This bustling square in central Florence is marked by a massive equestrian statue of Ferdinando I de’ Medici and two Mannerist fountains by Renaissance sculptor Pietro Tacca at its center, but its pleasing symmetry is created by the matching arched porticoes running along three sides. Rub elbows with locals during one of the many outdoor markets held in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, or visit the 15th-century Basilica della Santissima Annunziata and the Ospedale degli Innocenti, the oldest lay orphanage in Europe that is now home to one of the city’s most fascinating museums.
Many Renaissance Florence walking tours by day or night include a stroll through the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, along with skip-the-line tickets to the nearby San Marco Museum. The square is also a popular stop on photography tours of the city.