by Virginia
If you love psychological thrillers and dark stories, Florence hides an unexpected chapter of the Hannibal Lecter saga. Ridley Scott’s 2001 film, starring Anthony Hopkins and Julianne Moore, was largely filmed here—among Renaissance alleys, solemn piazzas, and palaces steeped in history.
Palazzo Vecchio & the Sala dei Gigli
One of the film’s most famous scenes unfolds here, featuring Inspector Pazzi—the man who dares to hunt Lecter. The Sala dei Gigli, with its frescoes and air of Renaissance power, is an unmissable stop for anyone who loves to intertwine art and cinema.
Piazza della Signoria
Few squares in the world hold so much history. In the film, it appears repeatedly as the backdrop for Lecter and Pazzi’s tense encounters. Today, you can stroll through the same space, recognizing the unmistakable silhouette of Palazzo Vecchio and Cellini’s Perseus standing silently nearby.
Ponte Vecchio
In one of the movie’s most striking scenes, Dr. Lecter crosses this iconic bridge as Florence glows behind him. It’s the perfect spot for a cinematic photo.
Piazza della Repubblica
Elegant and sophisticated, this square serves as the setting for some of the film’s most refined moments—scenes of cultured conversation and quiet suspense.
Basilica of Santa Croce & the Pazzi Chapel
A symbolic nod to Inspector Pazzi’s surname couldn’t be missing. The geometric harmony of the Pazzi Chapel becomes almost prophetic within the film’s narrative arc.
Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Its arcades and Renaissance courtyards appear in several scenes as symbols of ancient power and the city’s enduring memory.
In Hannibal, Florence is not just a backdrop—it’s an aesthetic counterpoint. The city’s beauty, its medieval streets, and art-laden palaces heighten the tension: where there is art, where there is culture, horror feels even more unsettling. It’s the eternal dance of beauty and decay. And that’s exactly what you can evoke on a guided tour—if you know how to tell the story.
If Hannibal showed Florence as elegant and sinister on screen, our tours take you beyond the cinema—to the real legends, mysteries, and crimes that shaped the city’s soul.
Whodunit Tour – Solve the Case
Step into the shoes of a detective in this interactive true crime experience: follow clues, crack riddles, and explore Florence’s most unexpected corners. Perfect for suspense lovers who want to live a movie—in real life.
Legends of Florence – Twilight Tales
From 6:00 PM onward, as the shadows deepen over the city’s alleys, discover Florence’s secret side. True and legendary stories told by our local guide lead you through mysteries, ghosts, and forgotten tales known only to Florentines.
Medieval Florence Tour – Secrets and Intrigues of the Middle Ages
Travel back in time to explore medieval Florence: palace intrigues, family rivalries, and secrets buried in stone. A unique way to experience the city through its most mysterious and fascinating past.
Choose your mystery. Live the legend.
Book your tour on Accord’s website and discover a Florence that doesn’t appear in guidebooks—but lives on in stories, whispers, and the city’s shadowed corners.
