Via Banchi di Sopra and Via Banchi di Sotto These main drags in town are named "upper row of banks" and "lower row of banks." They were once lined with market tables {banchi}, and rents were paid to the city for a table's position along the street. If the owner of a banco neglected to pay the rent for his space, thugs came along and literally broke {rotto} his table. It is from this practice-banco rotto, broken table-that we get the English word "bankrupt.
( Rick Steves )
[ Rick Steves' Florence & ]
www.QuoteSweet.com