Exit the Hotel Orto de’ Medici, and get on to Via degli Arazzieri, which leads you to Piazza San Marco. In 1200, on this spot, stood a small oratory founded by the Vallumbrosan monks and later entrusted to the Dominicans when, during the Renaissance, it became a monastical complex.

The rich merchant, Cosimo il Vecchio (Cosimo the Old) (1389-1464), who had his cell here and who in that period thought of redoing the quarters around the piazza where he would have exercised his power, gave the job of restructuring and enlarging the church to Michelozzo.

Today, the Gothic style Church of San Marco, presents a neo-sixteenth century façade and inside, among the different works of painters and famous sculptures, contains the lovely crucifix by Beato Angelico.Immediately to your right, when leaving the church, is the entrance to the museum of San Marco where you can visit the famous Cenacle of San Marco with the fresco Ultima Cena del Ghirlandaio (Last Supper by Ghirlandaio) and the convent cells that were frescoed by Beato Angleico between 1439 and 1445.

To the right of the church, at Via Cavour no.57, another piece of the Medici garden that was used by Buontalenti to build, by the orders of Francesco I of the Medici’s (1541-1609), the Casino Mediceo so that Francesco I could dedicate himself to alchemic experiments and mechanics.

Next to this edifice, Pietro Leopoldo (1747-1792) had the Palazzina della Livia built, which the Grand Medicean Duke presented to his mistress, the Roman ballerina Livia Malfatti. 

Now, go along the left side of the piazza, and the loggia of the ex-hospital San Matteo, and you will enter into Via Ricasoli, where at no. 60 you find the entrance to the Accademia Gallery, founded by Pietro Leopoldo in 1784 utilizing the spaces of the hospital no longer in use at the time.

The Grand Duke dowered the school with a rich collection of antique pictorial works as models to aid the pupils. If you would like to visit the gallery to see the David by Michelangelo, the famous “Prigioni” (prisons) and the hall where magnificent examples of Florentine pictorials from the 1400’s, you must reserve early.

Following down via Ricasoli, you will arrive to an intersection with Via degli Alfani, turn right and you could stop at no.78 where you find the Opificio delle Pietre dure (factory of precious stones), created in 1588 by the wishes of Ferdinando I of the Medici’s (1549-1600), where he wanted to create a place to coordinate the different collaborators that were already working on the Chapel of Princes in San Lorenzo. The museum contains the famous Laboratory where a world renown school was operating on the work techniques of precious and semi-precious stones.

Now, follow ahead on Via degli Alfani and you will come to Via de’ Servi or dei Serviti named after the order of Servites of Maria to whom were granted the small oratory, today the Church of SS. Annunziata. Go to your left now and you will arrive in Piazza SS. Annunziata.

The first piazza of the Renaissance, it was initiated at the beginning of 1400 by Brunelleschi with the Spedale degli Innocenti (hospital of the innocent) constructed in 1421 and destined to collect abandoned children. Up high, between the arches of the porticos the famous “tondi” glazed by Andrea della Robbia.

Today, there is an important picture gallery inside.  In the middle of the piazza stand the Equestrian Statue of Ferdinand I of the Medic’s (last piece by Giambologna, finished by Pietro Tacca) and beside it, two lovely fountains in bronze portraying marine monsters, done again by Pietro Tacca.

The Basilica of SS. Annunziata dominates the Piazza, initially built outside the historical center and isolated, it has been re-moulded over the years. On the contrary to the internal done in Baroque, on the outside, terminated in the 500’s with a colonnade, one can admire masterpieces by A. del Sarto. When entering, to your left, inserted in a lovely marble tabernacle, you find a fresco of the Virgin Mary considered miraculous and place of pilgrimages both by the part of the Florentines as well as visitors and tourists. Go back now to Via de’ Servi and follow it until you get to Piazza Duomo.

Follow along on the right of the piazza and stop at the churchyard of the church in front of the main entrance of the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore or the Florence Dome where you can observe the refined marble framework on the outside. In 1436, Brunelleschi was able to exceed the Cathedral of Pisa and Siena in both height and diameter. Inside the Cupola, the magnificent fresco of Vasari and Zuccari who reproduced the Giudizio Universale (Universal Judgment).

Nor the dome or the bell tower have an elevator and so the flight up is quite demanding (463 stairs to the dome and 414 to the bell tower). The climb to the dome is more interesting because it allows you to observe the structure from the inside. But the breathtaking view of what you get once at the top is worth the fatiguing climb up the steps. Instead, if you go down to the crypt, you will find the remains of Santa Reparata, the church upon which the Dome was constructed.

In front of the Basilica stands the Baptistery, one of the masterpieces of Roman Tuscan, with a characteristical octagonal plan, covered in alternated polychromic marble. It was once the city’s Cathedral, and later used for baptism ceremonies.

It is designed with three doors, the most famous being “Porta del Paradiso” (door of paradise), opera of Ghiberti. After having admired these splendid monuments, go towards Piazza S. Giovanni where, at the corner with via de’ Cerretani, you might want to stop at the famous pastry shop, Scuderi, for an aperitif or to taste exquisite Sicilian pastries. Now, enter into Borgo San Lorenzo.

If it’s not Sunday or Monday when the market is closed, begin to glimpse at the typical stands in the gaily-colored market place of San Lorenzo that surrounds the entire piazza just as was the antique custom of festivals in honor of the patron Saint Lorenzo of the city.

Now in Piazza San Lorenzo, you can’t help but see  the monument of Bandinelli in honor of Giovanni delle Bande Nere (1498-1526),  valorous  captain of venture and father of Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519-1574).

But your attention will, without a doubt, be directed towards the magnificent Basilica of San Lorenzo, set on the spot of an ancient Florence cathedral that was consecrated in 393 by Saint Ambogio and then reconstructed almost entirely by the Medici’s, becoming then the official church of the most important Florentine family.

But don’t let yourself be taken by the uncompleted and scarce façade; the interior is rich with treasures like the Sagrestia Vecchia (Old Sacristy) work of Brunelleschi, where Piero and Giovanni of the Medici’s are buried, the Chiostri (Cloister) and the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (Library), commissioned to Michelangelo and characterized by an entrance stairway in three parts in stone and by a very rich collection of illuminated codes.

From here go on to Via Canto de’ Nelli and go up to the Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini. Situated in the extension of the apses of San Lorenzo are the Medici Chapels that consist of the 17^th century Cappella dei Principi (Chapel of Princes), Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacritry) and the Crypt. They are a rare example of Baroque style in Florence, famous for the rich decorations in marble and semi-precious stones, created by the Factory of precious stones.

The chapels guard the monumental sepulchres of the Grand Dukes of Tuscany among which include Cosimo I, Ferdinand I and Francesco I of the Medici’s. The  16^th century Sagrestia Nuova (New Sacritry), designed by Michelangelo, holds the magnificent tombs of the Medici’s, dominated by the allegorical statue that was sculpted by the great artist.

Go back to Via Canto de’ Nelli and turn left into Via dell’Ariento and to your right find an edifice in glass and iron, done according to the taste of the epoch (1874), where the Central Market of San Lorenzo is located inside.

Many are the local specialties found in the numerous stands, If it should be time for lunch, you might choose to have a taste of some typical Tuscan dishes that will be served to you on marble tables or, if you should prefer a more intimate environment but always characteristic, leave the market from the piazza side and ask where Zazà, the antique Florentine “tavern” is. Today, a restaurant frequently visited by famous people like singer Claudio Baglioni, model Naomi Campbell and others.

From the Central Market of San Lorenzo, go left towards Borgo la Noce, Via Canto de’ Nelli and then left towards Via de’ Gori, and arrive at the intersection of Via de’ Martelli and Via Cavour, once called via larga because of its original width. Here rises the impressive 15^th century Renaissance jewel that Cosimo il Vecchio (Cosimo the Old) commissioned to Michelozzo: Palazzo Medici-Riccardi.

It was the first private palace of the city, covered on the lower part by rough stone, “rustic ashlar” and enriched on the upper part with twin lancet windows with the Medicean emblem. Interesting to see inside the Palace is without a doubt the square courtyard consisting of an arcade with Corinthian columns, a garden, a receiving salon and the Chapel of Benozzo Gozzoli, nicknamed “dei Magi” (of the Three Kings). The recently restored “Calvacata dei Magi” (cavalcade) depicts many members of the Medici family, among which Lorenzo the Magnificent.

At this point, following along Via Cavour, go back to Piazza San Marco and from there cross over Via degli Arazzieri and Via San Gallo, and you will have arrived back at the hotel “Orto de’ Medici”.