Secret location
There are 9 Secret Locations in Assassin's Creed II. They consist of Prince of Persia-like platform levels which must be completed through free running and some puzzle solving. These missions are optional; however, the first one must be done to discover a Templar conspiracy against the Medicis.
Each location has several stages and each one has a different platforming objective, from climbing high towers from the inside to timed free running trials meant to test a player's abilities. 5 secret locations are also Assassin Tombs containing seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor, which is the most powerful armor in the game and is necessary for Desmond to achieve full synchronization with Ezio. The first Assassin Tomb (the secret location mentioned in the first paragraph) does not count as a secret location, but does contain one of the 6 seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor. In addition, the last secret location in the secret locations tab of the DNA menu is also an Assassin Tomb, but does not hold one of the seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor.
List of all named (and unnamed) Secret Locations
- Basilica di San Marco (Assassin Tomb)
- Basilica Santa Maria del Fiore (Assassin Tomb)
- Torre Grossa (Assassin Tomb)
- Rocca Di Ravaldino (Assassin Tomb)
- Visitazione's Catacombs (Assassin Tomb)
- Palazzo Medici (Templar Lair, GameStop pre-order exclusive for US versions and Black Edition exclusive for European versions)
- Unknown (alleged Templar Lair, Xbox Live downloadable content, not yet released, may be released in January as part of Battle for Forli DLC)
- Unknown (alleged Templar Lair, Xbox Live downloadable content, not yet released, may be released in February as part of Bonfire of the Vanities DLC)
- Auditore Family Crypt (Assassin Tomb (the only one that does not hold one the seals necessary to unlock Altaïr's Armor), Uplay downloadable content)