No family shaped Florence’s destiny — or its shadows — quite like the Medici. Behind the frescoes and the patronage of Michelangelo and Botticelli lies a darker chronicle of ambition, exile and sudden death that still colours how Florentines speak of certain palazzi after dusk.
The Pazzi Conspiracy: blood in the Duomo
On Easter Sunday, 1478, rival banking family the Pazzi orchestrated an attack on Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici during Mass inside the Duomo itself. Giuliano was killed; Lorenzo survived to exact a brutal reprisal. The episode, extensively documented on the Pazzi Conspiracy’s Wikipedia page, remains one of the Renaissance’s most notorious political assassinations.
Exile, poison and whispered rumour
Later generations of Medici were dogged by rumours of poisonings and political exile, tales that, true or embellished, still surface in local guided storytelling and in the corridors of the Palazzo Vecchio.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Pazzi Conspiracy?
A 1478 assassination plot against Lorenzo and Giuliano de’ Medici, carried out during Mass in the Duomo, which killed Giuliano and triggered swift, violent retaliation by Lorenzo’s supporters.
Are Medici ghost stories taken seriously in Florence today?
They persist mainly as folklore and storytelling tradition rather than belief, often woven into evening walking tours through the historic centre.
Our concierge can arrange a private evening walk through the sites of the Pazzi Conspiracy, narrated with the historical nuance the story deserves.
Continue the story in person: this highly-rated small-group Uffizi Gallery tour with Vasari Corridor access is one of the best ways to see the art and history of Florence up close.
Want a guidebook to take with you? This Florence & Tuscany travel guide on Amazon is a handy companion for planning your own route through the city.
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