The First Flatiron Building?

The Flatiron Building in New York City was the first Flatiron Building. Right?

The Flatiron Building, New York City, completed in 1902.

The other day, we were wandering in Florence and saw the building pictured below.

It sort of looks like a flatiron  Doesn't it? 

The building is known as the Torre degli Alberti, or the Tower of the Alberti family, and dates from the 13th century.

The "Flatiron Building", Florence, completed in the 13th century.

Like the NYC Flatiron Building, the Torre degli Alberti is shaped like a flatiron because of the triangular plot of land on which it sits.  Away from the original center of Florence, the Roman town, the streets run every which with many crossing at odd angles, not right angles.  So, odd shaped land parcels can be found all over Florence, just like many other cities around the world.  

Perhaps that explains why there are so many buildings in the world with the same shape as the Flatiron Building in NYC.  Check out some here. 

Who knew?