Giambologna's equestrian statue of Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici commands the scene from the centre of this majestic square, dominated by the facades of Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata (1250), rebuilt by Michelozzo et al in the mid-15th century, and the Ospedale degli Innocenti, a foundling hospital and Europe's first orphanage founded in 1421. Look up to admire Brunelleschi's classically influenced portico, decorated by Andrea della Robbia (1435–1525) with terracotta medallions of babies in swaddling clothes
At the north end of the portico, the false door surrounded by railings was once a revolving door where unwanted children were left. Inside, the fascinating if tragic history of the orphanage is explored in depth in the state-of-the-art Museo degli Innocenti. About 200m northeast of the piazza is the Museo Archeologico, an archaeological museum showcasing an impressive Medici hoard of Renaissance antiquities.
