the middle ages, goods exempted from each duty, such as those for the construction of cathedrals. This acronym in Firenze was ascribed on the bricks of the Opera del Duomo on which there was no fee.
With time, the phrase became commonly used through the centuries and reaching up to the present day.
And then, to proofread words!
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