The Monster of Florence (Italian: Il Mostro di Firenze) is the name commonly used by the media in Italy for a serial killer who killed 14 people between 1974 and 1985 in the Province of Florence. A double homicide of uncertain attribution dating back 1968 was also connected to the Monster’s murders in 1982.

Law enforcement conducted several investigations into the cases over the course of several years. In 2000, courts convicted two individuals for four of the double homicides. They had been charged with being part of an alleged group of murderers who became known as the “Snacks companions” (Compagni di merende). The victims were young amorous couples parked or camped in countryside areas in the vicinity of Florence during new moons. The murderer/s used multiple weapons, including a .22 caliber Beretta gun and knife, and in half of the cases excised sex organs from the bodies of the female victims were recovered, the removal of which appeared to be the motive for the crimes.

(wikipedia)

Originally broadcast in 2009, this six part Fox miniseries follows the case fairly accurately, based on the few articles I’ve read on the actual case, even going so far as to use the actual witness statements during the court scenes. Although it is well produced, with a respectable cast and was made on a relatively high budget for a miniseries, The Monster of Florence has never been released on DVD or Bluray, meaning the only way to view it is via occasional airings on Italian TV.

At the request of the Narducci family, following its premiere in 2009, around 30-40 seconds of dialogue was edited out – deleting some references to the Narducci family which could be seen as showing them in a negative light. This dialogue was present in the original broadcast.

(Italian newspaper article covering the legal battle between Fox and the Calamandrei family

who sued the production company for defamation)

The late Daria Nicolodi has a highly amusing guest appearance in episode 3 as a psychic medium who offers to help one of the victim’s parents (Enzo Rontini). In at least one interview Nicolodi claimed that she actually knew the identity of the monster of Florence and the held “the key to the mystery” but was too scared to speak and wouldn’t reveal anymore unless it was safe for her to do so.

Further Reading

The Monster of Florence [English] (Criminal Minds)

Monster of Florence/Zodiac Killer connection [English] (Reddit 1) (Reddit 2)

Daria Nicolodi knew the monster’s identity [Italian] (Gentedirispetto)

New Suspect 2017 [English] (Italian Insider)

The Monster of Florence: Case Reopened [English] (Siena News)

Michele Giuttari Interview [English] (Express)

Anatomy of an Investigation [English] (Facebook)