Inferno in Florence and Venice

The whole Florence chase in a day: from the medieval gate through the Medici gardens and the corridor over the bridge, to the 'cerca trova' fresco. Book the corridor visit ahead on the Uffizi website, and check the Monday closings of the gardens.

The clue of Dante's death mask leads back to the poet himself: the street where his family lived and the Baptistery where he was baptised, which he called 'my beautiful San Giovanni'. Both are a short walk from the cathedral.

The riddle on the back of the mask sends the story to Venice. Arrive by train like Langdon and take the vaporetto down the Grand Canal to St Mark's. Book the basilica's timed entry; in autumn and winter high tides (acqua alta) can flood the square.