Two steps away from the San Marco complex, you can find a real hidden gem of Florence. Although, to be fair, not many tourists know about the beauty of the complex we’ve just been to, either (and even less people visit the Medici palace!), so as always, I’m taking you places where you’ll hardly ever find crowds of people. If you take Via Cesare Battisti from Piazza di San Marco, you’ll find yourselves in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, and this whole square alone is a literal treasure. But let’s go slowly, there’s so much to see and do there!

An impossible quest for you: as you arrive to the piazza, you’ll notice the big statue in the middle, facing the Duomo. If you look closely, you’ll notice that this statue of Ferdinando I de’ Medici is decorated with numerous bees! Locals say it is impossible to count them all without touching or indicating them - will you accept the challenge? Try to count them without indicating and then, take a selfie in front of the statue (or take a pic of the bees!), post it to your Instagram stories and tag me (@dramatically.expatic) to share the results!

A (true) ghost story: if you stand facing the statue (with your back to the Duomo that can be seen in the distance), try to locate the red palace located at the far left angle of the piazza from where you’re standing. Come close, and pay attention to its windows: it may happen that several windows will be open (based on when you’re visiting) but even when all of them are closed, one of the top right windows will always be half-open. Known as la finestra sempre aperta (the window that is always open), there’s a tragic love legend link to this palace. The legend says there was a young bride living in this palace, whose future husband went to war - and never returned home, presumably having met his end on the battle field. The young lady was inconsolable - and spent the rest of her days sitting there, at the window, waiting for him, refusing to admit or accept his death. She died of sorrow shortly afterwards, but when the family members tried to close the window she used to spend her days at, strange things began to happen. Objects were moving around on their own, strange noises resembling moans and cries were heard, and even some furniture has changed its position. Once the window was reopened, the paranormal events stopped. Apparently, the family (and the future generations) have decided not to disturb the soul of a poor young girl and ever since have kept the window half-open.