“On January 27, 1601, a violent lightning bolt struck the top of the Dome of Santa Maria del Fiore. The impact was so powerful that it caused the giant gilded copper sphere, created by Verrocchio, to plummet to the ground.
To commemorate this incredible event, a round white marble slab was placed on the exact spot where the ball fell. It can still be seen today on the pavement of the square, on the southeast side (near Via del Proconsolo).
Despite falling from a height of over 100 meters, the sphere was repaired in a short time. It was placed back in its position at the top of the Dome on October 21, 1602, where it remains to this day, watching over the city.”
