Chiasso de ‘Ricchi was a narrow lane in medieval Florence, shrouded in mystery and legends. Nestled in the heart of the old market, this alley was home to wealthy bankers and merchants. It was not just their wealth that gave the lane its name; local tales spoke of ghostly whispers and the faint sound of gold coins clinking on moonless nights.
One famous legend is that of Baldassarre, a miserly banker who amassed great wealth but refused to help those in need. One fateful winter evening, after cruelly turning away a beggar, Baldassarre met a mysterious death, his home filled with a chilling presence. Since then, it’s said that his restless spirit haunts the lane, forever counting his cursed coins.
Though Chiasso de ‘Ricchi was demolished in the late 1800s to make way for Piazza della Repubblica, the ghostly legends persist. Some claim that on quiet nights, if you listen closely, you can still hear the eerie clinking of coins in the wind—a haunting reminder of the lane’s forgotten past.
