Wander & Wonder Travel Newsletter

Hey StoryHunter

What does Michelangelo, Botticelli and Leonardo da Vinci have in common?

Their love for art, yes.

But also their love for Florence.

And when World Art Day unfolds on April 15, it’s the perfect time to visit the Italian city where the Renaissance really took off.  

In Florence, art was shaped through new techniques like perspective and greater realism. It almost feels like the paintings are more lifelike and the buildings are more… grand, somehow.

But beyond the famous masterpieces, Florence still hides Medici power games - you can learn more about them in this newsletter and why this destination should be on your bucket list.

Read on to learn about:

🏛️ Michelangelo’s Secret Room
☝️ The scientist’s cut off finger
🍷 How to get tipsy from windows

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Destination of the Week

Florence’s entire historic centre is a World Heritage Site, and UNESCO describes it as a place where seven centuries of extraordinary artistic and cultural development are still visible.

You can see it in monuments such as the Cathedral, one of the defining architectural achievements of the Renaissance.

But you can also experience it on the Ponte Vecchio - Florence’s oldest bridge -  which is still lined with jewellery shops and artists dreaming of their big breakthrough.

Don't Miss

One place that truly captures Florence at its most grand, secretive and dramatic is the Medici Chapels – they were built as a monument to the powerful Medici dynasty, who ruled the city for ages.

But the real twist lies below.

Hidden beneath them is Michelangelo’s Secret Room, a tiny chamber discovered in 1975, with its walls covered in charcoal drawings.

Michelangelo hid there in 1530 after backing Florence’s republican government, fearing revenge when the Medici returned to power. 

So he spent months in concealment beneath the very chapel he had designed for them.

Did You Know?

At Florence’s Galileo Museum, you can see one of the city’s strangest relics: Galileo’s actual middle finger.

It was removed from his body in 1737 when his remains were moved to a monumental tomb in Santa Croce.

Today it sits on display in the museum as a bizarre tribute to the scientist who changed how we see the universe.

The museum itself is worth visiting for its historic scientific instruments, but this odd little relic is what makes the place unforgettable.

The Trendy Traveler Tip

Want to get a little tipsy while wandering Florence?

Then skip the formal wine bar for a moment and head to Babae’s wine window in Santo Spirito. 

Here, wine is handed out through a tiny opening in the wall - just as it once was in old Florence.

The tradition dates back to 1559, when the Medicis allowed noble families to sell wine directly from their palaces.

Today, Babae revives the custom, turning a simple glass of wine into one of the city’s most charming little rituals.