In Renaissance Italy, the young and beautiful Gigliola resists her adopted father's effort to marry her off to a wealthy older suitor. Instead, Gigliola loves Cino, a humble troubador. When Cino kills the suitor in a moment of impulsive anger, he's condemned to death, but Cino's friends rescue him. Gigliola persuades Cino to take her with him. Together they join the rebels seeking to free the land from tyranny.