Who does not know the magical Florence? Cradle of the Renaissance, a place of art, history and beauty. This elegant city is a magnet for tourists from all over the world in every season. Listing its many monuments is almost superfluous because everyone knows it.

Who hasn’t dreamed of strolling under the tower of Palazzo Vecchio at least once, or of admiring the spectacular marbles of the cathedral or of peering at the waters of the Arno among the shops of Ponte Vecchio?

But if this is the classic Florence“that we all know”… is it possible that this city still manages to amaze? Are there any particular curiosities to admire in the streets of the ancient cradle of the Medici?

Florence, immortal monuments

The tourist heart of Florence ranges from Piazza della Signoria with the homonymous palace (also known as Palazzo Vecchio) to the cathedral complex.

The lines and the fairytale colors of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore with the famous “Brunelleschi’s dome”, the baptistery that completes it and the high Gothic bell tower designed by Giotto are every year besieged by tourists.

And who has never been at least once to the Loggia dei Lanzi, to the Uffizi Gallery, to stroll along the Lungarno to the famous Ponte Vecchio, with its gold and souvenir shops?

You also go to Florence to admire Santa Maria Novella, Santa Croce, Palazzo del Bargello, Palazzo Medici, Boboli Gardens, Cascine Park… How could it surprise us more?

Curiosities of the Tuscan capital

The classic itineraries of the city are now decidedly inflated and even tour operators are always designing new ideas to make the visit more and more captivating.

Florence of the mysteries, Florence at night, Florence from above… and obviously also particular and curious places that you would not expect.

The Hidden Portrait of Michelangelo: perhaps you have passed by it a thousand times without ever seeing it; it is located right on the facade of the Palazzo Vecchio, on one of the cornerstones and it seems that it was the artist himself who sculpted it, with his own hand, “vandalizing” the building to prove his skill to one of his students.

In Piazza delle Pallottole there is a large rough boulder which at first glance seems to have fallen there by chance. In reality it is an ambiguous monument with a lot of writing that says that Dante Alighieri came to think and plan his works on this stone. Will he also have thought of the Divine Comedy here?

The Buchette del Vino: these are wooden doors that open onto the facades of some historic buildings. It seems that, during the plague in the past, the wine merchants left the bottles there and collected the coins from the same holes, so as to avoid direct contact with the inhabitants.

The Lucky Fountain: has the shape of a boar and is located in the Loggia del Mercato Nuovo. Legend has it that if you rub the boar’s snout and then insert a coin into its mouth, it will fall into the grate ensuring good luck. If the coin, by chance, falls out… better buy an amulet immediately!

If you are romantic, let us accompany you to the church of Santa Margherita. Here it seems that Dante saw Beatrice for the first time when they were both children. Under the commemorative plaque, couples can leave notes with loving thoughts.

We are waiting for you at Villa Campestri to discover the curiosities of Florence

If you too are looking for a less touristy Florence and want to discover all its curiosities, we are waiting for you at Villa Campestri Olive Oil Restort, for a stay in the countryside a few kilometers from Florence.