On the façade of Palazzo Vecchio, left of the entrance, behind the statues of Hercules and Cacus, there is a face carved in stone. It is not easy to spot. It is thought to be a work by one of the greatest Tuscan artists of all times, Michelangelo Bonarroti. We read more
The head of a bull is embedded in the side of the Cathedral overlooking Via Ricasoli. Behind the mystery, hide two stories, one more likely to be true, the other more legendary and “spicy”. Let us begin with the most plausible one. According to this story, the workers who built read more
Rub the Nose of the “Porcellino” in the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo The “Porcellino” is one of Florence’s icons; it’s both amulet and tradition. You can find copies of “Il Porcellino” in Aix-en-Provence, France, in the park of Enghien Castle in Belgium and two copies in Munich. The “Porcellino” statue read more
Embedded in the wall of Santa Maria Maggiore Church, overlooking Via Dei Cerretani, there is a petrified head that is thought to belong to Berta, a Florentine woman who lived in the city in 1300s. Two legends try to explain the reason why the head is there. According to the read more
A cemetery dating to the late Roman Age (V-VI century AD) resurfaced below the Uffizi Gallery, during the excavation work (2014) under the Magliabechiana Library. Workers found nearly sixty skeletons of people who died during a major plague epidemic.
The painting “Madonna of the Roses”, by Titian, is so delicate that it had to be put in horizontal position to prevent it from being damaged. This is the reason why this painting is less known among Titian’s works of art. The “Madonna of the Roses” was put on a read more
The Church of San Miniato al Monte is perched on the hill, south-east of the historical center, just above Piazzale Michelangelo. The church takes its name from the saint who centuries ago was the first martyr of Florence, and was described as an Arminian prince or a Greek merchant that read more
The Medici Villa La Petraia is located in the quiet area of Castello, Via Petraia 40 in Florence. It is considered one of the most beautiful and famous Medici villas, situated in a panoramic position overlooking the city of Florence. The villa was a medieval fortress belonging to the Brunelleschi read more
Make an Appointment with the Owners for a Guided Tour. Deep in the heart of Florence, hidden behind walls, the Torrigiani Gardens, measuring 7 hectares (over 17 acres) is the biggest private garden in Europe. Already famous in the 16th century as a botanical garden, the Torrigiani Gardens had a read more
The representation of the Last Supper is a primary theme in art history, often encountered in convents along with other scenes critical in the life of Jesus. During the 1400s the Last Supper became one of the most common themes. Florence contains many different examples from different eras and of read more