Santa Margherita de' Cerchi, Medieval church in Historic Centre of Florence, Italy

Santa Margherita de' Cerchi is a small church on Via Santa Margherita in central Florence, first recorded in 1032. Its facade is a gabled wall of squared stone blocks, with a round-arched portal under a double-pitched canopy and two splayed oculi above. Inside is a single nave with two stone side altars and a square apse covered by a frescoed barrel vault.

First recorded in 1032, the church was consecrated on Saint Margaret's day and served as the parish church of the Donati family. Tradition holds that Dante married Gemma Donati here in 1285 or 1290, though others place the wedding at nearby San Martino. In the 13th and 14th centuries the Cerchi, Donati and Adimari families held chapels in the building.

The church is linked to the Portinari family, whose members are buried here and whose stories shaped Florence's merchant class. The space reflects how families marked their place in the city through burial and worship.

The church opens during the day for visitors to explore the interior, artworks, and burial monuments. It sits in a narrow alley in the old city, so plan to search it out deliberately.

A basket near Beatrice's tomb collects letters from visitors seeking guidance in matters of the heart. This custom has persisted for years and shows how the church's story still touches people today.