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Florence, Italy, late 15th century.  Alessandra has a passion for art and drawing - two interests that are not becoming of a young woman of the period, who should be preparing herself for marriage and managing a household. Until she is married she cannot enjoy the freedoms afforded to her married older sister and her wild brothers who take full advantage of the prostitutes, wine and revelry of a rapidly expanding and prosperous city, hailed as the new Athens. But the party is about to come to an end. Bodies of pimps, prostitutes and their customers are being found mutilated in the streets - victims of a Ripper-like killer - plagues are on the increase and a local Friar, Savonarola has vowed to purge the city of its iniquities and vices and rules the city from the pulpit with austere authority. Alessandra desires instruction in drawing, but is not allowed to speak to an artist who has been employed by her father, a mysterious character who goes out secretly at night and returns with...