Secret Florence, little hidden gems

The city of Florence is visited annually by millions of tourists attracted by the world-famous artistic and cultural heritage.

Most of them, however, do not go to discover the little hidden gems that make the city an endless source of artistic surprises, anecdotes and unmissable goodies. 

Every corner of the city tells a story and with these articles we are here to let you discover them.

We begin our tour from Piazza della Signoria which hides secrets that escape the tourist.

PERSEUS BY BENVENUTO CELLINI

Have you ever closely observed Perseus with the head of Medusa by Benvenuto Cellini? The statue, which cost the artist ten years of work, hides an interesting detail that can only be seen by entering the Loggia dei Lanzi and observing the work from the back.

On the nape of the statue, under the helmet and amidst the thick hair of the hero of Greek mythology, looking carefully you can see a self-portrait of the author.

The work is considered among the most representative and magnificent of the Renaissance for its majesty and grandeur. By placing his face on the back of the work that cost him so much effort, he wanted to create an indissoluble bond with the masterpiece he created between 1545 and 1554.

CURIOSITY’: the one we admire in the square is the original, while the base is a copy and the original version is located in the Bargello Museum.

MICHELANGELO'S IMPORTUNO

Not far away, on the right wall of Palazzo Vecchio, behind the sculpture Hercules and Cacus, there is a face carved in stone.  Legend has it that this portrait was made by Michelangelo Buonarroti. 

There are two versions regarding the origin:

the first is the most famous and tells of a man who often bothered the artist with useless and boring questions. Michelangelo then decided to portray his face. It is said that the portrait was taken without looking, with the mai behind his back, while listening to his questions!

The second option is for the portrait to be the face of a man condemned to death that Michelangelo decided to sculpt hastily with the tools he had at hand. This would explain the simplicity of the portrait.

SAVONAROLA

Also in Piazza della Signoria, we find a plaque for Girolamo Savonarola in the exact spot where it was burned in 1498.

Two years after the death of Lorenzo the Magnificent, the Medici family was expelled and the Ferrara friar took more power and became a leading exponent of Florentine politics until he pulled too hard and the population rebelled and was tried for heresy.

ORSANMICHELE

The church of Orsanmichele is located in the historic center of the city, a few steps from Piazza della Signoria.

The peculiarity is that, initially, its original function was to host a market and store grain. It was transformed into a church by the Arts, the ancient Florentine guilds.

Externally, in niches, there are fourteen statues depicting the different corporations. Among these are those of Calimala, Cambio and Lana, considered the richest, as well as made of bronze, a more valuable material.

Moving to Piazza Duomo, we try other little hidden stories.

SASSO DI DANTE

In Piazza Duomo, we find a small treasure that few are aware of. A marble slab with writing “Sasso di Dante”. 

Not far away, in Piazza delle Pallottole, there is a rock with a plaque that reads “I’ true Dante stone”.

We have no certainty about the real location, but legend has it that the Supreme Poet spent time admiring the construction of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

There is an anecdote about it that highlights the poet's exceptional memory.

It is said that a gentleman, passing by, asked the poet:

- “Oh Dante, why do you like food more?"

"the egg” – replied.

A year later the same person, passing by, met Dante again and continued the conversation asking him:

“with what?”

- and Dante: “with’ salt!”