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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Florence

31 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Florence, Italy

Updated June 18, 2024
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Explore Florence, Italy

Art 6
Museums 6
Architectural Oddities 4
Statues 4
Architecture 4
Sacred Spaces 4
Sculptures 4
Medical Museums 3

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Stories About Florence

A 500-Year-Old Record of the Aztec Empire Comes to Life

The Digital Florentine Codex’s three languages and thousands of hand-painted illustrations provide a window into culture, war, and daily life.
by Roxanne Hoorn

Podcast: Galileo’s Middle Finger

Investigating a renowned scientist's iconic digit.
by The Podcast Team
Hiker Emily Ford borrowed her friend’s dog, a retired sled dog named Diggins, on her grueling hike on Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail.

6 Groundbreaking Women You Didn’t Learn About in History Class

Meet the painter, the pilot, the author, and other "firsts" who paved the way.
by Sarah Durn
These woodcuts are from the Decameron, a collection of novellas in which young people fleeing plague-ridden Florence tell stories that often provide accounts of life during the pandemic.

In 14th-Century Florence, Some Residents Socially Distanced While Others Hit the Bars

A contemporary debate would feel familiar to Europeans alive when the Bubonic plague arrived.
by Rachel Ashcroft
Babae’s wine window was the first of Florence’s put into use—even before the pandemic.

The Coronavirus Is Bringing Back Florence's Wine Windows

This isn't the first time they've come in handy during a pandemic.
by Matthew Taub
Demogorgon was never a deity in Greek or Roman mythology. In fact, “Demogorgon” wasn’t even a real word. The character’s popularity dates back to the 1300s, when he began appearing in Latin literature.

The Many Lives of Demogorgon, From Scribal Error to 'Stranger Things'

How vague and various descriptions made a medieval mistake into a lasting horror.
by Daniel A. Gross
Nelli’s Christ and Saint John, restored.

A Nun's 450-Year-Old 'Last Supper' Makes Its Museum Debut in Florence

Plautilla Nelli was likely the first woman in history to paint the iconic biblical scene.
by Karen Chernick
Babae’s wine window is open an hour each day.

One of Florence's 'Wine Windows' Is Open Once More

It's a reminder of when Florentine families sold wine from their palace cellars.
by Lisa Harvey

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