Expect churches (especially those dedicated to the Virgin Mary) to be a bit more decked out than usual on this very holy day! If you are in Florence, be sure to make your way to the Cathedral (dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore). The foundation stone of this glorious structure was laid on 8 September 1296, and today you can visit the terraces for free!

The Birth of the Virgin, clockwise from top left: il Maestro dell’Osservanza, ca. 1438-39 (Museo di Palazzo Corboli, Asciano); Giotto, ca. 1305 (Scrovegni Chapel, Padua); Ghirlandaio, ca. 1485-90 (Tornabuoni Chapel, Santa Maria Novella, Florence); Andrea di Bartolo, ca. 1400-1405 (National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.).