Piazza della Santissima Annunziata is located in the historic center of Florence, north of Piazza del Duomo, and is dominated by the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata, one of the most important sacred buildings in Florence, as well as the mother house of the order of the Servants of Mary. Although it has been defined over several centuries, the square now shows a unified character and, among the Florentine squares, is the one that best expresses the ideals of the Renaissance city

The square has a truly typical shape: surrounded by elegant buildings is dominated by the facade of the church and convent of San Marco, from which it takes its name; in the center there is a small green area with trees, with a central statue surrounded by benches and, as in the Venetian square, crowded with pigeons. The bronze statue in question portrays General Manfredo Fanti (who died in Florence), a work of 1873 by the sculptor Papi, modelled on Pio Fedi.

The Chiostro della Scalzo is a cloister in Florence that originally led to a chapel once belonging to a religious company known as the Compagnia del diciplinati di San Giovanni Battista or della Passione di Cristo. The term "scalzo" makes reference to the barefoot brother who carried the Cross during its public processions