Have you ever looked closely at the base of Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence Cathedral and wondered why the marble gallery is unfinished? Sometimes, a single remark can change the course of a work of art. This is the story of an unfinished gallery on Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, and of Michelangelo’s cutting sense of humour. When Filippo Brunelleschi completed his splendid dome, there were still finishing touches to be made to this extraordinary masterpiece. One of them wa

When visiting Florence, most travelers admire the marble facades of Santa Croce, the masterpieces of the Uffizi and the city’s extraordinary Renaissance architecture. But Florence has another side that is just as fascinating: its centuries-old artisan traditions, many of which are still alive today. Step into a traditional workshop like I Mosaici di Lastrucci, and you can discover one of Florence’s most fascinating Renaissance traditions: Pietre Dure, also known as Commesso F

Most people walk past this little marble marker without ever noticing it. But it tells the story of one of the most curious accidents in Florence. High above the city, at the very top of Brunelleschi’s magnificent dome, stands a golden sphere known as the Golden Ball of Verrocchio, created by the Renaissance artist Andrea del Verrocchio and placed on the lantern in 1471. For more than a century, it stood high above Florence—until one stormy night. On January 26, 1601, lightni

Right in the heart of Florence’s historic center, only a few minutes’ walk from the Duomo, there is a place that feels like stepping into another era: Pegna, one of the city’s most beloved historic delicatessens. It is not just a shop. It is a piece of Florentine history, a food emporium where tradition, quality, and everyday life meet under one roof. A story that began in 1860 Pegna was founded in 1860 by Cesare Pegna. At the beginning, it was not even a traditional grocery

Planning to visit Florence in just one day? It may sound ambitious, but the good news is: Florence is compact, walkable, and incredibly rich — which means you can experience a lot, even in a short time. As a local guide, I always say: it’s not about seeing everything, but about experiencing the city in the right way. Here’s how to make the most of your day in Florence. --- Start Early: Piazza del Duomo Begin your day in Piazza del Duomo, before the crowds fully arrive. This i

Florence is a city that rewards those who look up. Beyond its famous monuments and breathtaking architecture, the city is full of hidden details that many visitors walk past without ever noticing. One of the most intriguing can be found on the side of Florence Cathedral, between Via Ricasoli and Via dei Servi: a large marble bull’s head, carved with striking horns and placed high above street level. It is a detail that naturally raises a question: why is there a bull on the

When I travel in different countries, what I most like is eating what the locals eat and going where the locals would go. Florence is a small city but you can find a lot of places that are small and very very good. Typical of Florence is the so called "Trattoria" or "Osteria", both names have the same meaning: a small restaurant, where there is a small menu, the price are not so expensive and you can eat what is typical from Florence. The part of the city where the florentine

How many times we stroll through the streets of a city and we don't notice the things that can hide an interesting story? A lot! And an example can be the small "wine doors" that is possible to see on the sides of the big Renaissance palaces or sometimes close to the main gates. They are tiny "arch"- shaped windows resembling the typical doors and portals of the ancient palazzos. In Florence we could discover circa 145 doors just in the city center. Some of them are very good

While walking through Florence, it’s easy to miss the small places that truly tell the story of the city. One of these is Migone, a historic family-run shop that has been part of Florence for generations. The shop used to be located on Via Calzaiuoli, one of the busiest streets in the city. Today, you can find it tucked away in a small medieval street, quieter and more intimate. And there’s a reason for that. The owner explained to me that the shop is still entirely run by th

Do you know the legend of the Perseus and Medusa? I always loved reading to my daughter mythological stories. So interesting, this was the one that she mostly preferred. In Florence you will find a lot of statues about this subject and the artists where all great and important artist. A very important artist like Caravaggio painted the astonished face of Medusa in the Uffizi Gallery, a masterpiece, but if you don't want to enter a museum, you can simply go to Piazza della Sig

In the Medieval time it was not so easy to live in Florence. The city was like a "Medieval Manhattan". In that period there was circa 150 towers in Florence where important families lived and rising above the city as a symbol of power. One of these towers in particular was not built for a family but it was very very old. The Pagliazza Tower (Straw Tower) This tower was the so called "Pagliazza Tower" built out of stone and breaks and located in the small and beautiful Sant'E