Tucked away in the beautiful Tuscan countryside, situated along the Arno River, Florence is often considered the cradle of the Renaissance. As such, it’s an ideal location for art history-focused school trips. With an artistic heritage that is as deeply embedded in the city as the ancient 14th century walls and towers that enclosed it, there is no shortage of important things to see while you are in the city. While you’re there you should check out the top tourist attractions such as the David and the many stunning works of art in the Uffizi Gallery, but why not get off the beaten track and seek out some of the other lesser known and hidden facts? surprises in Florence?

graffiti- School trips to Florence will always include Piazza della Signoria on the itinerary, where some of the world’s most famous works of art were originally placed. Here you will have the opportunity to see the Uffizi Gallery and the Loggia dei Lanzi, which is located at the end. While you’re in the piazza, check out the replica of the statue of David, which marks the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio. This is where it was originally placed before being moved to the purpose-built area in the Accademia Gallery a few blocks away. Look just past Bandinelli’s ‘Hercules and Cacus’ guarding the other side of the entrance. Behind this statue, near the corner of the Palazzo Vecchio, is a small chiseled portrait said to have been completed by Michelangelo himself.

Many students on school trips may not pay special attention to this portrait, but it’s worth a look, even if you don’t know why it was created. Some say it was the result of a bet Michelangelo took to demonstrate his skill and others say he wanted to capture the face of a hanging man before he died and did not have time to retrieve a piece of paper to draw on. Any way you look at it, it’s an interesting find – a remarkable precursor to Banksy!

the ufo- Inside the Palazzo Vecchio, the rooms are impressive and well-proportioned, and while many of the Palazzo’s rooms are used as government offices, there are still a few that are open to the public. In one of the upper rooms of the Palazzo Vecchio, in the small back room, hangs “The Madonna with San Giovannino”, by an unknown artist, but often attributed to Domenico Ghirlandaio (whose apprentices included Michelangelo). As you appreciate the grand proportions of the rooms and ornate details in every corner during your student trips to Palazzo Vecchio, take a close look at this specific work of art. In the upper right section of this rounded image is a strange flying saucer. It’s too detailed to be an error, and the tiny beams of light emanating from the disc-shaped UFO are precisely done. In the background, a man stands with his hand shielding his eyes, looking up at the strange object in the sky and also apparently wondering why he is there.