Video - Wacky Historical Facts About Italy!

Did you know that Italy is home to some truly bizarre historical facts? For instance, the ancient Romans used to clean their teeth with urine. Yes, you heard that right! They believed the ammonia in urine whitened their teeth. And speaking of cleanliness, the Venetians in the 16th century had a unique way of keeping their city clean. They had "poop police" who would paddle around the canals, scooping up waste. Now that's a dirty job! In the Renaissance, Italian women used to wear high platform shoes called chopines, which could be over 20 inches tall. Walking in those must have been a balancing act worthy of Cirque du Soleil. Did you know the first modern bank started in Italy? The Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, founded in 1472, is still in operation today. And here's a juicy tidbit: the word "mafia" originated in Sicily, and its first recorded use was in the 1860s. Now, do you have any strange or funny historical facts about Italy? Share them in the comments!