Chiesa di Santa Margherita de' Cerchi (Church of St. Margaret), Florence

They call this "Dante's Church" since it is where his family attended and where, at the age of 20, he officialized his arranged marriage with Gemma Donati; however, it appears as if another woman – Beatrice Portinari – stole the spotlight here. Having first caught sight of her at this small church when he was only nine years old, Dante would for decades thereafter regard her as a symbol of perfect female beauty and spiritual virtue. Despite encountering Beatrice again nine years later, Dante never truly knew her and, in a highly Platonic manner of affection, never even spoke to her. Eventually, she married another man and tragically passed away at a fairly young age...

Beatrice undeniably exerted a significant influence on Dante's literary works. In the third and final part of the "Divine Comedy," she guides the exiled poet through the nine celestial spheres of Heaven, leading him to the Empyrean, the abode of God. Within this humble church, Beatrice's grave can be found to the left of the main entrance, often accompanied by a basket filled with notes of unrequited love. With its subdued lighting and serene atmosphere enhanced by soft classical music, the Church of St. Margaret ("Santa Margherita") provides a peaceful setting for introspection and contemplation.