The only known example of a similar construction so far was the dome of Rome’s Pantheon, but nobody knew for sure how it was constructed. No doubt Filippo Brunelleschi was inspired by the Roman construction. That, and careful mathematic calculations, allowed him to propose this ambitious project that many thought was absolutely unrealistic. And yet, he not only managed to complete the works but also did so with a very low mortality index on site (something that was very common back then): there was only one dead and eight injured during the 20 years of the dome’s construction. Not by chance Brunelleschi’s tomb is located inside the cathedral, to highlight how important his contributions to the city were. You can also admire the enormous painting of The Last Judgement, adorning the dome from inside, a masterpiece created by Vasari and Zuccari.

The Duomo is free to visit (the only monument in this piazza that is free to visit - but later on that), and if you want to avoid the long lines, I recommend you to arrive early (don’t worry though, by “early” I mean 10am!). That way, you can enter the cathedral without long waiting times and enjoy it relatively uncrowded. Now, after having admired the beauty of the dome and the grandiosity of the cathedral itself, it’s time for a chilling story!

Assassination in the Cathedral. It was April 26th, 1478, the Easter Sunday, that has changed the course of the Florentine history. All of the noble and powerful families of Florence were present in the cathedral for an Easter mass, including, of course, the Medici. Among them - Lorenzo the Magnificent, and his brother, Giuliano. The Medici have already gained their power and influence, and of course, one too many nemesis as well. Among them - the Pazzi, another ancient and noble Florentine family, taken by envy. They have been plotting to kill the Medici brothers for a long time - trying to poison them twice, but both times Lorenzo and Giuliano managed to get out safely. Desperate, the Pazzi joined forces with the pope Sisto IV, his nephew, Girolamo Riario, the Salviati family, and several other important political figures, like the Duke of Urbino - what they all had in common was the concern over Lorenzo de’ Medici gaining “too much power”. The conspiracy was absolutely atrocious: they intended to stab both brother during the Easter mass. While both, Lorenzo and Giuliano, kneeled during the mass, the assassins took out the swords and made the first attack - but failed. A true chaos began, with people fleeing - and fighting. Lorenzo managed to escape, finding refuge in the sacristy, which cost him the life of a close friend, Francesco Nori, who shielded Lorenzo with his own body. Giuliano, on the other hand, wasn’t as fortunate - he was brutally murdered, aged only 25, in the middle of the cathedral. While there’re very detailed historical accounts of the event that became known as “The Pazzi Conspiracy”, it was, once again, very well and accurately shown in the series I can’t stop recommending you.

Piazza del Duomo in Florence is a bustling square at the heart of the historic center. Besides the Duomo, you can visit the Baptistery, the Museum of Duomo, and the Bell Tower, all of which require tickets, however.

Now, to the more practical matter, i.e., the tickets. As I told you before, Duomo itself is the only monument on the piazza you can visit for free - but not the adjacent monuments, nor the famous dome. To visit other monuments (the Dome, the Bell Tower, the construction of which was overseen by Giotto, hence its name - Campanile di Giotto, the Baptistery, the Museum of Duomo, and Santa Reparata) can only be visited by buying one of the three types of passes, each of them valid for 3 consecutive days. The Brunelleschi pass is the one offering you a complete experience and comes with a price of 30€ for a full pass and 12€ for children aged 7-14 (kids under 6 come for free). Then, there’s the Giotto Pass, which includes everything except for the Dome, and will cost you 20€ for a full ticket and 7€ for a reduced one. Lastly, there’s a Ghiberti Pass, which excludes both, the Dome and the Bell Tower, and costs 15€ and 5€ accordingly. Here you can find more detailed information on each pass and book yours (I highly recommend you buy the tickets from the official websites to save money - some intermediary websites will offer you the tickets that will allow you to avoid the lines but, in reality, you will book your entry slot in most cases, so there’s no need to overpay). Also, keep in mind that the cathedral is closed to visitors on Sundays and religious festivities as it is reserved for mass celebrations.

A quick curious fact about the baptistery (because I’m so in awe of the Duomo that I can talk about it forever - but I don’t want to overlook the other amazing monuments of the piazza!). The Baptistery stands on the place of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Mars, the god of war and the patron of ancient Florence. On one of the sides of the Baptistery (the one facing Via Roma), you can find a bas-relief depicting a naval battle. There’s a hypothesis that the bas-relief in reality is an ancient Roman sarcophagus, put inside the wall to commemorate the Roman origins of the city! Can you find it? Let’s make a little challenge of it: if you manage to find the sarcophagus, snap a picture of it, post it to Instagram, and tag @dramatically.expatic so that I know you’ve passed the quest!

Via dei Calzaiuoli is a bustling street in the heart of Florence, connecting Piazza Duomo to Piazza della Signoria. It's been a hub of commerce and craftsmanship for centuries, with a mix of high street brands and unique boutiques offering handcrafted accessories and clothing. Strolling down this historic street is like taking a walk through Florence's vibrant past while indulging in some modern-day shopping delights.

The Orsanmichele Church and Museum in Florence is a hidden gem that packs a punch with its unique history and stunning sculptures. Originally a market turned church, it now houses statues of patron saints created by renowned artists like Donatello and Ghiberti. The exterior niches are like an open-air art gallery, showcasing the city's artistic heritage. Inside, you'll find a well-preserved Gothic interior and the impressive marble statue of Saint Mark by Donatello. It's a must-visit for art lovers looking to uncover Florence's artistic treasures.

Piazza della Signoria is the political heart of the city, with its impressive Palazzo Vecchio (the Old Palace) and numerous exciting things to see and do. Palazzo Vecchio acts as a museum that you can visit today, but during the Medici time, it used to be the seat of the city’s government and later, the official residence of Cosimo I, the Duke of Tuscany. What’s interesting about the palace though, is how it has anyway conserved its original purpose - in fact, it still houses the mayor of Florence and various offices of the town hall! Whenever there are any important events or assemblies happening in Florence, they also usually take place in the palace. On the regular days though, Palazzo Vecchio remains one of the most famous museums in the city - and for a good reason.

Remember the Pazzi Conspiracy? Well, can you imagine that those guilty of plotting against the Medici and killing Giuliano ended up being hanged from the windows of the palace so that everyone could see them? I’m talking not only about Francesco Pazzi and the archbishop Salviati, but also about eighty (!) other members of the plot. We will not dwell on the repercussions of such an action on the relationship Lorenzo de’ Medici had with the then-pope (perfectly aware of the conspiracy, of course), but you can imagine the aftermath. However, the plotters were not the only people killed inside the walls of the palace and not even the first ones. The local legend says that it is still inhabited by the spirit of Baldaccio d’Anghiari, a powerful commander, praised by Machiavelli himself. Baldaccio was stabbed inside the palace by the then-gonfalonier of the city, Bartolomeo Orlandini, in 1441, as a result of a verbal fight that occurred between the two. His body was then thrown from one of the windows of the palace before being decapitated in the piazza. Some people say his spirit still haunts the palace, and in 2001, a couple of tourists even claimed to have captured his image on camera - and we will roll with this story, because who would even think of debunking a centuries-old ghost legend, right?

Last but not least, there’s a little-known spot in the piazza, marked by a headstone not far from Palazzo Vecchio: in 1498, Girolamo Savonarola, a Dominican friar, was hanged and then burned in that place. Without spoiling you too much, I’ll just say that this man had enough power to overthrow the Medici after Lorenzo’s death: but not for long, as you can imagine. A curious fact: while in Florence he was accused of heresy, in Ferrara, his hometown, he’s still considered a hero - there’s even a statue dedicated to him there!

The mysterious aura of Palazzo Vecchio has long been an inspiration for many creatives, including Dan Brown, who mentioned it in his “Inferno”. In the book - and later in the film - the characters look for Dante’s funeral mask (meaning sculpted from his face before he was buried) that went missing from the palace. In reality, the mask is still there, safe and intact, but the historians agree upon one thing: it is not, in fact, Dante’s burial mask, but most likely a mask sculpted from one of his statues that went long missing during the course of time. Regardless, it will be a must-stop for any Dan Brown fan!

What intrigues me personally a bit more is the story of the lost painting by Da Vinci, supposedly located under one of Vasari’s works. When Giorgio Vasari was commissioned to decorate Salone dei Cinquecento by Grand Duke Cosimo I, many important works previously located there were lost, including one by Michelangelo and one by Leonardo. According to some accounts, Da Vinci finished painting the wall, but it wasn’t drying fast enough. When he tried an innovative method to speed up the drying process, using braziers stoked with hot coals, the colors supposedly ran down the wall. The legend has it that Vasari built a false wall over Leonardo’s unfinished work to paint on it and preserve the great artist’s work; however, to this day, al

As you leave Palazzo Vecchio, there are many more spots in plain eyesight that most tourists either don’t see or have a very vague idea about, all of them located in Piazza della Signoria. One of them is more obvious: of course, I’m talking about Loggia dei Lanzi, also known as Loggia della Signoria. Created as a place for public assemblies, today it is a great free attraction for those who want to explore some ancient statues (and others, more “modern”, i.e. dating back to the Renaissance… you get what “modern” means in Italy, right?) closely.

The Uffizi Galleries are a treasure trove of Western art spanning from the Middle Ages to the Modern period. Housed in a stunning building designed by Giorgio Vasari, the museum showcases masterpieces by renowned artists like Botticelli, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio. Visitors can marvel at ancient sculptures, and exquisite paintings, and even enjoy a coffee with a view on the second-floor terrace. It's a must-visit spot for art lovers and history buffs alike!

Gelateria dei Neri in Florence is a top spot for dessert lovers looking to satisfy their sweet tooth. As a self-proclaimed gelato connoisseur, I can assure you this is THE best place to get gelato in Florence - and, surprisingly, it has some of the lowest prices in the city center.

Not far from Piazza della Signoria is located my favorite piazza of all Florence. Dominated by Basilica di Santa Croce, the biggest Franciscan basilica in the world, the Piazza di Santa Croce is a bustling yet peaceful place, with people admiring its architectural beauty, eating ice cream or sipping coffee, children running and laughing and tourists taking occasional pictures. Sometimes, you may even catch a farmers market here (or the Christmas market during the holidays), which only adds to the piazza’s charm.

Basilica di Santa Croce is not only a magnificent monument but it is also the resting place for many prominent Florentines, including Michelangelo, Niccolo Machiavelli, and even Galileo! But don’t be fooled if you see Dante’s tomb: the great poet, amidst being a Florence native, is buried in Ravenna, an Italian city in the Emilia Romagna region. After having been exiled from Florence, the poet spent some time in Verona and Ravenna where he ultimately died and was buried. Florence has demanded (more than once) that his remains be transferred back to his home city, but Ravenna has always declined.

As you leave the basilica behind, I highly recommend you stop by the restaurant Finisterrae, either for an aperitivo, a drink, or even a cup of coffee (depending on the day!). It will be a perfect end to this day in Florence, observing the piazza and the basilica as you sip on something. Bonus points if you get to see the piazza during golden hour as it becomes even more beautiful in the golden rays of sunshine.