A CHRISTMAS DAY IN FLORENCE ALESSIO SPEAKS’ CORNER Piazzale Michelangelo view December 24th 2011 every time I come back from my monthly Indian trip I always need one full day of relax but this time being in India up to December 22nd I was feeling the need to breath some Christmas air also that is why I decided to spend one full day in Florence. I live in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, a nice village on the Chianti hills 20 minutes from downtown Florence by car. December 24th I drove to Florence and parked my car in Piazza del Carmine a 16th century square along the south bank of the Arno river. Being 9.15 a.m.I did have the intention to have a quick Espresso but as soon as I locked my car I realized that I was in front of Santa Maria del Carmine church famous for hosting the Brancacci Chapel ornamented with 15th centuries frescos painted by Masaccio, Masolino and Filippino Lippi. I forgot about my coffe and decided to see the birth of Renaissance painitng. Art From Masaccio to Giotto Starting from Ognissanti Church and finishing with Santa Felicita Church a full journey in the Renaissance is the best way to get ready for Christmas and not only..and it takes only few hours.. Coffee Caffé Gilli In Piazza Repubblica you can find Gilli, one of the oldest Italian Coffee room, founded in 1733. Every time I get in I feel like to be in a timline machine, overwhelmed by a classy, elegant ambinece. Quick Lunch Procacci An Historical Florentine Tuscan Panini corner, founded in 1887 is located in via Tornabuoni just in the heart of Florentine shopping area. A warm panino filled with Tuscan Ham and truffles sipping a glass of Chianti Classico Casa Sola 2008 is a perfect break for a quick lunch Shopping Shopping in Florence is always relaxing becasue everything is at walking distance and you can find a different array of stores from Italian & International brand stores to artisan ones. Art, Dining & relaxing in Florence E FRATELLI WINES My itinerary
Transcript
A CHRISTMAS DAY IN FLORENCE A L E S S I O S P E A K S ’ C O R N E R
P i a z z a l e M i c h e l a n g e l o v i e w
December 24th 2011
every time I come back from my monthly Indian trip I always need one full
day of relax but this time being in India up to December 22nd I was feeling the need to breath some Christmas air also that is why I decided to spend one full day in Florence.
I live in Tavarnelle Val di Pesa, a nice village on the Chianti hills 20 minutes from downtown Florence by car. December 24th I drove to Florence and parked my car in Piazza del Carmine a 16th century square along the south bank of the Arno river. Being 9.15 a.m.I did have the intention to have a quick Espresso but as soon as I locked my car I realized that I was in front of Santa Maria del Carmine church famous for hosting the Brancacci
Chapel ornamented with 15th centuries frescos painted by Masaccio, Masolino and Filippino Lippi. I forgot about my coffe and decided to see the birth of Renaissance painitng.
ArtFrom Masaccio to GiottoStarting from Ognissanti Church and finishing with Santa Felicita Church a full journey in the Renaissance is the best way to get ready for Christmas and not only..and it takes only few hours..
CoffeeCaffé Gilli In Piazza Repubblica you can find Gilli, one of the oldest Italian Coffee room, founded in 1733. Every time I get in I feel like to be in a timline machine, overwhelmed by a classy, elegant
ambinece.
Quick LunchProcacci An Historical Florentine Tuscan Panini corner,
founded in 1887 is located in via Tornabuoni just in the heart of Florentine shopping area. A warm panino filled with Tuscan Ham and truffles sipping a glass of Chianti Classico Casa Sola 2008 is a perfect break for a quick lunch
ShoppingShopping in Florence is always relaxing becasue everything is at walking distance and you can find a different array of stores from Italian & International brand stores to artisan ones.
Art, Dining & relaxing in Florence
E
FR
AT
EL
LI
W
IN
ES
My itinerary
asaccio painted The Tribute in 1425 in “32 working days”. This fresco has
established new patterns in history of art and painting, introducing for the very first time the use of three dimensional perspective, realistic faces and an innovative use of light and colors. Michelangelo copied Jesus central figure and used it as an inspiring model. I have spent one hour contemplating all these awsome freascos, with their bright colors, imaging Masaccio making them. I felt lucky to be there and live deep emotions in looking at them. Art is like wine, it is sincere,personal and leaves a pleasant trace in you.
After Masaccio, coffee was needed and I’ve walked up to Piazza Repubblica where you can find Gi!i, one of the oldest Italian Coffee room, founded in 1733. Every time I get in I feel like to be in a timline machine, overwhelmed by a classy, elegant ambinece you realize to be in 2012 only looking at people
googling in their smartphones. While I was sipping my nice macchiato, looking outside I could imagine Miss Ninalee Craig, walking at Gilli corner in August 22nd 1951 while Ruth Orkin clicked the famous picture An American Girl in Italy an iconic photo of the 50s.
M
Masaccio, The Tribute , 1425 dc 2.55mt x 5.98mt Brancacci Chapel, Santa Maria del Carmine - Firenze
Ruth Orkin, An American Girl in Italy, 22 August 1951 - Gilli Cafe - Florence
Caffé Gilly in Florence since 1733
fter a nice Macchiato I’ve kept walking around downtown Florence searching for some nice
Christmas presents. Shopping in Florence is always relaxing becasue everything is at walking distance and you can find a different array of stores from Italian & International brand stores to artisan ones. Via Tornabuoni, known as “ the shopping road of Florence” is always crowded, and Christmas decorations make it absolutely amazing. I’ve stopped in front of Tiffany becasue I couldn’t beleive what I was looking at.There was a long line of people waiting to get in..reason of it is the last “must have” Tiffany silver braclet that it so much in fashion here that everybody wants to have it.. not only Mac products are iconic..
Once you reach end of via Tornabuoni, looking on your right you have the breathless view of Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral
(1296-1436) and Giotto Bell tower (1300/1340) I’ve stopped at the bottom of Giotto’s bell tower staring at Giotto’s “formelle” a series of sculptured marble medaillons representing human arts. My favourite is the one dedicated to wine-making representing a lying man just in front of a big oak barrel and beneath a vine plant. Vine plants in the ancient world were grown very big, same as a tree different from nowadays cordon or guyot system and Giotto represents exactly a 13th vineplant size. When I look into this fomrella I realize what an inheritance we do have our nowadays wine producers, and how much changed the world is, not only we’re still making wine in Chianti, Tuscany and Italy but also in India..wow!!!
Lunch time in Florence can be a surprise. I did want to have a quick bite and a glass of wine. No doubt Panini Tartufati Procacci
A
“ Panini tartufati Procacci served in a professional and gentle manner in a vintage atmosphere that touches your heart”
1. Panino Butter & Anchovy1. Glass of Chardonnay 2008 Castello di Ama
1. Glass of Chianti Classico 2008 Casa Sola
Once you seat at Procacci you must order some panini with
truffle. Butter & anchovy was perfect for the buttery Chardonnay from Castello di Ama, instead Fresh truffles were beautifully paired with Chianti Classico Casa Sola 2008
My Lunch
Procacci Panini Tartufati
Giotto, Forme!a del Vino, 1305, firenze
had to be my destination. This 18th century grocery store is well known in Florence for its Panini with fresh truffles. I’ve chosen 3 different types of truffled panini pairing a glass of a nice buttery Chardonnay 2008 of Castello di Ama with the nicly butter and anchovy panino, followed by a glass of red wine Chianti Classico Casa Sola 2008 to be paried with Fresh truffles and ham. Wine and Panini Procacci a triumph for your palate..
With my senses still pleased by my quick but tasty lunch at Procacci I’ve decided to go to a very nice Art Exhibit taking place in Palazzo Strozzi titeld “Beauty and Money” an impressing intinerary into Florence during the Renaissance. After my 2 hours tour during this surprising exhibit, it was already 6.oop.m. and while I was walking back to my car I realized that Santa Felicita Church, founded in 300ac
was open and I couldn’t resist to come in and stare at Pontormo masterpiece, Jesus Christ deposition 1525 Florence. This piece of art is diffucult to describe with words becasue of the elegance beauty and colors that Pontormo has chosen to describe one of the most dramatic event of Jesus christ life, his deposition from the cross. Still impressed by Pontomro colors walking out of the church I’ve seen an unbeievable pink sky at sunset covering downtown Florence..maybe it was a similar sky to have inspired Pontormo to use his breathtaking pink color..no more words are needed it was just time to come back home...
Pontormo, La Deposizione, 1528 Santa Felicita Church , Florence
