1) The first bank in the world, Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, was established in Italy in 1472 and is still in operation today.

2) The world's largest desert is the Sahara Desert in Africa, covering an area of about 3.6 million square miles (9.4 million square kilometers).

3) The world's largest flower is the Rafflesia arnoldii, which can grow up to 3 feet (1 meter) in diameter and weighs about 15 pounds (7 kilograms).

4) The world's first insurance policy was issued in 1347 in Genoa, Italy. It insured against the risk of maritime trade.