GELATO WORLD CHAMPION 2006/2007 - 2008/2009 san gimignano (siena) - italy Tel. +39 0577 942244 [email protected]www.gelateriadondoli.com Uffizi Gallery Re-Opens Five Rooms Filming Dan Brown’s Inferno in Florence History and Culture Merge at St Mark’s Church Visiting the Amalfi Coast with Bus2alps PAGE 3 PAGE 7 PAGE 12 PAGE 30 News & Events Since 1815 the reference point for the great travelers. Bags and travel accessories of the best international brands. Leather briefcases made in Italy. Valigeria Gazzarrini Via Porta Rossa n.71-73R Firenze, Italy Tel. +39 055 212747 www.valigeriagazzarrini.com www.florencenewsandevents.com May 2015 Mark Massey The impact of Milan Expo is be- ing felt in Florence, as the city serves up a platter of exhibitions and events related to the Expo’s theme of ‘Feeding the Plan- et, Energy for Life.’ The events take place throughout the du- ration of the Expo from May 1 to October 31, and are expected to draw an additional one mil- lion visitors to Florence. Venues throughout the city are partic- ipating to showcase Florence’s cultural and historical roots, starting with a modern take on Brunelleschi’s dome. Entitled I_Dome, the three-dimensional installation been created with video mapping and invites vis- itors to step into a full-immer- sion experience in the court- yard of Palazzo Vecchio. Taking place at refectories around the city, the Orti e Cenacoli (Kitchen Gardens and Suppers) project features a series of six suppers prepared by Tuscan chefs, based on recipes from Tuscan monas- teries and including ingredients drawn from urban gardens. In addition to showcasing regional food and wine producers, a tem- porary mall known as Casa delle Eccellenze (House of Excellence) displays Tuscan innovation in the fields of fashion, homeware, crafts, mechanical construction and technology, alongside a se- ries of seminars and workshops. Local Bio highlights the empha- sis on sustainability, where visi- tors can expect to see and taste many traditional, organically produced products, while the Jellyfish exhibit located by the Arno River encourages visitors to think seriously about the is- sue of sustainability, reflecting largely upon the concerns faced by the agricultural sector. Putting the spotlight on the Tuscan region, I Giorni del Fare (Days of Action) presents guided tours of selected regional com- panies that are different by vir- tue of their cultural, historical and traditional heritage. Towards the end of the Expo EXPO IS SERVED Florence whets its appetite for six months of art and gastronomy an international forum enti- tled Grani e Pani (Grains and Bread) takes place at Orsanmi- chele, once Florence’s granary. Aside from hosting experts on grain-milling, bread-making and ancient grains, it also in- cludes book presentations and tastings. In addition to city-wide events and exhibits, Florence also features at Expo events in Milan between May 2–10, with the opening of the Tuscan area at Milan’s Società Umanitaria, where visitors are able to enjoy cooking exhibitions, gastro- nomic tasting and other activi- ties in the cloisters of the former Franciscan monastery, close to Milan Cathedral.
Transcript
GELATO WORLD CHAMPION 2006/2007 - 2008/2009
san gimignano (siena) - italy Tel. +39 0577 942244
Since 1815 the reference point for the great travelers.Bags and travel accessories of the best international brands.
Leather briefcases made in Italy.
Valigeria GazzarriniVia Porta Rossa n.71-73R Firenze, Italy
Tel. +39 055 212747
www.valigeriagazzarrini.com
www.florencenewsandevents.com May 2015
Mark Massey
The impact of Milan Expo is be-ing felt in Florence, as the city serves up a platter of exhibitions and events related to the Expo’s theme of ‘Feeding the Plan-et, Energy for Life.’ The events take place throughout the du-ration of the Expo from May 1 to October 31, and are expected to draw an additional one mil-lion visitors to Florence. Venues throughout the city are partic-ipating to showcase Florence’s cultural and historical roots, starting with a modern take on Brunelleschi’s dome. Entitled I_Dome, the three-dimensional installation been created with
video mapping and invites vis-itors to step into a full-immer-sion experience in the court-yard of Palazzo Vecchio. Taking place at refectories around the city, the Orti e Cenacoli (Kitchen Gardens and Suppers) project features a series of six suppers prepared by Tuscan chefs, based on recipes from Tuscan monas-teries and including ingredients drawn from urban gardens. In addition to showcasing regional food and wine producers, a tem-porary mall known as Casa delle Eccellenze (House of Excellence) displays Tuscan innovation in the fields of fashion, homeware, crafts, mechanical construction and technology, alongside a se-
ries of seminars and workshops.Local Bio highlights the empha-sis on sustainability, where visi-tors can expect to see and taste many traditional, organically produced products, while the Jellyfish exhibit located by the Arno River encourages visitors to think seriously about the is-sue of sustainability, reflecting largely upon the concerns faced by the agricultural sector. Putting the spotlight on the Tuscan region, I Giorni del Fare (Days of Action) presents guided tours of selected regional com-panies that are different by vir-tue of their cultural, historical and traditional heritage. Towards the end of the Expo
EXPO IS SERVED
Florence whets its appetite for six months of art and gastronomyan international forum enti-tled Grani e Pani (Grains and Bread) takes place at Orsanmi-chele, once Florence’s granary. Aside from hosting experts on grain-milling, bread-making and ancient grains, it also in-cludes book presentations and tastings. In addition to city-wide events and exhibits, Florence also features at Expo events in Milan between May 2–10, with the opening of the Tuscan area at Milan’s Società Umanitaria, where visitors are able to enjoy cooking exhibitions, gastro-nomic tasting and other activi-ties in the cloisters of the former Franciscan monastery, close to Milan Cathedral.
Florence News & Events is distributed throughout Florence in all key reference points for the English-speaking
community, including hotels and hostels, universities and language schools, libraries, tourist information points, restaurants and cafes.
Florence News & Events is the monthly supplement to theitaliannewspaper.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF:Lorenzo PicchiPROOFREADER: Lucy DavidGRAPHIC & WEB DESIGN: Naz KangalCONTRIBUTORS: Chiara Becchetti, Brooke Feichtl, Lee Foust, Avani Kapur, Jhovanna Lopez, Mark Massey, Lara May, Dylan Nikoletopoulos, Philippa Norton, Natalia Piombino, Ivana Scatola, Olivia Turchi, Virgina Wright
PUBLISHER: IAF PRINT: Rotostampa SRL Via B. Buozzi 21, 50145, Firenze REGISTERED AT THE TRIBUNALE DI FIRENZENo. 5801, 3/11/2010
INTERN WITH USFlorence News & Events is currently seeking outgoing and motivated candidates for its internship program. Interns will be exposed to all facets of weekly production, including news writing, photography, layout, advertising, public relations, circulation and graphic arts. Students currently studying art history, communications, journalism, marketing, advertising, public relations or graphic design are encouraged to apply. Please submit resume and writing samples to: [email protected]
(until 11 p.m. every Thursday)www.palazzostrozzi.org
Ancient Greek Bronzes on Display
Palazzo Strozzi hosts Power and Pathos Palazzo Strozzi is hosting the ex-hibit Power and Pathos until June 21. Organized by the Palazzo Strozzi Foundation in collabora-tion with the J. Paul Getty Muse-um, the Los Angeles and National Gallery of Art in Washington and the Superintendence for the Ar-chaeological Heritage of Tuscany, the exhibit showcases some of the ancient world’s most important sculptural masterpieces. Sculp-tures are drawn from leading Ital-ian and international museums and include 50 bronzes that trace artistic development during the Hellenistic era.Hellenistic sculpture saw the birth of a genre known as ‘por-traits of power,’ at the same time it revolutionized the style of Clas-sical art by imbuing its figures with pathos. Monumental stat-ues of gods, athletes and heroes
are on display alongside portraits of historical figures, and a new-ly restored bronze sculpture of a horse’s head dating back to 350 BCE once owned by Lorenzo the Magnificent, which is on display after lingering for more than a century in storage at the Archaeo-logical Museum of Florence. Power and Pathos allows visitors to explore the fascinating stories behind the discovery of these works and learn about production, casting and finishing techniques.
Mark Massey
In a joint collaboration, the Acca-demia Gallery and the Order of Friars Minor present an exhibition highlighting the art of the Fran-ciscan movement between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries. The exhibition also highlights the Franciscan order’s success in spreading the gospel throughout Asia. Franciscan Art: Masterpieces of Ital-ian art and Asian lands from the 13th to the 15th centuries runs till October 11 and displays such no-table works as the cuspidate pan-els from the altar of Santa Croce’s Bardi Chapel, painted glass by the Master of Figline, a significant artist in fourteenth-century Ita-ly, and a panel depicting St Fran-cis Offering the Sultan Ordeal by Fire from the Alte Pinakothek in Munich, which will be displayed alongside fellow panels from its
Franciscan Art in Asiaat the Accademia
original location of Santa Croce for the first time. In addition to sculptures and paintings, the exhibit features a selection of archival documents and archaeological finds from the Museum of the Custody of the Holy Land in Jerusalem and the Museum of the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth. Artists’ works on display include those at-tributed to Giunta di Capitino and Coppo di Marcovaldo, as well as those by the Master of St Francis and the Master of the Franciscan Crucifixes.
Franciscan Art: Masterpieces of Italian art and
Asian lands from the 13th to the 15th centuries
Until October 11Accademia Gallery
Tues – Sun 8:15 a.m.–6:50 p.m. www.uffizi.firenze.it
3
NEWSMAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
Uffizi Gallery Re-Opens Five Rooms
Mark Massey
The Uffizi is reopening five of its most significant rooms, following almost a year of renovations. Re-ferred to as salette in Italian, the five rooms feature masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance from the fifteenth century. The new rooms boast a total of 44 works, including 12 from the Uffizi’s col-lection depository. The renovated rooms make up part of the oldest section of the gallery, and are the first rooms to be modernized af-ter the octagonal Tribune room. In Room 1, inaugurated last June, renovations are very subtle. New skylights, window openings, and sunshades make up the majori-ty of improvements in the space.
There are also monitors in the room to regulate air quality, hu-midity, and temperature, as well as security cameras. Some of the paintings have also been moved, allowing for more space between works. Room 2 features pieces of Italian medieval art, including a paint-ed and gilded cross by Pacino di Bonaguida. Works by Pacino, Lip-po di Benivieni and the Master of Saint Cecilia can be found here as well, with pieces on display by some of Florence’s great painters.In Room 3, Simone Martini’s An-nunciation can be viewed along-side works by Pisan artists such as Francesco Traini and the Master of San Torpe, Simone dei Crocifissi from Bologna, and var-
ious Sienese artists. Changes to Room 4 are largely based on the new format of painting displays. Set against a white background, both small and large paintings have been set so as to give visitors what director Natali calls a “visual poem.”In Rooms 5 and 6, which show the beginnings of fifteenth-cen-tury Florentine art, visitors get a glimpse of Gothic and early Re-naissance works. Lorenzo Mona-co’s Coronation of the Virgin and Adoration of the Magi are located here; the former remains the cen-terpiece of the room. The space also shows Neri di Bicci’s Assump-tion, which has been relocated, and Giovanni dal Ponte’s Stories from the Life of St Peter and Saints.
Virginia Wright
The Uffizi Gallery’s first mono-graphic exhibition of Gerrit van Honthorst, Gherardo delle Notti: Most bizarre paintings and merry suppers, finishes on May 24.A Caravaggesque painter from Holland, van Honthorst was better known to the public as ‘Gherardo delle Notti’ for his love of painting nocturnal scenes. He lived in Italy for nearly 10 years before depart-ing to his native Utrecht in 1620. His years in Italy, during which he joined Caravaggio’s naturalistic revolution, proved to be the most innovative and stylistic of his ca-reer.Van Honthorst gained fame throughout Italy and his work adorned important altars, a rari-ty for naturalistic painters. Grand Duke Cosimo II was inspired to collect some of his paintings, which is why today the Uffizi
Gherardo delle Notti Exhibits Until May 24
boasts five works by the artist, in-cluding The Adoration of the Shep-herds, which was severely dam-aged in the Mafia car bomb attack of 1993.The exhibition displays paintings from some of van Honthorst’s big-gest influences and followers, in addition to his most famous works. The National Gallery in London, Berlin State Museums, the Her-mitage Museum in St Petersburg and many others have granted loans for this exhibit, which forms part of the tenth edition of Un Anno ad Arte (A Year in Art).
Since its foundation in 1982, Medical Service Firenze has developed a solid reputation for providing rapid, reliable assistance to tourists and residents in need of medical attention. We accept all major travel/medical insurance policies. SERVICES INCLUDE:• 24-hour prompt house calls by
general practitioners all year round.• Our physicians are available for
walk-in visits to our clinic on Via Roma, 4. Monday to Fri.: 11 a.m.–12 p.m., 1–3 p.m., & 5–6 p.m.; Sat.: 11 a.m.–12 p.m. & 1–3 p.m.
• Prompt consultation with special-ists by appointment.
• All the medical staff speak English. • For information or request visit our
Tue. to Thurs.: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.Fri. to Sat.: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Via dei Benci, 37r055 234 48 85
HAIRDRESSING SALON IN VIA DE’ BENCI
An intellectual both cosmopoli-tan and enduringly grafted into the history and traditions at the root of contemporary Europe; a masterful interpreter of that cul-tural disquiet that signified the twentieth century, Jiří Kolář is the protagonist of a noteworthy exhibition event at the Museo di Pittura Murale in San Domeni-co and Galleria Open Art, both of Prato. Curated by Francesca Pola and Mauro Stefanini, produced in cooperation with Galleria Open Art and showing more than 150 works, the exhibition is the first wide-ranging retrospective to be dedicated to Kolář in Italy since his death in 2002. For Kolář, images are the ideal substrate on which to condense the complexity of human thought: it is on this grate that fragments and traces of culture, art and communication catch and mix – talking fractals of the landscape of the world. He builds them ac-cording to a canon of destruction,
Jiří Kolář: A Workshop of Imagination on Display in Prato
by harkening techniques harking back to the practice of collage, in-flected in an almost inexhaustible proliferation of operational vari-ants. He catches the nuances of the ‘becoming’ of the world itself, its dynamics of union and separa-tion; composition and conflict; to regenerate over and over again. On occasion of the exhibition, Jiři Kolář: A Workshop of Imagination, Carlo Cambi Editore is publish-ing a 300-page monograph edited by Francesca Pola: a comprehen-sive, careful and detailed histor-ic-artistic contextualisation that unites a highly emblematic cor-pus of works with many texts by the artist and period documents, in the interests of achieving a new and more complete reading of Kolář’s art. Among these docu-ments is previously unpublished material on the artist’s solo ex-hibitions at the Museum Haus Lange of Krefeld (1973), at the Sol-omon R. Guggenheim Museum of New York (1975) and at the Museo
Museo di Pittura Murale in San Domenico
Piazza San Domenico, 8, Prato0574 440 501
Mon - Sun: 2–8 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays)www.diocesiprato.it
Open Art GalleryViale della Repubblica, 24, PratoMon – Fri: 3–7:30 p.m.; Sat: 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. and 3–7:30 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and feast days0574 538 003
www.openart.it Free admission
Nacional Reina Sofìa of Madrid (1996), exhibitions that were cru-cial to Kolář’s life in art; the Prato retrospective presents some of the most significant works exhibited by the artist on those occasions. In collaboration with the Archivio Jiří Kolář. Under the auspices of the Comune of Prato and Honor-ary Consulate of Czech Republic for Tuscany.
Jhovanna Lopez
The Medici Chapels Museum is presenting an exhibition show-casing the Medici family’s rich-est collections of sacred objects called Nel segno dei Medici: Tesori sacri della devozione granducale.The pieces showcased go far be-yond Medici rule in Florence to the Holy Land and Goa in India and include gifts of various kinds and types, including altar mounts, chalices and altarpieces, which are testimony to grand-ducal wor-ship linked to various sanctuaries.
Hosted in one of the most valued museum houses of the nineteenth century, the exhibit Dream and Glory showcases the collections of Frederick Stibbert and his exclu-sive taste. Known for his passion for guns, Stibbert’s collection comprises one of the largest collections of ancient armor and weaponry in the world, both Italian and foreign, as well as photographs, antiques and works of art. Dream and Glory displays the beauty and complexity of Stib-bert’s collection, and re-creates one of the artisan workshops that Stibbert commissioned to restore the items in his collection to their original state, in which artisans ranging from goldsmiths
Medici Devotion at the Medici Chapels
Dream and GloryFrederick Stibbert’s collections
unveiled
The great works of sacred gold were commissioned by Cosimo II and Maria Maddalena of Austria. The exhibition completes two ma-jor displays dedicated to devotion-al themes that preceded it: Sacred Splendor at the Medici Treasury and The Other Half of Heaven at the Casa Martelli Museum.
to cabinet-makers and gunsmiths worked. The exhibition rooms are arranged as they would have ap-peared in 1884, when notable fig-ures, including Oscar Wilde and Queen Victoria, visited the muse-um space. The Stibbert collection is a testa-ment to nineteenth-century Eu-ropean culture and its fascination with civil and military costumes.
Palazzo Belfiore hotel in the centre of Florence is the residence of an ancient fourteenth-century family, situated in Florence near the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi Gallery, Palazzo Pitti, Boboli Gar-dens and Santo Spirito. Located in a quiet area in the city centre, it is in the heart of one of the traditional Floren-tine quarters rich in handicraft shops, antique shops and typical restaurants. Palazzo Belfiore is perfect solution for your holidays in Florence.
Visitaflorencia.com offers charming apartments for rent in Florence to tour-ists and students from around the world.Accommodation options include holi-day, studio, loft and student apartments, located just 5-10 minutes from major landmarks such as the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Uffizi Gallery, Accademia Gal-lery, Piazza della Signoria and Santa Maria Novella train station. The apartments are the perfect base from which to explore the city, and are ideal for tourist rentals and students staying in Florence for short periods. We have the ideal home for you! www.holidayinflorenceitaly.com
The exhibit Sculptures Also Die, on display at Palazzo Strozzi until the end of July, presents works by 13 Italian and international artists, including Francesco Arena (Italy), Nina Beier (Denmark), Katinka Bock (Germany), Giorgio Andreot-ta Calò (Italy), Dario D’Aronco (It-aly), N.Dash (USA), Michael Dean (UK), Oliver Laric (Austria), Mark Manders (Netherlands), Michael E. Smith (USA), Fernando Sán-chez Castillo (Spain), Francisco Tropa (Portugal), and Oscar Tua-zon (USA).The exhibit explores the redis-covery of ancient materials, such as bronze, stone and ceramic, by contemporary artists, and how these can be used in new ways to reflect on themes of the mon-umental, the fragment, the way materials wear over time, and the recovery of the recent modern-
Sculptures Also Die at Palazzo Strozzi
ist past. The sculpture of the past survives today chiefly due to its ability to survive the test of time and yet bronzes often remain in a broken state, creating an impres-sion of both durability and a cer-tain ephemeral quality, thereby transforming our perception. Sculptures Also Die ties in with Palazzo Strozzi’s Power and Pa-thos exhibition, offering muse-um-goers the opportunity to experience a dialogue between ancient and contemporary worlds of sculpture.
Sculptures Also DieUntil July 26
Palazzo StrozziOpen daily: 10 a.m.–8 p.m
(Until 11 p.m every Thursday)Cost: €10; reduced: free/€4/€8.50
Divided in five sections and the result of a collaboration between the Bargello National Museum, Musée de Cluny in Paris, the Schnütgen Museum of Cologne and Catalonia’s Episcopal Mu-seum of Vic, the exhibition The Middle Ages on the Road explores travelling in the medieval period.The first section of the exhibit ex-plores the boundaries and percep-tions of the known world during the Middle Ages through a series of maps dating back to the four-teenth century, and, in particular, how the world was perceived from Florence at that time.The maps showcased present the routes followed primarily by merchants, as well as other kind of travellers, while the dangers of
sea travel are evoked through an iconographic section and the dis-play of ancient navigation tools.The second part is dedicated to presenting the different types of medieval pilgrims, including their travel garments, instruments, and the badges ‘conquered’ depend-ing on the destinations reached, and also presents direct accounts by the Crusaders.A third section documents land and sea travels through small objects, followed by an examina-tion of the theme of travel made for business or political purposes, such as the missions undertak-en by diplomats, messengers and ambassadors, with the display of various instruments necessary for such tasks, including document
folders, trading cards and letters of exchange.The final part of the exhibition fo-cuses on the short trips made by royalty and aristocrats, together with their entourage, to visit their domains or properties; in short, trips that were simply a demon-stration of power.
The exhibition Dolci Trionfi e Finissime Piegature: Sculture in zucchero e tovaglioli per le nozze fiorentine di Maria de’ Medici is on display at Palazzo Pitti until June 7.Curated by Giovanna Giusti and Riccardo Spinelli, the exhib-it aims to re-create the famous banquet held in Palazzo Vecchio on the evening of October 5, 1600, created by some of the most influ-ential Florentine sculptors of the time on the occasion of the proxy wedding of Maria de’ Medici and Henry IV, King of France, which was celebrated in Florence. That day the most established artists of the period, including
Michelangelo Buonarroti the Younger (to whose account we owe detailed knowledge of the event), Bernardo Buontalenti, Giambologna, Pietro Tacca and Gasparo Mola, showcased some of the most famous sculptures of the time made of sugar instead of bronze. Michelangelo’s account describes decorative food, real pieces of art, and tablecloths and napkins shaped as sculptures.Among the statues that most im-pressed Maria de’ Medici and Henry IV were the sugar sculp-tures representing Henry IV him-self riding a horse, which was 115cm height, and those inspired by the Labours of Hercules.
Dolci Trionfi e Finissime Piegature evokes that magnificent day of feasting, glory and international tribute received by Florentine art-ists, and is one of the city’s events being displayed at Milan Expo.
Heir to five generations of sculp-tors, Raffaello Romanelli special-izes in portraiture and opens his family workshop at the Romanelli Studio Gallery to individual and group lessons. This practice con-tinues the ancient tradition of master and apprentice, in which young boys worked under a mas-ter craftsman in order to learn his secrets (known as andare a botte-ga).Raffaello guides the students in learning the basic technique of modeling a realistic subject in clay with the traditional ‘sight-size method’, which trains the eyes to measure the proportions and vol-umes of the figure. The studio also offers the opportunity to learn how to prepare works for kiln fir-ing, as well as the molding tech-nique to cast it in plaster.
Romanelli Studio Offers Sculpture Workshops
The Romanelli Studio Gallery is one of the oldest active sculpture studios in Europe. Originally a church, it became a sculpture stu-dio in the early nineteenth centu-ry under Lorenzo Bartolini, who was then succeeded by his favor-ite student, Pasquale Romanelli. Five generation later, the studio is still owned and run by the Ro-manelli family. The studio offers weekly courses from Monday to Saturday, as well as part-time courses and single lessons. Each class lasts three hours and takes place at the stu-dio’s historic workshop in Borgo San Frediano in the Oltrarno dis-trict, the haunt of Florence’s top artisans. Participants can coordi-nate the program and class sched-ule with the teacher, and classes are also open to beginners.
Dolci Trionfi e Finissime Piegature at Palazzo Pitti
7
NEWSMAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
Renzi Engages Obama
Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi met with US president Barack Obama at the White House last month. Discussing topics from the migrant crisis fac-ing Europe to a transatlantic trade deal and lingering tensions with Greece, the meeting gave both leaders the chance to exchange their views.While Renzi stressed the crisis in the Mediterranean concerning immigration, he also declared that Milan Expo could be the catalyst for a new war on poverty.
Italy’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Dario Franceschini last month voiced his support for put-ting the floor back in the Colosse-um, pledging that visitors would be able to walk in the center of the ancient arena. Should Franceschini’s statement become reality, it would not only allow Rome to host a variety of shows in this unique venue, but also help to restore the central ar-chaeological area.
Obama offered praise to Renzi for his recent economic reforms in Italy and promised US support to Italian forces in promoting stabil-ity in Libya.During the bilateral meeting, Obama and Renzi also focused on the need to continue supporting Ukraine, the USA’s new frame-work deal reached with Iran, It-aly’s role in the international co-alition against Islamic State (IS) militants, and the importance of job creation and opportunities in Italy.
President of the High Council on Cultural Heritage, Giuliano Volpe, has already given his support to the minister’s proposal. Unlike Franceschini, however, Volpe op-poses altering the existing cen-ter of Rome into an archaeolog-ical park, citing the concerns of marginalizing locals in an area that would “be visited mainly by tourists and would run the risk of being a non-place, expelling citi-zens.”
Ron Howard Shooting Dan Brown’s Inferno in Florence
Anti-Expo Protesters Devastate Milan
American director Ron Howard is filming scenes in Florence for his movie version of Inferno, Dan Brown’s sixth novel. The Tuscan Film Commission and Florence mayor Dario Nardella accompa-nied Howard during his scouting visit, which included stops at the David statue in the Accademia Gallery and Ponte Vecchio.
Mark Massey
The start to the 2015 Milan Expo on May 1 saw property damage and three cars set afire, as a group of 100 demonstrators took to the street in a ‘No Expo’ march. The demonstrators, protesting against globalization, threw Molotov cocktails, paper bombs, bottles and rocks at police. Dressed in full riot gear, the police respond-ed by using tear gas in an effort to
Nardella also accompanied How-ard in a tour of Palazzo Vecchio, which Florence City Council is renting out to the film crew for the hefty price of €250,000, with par-ticular focus on the Map Room and Salone de’ Cinquecento.The historical importance and striking beauty of Palazzo Vec-chio make it a perfect backdrop for
disperse the demonstrators. In the center of Milan, Largo d’An-cona, between Corso Magenta and Via Carducci, was cordoned off by police after protesters set the three cars on fire, who also formed a barricade with garbage cans. Police had bottles thrown at them from the group in Cor-so Magenta as well, and at least one building in downtown Milan had a paper bomb thrown into it. Sparked by protesters dressed in
the latest film in the series. Mayor Nardella said that the filming of Inferno would be an opportunity for the city, and employment in particular. Not only this, but Flor-ence will also receive increased international promotion as a re-sult of the film. To allow filming inside Palazzo Vecchio, its mu-seum will be closed to the public between May 2 and 6, with the ex-ception of the Hall of Arms, which is currently hosting the exhibition Magnificent. Howard has recent-ly shot scenes in Venice, includ-ing St Mark’s Square, and the Rio della Canonica, site of the Bridge of Sighs. Starring Tom Hanks as professor Robert Langdon, Infer-no features Omar Sy, Irrfan Khan, Felicity Jones and Sidse Babett, with screenplay by David Koepp. The film’s release is planned for October next year. In addition to Florence and Venice, filming pro-duction is scheduled to include Istanbul as well.
New Colosseum Floor Proposedthe ‘Black Block’ style, the march-es occurred at the same time that the Expo kicked off. Protesters had already started to gather in the city center, with permission from the Milan police. Although the march was allowed to pro-ceed, the demonstration was kept away from the main entrance of the Expo. Milan’s mayor Giulia-no Pisapia said, “We must isolate, identify and punish the criminals who are devastating Milan.”
8 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
LITERATURE
Natalia Piombino
Coordinator of the Reader Association of the National Central Library of Florence
The conditions of the National Central Library of Florence, the most important in Italy due to the number and value of its volumes, are getting worse day by day. The fundamental causes of this degradation are the limited re-sources available and the shortage of staff, two factors that have led to a progressive deterioration of the services provided by the library. These include the cataloging of material, the very few number of foreign books purchased, the con-tinuing contraction of book distri-bution hours, and the flaws in the library’s online catalog in which, for instance, recent volumes have been cataloged but are unavail-able for consultation as – we were told by the library’s staff – these books are distributed only two days a week.Finding new premises for the li-brary appears urgent, but the renovation alone of the Curtatone and Montanara barracks will take about €20 million. Money that, at the moment, the library cannot afford to spend.The director of the library, Ma-ria Letizia Sebastiani, has talk-ed for months of a project for the creation of a national newspaper library but, as of today, the only certain truth is a notice on the li-brary’s official website informing the public that the collection of magazines stored at Forte Belve-
dere is unavailable for an indefi-nite period of time.The re-opening of the so-called ‘new wing’ in Via Magliabechi – following renovations financed with public money – which was supposed to include a coffee shop, a bookstore and more space for storing the books, seems to have disappeared from the library’s agenda. Will the magistrature ever establish if someone will have to refund the community for the money that was spent on the renovations?The problem of the shortage of library personnel was dealt with through the employment of vol-unteer staff (Servizio Civile Regio-nale) and trainees (internships)instead of qualified workers. Last January, a note on the library’s
website announced the drastic reduction of the distribution of modern printed material: in other words, the absence of semi-vol-unteer personnel provokes the li-brary’s semi-paralysis.The staff still on duty work hard, but the library is now an inhospi-table place where working is un-comfortable, for both users and staff. Not just because of the lack of services, but also because the fa-cilities are cold in winter and hot in summer, it lacks a coffee shop and decent spaces for readers to take a break, and because the in-ternet is slow, and the wi-fi doesn’t even work in some rooms. The consequences are a gradual emp-tying of the Reading Room on the first floor (Sala di Consultazione),
A Library in Shambles?A look at the conditions of the National Central Library of Florence BIBLIOTECA GABINETTO
which isprevalently frequented by re-searchers who need a bet-ter-equipped place to work in. The degradation of the library has reached its peak with the or-ganization of fashion shows and rounds of golf during opening hours.Alongside services that are in-creasingly getting worse, the host-ing of conferences and exhibits has flourished to the extent that research seems to have become a residual interest for the library.The reform promoted by the gov-ernment has been based on the principle, often repeated by Min-ister of Culture and Tourism Dario Franceschini, of the ‘profitability’ of culture. Thus, museums and archaeologi-cal sites, as they represent sources of profit, have taken priority and garnered much more attention.It is for all these reasons that the Readers Association of the Na-tional Central Library of Florence, which has been fighting to revive the library for more than 20 years, has engaged in a political struggle for the defense of public libraries as well as of Article 9 of the Italian Constitution. In keeping with what was stated by the Constitution, forms of pri-vatization of the cultural heritage that compromise its democratic functions must be considered un-acceptable. Italy’s most important library survives thanks to volun-teer work and some, yet inconsis-tent, donation. All this poses a question: is Italy a republic solely based on volun-teerism and philanthropy?
9MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
LITERATURE
Corso dei Tintori, 39/r | Tel.: 055 24 66 660 | Fax.: 055 24 66 067
Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. & 3-6 p.m.
International & national shipping servicePacking material
Full color digital copies Fax service
Storage serviceFree pick up at school or home
Why Read the Commedia?Dante’s otherworld in 2015
Lee Foust
About 710 years ago a 40-year-old Florentine poet in exile put quill to
parchment and began work on a long narrative poem that would become his magnum opus. No European author had written such a work in his native tongue (discounting a few Germanic and Scandinavian monster stories) since Nonnus penned the Diony-siaca in the fifth century. The au-thor was of course Dante Alighieri and the poem the Commedia, a fairly common Christian tale of a journey to the otherworld (about 99 such texts, most in Latin prose, predate Dante’s poem) composed in Florentine vernacular verse with a veneer of classicism to make it shine.Why would we still want to read such a poem after 700 years? Sure-ly we have returned, for the most part, to classical values of honor and strength, leaving most of our Christian morality to the zeal-ots—pride, Epicureanism, and selfishness are all virtues now. Allegory, the primary literary style of the Middle Ages has been re-placed by realism and a slightly more subtle symbolism. Lastly, we prefer novels these days; we find verse pretentious, and episodic encyclopedic works seeking to contain all of human knowledge overbearing and silly in our own new age of political spin and phil-osophical doubt.Ah, but the Commedia compli-
cates all of these objections. The poem’s presentation of “the state of souls after death,” as the poet’s dedicatory letter to Cangrande della Scala puts it, is not wholly Christian, but rather an attempt to integrate the Christian concept of sin with Aristotle’s Nicomache-an Ethics and the classical world’s concept of proper social comport-ment. Is not our modern legal sys-tem also such a hybrid? Do we not all live in a moral netherworld, nowadays, between the Ten Com-mandments, the Seven Capital Vices, the Golden Rule, and some version of Justinian’s law code? We are vague: we call it a ‘moral compass,’ but ethics and/or mor-als are the foundation of our daily lives. We might do well to read an extended meditation on what it
means to do good or evil.The modern reader will find the Commedia’s morality shockingly complex, I think, considering our generally condescending opinion of the Middle Ages. It goes after so many things we hold dear: ro-mance, teaching, humanism, and shows how these good things can be used to lead one to a violent death, a waste of one’s intellect, forbidden knowledge. And, frank-ly, a world run largely by banks too big to fail, two generations of col-lege grads permanently disabled by student debt, and an ongoing mortgage crisis, might want to take a second look at the ethics of lending money at interest.While the allegory of medieval literature is often tedious—see Spencer’s Faerie Queene—the In-
ferno particularly integrates many literary strategies to get its point across. The borrowing of some of the landscape and monsters from the descent into Hades episode of Virgil’s Aeneid gives color and va-riety to the Commedia. Also the classical figures cleverly become avatars for Christian moral val-ues: Cerberus, the three-headed dog who guards the gates of Ha-des, for example, stands before the gluttons, always hungry with his three mouths to feed. Although generally poetically metaphoric, the tortures in hell are described in gory detail, on a par with Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead for pure, visceral punch. Best of all, the short, pitiful soliloquies of the characters trapped for eternity in hell bring medieval people to life
Lee Foust is a fiction writer and performer from Oakland,
California who teaches literature and creative writing at various US universities in Florence. He
is the author of Sojourner, a collection of stories and poems about the mystery of place, and
the forthcoming Poison and Antidote, nine Bohemian tales of San Francisco during the Reagan
era. Read more from Lee at www.leefoust.com.
in a way that no other text of the period does—not even Chaucer or Boccaccio, whose texts too often fall back on the actions of bawdy situation comedy over character study.I concur that, philosophically, we know very little with any de-gree of certainty, and yet I mar-vel each time I read the Comme-dia—once a year as I teach it at two different universities every spring. I admire the poem’s out-rageous scope and its desire to say everything there was, at that time, to say. Are we not rather too compartmentalized these days? When I see politicians unable to look scientists in the eye, church-man out of touch with so much of humanity’s struggles, and armies thrashing through foreign wars their nations never needed or wanted, I wonder, isn’t it time to think through classical ethics and Christian morality again in a more holistic way? Right or wrong, for better or worse, agree with it or scoff, Dante’s Commedia forces us to re-consider such topics.
10 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
CULTURE
Lucy David
A family of Florentine craftsmen has discovered previously un-known theorems hidden in Leon-ardo’s mechanical designs, shed-ding light on the full scope of his genius.Carlo Niccolai and his son Gabri-ele have spent decades construct-ing working models of Leonardo’s inventions through close study of his famous codices. In collabo-ration with a team of specialists, the Niccolai family re-creates the designs using materials such as wood, rope, fabric and metal that date back to the fifteenth and six-teenth centuries. The rigor of practical and me-chanical tests carried out on each model has given rise to a number of insights into Leonardo’s ap-proach and surprisingly modern grasp of technology, such as his fa-mous ‘robot’, which was originally believed to have been designed as an armored robotic knight. How-ever, during laboratory tests the robot was discovered to be lim-ited in its upper body movement and instead possess flexible wrists adapted to drumming, and is now believed to have been designed for use in parades and ceremonies. In his studies for a European Com-mission-sponsored exhibition of the machines in Brussels earlier this year, Gabriele Niccolai noted how Leonardo appears to have deliberately scattered the me-chanical components required to create his inventions over several different pages of his codices, al-lowing artisans to create individ-
Realizing Leonardo’s Projects Exhibit showcases working models of da Vinci’s designs, as museum hits 10th anniversary
The Machines of Leonardo da VinciMichelangiolo Gallery
€3 (groups of 15 or more).Entrance, snack and drink
promotion: €8 (between 11 a.m. & 4 p.m.).
055 295 264www.macchinedileonardo.com
ual elements but preventing their understanding of the machine as a whole. This may be due in part to the fact that Leonardo’s codi-ces have been split up and reas-sembled over the years – sculptor Pompeo Leoni took the liberty of cutting and dividing several of the codices into scientific and artis-tic categories in the seventeenth century – however such a practice would have also safeguarded his inventions during times of war. Leonardo’s catapult design in the Atlantic Codex is rendered useless without details of its ballistic ad-justments, which are found in a different part of the codex as a se-ries of self-locking mechanisms. A deeper understanding of Leon-ardo’s codices has revealed that many of his technological inno-vations rested upon those of his engineering predecessors, such as Brunelleschi, Vitruvius, Heron of Alexandria and Archimedes of
Syracuse, which Leonardo adapt-ed to his own context. His modi-fication of a mechanism based on a description found in Herodotus and believed to have been used for building the pyramids surpassed all expectations when Niccolai created its working model in 2011: a 300kg concrete block was so re-duced in weight that a six-year-old child was able to lift it.The Niccolai family has been re-constructing working models of Leonardo’s designs since 1995, when Carlo Niccolai dedicated himself to the work full-time in a desire to realise Leonardo’s legacy. His passion founded the Niccolai Collection, the largest private col-lection of Leonardo models in the world, comprising more than 300 working models created by him-self and his sons, together with a team of artisans, engineers, histo-rians and architects. The models have been displayed
at more than 100 international ex-hibitions throughout Europe and as far afield as Australia, New Zea-land, China, the US, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Finland. More than 50 working models are on perma-nent display at The Machines of Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at Gal-leria Michelangiolo in Via Cavour. Here visitors have the chance to not only observe but also interact with various prototypes, such as the aerial screw used in today’s helicopters, alongside a scu-ba-diving apparatus, glider, bicy-cle, tank and missiles; and view reconstructions of Leonardo’s studies of anatomy. The exhibit also displays copies of six codices, in which the visitor can view the sketches that reveal the workings of the great man’s mind. The Niccolai family has been widely praised for its ongoing de-votion to realising the vast inheri-tance that Leonardo left to science.
Professor Carlo Pedretti, director of the Armand Hammer Center for Leonardo Studies at the University of California, says, “Carlo Niccolai is an admirable figure, a talented craftsman who has developed his own way in studying the techno-logical level reached by Leonardo da Vinci. Moreover, he is a person gifted with great simplicity and humility. His work is important to scholars because it helps our the-ories and contributes to study in-depth Leonardo’s machines and all the technological discoveries made at that time.” Indeed, as Bill Gates’ $30 million purchase of the Leicester Codex indicates, we have much to be grateful to Leon-ardo for: next time your car gets a flat tire, you can thank Leonardo for inventing the jack.
Leonardo’s designs on display include the aerial screw (used in today’s helicopters), human robot, hydraulic drill, scuba-
diving apparatus, hang glider, tank, missiles, bicycle, floodlight,
lifebuoy and jack.
11MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
CULTURE
Dante Readings in Florence
Baptistery readings begin at 6 p.m., with free admission.
May 5: Lecture: Emilio Pasquini; Reading: Michele Placido
May 12: Lecture: Lucia Battaglia Ricci; Reading: Roberto Herlitzka
May 19: Lecture Gianfranco Ravasi; Reading: Gioele Dix
May 14, Santa Croce: 100 canti read aloud by Dante scholars and
Florentines.
Flowers and Bonfires: Remembering Savonarola
In Florentine culture, May has al-ways meant happiness, regenera-tion, and according to an Italian tradition called Calendimaggio, May has always been the period of trysts. Popular songs were ded-icated to this magic moment of flowering and rebirth, accompa-nied by richly colored flowers and garlands in people’s dress. How-ever, the history of May flowers in the city also has a deeper mean-ing.It has been over 500 years since Florence’s infamous ‘Bonfire of the Vanities’ took place. Girola-mo Savonarola, Dominican friar, leader and, above all, killjoy of Florence, burned anything vague-ly associated with moral laxity that might cause one to sin. Board games, clothes, books, paintings and even musical in-
struments – these were all set aflame by Savonarola’s support-ers, among whom Botticelli was a fervent participant and who also cast several of his works into the flames. One of the most important festi-vals in Florence this month com-memorates Savonarola’s memory by marking the anniversary of his public execution, which took place on May 23, 1498 in Piazza della Signoria and is known as La Fiorita. A procession begins in the piazza at 10 a.m. and accompanies city authorities to the Ponte Vecchio, where flowers are thrown by Flo-rentines and tourists alike into the Arno, as Savonarola’s faithfuls did with his ashes. Other notable Florentine anni-versaries taking place this month
include Dante’s 750th birthday (May 14–June 1, 1265, depend-ing on sources), the inauguration of the Santa Croce facade (May 3, 1863) and the unveiling of the Dante monument in Piazza Santa Croce by the King of Italy (May 14, 1865); the deaths of Leonardo da Vinci (May 2, 1519) and Botticelli (May 17, 1510); the birth of Bar-tolomeo Cristofori, inventor of the piano (May 4, 1655); and finally the Mafia bomb that exploded in Florence (May 27, 1993). This de-stroyed the Georgofili Library and damaged an estimated 25 percent of the Uffizi Gallery’s artworks and part of the Vasari Corridor. Five people died, including Cater-ina, the daughter of the library’s guardian, who was born just 50 days earlier. Some flowers are for them too.
The 750th anniversary of Floren-tine poet Dante Alighieri’s birth is being celebrated throughout Italy with more than 180 events planned. Oscar-winning Tuscan actor Roberto Benigni launches the commemoration with a read-ing of Dante in Parliament on May 4, which is being broadcast live at 11 a.m. via RAI radio.Best known for his masterpiece The Divine Comedy, Dante is also being honored with readings at the Florentine Baptistery between May 5 and 19 by actors Gioele Dix, Roberto Herlitzka and Michele Placido, as well as lectures by lead-ing Dante scholars.Although Dante’s actual date of birth is contested, May 14 was the date chosen the unveil his mon-ument at Santa Croce in 1865 to mark his 600th anniversary. This
Italy celebrates Dante’s 750th birthday
event is being re-enacted in 2015 together with a historical parade and the reading of 100 canti by Dante scholars and Florentines. The cities of Ravenna, Rome and Verona, also associated with the poet, are staging various Dan-te-related events, while another 173 are planned outside Italy.
12 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
OLTRARNO
A Hidden Treasure in the OltrarnoHistory and culture merge at St Mark’s English Church
Olivia Turchi
Walking along Via Maggio, nestled among the antique shops and the art
galleries, there is a small, almost hidden treasure: St Mark’s English Church.In the heart of Florence, just a few steps from the Ponte Santa Trini-ta, the church is a reference point for the English-speaking commu-nity in Florence. Over the years it has become an integral part of the Florentine community and an attraction for Italian and for-eign visitors alike. In fact, like the whole Oltrarno area, it is both in-ternational and cosmopolitan at the same time, while remaining traditionally ‘Florentine.’Many important personalities of the nineteenth century lived in the Oltrarno, from English poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning, who actually lived just a few steps from St Mark’s in Piazza San Felice, where the Guidi Museum now is; to merchant Gian Pietro Vies-seux, founder of Gabinetto Vie-usseux that was initially located in Palazzo Buondelmonti before being moved to Palazzo Strozzi; to Italian patriot Giuseppe Garib-aldi’s mistress Jessie White Mario, whose apartment was in Via Ro-mana, just to mention a few.The building in which the church stands belonged to Niccolò Ma-chiavelli in the fifteenth century. In 1881, Reverend Charles inau-gurated the church on the ground floor of the building. Its architec-
ture and decoration mix the old with the new, standing out with its striking red columns that sus-tain cream-colored arches em-bellished with grey and blue floral decorations, crowned by a circu-lar window placed above the altar.It was English painter JR Spencer Stanhope who, with help of En-glish and local artists, engineered and realized the wall and ceiling decorations at his own expense, in such a way that the Renaissance ambience merges beautifully with the Victorian decorations and En-glish Pre-Raphaelite-style paint-
ing, of which the church is the only example in Florence.Damaged by the 1966 flood, the internal decorations have not yet been restored, while a completely new white marble statue, inau-gurated in 2008, is located on the external facade. The statue, called Apotheosis of St Mark, was made by sculptor Jason Arkles, the first American artist ever to obtain a public and permanent exposition in Florence.Today, a community of at least 150 regularly gathers here. Father Wil-liam Lister has become the hub of
Olivia Turchi and the Via Maggio Association
Born in France, but forever Florentine, Olivia Turchi grew up in the Oltrarno neighbourhood of Florence, where she learned
to love history and artisan traditions. Turchi is the founder and president of the Via Maggio Association, a society born to
protect the cultural identity and the unique connotations of the street and its historical quarter,
which is composed of a voluntary committee of citizens, including
business owners, artisans, antique dealers and residents.
the Florentine Anglican commu-nity, and at the same time the pro-moter of cultural events, definitely among the best quality that Flor-ence has to offer. Literary and art meetings are frequent, along with writing labs by Florence Writers, while St Mark’s also collaborates with the Via Maggio Association, the Florence International Bien-nial Antiques Fair and the Festival of Europe.The church’s crowning point is St Mark’s Opera, which was estab-lished 11 years ago and continues to enchant spectators from all
over the world. Austrian conduc-tor Franz Moser and his group of talented singers captivate guests with opera of national quality, in an informal atmosphere with reli-able acoustics.Here, at St Mark’s Church, reli-gion and art join the internation-al and local community in a true cultural exchange that is both English-speaking and purely Flo-rentine.
St Mark’s English ChurchVia Maggio, 16055 294 764
www.stmarksitaly.com
14 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
FASHION
Ship Ugo Poggi Treasures Home
Established almost a century ago and now in the hands of its second generation, Ugo Poggi displays handmade Murano glass, crystal-ware, antique porcelain and sil-verware, and a range of contem-porary tableware at its Florentine showroom. Murano glass has long been not-ed for its quality and brilliance: produced around 1450 on the Ve-netian island of Murano, its for-mula was a closely guarded secret for centuries and known only to the island’s master glaziers. To-day Ugo Poggi, son of the found-er by the same name, personally designs the showroom’s Murano glass tableware, lamps and or-naments, which carry the Poggi name engraved on each piece as a guarantee of quality. Porcelain items are selected with care from top manufacturers in Florence and England, with piec-es that date back to the early twen-
tieth century, while the addition of its range of antique silverware has seen the Florentine Antiquar-ian Association count Ugo Poggi amongst its members. While the showroom is consid-ered the oldest of its kind in Flor-ence, its business nous has moved with the times; not only does Ugo Poggi offer a range of modern ta-bleware and kitchenware but it also ships its items throughout the world. It boasts a wide-rang-ing clientele, from the USA to Chi-na and Australia to Japan. Drop into the showroom on Via Strozzi, opposite Palazzo Strozzi, and browse the display or contact Ugo Poggi to ask about shipping prod-ucts directly home.
The first company to introduce the American novelty of rigid suit-cases to the Italian market, Valige-ria Gazzarrini is a historic shop in Florence, one that has marked the commercial history of the city.The combination of innovation and determination that has char-acterized the company since its beginnings in 1911, when found-er Giuseppe Gazzarrini bought the leather manufacturing firm
Reinventing Suitcases
Florentine Renaissance Perfumes on Sale Florentine pharmacist Giovanni Di Massimo discovered Queen of France Caterina de’ Medici’s secret perfume formulas written on a Renaissance manuscript. Di Massimo discovered his ‘treasure’ hidden away in the pharmacy basement following Florence’s fa-mous flood of 1966. Dr Di Massimo then started re-creating these Renaissance-era fragrances using only natural ingredients, including not only fragrances commissioned by the Medici family but also other scents popular among nobility of
Valigeria Gazzarrini Open daily: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Via Porta Rossa, 71-73/r
the period. Currently, I Profumi di Firen-ze includes more than 30 scents crafted from sixteenth-century Renaissance formulas, as well as more modern fragrances. The most popular fragrance in the col-lection is ‘Vaniglia del Madagas-car.’ More in tune with the season, ‘Brezza di Mare’ and ‘Neroli Flor’ are popular choices as well.I Profumi di Firenze fragrances are sold at C.O. Bigelow in New York, Fred Segal in Hollywood, Ti-gerlily Perfumery in San Francis-co, and online at beautyhabit.com.
at which he worked to begin spe-cializing in suitcases, is the reason for its swift rise to success. By the 1920s Gazzarrini was already rec-ognized for the quality of its prod-ucts at national and international trade fairs, and four generations later it supplies top leather good and travel accessories worldwide.Today the story continues in the vein of its Florentine artisan roots, with a dual focus on quality Italian
goods such as Labiena 1856 and Orobianco, and emerging trends in international brands, including Longchamp, Tumi and Samsonite.
15MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
FASHION
Located near Santa Croce, Alchimia of-fers a variety of women and mens’s hair and beauty services using the finest brands. Open daily from 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.Services include: • Haircuts, color and highlight• Long-length extensions• Keratin reconstruction & hair botox• ESSIE Gel reconstruction and
permanent enamel• Acrylic nail care• Waxing• Massage (healing and relaxation)• Custom make-up
HAIRDRESSER AND BEAUTY SERVICES
Via dell’Agnolo, 47–49–51/r055 24 16 04
www.alchimia-hairdesign.com
Fashionistas flock to Florence for ModaPrima 78
Strolling and Shopping Florence Online
The 78th edition of international fashion show ModaPrima returns to Florence from May 22–24 at Stazione Leopolda. Hosted by Pitti Immagine, ModaPrima is highly anticipated event on the fashion buyer calen-dar that presents ready-to-wear fashion trends and accessories for men and women. This edition previews the spring-summer 2016 season’s collection, with a special focus on bestsellers for fall/winter 2015–2016. ModaPrima aims to build relationships among the in-stitutions that support both Ital-ian fashion abroad and the play-ers who work directly in the field of international distribution.
This edition presents 150 Italian manufacturers as well as careful-ly selected international brands. Previous editions have seen more than 1,700 buyers, 800 of whom were international, with partic-ipants from more than 50 coun-tries. Japan has represented the largest source of ModaPrima buy-ers in years past, as well as compa-nies from Spain, Turkey, Portugal, France, Belgium, Russia, Ger-many, Holland, Greece, United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Ko-rea, Ireland, Switzerland, Poland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Canada and Sweden.Last November’s edition of Modaprima 77 was declared a
great success despite a slight drop in the number of Italian buyers, an indication of how the nation’s ongoing economic difficulties are affecting domestic consumption.Until 2001 ModaPrima was held in Milan but relocated to Florence for its 71st edition in 2011. Its host ven-ue is an example of the innovation promoted by the event: once a dis-used nineteenth-century railway station, Stazione Leopolda has now become a hub for contempo-rary events happening in the city.Pitti Immagine’s online exhibition project e-Pitti coincides with the event to allow buyers to discov-er new collections and increase business with new contacts.
Since 1720 Fattoria Montagliari has pro-duced Chianti Classico DOCG, Chianti Classico Riserva, Brunesco di San Lo-renzo IGT, grappa, brandy, amaro di San Lorenzo, aged vin santo, extra-virgin ol-ive oil, and aged Trebbiano balsamic (20 and 28 years). Products can be purchased from the online shop as well as in the farm store and restaurant. The farm, located in the heart of Chianti, offers cooking classes and wine tastings.
Bus stop: ‘Cappelli’ between Lamole - Panzano in Chianti.
A new plat-form for s h o p p i n g in Florence has been l a u n c h e d online. En-titled You-
MODY, the concept enables con-sumers to ‘stroll’ the streets of Florence virtually, and enter the city’s most prestigious shops and artisan workshops to buy prod-ucts. It’s the first time such a compre-hensive approach has been taken to online shopping in Florence. While the city is renowned for its craftsmanship, many of these traditional workshops are hid-den away in its maze of winding streets. YouMODY’s objective is to make these artisans more visible and enable them to be ‘visited’ by a
greater number of virtual clients, in order to promote the range and quality of items hand-produced in Florence.
“We have united Florence and the ‘Made in Italy’ brand to enable those who can’t be here physical-ly to stroll the streets of Florence and go shopping,” says concept founder Lorenzo Bulgarini. Consumers can browse shops that range in location from the city’s most exclusive thorough-fares, such as Via de’ Tornabuoni and the Ponte Vecchio, to the cen-trally located Via Porta Rossa, Via della Vigna Nuova, Via de’ Rondi-nelli and Via del Parione; and Bor-go San Jacopo and Via de’ Bardi in the traditionally artisan Oltrarno district. Items can be purchased online via computer, smartphone or tablet, and are delivered free worldwide by specialized courier.
16 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
CITY GUIDETOURIST INFORMATION
Firenze Turismo 055 29 08 32 // 055 29 08 33Via Cavour, 1/rMon–Sat: 8:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.(Closed on Sundays and public holidays; see Comune info points below for Sunday hours.)[email protected] Airport ...........................055 31 58 74Via del Termine, 1Daily: 8:30a.m.–8:[email protected] ....................................... 055 21 22 45Piazza Stazione, 4Mon–Sat: 8:30a.m.–7 p.m.Sundays & public holidays: 8:30 a.m.–2 [email protected] loggia .............................. 055 28 84 96Piazza San GiovanniMon–Sat: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.Sundays & public holidays: 9 a.m.–2 [email protected]
MARKETS ANTIQUESBorgo Allegri, Via dell’Agnolo, Piazza dei Ciompi, Via Martiri del PopoloLast Sunday of each month (except July): 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.CENTRAL MARKETVia dell’ArientoMonday–Friday: 7 a.m.– 2 p.m. ; Sat: 7 a.m.–5 p.m.July and August: Monday–Saturday: 7 a.m.–2 p.m.CASCINE PARKFood products, clothing, antiques and home-wares.J. F. KennedyEvery Tuesday: 8 a.m.–2 p.m. FLEA MARKETPiazza dei CiompiDaily: 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.FLOWERS & PLANTS Via Pellicceria (under the loggia)Every Thursday (except public holidays): 8 a.m.–2 p.m.PORCELLINOClothing, textiles, Florentine straw products, leather and souvenirs. Piazza del Mercato Nuovo, Via Porta RossaDaily: 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.SAN LORENZOLeather goods (bags, shoes, clothing) and sou-venirs.Piazza San Lorenzo and neighboring streets Daily: 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m.SANT’AMBROGIOFresh produce, flowers, clothes and home-wares.PIAZZA GHIBERTIIndoor market: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday: 7:30 a.m.–2 p.m.; Wednesday & Friday: 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.; Satur-day: 7:30 a.m.–5 p.m.Outdoor market: Monday–Saturday: 8 a.m.–2 p.m.SANTO SPIRITOPiazza Santo Spirito Fresh produce: Monday–Saturday: 8 a.m.–2 p.m.Handicrafts & antiques: 2nd Sunday of each month
DIRECT BUS TO PISA AIRPORT
Coaches depart from: Pisa Airport arrivals area, in front of the arrivals gate and Florence City Center S.M. Novella Train Station, outside the station. Journey: 70 minutes.
From Pisa to Florence:05.00 - 08.45 - 09.20 - 10.15 - 11.30
MUSEUMS & GALLERIESAccademia Gallery*Alinari National Photography Museum*Bargello National Museum*Bigallo Museum*Cathedral Museum (Museo dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore)*Costume Gallery (Palazzo Pitti)*Dante House Museum*Galileo Museum *Horne Foundation Museum *Jewish Museum*Michelangelo’s House (Casa Buonarroti)*MUDI Children’s Museum Museum & Florentine Institute of Prehistory Museum of Natural History sections:Anthropology & Ethnology*Geology & Paleontology*Minerology & Lithology*Zoology ‘La Specola’*National Archaeological Museum*Orsanmichele*Palatine Gallery (Palazzo Pitti)*Palazzo Davanzati*Palazzo Medici-Riccardi*Palazzo Pitti*Palazzo Strozzi* Palazzo Vecchio*Porcelain Museum*Science & Technical Foundation*Uffizi Gallery*Vasari Corridor
RELIGIOUS SITESBaptistry of San Giovanni*Brancacci Chapel*Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo)‘Dante’s church’ (Santa Margherita de’ Cerchi)Jewish Synagogue*Medici Chapel*Ognissanti San LorenzoSan Marco*Santa Croce*Santa FelicitàSanta Maria Novella*Santissima AnnunziataSanto Spirito
Taxi Bus1 Pax 20 Euro** 6 Euro*2 Pax 20 Euro ** 12 Euro*3 Pax 20 Euro ** 18 Euro*4 Pax 20 Euro** 24 Euro*5 Pax 20 Euro ** 30 Euro**then you need a Taxi/** more 1 Euro each bag
www.airportbusexpress.it
17MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
CITY GUIDE
The Firenze Card is your one-stop pass to the museums, churches and gardens of Florence. For €72 it offers:
• 72 hours of free access to 60 of Florence’s most popular and important museums, church-es and gardens, including current exhibitions, perma-nent collections and museum activities;
• Free use of public transport within Florence;
• Immediate access to busy museums – skip long queues and pre-booking;
• Dedicated smartphone ap-plication to help find the mu-seums, access free wi-fi and give you updated information on exhibits and events;
• Though the card can only be used once in each museum by one person, it also allows free entrance for EU citizens under 18 who are members of the same family unit of the cardholder.See the website for full details:
www.firenzecard.it
Sixty Museums in 72 Hours with the Firenze Card
Become a Friend of the Uffizi
For €40 for youth under 25, €60 for an adult and €100 for a family (two adults and two children), the
card offers a calendar year’s worth of free privileged entrance to the
following museums:
Uffizi Gallery Accademia Gallery
The Pitti PalaceThe Palatine Gallery & Royal Apartments
The Gallery of Modern ArtThe Costume GalleryThe Medici Treasury
The Porcelain MuseumThe Boboli GardensThe Bardini Gardens
Bargello National MuseumMuseum of the Medici ChapelsMuseum of Palazzo Davanzati
Museum of San MarcoGarden of the Medici Villa of
CastelloMedici Villa of Petraia
Medici Villa of Poggio a CaianoMedici Villa of Cerreto Guidi
& Historical Hunting Territorial Museum
Cenacolo of Ognissanti Cenacolo of Andrea del Sarto
Cenacolo of Fuligno Cenacolo of Sant’Apollonia
Cloister of the Scalzo
www.amicidegliuffizi.it
COOKING COURSES IN SANTO SPIRITO
THE RESTAURANT OF THE FLORENTINES
DISCOVER RIVA LOFTS’ ‘SECRET KITCHEN’
In Tavola aims to spread Italian food- and wine-rich regional culinary traditions, such as those of Tuscany with its variety of dishes and recipes. Cooking classes as well as individual lessons for both professionals and beginners are offered, with special deals for students. Courses include: Market tour & cooking class, four-course dinner, easy dinner, easy lunch, home-made pasta and pizza & gelato.
Located in Via Ghibellina near Santa Croce, Da Que’ Ganzi offers a fresh seafood and meat menu for both lunch and dinner. Tuscan specialties include ribollita and authentic Florentine steak, and all of the cakes and sweets are homemade. A special weekday lunch menu for less than €10 makes the restaurant affordable for anyone. Special dishes: BAKED SEA BASS & TUSCAN STEAKMon. to Sun.: 12–2:30 p.m. & 7–11:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.
Take the hassle out of hosting with EAST. We cater for private and corporate events at both award-winning Riva Lofts on the Arno and from the comfort of your own home, providing vibrant multicultural flavors with innovation and care. Enjoy fireside, poolside or garden dining options at Riva Lofts and such favourite dishes as basil panna cotta with prosciutto, grilled figs and rocket salad; and crispy Chinese pork belly served with rice and a warm caramel-chili sauce.
Via dei Velluti, 18 • 055 21 76 72www.intavola.org • [email protected]
Via Ghibellina, 70/r •055 22 60 010www.daqueiganzi.it • [email protected]
‘Pozzo Divino’ is a witty play on words: literally meaning ‘divine well’, it translates as ‘wine well’ when read as pozzo di vino. The ancient well in question is now part of a cellar that hosts Pozzo Divino’s wine tours. Dating back to 1312, the well is seven cen-turies old and was originally built to supply water through a vast system of underground tunnels and pipes to the prisoners of the local prison, known as the Stinche (now Teatro Verdi), that stretched as far as the Bargello. Guests are offered a spectrum of Tuscan flavors to try, from a vari-ety of the region’s renowned Chi-anti Classico to white wines that include Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio. The wine-tasting ends with the most exclusive reds of the cellar: Bolgheri, Super Tuscan, Morellino and Montepulciano. Upon request, guests also enjoy a buffet lunch comprising fresh
pasta, specialty Italian second courses, and “the best panini in the world” made by Pino himself.Pino boasts that 90 percent of the wines he holds are of Tuscan or-igin, and that his tours prove so popular that he often ships back boxes of the wine sampled to America in order to appease im-pressed customers. Pozzo Divino’s wine tours can be organized for tourist groups, fam-ilies and universities, and cost only €15 a head.
Take a wine-tasting tour alongside Pozzo Divino’s 700-year-old well
Pozzo DivinoVia Ghibellina, 144/r
055 24 66 907Open from Monday to Saturday:
9:30 a.m.–12.:30 p.m./ 2–6:30 p.m.Wine-tasting on Sundays by
The smell of tripe cooking on the streets of Florence was once so overwhelming that Lorenzo de’ Medici banned the kiosks alto-gether. However, such was its popularity that once the Medici lost power, tripe returned in force and se-cured its place as a mainstay of Florentine street food. Initially, tripe was a staple food for laborers and the working classes, and it dates as far back as the four-teenth century. Simple wooden street carts served sandwiches stuffed with tripe, and this tradition continues today, albeit in the more sophisticated kiosks that can be found dotted around the city. In order to fully understand this Florentine meal, an explanation of what tripe is and how it is cooked might be useful. Trippa, or tripe, is made from the
A Taste of Florence’s Age-Old Sandwich
cow’s pre-stomachs, and is soft, white, and mostly flavorless. En-joyed in many regions of Italy, it is cooked in a variety of ways.Lampredotto, however, is the uniquely local Florentine ver-sion, made from the cow’s fourth stomach, called the abomasum. The name lampredotto comes, curiously, from the Italian word for lamprey eels, lampreda – once very abundant in the waters of the Arno River – as it resembles the in-side of the mouth of a lamprey in shape and color. Tuscan cooks rinse lampredot-to well and boil it with tomatoes, onions, parsley and celery for two to three hours. The meat is then served in a Tuscan saltless bread roll (panino) with salt, pep-per, chilli oil or salsa verde (green sauce), with the top slice of the roll dunked in the lampredotto stock.For the most authentic and deli-cious experience of tripe, locals recommend L’Antico Trippaio,
which has a reputation for making the best panino con lampredotto in town. Located in the Piazza dei Cimatori, L’Antico Trippaio has an impressive track record; it has pro-vided Florentines with high-qual-ity yet affordable street food for more than 80 years. This specialty attracts a wide vari-ety of clients, with roughly 30 per-cent of customers being tourists, along with a large local fan base and visitors who come from as far away as Milan specifically for the famous sandwiches. Indeed, approximately 250,000 kilograms of trippa and 80,000 kilograms of lampredotto are consumed in Florence each year, which indicates that this historical curiosity is far from losing its pop-ularity.The meat is tender, if a slightly disconcerting texture, and it is well-seasoned and dripping in de-licious, herby gravy and topped off with salsa verde.
Banned by Lorenzo de’ Medici, lampredotto remains alive at L’Antico Trippaio in Piazza dei Cimatori
In true Florentine tradition, the outdoor food cart provides trippa, lampredotto, lesso,
poppa, matrice, porchetta, salumi, and wild boar sausages made fresh daily. L’Antico
Trippaio is the best place to enjoy excellent panini and focacce like a true local. Just steps
from the Duomo, it is one of the most frequented lunch spots in the historic city
center.
Your one-stop shop for a lampredotto sandwich in Piazza dei Cimatori
and San Lorenzo
www.anticotrippaio.it
19MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
HISTORY
www.salonecontrasto.it
LIFESTYLE SALON & SPA
Via de' Neri, 53-55/r 055 23 98 553
CONCEPT SALON - without appointment
Via de' Neri, 49/r 055 28 28 41
CONCEPT SALONVia dei Benci, 5/r
055 21 92 27
Chiara Becchetti
Before the Renais-sance, and until the fifteenth century,
women were represented in art as religious and biblical figures, ac-cording to a conception deriving from Byzantine art. The first artist to trace the new path was Giotto, who during the Middle Ages painted the first fe-male breast in history, the Mae-stà di Ognissanti, today housed in the first room of the Uffizi Gallery. Giotto’s woman was the first that was a real female rather than an icon, a real mother in her material and physical presence.It was only during the Renais-sance that this pattern of an ideal-ized woman to adore was broken and that women began to be rep-resented as human, females now bereaved of their abstract and religious meaning. Most of the merit for this revolution must be attributed to Brunelleschi, who invented perspective in the fif-teenth century, making it possible to represent the third dimension of space and the different propor-tions of the human body, which in turn made a psychological repre-sentation of humans possible. The Florentine Madonnas are significant in this regard, full of a grace and delicacy that hide a kind of beauty but at the same time are melancholic and unat-tainable. Symbolic of this is Botti-celli’s Venus with her strabismus. Still, the perfection that tran-spires from these portraits, a per-
The Glamor of the Renaissance WomanMake-up, Body Care and Clothing of Yesterday’s Florentine Lady
fection that we still admire today, required and, at the same time, re-flected particular efforts by wom-en. Skin-care treatments during the Renaissance were very similar to those of the Middle Ages, as were were bathing rituals, skin-care products, and cosmetics. What changed, however, was the atti-tude with regard to these prac-tices. While medieval women saw cosmetics simply as a way to appear more attractive, those of the Renaissance wanted to reach a transcendent ideal that com-bined classical philosophy and art with physical beauty and human values. This new, idealized model of beauty became a composite of perfect and symmetrical features inspired by classical statues and humanist philosophy.
Visitors entering the room dedi-cated to Renaissance painters in the Uffizi may notice that wom-en are all blonde (Filippo Lippi’s Madonna perfectly represents the idea of beauty of that period), and this is because in the Florence of the Medici being blonde was con-sidered highly fashionable. But, since most Florentine females were brunette, methods to color hair needed to be invented, lead-ing to the birth of the modern cosmetic industry. The most com-mon method was a mix of alum, sulfur, soda and rhubarb. Another common practice at this time was drying and decorating hair with stones, pearls, ribbons, and shimmering veils. Some women even spent entire days under the sun to lighten their hair with capless hats, as pale ivory
skin was considered sexy, while deep red color was used for the lips. Even though an overall pal-lor was desired, the Renaissance woman used just a touch of col-or on their cheekbones. Another typical habit of females of this period was cutting the hair of the eyebrows, forehead, and temples, considered to be a way of display-ing intelligence. Among the beauty secrets was that of the bella donna. This Ital-ian term, meaning ‘beautiful lady,’ refers to the practice of dropping a distillate of herbs containing the juice of the belladonna plant into their eyes to dilate the pupils, giv-ing them a ‘wide-eyed’ gaze that was considered sexy, so attractive that they even tolerated its nasty side effects, such as blurry vision, intoxication, hallucinations, and
in certain cases even poisoning. Florentine language has pre-served the expression “If you want to look beautiful, you have to suf-fer from a thousand troubles.” Even with regard to dressing, the Renaissance had an enormous impact. Wealthy women – who were the ones establishing the trends – typically wore finer fab-rics such as silks, brocades, and velvets, with elaborate details and expensive jewels. The typ-ical dress was in one piece from shoulder to hem and touched the ground with a close-fitting waist and full gathered skirt. The long dress often had an overdress with open sleeves. The belt around it was embroidered and trimmed with gold, silver buttons, pearls, and precious stones. These trends became the model for women from many countries. When Italy was conquered by for-eign nations such as Spain, France and Austria, the world of fashion in Europe changed dramatical-ly, and the idealized woman of the Middle Ages was thus forever abandoned. The new woman of the fifteenth century – who, it’s worth repeat-ing, were aristocrats – was in-spired by the models of beauty and glamor established by Floren-tine women, and by the elegance of the Renaissance look.
Chiara Becchetti is a professional tour guide with a
background in fashion. To book a tour with Chiara, write to her at: [email protected]
20 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
CITY BEAT
Stepping into Paolo Fattori’s el-egant leather workshop is a sur-prising experience: light and airy with clean lines and a minimalist feel, it’s where the modern world meets ancient Florentine tra-dition. Only the lingering scent of leather and the sight of Paolo busily working at an island bench indicates that this is, in fact, a bottega producing finely crafted leather bags, backpacs, belts and various articles from the hands of the man himself.Rolls of jewel-colored leather line the walls, numbered and certi-fied by Tuscan company Consor-zio Vera Pelle Italiana Conciata al Vegetale, which practises an artisan method of vegetable-dyed leather that has its origins in the Renaissance. Although Paolo has only been working in leather full-time for six years, he’s already
Take Home Artisan Tradition With Furò e Punteruolo
made a name for himself both in Florence and as far afield as Japan. However, manual dexterity runs in Paolo’s veins; his father and grandfather worked in wood and iron, and he credits them with his ability.“In Tuscany, manual skill is wide-spread and forms part of the ge-
netic heritage of the region,” he says. Indeed, Paolo’s workshop is named after the two principal instruments of the trade: the furò and punteruolo. Drop by and watch the craftsman at work on Via del Giglio, 29/r, tucked in between San Lorenzo and SMN train station.
Discover Venice in Santa Croce
Alvise GiustinianCorso Tintori, 19/r
055 246 62 95www.alvisegiustian.com
Murano glass and Carnevale mask enthusiasts need not travel to Ven-ice for quality souvenir items. Alvise Giustinian is a gift and art store spe-cializing in Murano-made items and that guarantees the sale of purely Murano products, with no importa-tion. Products include masks, jew-elry, and glass objects for the home. Jewelry has proven to be the shop’s most popular item, due to the ease of transport and availability of prod-ucts starting at merely €5, according to owner Paola. Alvise Giustini-an’s spacious interior allows for an abundant selection of gifts and a comfortable shopping experience. Paola’s customers tell her that pric-
es in this beautiful, museum-like shop are lower than those in Venice. If you’re in Florence but looking for classic Venetian crafts such as pa-pier-mâché masks and handmade glass, then Alvise Giustinian is a store worth a visit.
Dining with Dante
Named after Dante Alighieri’s most famous work, The Divine Comedy, this homely, rustic tav-erna fittingly lies on Via dei Cima-tori, only a few meters away from Dante’s House.The venue prides itself on its in-novative and creative idea of pre-paring solely traditional dishes based on medieval recipes. Some are adapted and revisited for the modern age but in a way that one maintains the omnipresent feel-ing of Florentine history and tra-dition – so much so that Dante himself could walk in and dine next to you. As a matter of fact, this is a regular occurrence at Taverna La Divina Commedia, as the venue regularly hosts recitals from Dante’s great work by pro-fessional costumed performers. Traditional medieval-style dishes include home-made ribbon pas-
Taverna La Divina Commedia
Via dei Cimatori, 7/r055 21 53 69
Open daily: 11.30 a.m.–12.30 a.m.
ta with wild boar and mushroom sauce, roast shin of pork with new potatoes and seasonal vegetables, risotto inspired by medieval Tus-can flavors, and tasting plates of assorted cheeses accompanied with fresh fruit and jams, includ-ing the taverna’s specialty hot red pepper jam.Also serving as a wine bar and pizzeria, the restaurant offers an eclectic selection of wines from its cellar, an outdoor summer ter-race, and is fittingly decorated in a medieval style with armour and banners – and, of course, a man-datory bust of Dante himself.
Taverna La Divina Commedia offers medieval-style dishes
Buongiorno Firenze Calls For Photography Competition
The cultural association Buon-giorno Firenze (buongiornofiren-ze.eu) is launching is launching a photography contest called Lovely Cities in Clicks – Lights on the City. The contest is open to both Euro-pean and non-European citizens, ages 15 and above. Participants are invited to explain their unique vision of night and highlight the effect of light in the world’s most iconic cities, including Athens,
Beijing, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, Istanbul, Lisbon, Lon-don, Madrid, Mexico City, Mos-cow, New Delhi, New York, Par-is, Prague, Rome, Sydney, Tokyo, and other smaller, less populated cities. Whether the images are of rivers, buildings, monuments or gardens, participants are encour-aged to send in their best pictures. The contest closes on Aug. 2, with an awards ceremony on Sept. 1.
21MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
CITY BEAT
Artigianato e Palazzo Returns from May 14-17
Fabbrica Europa’s Performing Arts Festival Opens May 7
The garden of the historic Palazzo Corsini hosts the 21st edition of Artigianato e Palazzo, a festival dedicated to Italian craftsman-ship, from May 14 to 17.The garden is located in the Flor-ence city center on Via della Scala and offers a serene and beautiful setting for the event among its lemon trees.Promoting local and ‘Made in Italy’ works, the event focuses on hand-made productions and consists of presentations from approximate-ly 90 highly skilled craftsmen and displays of traditional guilds and age-old techniques.Artisan demonstrations allow the public to feel as though they are in actual workshops and, in some cases, audience members can even participate as assistants.Ceramics, bookbinding, mosaics, printing, inlay, jewelry, footwear,
The 22nd edition of Fabbrica Euro-pa’s annual summer festival be-gins on May 7 and runs until July 3. The opening program features the European premiere of ZAP by Korea’s Lee Hee-Moon Company, a hybrid of contemporary theatre, music and dance in the Asiatic tra-dition (May 7–8, 9 p.m., Stazione Leopolda), Sound of Kurdistan by Teatr ZAR, a visual performance accompanied by the forgotten songs of Kurdish tribes (May 7 at 6 p.m., Stazione Leopolda), and an installation/performance enti-tled Trees by Cristina Caprioli, one of the most important choreogra-phers of the Scandinavian scene (May 7–17, Stazione Leopolda).Other performances include a modern dance pieces by Ater-balleto (May 12, 9 p.m., Stazione Leopolda) and Pupilla, performed by Valeria Magli and DanceHaus
Artigianato e PalazzoCorsini Gardens
May 14–17 10 a.m.–9 p.m.
Cost: €8; reduced €6; four-day pass €20
www.artigianatoepalazzo.it
Fabbrica Europa 2015Various locations within the city
May 7–July 3 Tickets: €35 for five shows or
€ 50 for 10 shows055 2638480
www.fabbricaeuropa.net
perfume and hat-making are among the many artisan crafts shared with the public, as is the art of working with materials such as bronze, iron, marble, wood and glass. Producers of fine foods are also on display. The 2014 edition was a great suc-cess, with more than 11,500 vis-itors in attendance. By inviting the public into the world of Ital-ian and local artisans, Artigiana-to e Palazzo offers the chance to share crafts often at risk of dying out while helping to preserve the authenticity of Italian production.
Company (May 12, 9 p.m., Teatro Cantiere Florida). Most perfor-mances will take place at Stazione Leopolda but others will be held at Palazzo Strozzi and satellite the-aters throughout the city.Since its inception in 1994, Fab-brica Europa has aimed to “build bridges of knowledge and facili-tate moments of cultural discov-ery” throughout Europe. It has made significant contributions to the perception of Florence as a thriving multicultural hub and the formation of innovative public arts events. The European Union, recognizing the scope and value of the Fabbrica’s initiatives, has provided financial support for many of its projects such as The Myth of Europe program in 2000, which focused on the relationship between tradition and modernity in the visual and performing arts.
ing a hub for artistic collaboration and innovation in a city that has historically been weighted by the preservation of the past.”
“Each performance seeks to rede-fine its genre, inventing, playing and never stagnating,” says Em-meline Adams, an American in-tern at Fabbrica Europa. “And this year the Fabbrica is offering major student discounts if you dance your student ID over to the box of-fice at Via delle Carceri 1.” Regular tickets and festival passes can be purchased at www.boxol.it.
Tue. to Thurs.: 9 a.m.–6 p.m.Fri. to Sat.: 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
Via dei Benci, 37r055 234 48 85
HAIRDRESSING SALON IN VIA DE’ BENCI
22 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
LEISURE
A short ride away on bus no. 25, just minutes north of Florence on Via Bolognese, Villa Demidoff lies waiting to be discovered on the hills near the town of Pratolino.Hidden in obscurity for the past several years, Villa Demidoff has recently been reopened to the public, and visitors are welcomed to wander the grounds for free.Villa Demidoff is a historic estate that lies in one of the biggest and most harmonious park areas in the outskirts of Florence. While seemingly unspectacular at first sight, the true beauty of nature and architecture reveals itself when taking a few steps down the former passage to the Demidoff residence. With wandering paths and ancient oaks and cedars, the
Discover Villa Demidoff and the Medici Park at Pratolino
Medici Park provides astounding widths of green and lovely views of Florence.The story of the estate began in 1568, when Francesco I de’ Medi-ci, Grand Duke of Tuscany, bought the park for his wife Bianca Cap-pello with the idea of turning it into a fairytale landscape. Fran-cesco appointed the Italian ar-chitect Bernardo Buontalenti to design an accompanying villa, and Buontalenti created a fanta-sy land where nature, science and art merged using grottos, water tricks and ancient statues. The park soon became known as the ‘Garden of Wonders.’The park of Pratolino was the largest of the estates of the Medi-ci family, as shown in a detailed
view of the villa by Giusto Utens previously exhibited at the Firen-ze Com’era Museum. Yet, after the death of Francesco and Bian-ca, the property was abandoned by the Medici. Falling into a peri-od of decline under the House of Lorraine, the villa continued to decay, statues were transferred to the more prestigious Boboli Gardens and the park turned into a romantic garden. Grand Duke Ferdinand II of Lorraine brought new life to Pratolino in 1818, when he commissioned Joseph Frietsch to transform the Medici gardens into a English-style garden typical of the Biedermeier period, adding 60 hectares of land to the garden.The wealthy Russian Demidoff family, after whom the estate is
named, later bought the villa in 1872 and restored it in grandiose fashion to impress their guests with its elegance.Water is still a central element of the estate and indeed a symbol of the entire park. This is reflect-ed by the impressive Fountain of Jupiter, the Fountain of Mugnone with Giambologna’s statue and the Maschera fishpond, also used as a swimming pool and adapted for hot baths. The most notewor-thy original work in the park is the Colossus of the Apennines, a huge statue sculpted by Giambologna in 1579–80. Also worth visiting is the hex-agonal chapel where the last Demidoff princess has her final resting place, as well as Cupid’s
Grotto, designed by Buontalenti in 1577.During summer, Pratolino hosts many events such as classi-cal concerts performed by the Demidoff Ensemble and special Renaissance Nights, including sixteenth-century music, dance, dinner and a historical proces-sion. Visit this historic treasure any Saturday this summer to see for yourself.
Villa Demidoff & Medici Park
Via Fiorentina, 276, PratolinoFree entrance
Opening hours: Saturday and Holidays; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
24 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
EVENTS
May 179.30 a.m.-5.45 p.m.
LA FIORITACommemoration of Savonarola’s deathPiazza della SignoriaMay 23
CIOMPI MONTHLY ANTIQUE FAIRPiazza dei Ciompi and surroundingstreetsMay 31
FLORENCE DESIGN WEEK International Design FestivalPiazza delle MurateMay 27 to 31
ARTOUR BEAUTY IN THE SQUARETraveling trade fair of the Italianartistic handcraftPiazza del CarmineMay 30 to June 6
43RD GUARDA/MINI GUARDA FIRENZEPiazza del DuomoMay 109:30 a.m.
THE COLOR RUN FIRENZECascine ParkMay 23www.thecolorrun.it
10TH MAY MARKET AT CAMPO DI MARTEViale Manfredo FantiMay 5: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
FLORENCE CREATIVITY SPRING EDITIONFortezza da BassoMay 8 - 109.30 a.m.-7.30 p.m.
FLORA FIRENZECascine ParkUntil May 118:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.www.florafirenze.com
IL MERCATALE DI FIRENZEQuality Products MarketPiazza del CarmineMay 16: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
ARTIGIANATO & PALAZZOIl Prato, 58May 14 to 1710 a.m.-9 p.m.
FORTEZZA ANTIQUARIAPiazza Vittorio VenetoMay 16 to 17
PALIO DEL BALUARDOCrossbow archery contestVia di Belvedere, 3
Until June 27Laurentian LibraryMonday to Saturday:9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.Closed on Sundays, April 6th, May1st, June 24th.www.bmlonline.it
1940-1944 FLORENCE AT WAR History and MemoryUntil June 28Palazzo Medici Riccardi Friday & Saturday: 3 p.m.-6.30 p.m., Sunday: 11 a.m.-5p.m.
SCULPTURE ALSO DIESSculpture Beyond 2000sUntil July 26Strozzina, Palazzo StrozziTuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-8 p.m.Thursday 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Free Thursdays 6 a.m.-11 p.m.Closed on Mondays.
THE ILLUSION OF SCILTIANUntil September 9Villa BardiniTuesday to Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.Closed on Mondays.
ANTONY GORMLEY - HUMANUntil September 27Via S. Leonardo 1Forte Belvedere: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.Closed on MondayBoboli Garden: 8:15 a.m.-7:30Closed on the first and last Mondayof the month.
THE ART OF FRANCISMasterpieces of art and lands of Asiafrom the 13th to the 15th centuryUntil October 11Accademia GalleryDaily: 8:15 a.m.-6:50 p.m.
NINO TIRINNANZIMetaphysics of BeautyUntil June 7Pitti Palace, Palatine GalleryTuesday to Sunday:8:15 a.m.-6:50 p.m.Closed on Mondays.
DOLCI TRIONFI E FINISSIME PIEGATUREthe Medici CourtUntil June 7Pitti Palace, Palatine GalleryTuesday to Sunday:8:15 a.m.-6:50 p.m.Closed on Mondays.
POWER AND PATHOSBronze Sculpture of theHellenistic WorldUntil June 21Palazzo StrozziDaily: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.Thursdays: 9 a.m.-11 p.m.www.palazzostrozzi.org
GREAT SMALL BRONZES OFTHE MEDICI AND GRANDUCALCOLLECTIONSUntil June 21Museo ArcheologicoNazionale di FirenzeMonday, Saturday & Sunday:8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.Tuesday to Friday 8:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
MIDDLE AGES ON THE ROADUntil June 21 Bargello National MuseumDaily 8:15 a.m.-5 p.m.; Closed on the1st, 3rd, and 5th Monday of the month.
THE BOOK SHAPEFrom Scroll to Codex (300BCE – 1900CE)
ACCADRÀ DOMANIAn ongoing archive of artists’ booksUntil May 9Piazza S. Pancrazio10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays,Sundays & Public Holidayswww.museomarinomarini.it
GHERARDO DELLE NOTTIUntil May 24Uffizi GalleryDaily 8:15 a.m.-6:50 p.m.Closed on Mondays.
MARCELLO FANTONI Material and ColorUntil May 24Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Loggia della LimonaiaDaily: 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Closed on Wednesdays
MAURO CORDAAnother WorldUntil May 30Accademia delle Arti del DisegnoTuesday to Saturday: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.-5 p.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-1p.m.
VAN GOGH ALIVEUntil June 2Piazza di Santo Stefano, 5Monday to Thursday: 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.www.vangoghalive.it
A CAPITAL AND ITS ARCHITECTUntil June 6Viale Giovine Italia, 6Monday to Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.Saturday & Sunday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.Closed on Holidays.www.entecarifirenze.it
EXHIBITIONS FAIRS & MARKETS
SPORT
25MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival Running Until June 28
ENTERTAINMENT
DIRECTOR: John MaddenGENRE: Comedy, DramaSTARS: Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Bill NighyPLOT: Now that the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is fully occupied with its regular long-term residents, co-managers Muriel Donnely and Sonny Kapoor dream of expansion, and they’ve found just the place for an Indian wedding.
DATES/HOURS:Friday, May 1: 4:30, 9:00 p.m.Saturday, May 2: 4:30, 9:00 p.m.Sunday, May 3: 4:30, 9:00 p.m.Thursday, May 14: 4:30, 9:00 p.m.Saturday, May 16: 4:30, 9:00 p.m.Sunday, May 17: 4:30, 9:00 p.m.
DIRECTOR: Pierre MorelGENRE: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, ThrillerSTARS: Sean Penn, Idris Elba, Jasmine Trinca PLOT: A former Special Forces soldier and military contractor, suffering from PTSD goes on the run from London to Barcelona and across Europe.
DATES/HOURS:Monday, May 11: 4:30, 6:45, 9:15 p.m.Tuesday, May 12: 5:30 p.m.Wednesday, May 13: 9:15 p.m.
DRAGON FILM FESTIVALFestival of Chinese Cinema in ItalyThursday, May 7 to Sunday, May 10The first part of the festival, later continued at Spazio Alfieri from May 21 to 23, presents a selection of 20 films arriving from Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China.
ST MARK’S OPERA SCHEDULE
Via Maggio, 18340 811 9192
May 1: Love DuetsMay 2: La Bohème May 5, 12 & 23: CarmenMay 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 & 29: Love DuetsMay 7 & 19: La Traviata May 9 & 16: Madame Butterfly May 14: Tosca May 21: Rigoletto May 30: Barber of Seville
Opera at 8:30 p.m.Love Duets at 9:15 p.m.
ODEON CINEMAPiazza Strozzi, Firenze055 214 068Office: 055 295 051www.odeonfirenze.comTickets: Regular: €7.50; Reduced: €6**Every Wednesday; students from Mon. to Fri. and selected partnerships.
DIRECTOR: Stanley KubrickGENRE: Action, Adventure, Biography, Drama, History, WarSTARS: Kirk Douglas, Laurence Olivier, Jean SimmonsPLOT: The slave Spartacus leads a violent revolt against the decadent Roman Republic.
DATES/HOURS:Tuesday, May 19: 8:30 p.m.
Morricone Announces Florence Concert
Composer and conductor Ennio Morricone, one of the most important Italian musi-cians on the international scene, performs in Florence on May 16. The announcement was made last month by Morricone himself, who was forced to cancel several shows last year due to health problems.
“Finally and after a long time I was able to conduct 10 concerts in several European capitals, including one in March in Milan, which was scheduled for November 8. The energy of the public gives me the greatest force, now I’m in perfect physical shape, and luckily I will soon return to perform in Italy,” said Morricone.
Europe’s oldest and most prestigious music festival, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Festival, takes place in Florence until June 28. The program includes works, symphon-ic concerts, recitals and ballets from Italian and international artists. The 2015 edition includes Beethoven’s only opera Fidelio, with a plot centered on the fight against tyranny and the quest for jus-tice. Conducted by Zubin Mehta, recipient of nu-
The recipient of numerous awards, Mor-ricone has composed more than 500 mu-sic scores for television and film over the course of his 50-year career. Featured in 30 award-winning films, Morricone’s scores have also been included in symphonic and choral pieces. Morricone attended the Na-tional Academy of Santa Cecilia from the age of nine, where he took trumpet lessons, and began his professional career after graduating in 1946.The Italian concerts scheduled in 2015 take place on May 15 in Bologna, May 16 in Flor-ence, and September 12 at the Verona’s Ro-man arena.
merous awards and directed by Florentine native Pierluigi Pier’Alli, the performance showcases the range and skill of Maggio Musicale’s dance company Maggio Danza and take place until May 5. Other performances include Mahler’s Third Symphony on May 7, also conducted by Me-hta, Valery Gergiev conducting the London Symphony Orchestra on May 13, Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw from May 22, amongst others.
Italy Dreams at Cannes With Three Nominated Films
Three Italian films have been nominated for the main competition at the Cannes Film Festival, which will be held from May 13 to 24. The first film is Nanni Moretti’s Mia Madre (My Mother), starring John Turturro and Margherita Buy. Buy plays the role of a di-rector shooting a film with an American actor protagonist while her mother is dying in the hospital. She has just divorced her husband, Victor, and is trying to raise her teenage daughter Livia.
The second Italian film is Oscar-winner Paolo Sorrentino’s Youth. Produced in En-glish, the film stars Harvey Keitel and Mi-chael Caine, who plays an ageing writer and a composer reflecting on life and art while on vacation in the Alps.The third is Matteo Garrone’s Il Racconto dei Racconti (Tale of Tales). The film is based on a collection of stories from the seven-teenth century and stars Salma Hayek, Vin-cent Cassel and Alba Rohrwacher.
26 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
SAN GIMIGNANO
Fattoria Il Piano San GimignanoLOCALITA MONTAUTO -53037 SAN GIMIGNANO ( SI )
www.Fattoriailpiano.it | FB: Il Piano wines and wine tasting
Taste The Famous Wines of Colli Senesi Come Visit Fattoria Il Piano in the Hills of Siena
Be given a personal tour of the cellars and vineyards. Then taste our wines with typical local dishes. Read some of our reviews on TripAdvisor.
Reservations necessary.
Carlesi Zucconi Premier WinesHow about a Vernaccia di San
Gimignano, a Colli Senesi Chianti or even our Super Tuscan!
Spend time in peace and quiet watching the winter colours arrive.
In a true celebration of the perform-ing arts, a new production of Pur-cell’s Dido and Aeneas is being held on May 21 and 22 at 9 p.m. at Teatro dei Leggeri in San Gimignano.The opera Dido and Aeneas with libretto by Nahum Tate is probably the first and most well-known En-glish opera, thought to have been first performed at a girls’ school in Chelsea in 1689. Nahum Tate’s libretto is based on Virgil’s Aeneid, but includes some other characters, for example Sor-ceress and her witches. The artistic director is basing the performance on Virgil’s Aeneid for inspiration, emphasising the anti-heroic figure of Aeneas and the passion of Dido with fate symbolized by dancers that loom on the scene. It is interest-ing to note that, steering away from the traditional approach, the pro-
logue is also included (thought to be a later addition), partly sung and partly spoken, leading the audience towards a deeper understanding of the opera.The artistic direction is in the hands of soprano Patrizia Morandini for Ars Nobili, in collaboration with the Coro Polifonico San Gimignano. The musical direction is under the baton of Antonio Bellandi, with string so-loists from the Puccini Chamber Or-chestra, while Donatella Cantagallo is responsible for choreography, with dancers from the Dance Perfor-mance School (DPS). The character of Dido is performed by mezzo-soprano Sara Paone (May 21) and Alexandra Scicluna (May 22); Belinda, her sister, by soprano Fran-cesca Becucci; Second Lady and Shepherdess by soprano Daniela Ciabatti; Aeneas by baritone Fabio
Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas Brings Opera to San Gimignano
Mugnaini; Sorceress by contralto Alessio Barni; First Witch by sopra-no Martina Barreca; Second Witch by mezzo-soprano Chiara Manese; Spirit and Spring by contralto Elisa-betta Vuocolo; Sailor and Phebo by tenor Luca Mantovani; Nereide by mezzo-soprano Linda Tori; Venus by soprano Sunita Zucca; ‘He’ by bari-tone Paolo Breda Bulgherini; and ‘She’ by soprano Elena Mancuso.Tickets cost €15 and seating is limit-ed. To book tickets, contact: 347 6435 857.
Getting to San Gimignano: Take the SITA bus from next to Santa
Maria Novella Station in Florence, changing at Poggibonsi to San
Gimignano, and stay the night; or rent a car and return to Florence after the opera (running time is
approximately two hours).
Musica Da Vino Returns on May 31
Wine-tasting and classical music: the Musica Da Vino formula exper-imented last year by Fattoria il Pia-no returns on May 31 with a concert entitled Two Germans in Tuscany based on the music of Peter Muel-ler (1791–1877) and Franz Danzi (1763–1826). The wine-tasting starts at 5 p.m and runs until 6:30 p.m, while the concert begins at 7 p.m. and last for an hour. The live quin-tet performs Ethos, and includes Elena Lala (flute), Alessio Donnini (clarinet), Barbara Giannelli (oboe), Costantino Frullani (bassoon) and Andrea Carlesi (horn). Perched at the top of a hill facing the medieval town of San Gimignano, the Fattoria il Piano offers guests a comfortable stay with apartments and a pan-oramic swimming pool featuring sunbeds, umbrellas and a changing room. Surrounding fields, woods
and stretches of agricultural can be explored on foot or mountain bikes which may be hired locally. A barbe-cue, utility room and washing ma-chine are also available for use. Fattoria il Piano offers wine-tasting tours with a stroll through the vine-yards, family chapels and even the underground cellar. Accompanied by a selection of local foods, the tast-ing of local wines takes place on the veranda with a magnificent view of the San Gimignano towers.
Two Germans in Tuscany
Sunday May 31Wine tour and tasting
from 5-6:30 p.m.Classical music concert
from 7-8 p.m.Fattoria Il Piano Loc. Montauto
53037 San Gimignano (SI) Tel. & Fax.: 0577 940 551
27MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
SAN GIMIGNANO
GELATO WORLD CHAMPION2006/2007 - 2008/2009
In our gelatoRAW MILK FROM THE FARM CAMPORBIANO (100% Organic farming -
cows fed only farm’s forage
and without antibiotics)
san gimignano (siena)www.gelateriadondoli.com
“Cindarella is the living proof that a pair of shoes can change your life”
Located in V. San Giovanni, Cindarella offers shoes, jackets, socks, belts, bags, scarves, clothing and accessories all rigorously Made in Italy and selected for clients who wish to experience a unique shopping experience, just like in a fairytale...
Daily:9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Via San Giovanni, 36 San Gimignano
334 397 4862
KEEP CALM & BUY SHOESThe company Le Torri was born for collecting, producing and selling high-quality artisan leather goods with leather exclusively ‘Made in Italy,’ something that is not easy to find today. The three shops are located in Via San Giovanni. Products include bags for women, business bags for men, belts, wallets, as well as other goods and can be purchased both online and in store.
Daily:9.30 a.m. - 8.30 p.m.
The Torture and Death Penalty Mu-seum displays more than 100 tools designed to torture and kill. Some of these tools are extremely rare, dating to the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They in-clude the notorious ‘iron maiden,’ the guillotine, rack, torture chair and the chastity belt. Also on dis-play are lesser-known sophisticated devices, such as the ‘heretic’s fork,’ the ‘noisemaker’s fife,’ the ‘Spanish spider’, and flaying instruments.
Via San Giovanni, 22-24Via San Giovanni, 34
Via San Giovanni, 117San Gimignano
0577 940 851www.letorrionline.com
‘MADE IN ITALY’ LEATHERLe Torri
Piazza della CisternaSan Gimignano’s medieval water well gives its name to this piazzaFree (outdoors)
Ancient City Walls Walk along the 13th century walls with 15th century Medicean bastionsFree (outdoors)
Ornithological Museum Located inside the church of San Francesco on Via Quercecchio0577 941 [email protected] After April 1: 11 a.m.-5:30p.m.Entrance €1.50
Sant’Agostino ChurchNear Porta St. Matteo on Via CelloleseMon 4 p.m.– 6 p.m.; Tues-Sun 10a.m.-12p.m./3 p.m.-6 p.m.
House of Saint FinaVia del Castello
Former Podesta Palace and Rognosa TowerPiazza del Duomo
SELECT SITES OF SAN GIMIGNANO
Podesta Palace, Tower and Art CollectionPiazza Duomo, 2 0577 990 312Entrance: €5; children between 6 and 17 €5; free entrance to children under 6; combined ticket good for all civic museums €7.50 Daily 11 a.m.- 5:30: after April 1: 9:30 a.m. -7 p.m. The Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Duomo) Piazza del Duomo0577 940 152; Entrance: €4; Combined ticket with the Sacred Art Museum: €6(Apr-Oct) Mon to Fri: 10 a.m-7 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m - 5 p.m.; Sun/Holidays: 12:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Archeological Museum - Santa Fina Herbarium - Modern and Contemporary Art GalleryVia Folgore, 1 0577 940 526; www.museodellatortura.itApril 1: 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.Entrance € 3.50; € 2.50 for children between 6 and 17; children under 6 free; combined ticket with all civic museums €7.50
Torture and Death Penalty Museum (Museo della Tortura e della Pena di Morte)Via San Giovanni, 82 & 1250577-940526, 055-940151; Daily: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. www.museodellatortura.itInfo & Reservations: [email protected] Museum 0577 941 267Free admission11:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Rocca di MontestaffoliClimb the remains of an ancient fortress turret for stunning views of the area
The Galleria Gagliardi was estab-lished in 1991, in a 400-square-me-ter space once used as a garage and farm machinery store. Today, the Galleria bears absolutely no resem-blance to the original building apart from a section of the floor made up of oak boards, covering a hole which once enabled repairs to the underside of cars and machinery in the absence of a ramp. This work of art was created by the previous
owner, Dino Conforti, and has been left in his memory. Since 1991, the exhibition area of the gallery has been extended and the gallery has now become a cultural reference for the promotion and sale of con-temporary art. Every work is chosen directly from the studios of artists who constantly experiment new solutions through their research, re-newing their approach and skills. The Galleria exhibits ceramic,
Explore the Gagliardi Contemporary Art Gallery
A Journey Through Human Cruelty
Via San Giovanni, 82 & 125San Gimignano
Open daily: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.0577-940526, 055-940151
Tickets: Full € 10 Concessions: € 7 - € 5 Groups
Ticket valid for free admission to the Museum of Death Penalty
www.museodellatortura.it
bronze and marble sculptures; con-ceptual, abstract and figurative paintings as well as works in steel, iron and wood by Italian and inter-national artists.
May 1 marks a historic date in the realm of Formula One racing. Ayr-ton Senna da Silva was 34 years old when he was killed 20 years ago in a tragic crash on May 1, 1994, while leading the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix. Although there have been other crashes and fatalities in the racing, his death is the most recent driver fatality in Formula One and has left a mark on the history of the sport.Senna was Brazilian and started racing from a young age. In 1983 he won the British Formula 3 championship and moved to For-mula One the following season. From 1984–87 Senna won six Grand Prix and had many other
Remembering Senna
close finishes. However his suc-cess truly began when he moved from Lotus-Renault to McLar-en-Honda. The other driver for McLar-en-Honda at the time was Alain Prost, a well-respected French racer. The team became a strong force in the world of racing as they won all but 15 Grand Prix in 1988. Senna earned his first world championship that year and two more in 1990 and 1991. In 1993 Senna finished runner-up and moved from McLaren-Honda to Williams.The season did not start or end well. Senna did not finish the first two races of the season. Entering the third race of the San Marino Grand Prix, which was being held
at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari circuit in Imola, Senna was looking to finally start the season on a good note.On the seventh lap, Senna’s car left the track and ran into the con-crete wall at a speed of 145mph. Senna suffered from fatal skull fractures, brain injuries and a ruptured temporal artery, and was declared dead hours later.Today Senna is still voted as one of the best drivers ever, renowned for his wet-weather driving abil-ities and holding the record for most victories ever at the Monaco Grand Prix, which number six. Ayrton Senna’s death continues to be remembered every year as For-mula One continues to grow and a continuous effort is made to im-prove the safety of the sport for all.
Color Run Arrives in Florence
Inaugural Edition on May 23Jhovanna Lopez
A fun way to get active without re- quiring any preparation, the Color Run takes off in Florence at Cas-cine Park on May 23, the second of eight cities taking part in the event. Participants pass through one of four color zones every kilo-meter, where they are pelted with 100 percent natural colored pow-der. The 2015 edition also sees the advent of a glitter zone towards the end of the race.The run begins with a crowd warm-up and start-line party with music to get participants in the mood, followed by the four color zones and glitter zone, concluding with an after-party. The event also
includes games and giveaways. Children who enter with adults can pay reduced ticket prices, and teams are allowed as long as they include four participants. Other Italian cities taking part in 2015 are Turin (May 16), Trento (June 6), Trieste (June 20), Genoa (June 27), Bari (July 11), Rimini (August 1) and Milan (September 12). The run is open to anyone. Ticket prices are as follows: single en-try costs €23.99; teams of four or more participants pay €20.99 per person; children’s tickets (8–13 years) cost €11.99, and young chil-dren aged seven and under pay €3. For more information visit: www.thecolorrun.it
The historic bar offers quality beer, fresh cocktails, sandwiches and snacks amidst a traditional Irish pub atmosphere. The pub also offers various promotions and contests with many exciting prizes. The genuine atmosphere together with the helpful and inviting staff make Dublin Pub an ideal place to spend fun nights in good company or enjoy a beer any time while listening to great background music.
San Carlo bar offers continental and American breakfast and brunch, simple but refined lunch, a large aperitivo buffet, and an extensive wine and cocktail list. Music and art create a warm, lively atmosphere while friendly staff members are always ready to cater to any requests. San Carlo is a bar suited to any time of day: great for a quick coffee or snack, a leisurely aperitivo or meal, or simply an after-dinner drink with friends.
Mostodolce craft brewery was the first of its kind to open in Prato and now supplies twin pubs in Prato and Florence with its award-winning artisan beer. From pitch-black stout to honey beer and a seasonal Christmas variety made from chestnuts, Mostodolce’s range appeals to the most earthy and subtle of palates. Match your choice with complementary dishes created in the pub kitchen: from the hefty flavours of smoked ribs and tortelloni with wild boar ragout to light snacks and the intriguingly named ‘birramisu’.
Open Daily:11–2 a.m.
Via Nazionale, 114/r(near the train station)
055 23 02 928www.mostodolce.it
HAMBURGERS AND AWARD-WINNING
ARTISAN BEERThe newly reopened Jack is ready to rock ‘n’ roll! Come by for lunch or dinner and try the revamped menu featuring traditional Italian food and American staples. Enjoy live music, DJ sets and the costume parties that Jack has become famous for, as well as two HD screens showcasing special sporting events. If all that Italian espresso just isn’t hitting the mark, drop by One-Eyed Jack’s to enjoy American coffee with a free refill between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Free wifi is also available. Daily from 11 a.m. – 2 a.m.
THE BAR YOUR MOM WARNED YOU ABOUT
Piazza Nazario Sauro, 2/r055 09 44 561
www.thejackpub.com
Fiorentina May Home Games
SERIE AFiorentina vs Cesena
May 3 at 3 p.m.
Fiorentina vs ParmaMay 18 at 7 p.m.
Fiorentina vs ChievoMay 31 at 8:45 p.m.
EUROPA LAEGUEFiorentina vs SevillaMay 14 at 9:05 p.m.
Tickets can be bought through When in Florence, online at
it.violachannel.tv, at the stadium and at Fiorentina Point on Viale
Manfredo Fanti, 85/A.Keep up to date with Fiorentina at
en.violachannel.tv
Get your Fiorentina shirt with a 15% discount when you show this paper at the
FLORENCE CURIOSITY SHOP
next to Pizzeria O’Vesuvio in Via De’ Cimatori, 23/r.
NEW JOMA FIORENTINA 2014-2015 KITS
Jogging in a crowded city with hard-ly any sufficient sidewalk space can be frustrating, and not to mention dangerous. Luckily, Florence offers some beautiful scenic routes for those who’d like to keep warm and explore the city at the same time. To avoid pollution, the best place to run is along the Arno, but to avoid pedestrian and vehicular traffic, run along the bank of the river and not on the street. The riverbank is easily accessed from Lungarno Cel-lini. Cascine Park is a great place to go running, with large, grassy open spaces along the Arno. It is located off of Via del Fosso Macinante, and is large enough to get in a full work-out while exploring the entirety of the park. If you head east out of the river, you will soon come across paved, tree-lined parks Parco dell’Alberetar and Parco dell’Anconella, which are per-fect running spots. Equally, if parks are what you’re after to accompany you during your exercise, (or dis-tract you), how about jogging down
Fiorentina is playing Sevilla in the semi-finals for the Europa League Cup on May 7 and 14, pursuing the dream of playing the Cup final in Warsaw on May 27. In the other semi-final, Italian side Naples plays Ukraine side Dnipro. It could be a repetition of last year’s Italy Cup final, in which Fiorentina played Naples in Rome in a game that has now become famous for the assassination of a Neapolitan sup-porter by a Roman hooligan and the surreal atmosphere of the final. Winners of the inaugural European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961, Fioren-tina’s last semi-final appearance was in 2007/2008 at the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina reached the semi-final af-ter eliminating Dynamo Kiev. In the Italian league, Fiorentina has suffered four defeats in a row that have compromised the chance to qualify for next season’s Champions League, while there are still hopes
A Jog With a View Fiorentina Pursues European Dream
to the Boboli Gardens behind the Pitti Palace? There’s an entry fee but the garden holds spectacular artworks for you to look at whilst you’re jogging, and it is especially stunning at sunset. For those looking for a flat but long run, start south of the Ponte Vecchio and continue east past Ponte alle Grazie. At the roundabout at Ponte di San Niccolò, turn right and follow the trees along Viale Michelangelo, and continue all the way around Piazzale Michelangelo. Turn right onto Via Galileo to bring you back down to the river and to your start-ing point.An alternative route starts at the Duomo, heading south along Via dei Calzaiuoli and crossing the Pon-te Vecchio, until the roundabout at Porta Romana. Turn left onto Via Machiavelli and follow the winding road which turns into Via Galileo. Veer left upon reaching Piazzale Mi-chelangelo and around the back of the square, following the bends onto Via San Miniato. Head for the river to get back to your starting point.
that it will gain a fifth position, which would mean playing again next season in the Europa League. Winning the Europa League Cup this month would be the only way for Fiorentina to transform the cur-rent season from a disappointment to a success. The team suffered a negative period during the last two weeks in April, particularly related to problems with its defense.The most positive aspect is that this season Naples, Fiorentina’s most likely rival in case of a final, has had problems too and doesn’t seem as strong as last season.Throughout its history Fiorentina has won only one international suc-cess, the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961. A success in the Europa League would give the team the self-confi-dence that it seems to lack whenever it is about to attain higher results.
30 MAY 2015www.florencenewsandevents.com
Florence News & Events
TRAVEL
Brooke Feichtl
Known for its picturesque sights and a laid-back beach vibe that has attracted celebrities, week-end jetsetters and college students from all around the world, the Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s true paradises. It is also the site of a va-riety of unmissable destinations, including Naples, Pompeii and the Isle of Capri. Spring is the best time to visit this region because the crowds and heat have not yet swarmed the beaches, making the trip with Bus2alps to the Isle of Capri and the seaside towns
Limoncello, Sun and Black Sandy Beaches
of Positano and Sorrento ideal. When first visiting this region, vis-itors are greeted with the sight of Mount Vesuvius looming over the countryside and dramatic views of traditional cities built into sloping cliffs. As the tour journeys to the Isle of Capri, visitors experience a mystical place that is home to many ancient myths, including the sirens from Homer’s Odyssey.On the private boat tour around the island provided by Bus2alps, you too will be captivated, not by mythical creatures, but by the nat-ural beauty of the area. Visitors also journey to the world-famous
Blue Grotto and the peak of Mount Solaro. The grotto is not only ex-ceptional because it is an accessi-ble sea cave, but the sunlight that travels through the entrance illu-minates the clear water and cre-ates brilliant blue and green hues.Mount Solaro is the tallest point on Capri, reaching 589 meters and providing unparalleled views of the landscape. After sunbathing and exploring the island, visit the seaside town of Positano, a short ride from Sant’Agnello and Sor-rento. Positano is made up of mul-ticolored buildings that cling to the cliff above the hot black sand
Included• Round-trip luxury coach
transport (with A/C, DVD, & bathroom)
• Accommodation with your friends at top-rated hostels
• Breakfast• Private ferry to island of
Capri with a private guided boat tour of the island (with a stop at the Blue Grotto)
• Private transfer to Positano• Private transport to
Pompeii • A Bus2alps trip leader• The Amalfi Coast Bus2alps
destination guide
and pebble beaches. Visitors can enjoy people-watching in the glo-rious surrounds and a variety of water sports. Only the Bus2alps tour includes a ferry to Capri with a private boat tour of the island, as well as transportation to Positano and Pompeii. The last day of the trip includes a tour of the ruins of Pompeii accompanied by an op-tional private guide, who recounts fascinating tales of the ancient city’s history.The trip was awarded Second-Best Tour Worldwide and is the two-time winner of Best Tour in Europe by TourRadar in 2012 and 2013.
Visiting the Amalfi Coast with Bus2alps
Sapori & Dintorni is the new way to do the shopping: in the heart ofFlorence there is a place where Food, Culture and Territory meet.Get in and discover the Supermarket to test and taste!Inside you will find many typical products of the Italian food tradition.Buy your favorite product and taste it within the tasting area.
THE SUPERMARKETS ARE OPEN:
• Monday - Saturday: from 08.30 am to 9.00 pm • Sunday: from 09.30 am to 9.00 pm
Il Supermercato...da Gustare e deGustare
Via dei Cerretani
Via de
l Gigli
o
Piazza dellaRepubblica
Via della Vigna Nuova
Via di Parione
Via de
i Fos
si
Basilica diSan Lorenzo
Via delle Oche
Via Porta Rossa
Borg
o Sa
n Lo
renz
oVi
a de
’ Gin
ori
Via
della
Stu
fa
Via Faenza
Via Taddea
Via
Cam
illo B
enso
Cav
our
Piazza diSanta Cicilia
Borgo Santi Apostoli
Chiesa diSanta Trinità
Lungarno Gucciardini
Via dello Sprone
PiazzaSanta Felicita
Via
Mag
gio
Piazza degliAngiolieri
Piazza diSanto Stefano
Piazza dellaSignoria
Piazzadell’Unitàitaliana
Largo FratelliAlinari
Piazza degliOttaviani
Basilica di SantaMaria Novella
Via della Spada
Via dell’ArientoVia Nazi
onale
Via
dei C
alza
iuol
i
Piazza De’ Donati
Via Panzani
Via degli Agli Via dei Pecori
Via dei Lamberti
Via
dei V
ecch
ietti
Via
dei S
asse
tti
Via
dei P
esci
oni
Via
de’ T
orna
buon
i
Via delle Belle Donne
Via de
l Moro
Largo
F. Alina
ri
Via Fiume
Piazza dellaStazione Centrale
Piazza delDuomo
Via
dei M
arte
lli
Via
Rica
soli
Via del Pucci
Stazione FerroviariaFirenze Santa Maria Novella
Via L.Gori
Via del Canto dei Nelli
Via de’ Bardi
Via de’ Bardi
Costa dei Magnoli
Costa S.Giorgio Lungarno Torrigiani
Pont
e Ve
cchio
Fiume Arno
Via Fiume
Largo Fratelli Alinari
Piazzadell’Unitàitaliana
Largo FratelliAlinari
Stazione FerroviariaFirenze SantaMaria Novella
Sapori & DintorniLargo Fratelli Alinari, 6/7
Borg
o Sa
n Lo
renz
o
Via
dei M
arte
lli
Via
Rica
soli
Via L.Gori
Via dei Biffi
Battistero diSan Giovanni
Cattedrale diSanta Maria
del Fiore
Basilica diSan Lorenzo
Sapori & DintorniBorgo San Lorenzo
Ponte
Vecc
hio
Via de’ Bardi
Costa S.Giorgio
PiazzaSanta Felicita
Fiume Arno
Sapori & DintorniVia de’ Bardi, 45/47
FIND YOUR LOCAL SUPERMARKET IN THE CITY CENTER
_S&D_Borgo San Lorenzo_290x405.indd 1 05/03/15 10.37
