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2018 Uffizi Exhibits Painting and Drawing like a True Master: The Talent of Elisabetta Sirani (Bologna 1638-1665) Uffizi, Sala Edoardo Detti e Sala del Camino Until June 10
Maria Lai. Thread and Infinity Palazzo Pitti, Andito degli Angiolini Until June 3 Maria Lai combines the traditions of Sardinian culture with the protocols of Contemporary Art.
Displays photos from the Locchi Archive that show the allure of cars in the 20th century, as well as travel-wear outfits borrowed from the collection of the Uffizi Gallery’s Costume and Fashion Museum.
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NEWS Leonardo da Vinci’s Leicester Codex: Water as the Microscope of Nature Uffizi, Aula Magliabechiana Oct. 29, 2018-Jan. 20, 2019 Displays the pages of the Codex and examines the illustrations and the theories of Leonardo.
Pio Fedi’s The Rape of Polyxena Uffizi, Sala del Camino Nov. 25, 2018-Feb. 24, 2019 Presents works by sculptor Pio Fedi, most of which stored in the Uffizi.
Islam and/in Florence Uffizi, Aula Magliabechiana, & the Bargello National Museum June 19-Sept. 23
Showcases 35 works by Elisabetta Sirani, a legendary artist and personality from the city of Bologna.
The Halberdier Comes Home to Florence. Miraculous Encounters; Pontormo’s Drawings & Paintings Palazzo Pitti, Sala delle Nicchie May 8-July 29
Spain and Italy in the Renaissance Uffizi, Aula Magliabechiana Until May 27
A selection of the finest works by Jacopo da Pontormo made in the last years of the 16th century.
Showcases drawings by Spanish and Italian painters of the 16th century.
Travelling in Style Palazzo Pitti, Museo della Moda e del Costume June 5-Dec. 2
Florence News
Explores the cultural links between Florence and the Islamic world through a display of carpets, fabrics, wooden items, ceramics, glassware, metals, ivory carvings, precious stones and manuscripts from the collections of the Tuscan Grand Duchy and other Italian and international collections.
Fritz Koenig in Florence (19242017) Uffizi, Galleria delle Statue e delle Pitture, & the Boboli Gardens June 21-Oct. 7 Displays sketches, maquettes, as well as small and medium-sized sculptures by Fritz Koening including the models for the monument in honor of the Mauthausen Extermination Camp and other monuments that were never completed.
The Delicate Treasures of Princes Palazzo Pitti, Sala del Fiorino Nov. 13, 2018-March 10, 2019 Showcases porcelain collections of the era of the Hapsburg-Lorraine Grand Duchy Giorgio Vasari and the Artists from Emilia-Romagna Uffizi, Sala Edoardo Detti Nov. 20, 2018-January 2019 Explores the difficult relationship that Vasari had with artists from Emilia-Romagna.
The Gilded Carriage Palazzo Pitti, Sala delle Nicchie Dec. 11, 2018 -March 17, 2019 Showcases the sumptuous miseen-scène created by Prince Giovan Battista Borghese for the Roman Carnival of 1664. Medici Tapestries Woven into the History of the City Palazzo Pitti, Sala Bianca Dec. 18, 2018-Feb. 19, 2019 Three panels representing The Consecration of the Baptistery, The Goths laying siege to Fiesole and The League between Florence and Fiesole.
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EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Lorenzo Picchi GR APHIC & L AYOUT DESIGN: Narine Nalbandyan, Ekaterina Chebotareva CONTRIBUTORS: Christine De Melo, Lee Foust, Marco Bracci, Thomas Ricciotti, Serena Rutledge, Migle Vaisnoraite, Arcelita Martin, Caroline Rocha, Valencia Wolf, Lee Foust, Cheyenne Curley, Marco Bracci, Tayler Bradford REGISTERED AT THE TRIBUNAL OF FLORENCE N. 6008, ON 9/12/2015. PUBLISHER: IAF PRINT: Rotostampa SRL, Florence
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May Flowers
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MAY
THOMAS RICCIOTTI
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n Florentine culture, May has always meant happiness, regeneration and, according to a tradition called Calendimaggio, the period of trysts. Popular songs were dedicated to this magic moment of flowering and rebirth, accompanied by colored flowers and garlands in people’s dress. However, the history of Florentine May flowers also has a particular, less joyful meaning. In fact, the most important festivity of this month in Florence is the anniversary of a sad memory: the public execution of a Dominican friar, Savonarola, which took place on May 23, 1498. From his Church, San Marco, Savonarola had tried to change the Florentines' minds, and preached to improve the morality of their customs. But he drove out the Medici and accused Pope Borgia of favoring corruption within the Church, and thus the powerful people he demonized had him hanged and burned. The festivity that remembers Savonarola is meant to transform pain into resurrection. Every year on May 23 at 10:00 a.m., a celebration in his memory begins in the Piazza della Signoria. A procession accompanies city authorities from the Piazza to the Ponte Vecchio, where flowers are thrown by Florentines and tourists alike into the Arno, as Savon-
arola's faithfuls did with his ashes. Known as La Fiorita (literally, “the flowered”), this commemoration is the demonstration of an unforgotten affection for a friar whose ashes are taken, year after year, towards a faraway ocean. Another notable significance of May in Florence is the death of Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo was 67 when, on May 2, 1519, he died in Clos Lucé, Amboise, France. May is also the month of the inauguration of the Santa Croce facade. After remaining unfinished for nearly three centuries, the facade of Santa Croce was officially inaugurated on May 3, 1863. It was consecrated in 1443 but not completed until 1865, on the occasion the 600th anniversary of Dante’s birth. Spearheaded by architect Niccolò Matas, it was built in the neo-gothic style, typical of Florentine architecture, in white, yellow, green, red and black marble. May also marks the birth of Bartolomeo Cristofori, inventor of the piano, who was born on May 4, 1655. Appointed in 1688 to the Florentine court of Grand Prince Ferdinando de' Medici, Cristofori was a sophisticated innovator in the development of musical instruments and solved many technical complexities. Only three of his pianos have survived: one can be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, one at the Museum of Musical Instruments in Rome, and one at the Mu-
In his later years, Botticelli became a follower of Savonarola and cast several of his works in the ‘Bonfire of the Vanities.’ seum of Musical Instruments at Leipzig University in Germany. On a May day also came the unveiling of the Dante Alighieri monument in Piazza Santa Croce. Created by Enrico Pazzi, the marble sculpture was inaugurated on May 14, 1865 after being unveiled by the first King of Italy, Vittorio Emanu-
ele II. Another anniversary of this month is that of the death of Sandro Botticelli which occurred on May 17, 1510. The youngest of five children, Botticelli was in his early year apprentice to Fra Filippo Lippi. Upon establishing himself professionally, Botticelli’s work was in high demand from the Medici family, who are often thought to be the subject of his art pieces. In 1481, he was invited to Rome to contribute in the painting of the Sistine Chapel. In his later years, Botticelli became a follower of Savonarola and cast several of his works in the ‘Bonfire of the Vanities.’ When he died he was 65. In the most recent Florentine history, May marks the tragedy of the bomb exploded by the Mafia on May 27, 1993. The explosion destroyed 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 Caterina, the daughter of the guardian of the library, who was born just 50 days beforehand. The Mafia was attacking the government that less than one year before had passed effective laws against organized crime, including a comprehensive witness protection program and a harsh prison regime for mafiosi. The two laws had the combined effect of favoring the unprecedented phenomenon of Mafia witnesses, thus breaking the omertà, the Mafia's code of silence. This month's flowers are, above all, in the memory of the city's martyrs: Savonarola and the five victims of the Mafia.
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Spain and Italy in the Renaissance
Exhibit explores artistic relations between the two countries
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he exhibition, on display in the new rooms of the Aula Magliabechiana of the Uffizi Gallery from Feb. 27 to May 27, showcases drawings attributed to some of the most important Italian and Spanish Renaissance masters. Among the artists on display are Alonso Berruguete, Romolo Cincinnato and Pompeo Leoni, Francisco Pacheco, Patricio and Eugenio Cajés, Vicente Carducho, Alonso Berruguete, Pedro Machuca, Bartolome Ordonez and Diego de Siloe, the latter four known as the Eagles of the Spanish Renais-
sance. In the 15th century, Spain united under a monarchy first, then an empire afterward, and in the same period it began a cultural convergence between the new nation and the Italian States. “Political and intellectual trends in the Spanish kingdom and the regions of Italy began to converge around the 16th century,” says Uffizi Director Eike Schmidt. “These trends generated constant and unexpected overlaps, which included the pontificate of Alexander VI, the Borgia pope, the conquest of the Neapolitan dominions, the annexation of the Duchy of Milan and the consolidation of a stable Spanish political influence over the Italian peninsula.” Such new intercultural relations had heir effects mainly on art. “All artists and their works are invariably a product of the unceasing circulation of ideas and styles,” says Marzia Faietti, Director of the Gallerie degli Uffizi Gabinetto dei Disegni e delle Stampe. “For this reason, writing about drawing in Spain or Italy means expanding research constantly; yet, this should be done without neglecting the philological reconstruction of an area’s artistic fabric or analyzing the transmission of knowledge from workshop to workshop.” The exhibition has an introduc-
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tion and eight sections. To situate each drawing in its original context and prompt a multidisciplinary approach, the exhibit also showcases sculptures, paintings of goldsmith’s, and applied arts.
Spain and Italy in the Renaissance Uffizi Gallery Tuesday-Sunday: 8:15 a.m. – 6:50 p.m. Price: €12.50 at door Until May 27
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Uffizi Honors Elisabetta Sirani
n exhibition showcasing paintings by Elisabetta Sirani is on display at the Uffizi until June. The exhibit showcases 34 works donated for the event by public and private museums from all over Italy (one piece – the Self-Portrait as an Allegory Painting – was borrowed from the Pushkin Museum in Moscow). Born in Bologna in 1638, in spite of her short life (she died at 27) Sirani was one of the most influential painter of her century. Among her most famous works are the Madonna and Child with St Giovannino and The Beheading of St John the Baptist, today part of the Uffizi collection, and the St Jerome, stored at the Pinacoteca Nazionale Bologna museum. The exhibit also presents anecdotes and references drawn from multiple sources – such as prose and poetry, letters and other archive material – which testify the extent to which this painter was admired (particularly in Florence, where she became friend of Cardinal Leopoldo de Medici). “The stunning appeal of Sirani is not so much the fact that she was a female artist in a city that could boast Lavinia Fontana as one of its brightest stars, as the sheer high quality of her industrious output, which she begun when she was 17 with pretty eye-catching altar-pieces made in the manner
of Guercino, and then continued, without ever lowering the intellectual rigour of her approach, in the mould of the femmes fortes of her times,” said Uffizi director Eike Schmidt, adding that “another thing that is striking in her paintings is the rather noble, even heroic quality of the female figures: Virtuous figures who appear to be warriors – such as those painted for cardinal Leopoldo de’ Medici in 1664 – saints, virgins, mothers and Madonnas all distinguished by an intrinsic nobility and an uncompromising gravitas.”
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Palazzo Strozzi Hosts Dawn of a Nation Exhibit TAYLER BRADFORD
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alazzo Strozzi is hosting the art exhibition Dawn of a Nation from March 16 to July 22. This exhibit illustrates Italy’s growing sense of national identity during the 1950s and ‘60s. Curated by Luca Massimo Barbero, Italian Art from the Postwar Reconstruction to 1968 features over 70 works by artists such as Renato Guttuso, Lucio Fontana, Alberto Burri, Emilio Vedova, Piero Manzoni, Mario Schifano, Mario Merz and Michelangelo Pistoletto. Not only were artists in Italy inspired by the wounds of World War II, but also by the successive “Eco-
nomic Miracle,” the controversial social revolution that transformed Italy from a poor nation into a global industrial powerhouse during the late 50s and early 60s. In response to this societal change, Italian artists adopted new artistic trends like Informal Art, otherwise
known as abstract art, which led to the rise of Pop Art. They also experimented with monochromatic painting, Conceptual Art and Arte Povera, better known as contemporary art, making major contributions to today’s identity-related contemporary art scene.
“Dawn of a Nation will enable insight to a period in art that is indissolubly bound up with Italy’s development and that sucked its lifeblood from politics, current events and social change ”
MAY www.florencenews.it “Dawn of a Nation will enable insight to a period in art that is indissolubly bound up with Italy’s development and that sucked its lifeblood from politics, current events and social change,” says Luca Barbero. “The works will be presented in contrasting juxtaposition in an effort to convey to visitors the sense of vitality typical of that moment. The energy in these years allowed the Informal artists to pursue their research, while Pop artists were busy following a diametrically opposite path. The aim is to make visitors feel that they’re encountering these artists first hand, at a point when they were defining new national art movements.” A Renaissance landmark of the 16th century, Palazzo Strozzi was first sold to the Istituto Nazionale delle Assicurazioni in 1937 and then to the state in 1999. Since 2006, the Palazzo Strozzi Founda-
tion has hosted exhibits and cultural activities by some of the most renowned Italian and international artists.
Dawn of a Nation Palazzo Strozzi March 16-July 22 Hours Daily 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursdays 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. Price: € 13 palazzostrozzi.org
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‘The Florence Experiment’
Palazzo Strozzi Project explores relationships between human and plants
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evised by artist Carsten Höller and scientist Stefano Mancuso, The Florence Experiment will run at Palazzo Strozzi until Aug. 26. The intention of this project to forge a new awareness of the way in which men see, sense, and interact with plants. Well-known for his work on the interaction between art, science, and technology as well as for his installations aimed at involving visitors to the greatest extent, Carsten
Visitors’ fear or joy emotions will produce different chemical compounds that will be then conveyed to the façade through two ducts in order to verify whether and how such emotions influence the growth of Wisteria plants climbing on Y-shaped structures
Höller has been working on this project with Stefano Mancuso, a founding father of plant neurobiology whose interest focuses on analysing plants endowed with sensitivity and a capacity to communicate with their surrounding environment through chemical compositions that they perceive and emit.The first part of the “experiment” comprises two large slides placed in the courtyard and every week a selection of random
from 1929 from 1929
from 1929
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visitors will descend carrying a bean plant. The plants will be given to a team of scientists who will analyse the photosynthetic parameters and molecules that they have emitted. The results will be then compared to plants carried by other visitors and also plants that act as a “constant,” or plants that have are not subject to these human interactions. The second part consists of two cinema theatres screening excerpts from horror films and comedies. Visitors’ fear or joy emotions will produce different chemical compounds that will be then conveyed to the façade through two ducts in order to verify whether and how such emotions influence the growth of Wisteria plants climbing on Y-shaped structures. The “smell of fear” will be released on one shank of the Y, the one of joy on the other. To take part in the project visitors must first read and agree to the terms and conditions posted in the ticket office or in the Palazzo Strozzi website. Children must be at least 6-year-old, between 130 cm (4’ 3”) and 195 (6’ 5”) tall, and weigh no more than 120 kg (18 st. 12 lbs; 264.5 lbs) to take part in the slides. An accompanying adult must sign a waiver for minors under the age of 14.
The Florence Experiment Palazzo Strozzi Until Aug. 26 Open every day Opening hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Thursdays 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
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Discover Casa Buonarroti Museum displays rare collections
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he Casa Buonarroti Museum celebrates the greatness of Michelangelo while presenting a Baroque exhibition of the art collections of the family. The museum also offers the possibility of admiring the two famous marble relief pieces sculptured by Michelangelo in his early years: the Madonna della Scala, which shows Michelangelo’s passion for Donatello, and the Battle of the Centaurs, which conveys the admiration of the artist for classic art. The Buonarroti family greatly contributed to enlarge the building and embellish the museum with the aim of preserving objects
from different cultures, including the recent collection of the autograph drawings by Michelangelo consisting of 205 precious sketches and the equally important Archive and Library. The exhibit showcases rare art collections including paintings, sculptures, majolicas and archaeological findings that are arranged on the two floors of Michelangelo’s Casa. A specially equipped room displays on rotation a small number of the drawings of Michelangelo. Among the works exhibited are the Crucifix of Santo Spirito, which critics tend to attribute to Michelangelo, the two 16th cen-
tury Noli me tangere based on the lost cartoon, the Wooden model for the façade of San Lorenzo, and the River Divinity, which was used to prepare one of the sculptures made for the New Sacristy. The idea of creating a building to celebrate the glory of the Buonarroti family was an initiative of Michelangelo Buonarroti the younger, a prolific promoter of cultural activities, who employed for the works of the building the most renowned Florentine artists such as Artemisia Gentileschi, Pietro da Cortona, Giovanni da San Giovanni, Francesco Furini and the young Jacopo Vignali. The rooms were chosen by Michelangelo the younger to exhibit the most precious objects of his colleciion, including the small cartoon of Michelangelo showing a Madonna with Child and the wooden panel representing some episodes of the Life of St. Nicholas masterpiece by Giovanni di Francesco, a disciple of Domenico Veneziano.
Casa Buonarroti Museum
Studi per la testa della Leda, matita rossa
Madonna col Bambino, matita nera, matita rossa, biacca e inchiostro
Via Ghibellina 70 Closed on Tuesday Opening Hours: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. www.casabuonarroti.it
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Michelangelo’s Tomb Restored
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he crowdfunding “In The Name of Michelangelo” has made the restoration of Michelangelo’s tomb possible. Launched by the Opera di Santa Croce, the fundraising totaled 100.000 Euros with donations coming from 12 countries around the world. Among the donors were Colm Kelleher, President of Morgan Stanley, and the notorious Italian economist Domenico Siniscalco, who made his donation with his wife. The money collected allowed for the cleaning of the tomb with deionized water and for removing dust layers that have formed after years of neglect. In addition, wax applied in previous maintenance has been removed with a deerskin cloth. Some of the donors were present
last month during the concluding event of the first phase of the intervention. Within the sarcophagus and the sculpture complex, three sculptures by Michelangelo were extracted and represented the personifications of painting, sculpture and architecture, saddened by the death of the great master. The donors were welcomed by Irene Senesi, president of the Opera di Santa Croce, and Giuseppe De Micheli, general director of the Opera. A work made by Vasari in 1570, Michelangelo’s Tomb is at the beginning of the right aisle of the church of Santa Croce, just inside the main door of the Basilica. Michelangelo was born on March 6, 1475 and died in Rome on Feb. 18, 1564 at the age of 88. His body was first laid in the church of Santi Apostoli in Rome in 1564.
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Showcasing Models of Leonardo’s Designs
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The Fables of Da Vinci The Fables of Leonardo da Vinci is a small collection of fables created from notations for fables and half-finished fable ideas found in the back of Leonardo’s famous notebooks. Author: Ed Tasca is an award-winning humor writer and novelist, and a student of da Vinci’s extraordinary life. This little book of fables is a homage to that writing genre, offering readers of every age a taste of the simplicity and clarity of one of man’s oldest and most revered forms of fiction writing. Author’s email: edtasca@gmail.com
The Walnut and Belltower
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he exhibit presents working models of Leonardo’s designs that the Niccolai family has been reconstructing since 1995, when Carlo Niccolai dedicated himself to working full-time with the desire to realise Leonardo’s legacy. His passion founded the Niccolai Collection, the largest private collection of Leonardo models in the world, comprised of more than 300 working models created by himself and his sons, together with a team of artisans, engineers, historians and architects. The models have been displayed at more than 100 international exhibitions throughout Europe and as far afield as Australia, New Zea-
land, China, the US, Brazil, Saudi Arabia and Finland. The exhibit also displays copies of six codices that reveal the inner workings of this great man’s mind. The Niccolai family has been widely praised for their ongoing devotion in realising the vast inheritance that Leonardo left to science.
Le Macchine di Leonardo da Vinci Via Cavour 21 www.macchinedileonardo.com
A walnut lay lazily in the forest bed, covered by the fallen leaves of the tree that dropped it, its beloved father. A crow swooped down and carried the nut high into the sky above the city. The walnut knew that it was only a matter of time before the crow would crack it open and eat it. As the crow was passing over the top of the town’s lofty belltower, bells began to ring. The walnut begged the exalted belltower for help. “Belltower,” the lowly walnut squeaked, “the housing that cradles your bells is made entirely of the wood of the walnut tree. Can you please ring out so loud that this terrible bird will drop me to safety?” The belltower heard the walnut’s appeal, and smiled at the chance of showing how easily it could outwit Nature. At the moment the crow passed overhead, the belltower bells rang out so loudly they jangled the crow’s nerves and forced it to drop the tiny walnut.
The walnut fell into a crevice of the belltower floor. The crow knew instantly that it could never reach the well-protected walnut. “Thank you,” said the walnut to the Belltower, once the bells quieted down. “Nothing can ever remove me from this spot. I will always be safe.” “Don’t thank me,” said the belltower. “You are one seed that won’t grow into wood that could be made into a another belltower that would be greater than me.” Within a short time, the belltower’s crevice became filled with dirt, which made the nut cozy and ambitious. Within a few months, the nut began to burst open and to put its roots in among the crevices of the stones, pushing the stones apart. Soon, the walnut began throwing up shoots out of the spaces in the building’s floor, and these shoots became long muscular branches that soon rose above the top of the building. When several years passed, the sapling grew into a
tree. Its roots grew thicker, twisting their way deeper into the stone walls of the building. The belltower was aghast at the betrayal. And one day while its bells were chiming, one of its walls suddenly tore open and the old stones that were once so firm and steady began to crumble. Soon, another wall would fall. And then another. The walnut tree soon found itself totally free again, growing in every direction out of the mountain of rubble left by the hapless belltower. When the walnut looked around and saw what it had done, it laughed, and the laughter peeled like bells. It marveled at its own hidden strength. But its own joy was short-lived. When the builders came to rebuild the belltower, the strong, young tree would be the first tree sacrificed for the lumber vital for the new construction. Moral: The greatest and the smallest all need one another in ways we can seldom imagine.
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Artigianato e Palazzo
Craftmanship fair takes place May 17–20
CASSIDY KEOLA
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he 24th Artigianato e Palazzo will take place from May 17-20 at the Corsini Gardens in Florence. The four day event spotlights a selection of 100 Italian and international artisans that provide live demonstrations of their unique techniques. From slip casting to decoration, artisans’ skills showcase a wealth of
knowledge that has been handed down without interruption from older to younger generations of craftspeople. “The hundreds of requests to take part that we have received this year represent an excellent sign of recovery in the artisan sector, because craftspeople are the lifeblood of ‘Made in Italy,’” said Giorgiana Corsini and Neri Torrigiani, both involved in the organization of the exhibition since its incep-
tion. The exhibition will also highlight the fundraising initiative “Artigianato e Palazzo for the Doccia Museum.” The initiative aims to reopen Richard Ginori’s museum of priceless artifacts, located in the small town of Doccia, to the public. The collection includes 8,000 porcelain, ceramic, majolica, terracotta and lead objects as well as over 13,000 drawings, engraved metal plates, chromolithograph stones,
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NEWS plaster molds and wax sculptures. Full proceeds from the following will go the Associazione Amici di Doccia: admission fees to Artigianato e Palazzo, sale of 20 objects Florentine that designer Duccio Maria Gambi created for the occasion (these objects are the result of a dialog among a number of pieces of the Richard Ginori collection, reinterpreted according to a style that is combination of contemporary art, craftsmanship, design), revenues from the Richard Ginori Pop up shop in which porcelain pieces will be on sale, and donations collected using the “Donachiaro” device designed by Itineris Italia. Among the artisans and brands participating are newcomers such as U.S. designer Laura Fair, a specialist in hand-screening of fabric and paper; Qzerty, a company created by Olivetti Lexikon and Luca Crevenna that collects and restores typewriters; Fornace Biritognolo, which produces bricks, listels and tiles using Umbrian clay; Lara Viviani, an embroiderer specializing in traditional Florentine needlepoint; Giorgio Pesci & Figli, master producers of terracotta work from Impruneta, a small town in the Florentine hills; and Maria Paola Pedetta, who recycles vintage furs and combines them with luxury fabric inserts to transform them into high-fashion items. Returning participants include the bronze and metalworking shop Duccio Banchi; II Bussetto, which specializing in traditional Florentine leather goods; ceramicist Paola Staccioli; engraving, inlay
and restoration artisan Tommaso De Carlo; mosaicists Jacopo and Bruno Lastrucci, whose expertise is the use of techniques dating back to the Medici period; Cecilia Falciai, who has taken up her family tradition of the ancient ‘scagliola’ technique; Duccio Mazzanti, who uses feathers to create ornamentation; Dutch ceramicist Jacqueline Harberink; Aprosio & Co., a brand known worldwide for its jewelry and interior design using glass and crystal beadings; Piedaterre, known for its Friulian-style footwear; and the interior décor objects in bronze by II Bronzetto. To mark the 5th anniversary, the contest Blogs & Crafts – I Giovani Artigiani e il Web was created to spotlights the creativity and artistic expression of younger artisans. The top 10 under-35 artisans will show their creations, while the best bloggers will provide live blogging coverage of the exhibition. Among the initiatives not to be missed is the “Ricette di Famiglia,” a culinary event by journalist Annamaria Tossani inspired by past objects housed in the Doccia Museum; and “Mani che compongono,” which brings together artisanship and music ranging from pre-Baroque to contemporary jazz to Irish folk.
Artigianato e Palazzo May 17–20 10 a.m.–8 p.m. Corsini Gardens 115 Via della Scala, Florence www.artigianatoepalazzo.it
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CITY BEAT
Lorenzo il Magnifico The story behind the title
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any people have probably heard the term il Magnifico (the Magnificent) in reference to Florence's 15th century ruler, Lorenzo de' Medici, but they are likely unaware of its origin. The Pazzi Conspiracy, which took place on Easter 1478, resulted in the violent assassination of Giuliano de' Medici. To avenge his brother's death, Lorenzo went on a bloody
rampage and many people were killed as a result. Pope Sixtus IV excommunicated Lorenzo for his vendetta against the Pazzi family, their supporters, and Archbishop Salviati. In addition to this, the Signoria was ordered by papal decree to surrender Lorenzo so that he could face judgement. Of course, they refused. The Tuscan Church supported the Signoria’s decision, which eventually led to its excommunication as well.
Such open rebellion against the Vatican only served to create more enemies for Florence. Lorenzo was soon faced with political threats from Milan, Urbino and Siena, but the most serious threat came from Ferdinand, King of Naples. In order to solidify Florence’s position and keep peace in Tuscany, Lorenzo set off on several campaigns to secure political alliances. He departed- alone- from Pisa to Naples on December 14, 1479, and did not return to Florence until March of the following year. He risked his life for the peace and well-being of Florence, and the risk had paid off. Not only did he manage to successfully negotiate with the King of Naples but also with the pope. In short, he made his position in Florence stronger than ever before, and (although he never held political office within the Republic) the European rulers officially recognized him as the Head of Florence. The Florentines, grateful that their ruler had successfully thwarted war, bestowed upon him the title: il Magnifico. Pallas and the Centaur was painted by Botticelli in celebration of Lorenzo's political victory in Naples. Pallas (Peace) wears a flowing gown flaunting Lorenzo's personal symbol- the diamond (semperforever) and three interlaced rings (Renaissance symbol of the arts). The Centaur (War) is being tamed by reason and logic, which Pallas possesses in abundance. The background is most likely the bay of Naples, and the composition is enriched by olive tree branches (the universal symbol of peace).
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Extra-luxury Since 1830
With its evening bags, walking sticks and fans, Ottino has been supplying the royal family since its establishment in 1830. Thanks to its reputation for selling high quality items, the shop soon became an essential stop for the European aristocracy when visiting Florence. After the Second World War, Ottino established its name as one of the foremost producers of leather accessories. Since then, its products became the symbol of quality for Florentines as well as for the English and American communities living in Florence or visiting the city.
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14 Florence News
CITY BEAT
MAY www.florencenews.it
Remembering the 1993 Mafia Bombing the very beginning the investigations focused on prompters who were not Mafia members, adding a sinister shadow to a story that still goes on as last month a Palermo sentence condemned, amongst the others, the then heads of the Carabinieri, the Italian Military police, for having negotiated with the Mafia, as well as some major Mafia bosses. Amongst those questioned for the 1993 Florence bombing were former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and his associate Marcello Dell’Utri, the latter now in prison serving a sentence to 7 years for collusion with the Mafia to which must be added – if it will be confirmed in appeal – another condemn to 12 years of prison issued last month by a Palermo court for him to having promised the Mafia to satisfy their requests of loosening anti-organized crime legislation and policies. The Florence bombing was followed by two others: on 27 July an explosion in Rome near the churches of St. John Lateran and San Giorgio al Velabro and in Milan, in via Palestro, where another car bomb killed five people. The choice to hit cultural and religious targets appeared to be too refined to have been conceived solely by the Mafia bosses. The objectives of the Mafia (and, if proved, of its
Conference takes place May 10-12
allies) were destabilizing the Italian government and attacking the Roman Catholic Church, the latter ‘guilty’ of reversing their traditional unwritten hands-off policy toward organized crime. To add suspicious that the Mafia did not act alone in the bombings, in those dark days of 1993 Italian Prime Minister Carlo Azeglio Ciampi blamed a “turbid alliance of forces” that he said pursued “both political destabilization and criminal goals.” Cosa Nostra bosses wanted to force the Italian State to loosen the harsh prison regime regulated by the 41bis article of the Italian penal code, introduced one year earlier after two other bombings, also carried out by Cosa Nostra, killed prosecutors Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino, the two architects of the trial that in early 1992 brought to the first real condemnation of mafiosi in Italian history. Another alleged objective of the those not in the Mafia – the investigations focused on a criminal system allegedly formed by some Freemason lodges, deviated intelligence agencies, and neo-fascists groups – was to swipe away the old political class and favor the advancing of a new one, which effectively happened in the turn of a few months with the elections of March 1994.
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he annual State of the Union, a reflection on the European Union, is organised by the European University Institute and takes place in Florence each May. This year, the event will take place from 10 to 12 May 2018 with the title “Solidarity in Europe.” It will focus on European economic, monetary and fiscal policies, social investment, migration, defence and security, climate change and energy. Four heads of state – Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy; Michael Higgins, President of Ireland; Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, President of Portugal; and Prokopios Pavlopoulos, President of the Greece – will be attending the event (the former three will give their speech on Thursday 10 May at the European University Institute, the latter on Friday 11 May at the Palazzo Vecchio). Representing EU Institutions are Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, and Antonio Tajani, President of the European Parliament. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will also attending and will give a speech on EU Defence and Security. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice President of the European Commission for the Energy Union, will discuss burden sharing and Europe’s ‘En-
ergy Union.’ Corina Crețu, Commissioner for Regional Policy and Karl Heinz Lambertz, President of the Committee of the Regions, will take part in a panel discussion on Solidarity and the EU Budget. Finally Mario Draghi, President of the European Central Bank will deliver a keynote address. Five Members of the European Parliament will also participate in panels on social investment, asylum seeker integration, attitudes to migration, climate change, and emerging energy markets. The conference will take place on Thursday May 10 at the Badia Fiesolana, an abbey located just outside of Fiesole and the EUI’s main building . Speakers will discuss how this important principle informs specific policy areas. The interventions will take place across several parallel sessions, each chaired by a member of the EUI with relevant scientific expertise. On Friday May 11, participants will reconvene in the historic surroundings of Palazzo Vecchio, the seat of Florence’s city council. On Saturday May 12, the European University Institute and Historical Archives of the European Union welcome all members of the public to an Open Day dedicated to music, culture and food at Villa Salviati. For more information visit: https:// stateoftheunion.eui.eu/
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Libreria
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I
n the early morning on May 27, 1993, a bomb exploded on Via de’ Georgofili in Florence killing five and wounding 48. The attempt was carried out with a small car packed full of explosives parked near the Torre dei Pulci, the seat of the Accademia dei Georgofili, between the Uffizi museum and the Arno River. The victims were Angela Fiume, a 36-year-old woman who served as an employee and caretaker of the Accademia; her 39-year-old husband Fabrizio Nencioni, who worked as a policeman; their daughters Caterina, who was only 50 days old, and Nadia, who was 9; and a 22-year-old student by the name of Dario Capolicchio. Several buildings were destroyed or damaged including the Uffizi Gallery, where three paintings were heavily damaged or destroyed (among which, a 1620 Adoration of the Shepherds by Gerard Van Honthorst). Although the perpetrators of the attacks were mafiosi under the orders of Cosa Nostra boss Totò Riina, who used the bombing as a way to force both State and Church to do step back in their anti-mafia policies, allegedly the Mafia decided the attacks with members of other circles of power including deviated Freemasonry and intelligence agencies as well as neo-fascist terrorist groups. In fact, since
The State of the Union
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MAY www.florencenews.it
Florence News 15
CITY BEAT
A Visit to Florence’s Contemporary Art Museum Discover the Museo Novecento
I
n a city where art almost implies just Renaissance, a recently established museum offers an alternative that should be particularly appreciated by contemporary art lovers. Dedicated to the Italian art of the 20th century, the Novecento Museum offers a selection of around 300 works located in 15 exhibition areas, a study room, a cabinet for drawings and prints and a room for conferences and projections. The museum retraces a most recent period when Florence as one of the most vital centres through paintings, sculptures, videos, installations and documents. Struc-
tured chronologically, thematically and in an interdisciplinary way, it creates an immersive experience which combines artworks with multimedia conveniences, sound devices, video halls. Inaugurated after nearly half a century of proposals and projects, the Novecento Museum exhibits a part of Florence’s collections, artworks and documents from the last decades granted on a free loan by artists, collectors or institutions. The Museum project has been developed on a double level: On one side it integrates Italy’s heritage with evidence of historical events,
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of national and international appeal, which marked the territory from the ‘90s until the second half of the ‘70s; on the other side it creates a historical tale that links the civic collections of the Twentieth century to the history of the city with artworks from the Sixties to the beginning of the century. Another imporant part of the museum is the Education Department, offering a rich program of exhibitions and activities on the Twentieth century’s arts and their protagonists. Guided visits are offered to adults, while activities and laboratories are dedicated to children and families.
HOW TO BOOK For private individuals (adults and families): You can send a reservation request via e-mail or call the numbers 0552768224 and 055-2768558 (Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-5 p.m.; Sundays and Bank Holidays 9:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m.). Reservations are suggested and are free of charge. For schools and teacher: It is possible to send a reservation request via e-mail or call the number 055/2616788 (Monday to Friday 9:30
am-1 p.m. and 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.). Reservations are compulsory and free of charge. The group must be composed of a minimum of ten to a maximum of 25-30 people, depending on the activity. Larger groups will be split into two or more separate groups. Teachers are responsible for their classes and must stay inside the Museum for the whole duration of the visit. Cancellation of reservations must be sent via fax at least five working days before the date of the scheduled visit.
Tel. +39 055-2768224, +39 055-2768224
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16 Florence News
CITY BEAT
Florence Creativity Returns
MAY www.florencenews.it
A Week for Bob Dylan
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C
reativity never ends, especially at the spring edition of the Florence Creativity festival taking place at the Fortezza da Basso May 10-12. The fair, now in its sixth year, includes events, courses and expositors presenting new ideas, techniques and materials, and is a not-to-miss event for all of those who feel passion in their hands and those who are interested in developing and investing in the art of 'do-it-yourself.’ Fabrics, buttons, paints, brushes, needles, threads, glues and paper will be the tools through which anyone will be able to stimulate his or her creativity. The courses offered include painting on silk with
all its techniques, home decor, cutting, sewing, creative sewing, crochet, knitting, repairs, weaving for children and adults alike, creative workshops for children, creating bracelets, bijoux and necklaces, processing wool, painting and so on, as infinite are the ways human creativity can express itself. One of the initiatives that was at the last edition that thrilled the most was the Creative Zoo, a panel to create a zoo following given patterns that can be downloaded from the fair website: www.florencecreativity.it. Tickets cost €10 for adults and €5 for children. A ticket for the four days of the fair cost €16. Entrance is free for children younger than 10
and for accompanies or disables. Groups of more than 10 people will pay €5, for each group bigger than 20 people, a free ticket will be given to the organizer. Those interested in becoming expositors can find a form in the fair website. Opening hours at the event are from 9.30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
PERSIAN RESTAURANT Via dei Cerchi 25R (Near Piazza Signoria)
Florence Creativity Fortezza da Basso May 10-12 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. www.florencecreativity.it
he cultural associations Contemporary and Don Milani are presenting a week dedicated to Bob Dylan May 17-24. The event hits its sixth anniversary this year. Free concerts, conferences, figurative art exhibits, readings, and a show by local band Acquaraggia will act as an homage one of the most important artist of the XX
century, a songwriter and poet recently awarded with the Nobel prize for literature. Among the special guests will be one of the leading worldwide experts on Bob Dylan, American Professor Greil Marcus. Foreign artists that will perform live include Cliff Edwards (Canada), Noah Kite (Oregon Usa), Kenny Wilson (Leicester U.K.).
ModaPrima Returns M
odaPrima presents ready-towear fashion trends and accessories for men and women for spring-summer 2018. About 150 Italian manufacturers and selected international brands will showcase their items. Previously held in Milan, ModaPrima relocated to Florence in 2011. Its host venue is an example of the innovation promoted by the event: once a disused 19th century railway station, Stazione Leopolda has now become a hub for contempo-
rary events. Further information is available on the Pitti Immagine website: www.pittimmagine.com
For possible program variations see Facebook Yab-Official
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18 Florence News
CITY BEAT
Festival Events
IARNA Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 6, 2018 21:30 JOHN PARISH SCREENPLAY Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 4, 2018 20:00 TEATRUL NOTTARA IARNA Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 5, 2018 22:30, 23:59 SANG JIJIA RE-MARK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 4, 2018 21:30 MARK GUILIANA JAZZ QUARTET LIVE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 6, 2018 16:30 ENRICO GABRIELLI / ENECE FILM PERFORMANCE FOR ANSWERING MACHINES Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 4, 2018 23:00 CHICKS ON SPEED LIVE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 5, 2018 18:00 ANNA TILL | MARTINA FRANCONE | DALIBOR KOCIAN ARTINA&ONNO. LOST IN CREATION PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 5, 2018 20:00 TEATRUL NOTTARA IARNA Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 5, 2018 21:30 WIM VANDEKEYBUS / ULTIMA VEZ GO FIGURE OUT YOURSELF Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 6, 2018 17:00 ANNA TILL | MARTINA FRANCONE | DALIBOR KOCIAN ARTINA&ONNO. LOST IN CREATION PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze
May 6, 2018 23:00 SANG JIJIA RE-MARK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 7, 2018 18:00 ENRICO GABRIELLI / ENECE FILM INSTALLATION FOR ANSWERING MACHINES Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 7, 2018 19:00, 20:00, 21:00 SANG JIJIA RE-MARK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 7, 2018 21:30 JESSICA MOSS | MASSIMO PUPILLO | STEFANO PILIA LIVE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 6, 2018 18:00 SANG JIJIA RE-MARK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 8, 2018 19:00, 20:00 SANG JIJIA RE-MARK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 6, 2018 19:00 WIM VANDEKEYBUS / ULTIMA VEZ GO FIGURE OUT YOURSELF Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 8, 2018 20:30 OLIMPIA FORTUNI SOGGETTO SENZA TITOLO Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 6, 2018 20:00 TEATRUL NOTTARA
May 8, 2018 21:00 DAVIDE BOMBANA / BALLETTO DI ROMA
MAY www.florencenews.it ARCAICO Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 7, 2018 23:00 SANG JIJIA RE-MARK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 9, 2018 19:00 SARA CAMPINOTI | ELISA CAPECCHI SMASH YOUR MASK Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 9, 2018 20:30 CRISTINA KRISTAL RIZZO INVISIBLE PIECE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 9, 2018 21:30 MICHEL GODARD | NATAŠA MIRKOVIĆ | LUCIANO BIONDINI | JARROD CAGWIN RISPLENDENTI, RIVERSI Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 10, 2018 18:00 ENRICO GABRIELLI / ENECE FILM INSTALLATION FOR ANSWERING MACHINES Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 10, 2018 22:30 GABRIELE MITELLI | ROB MAZUREK LIVE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 10, 2018 23:30 QUIET ENSEMBLE BACK SYMPHONY Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 11, 2018 18:00 ENRICO GABRIELLI / ENECE FILM INSTALLATION FOR ANSWERING MACHINES Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 11, 2018 20:00 JULIE ANN ANZILOTTI ERODIADE – FAME DI VENTO 1993/2017 Teatro Goldoni of Florence May 11, 2018 21:00 QUIET ENSEMBLE BACK SYMPHONY Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 11, 2018 21:30 COMPAGNIA SIMONA BUCCI / HAL YAMANOUCHI INTERROGAI ME STESSO Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 10, 2018 20:00 JULIE ANN ANZILOTTI ERODIADE – FAME DI VENTO 1993/2017 Teatro Goldoni of Florence
May 11, 2018 22:00 GIARDINO CHIUSO INVERNO Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 10, 2018 21:30 RADHOUANE EL MEDDEB À MON PÈRE, UNE DERNIÈRE DANSE ET UN PREMIER BAISER Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
May 11, 2018 23:00 OMAR-S / LATTEXPLUS ELECTRONIC Stazione Leopolda di Firenze
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MAY www.florencenews.it May 12, 2018 20:00 LEÏLA KA PODE SER Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 12, 2018 20:30 XUAN LE BOUCLE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 12, 2018 21:00 DAKHABRAKHA LIVE Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 12, 2018 22:30 ANNAMARIA AJMONE | MARCELA SANTANDER MASH Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 12, 2018 23:30 QUIET ENSEMBLE BACK SYMPHONY Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 13, 2018 18:00 ENRICO GABRIELLI / ENECE FILM INSTALLATION FOR ANSWERING MACHINES Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 13, 2018 20:30 TULIPA RUIZ DANCÊ Stazione Leopolda di Firenze May 23, 2018 21:00 BASSAM ABOU DIAB | JACOPO JENNA MEETING PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze
May 24, 2018 21:00 SALVO LOMBARDO PRESENT CONTINUOUS Teatro Cantiere Florida di Firenze May 25, 2018 19:00 BASSAM ABOU DIAB | JACOPO JENNA MEETING PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 29, 2018 20:00 AGNESE LANZA /IN-TI-MO/ PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 29, 2018 20:00 FRANCESCO COLALEO | MAXIME FREIXAS / CIE MF RE-GARDE PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 29, 2018 20:00 ISABELLA GIUSTINA MUTAMENTI PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 29, 2018 20:00 SHIRA EVIATAR | EVIATAR SAID EVIATAR/SAID PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 30, 2018 20:00 ALICE NARDI THE SURROUNDER PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 30, 2018 20:00 DANILA GAMBETTOLA ROOM 00#1 PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 30, 2018 20:00
FRANCESCA LOMBARDO BORDERLIGHT PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 30, 2018 20:00 LUCREZIA GABRIELI CUBIC MILLIMETER PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 30, 2018 20:00 SHIRA EVIATAR | EVIATAR SAID EVIATAR/SAID PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 30, 2018 21:30 OTOMO YOSHIHIDE | CHRIS PITSIOKOS LIVE Limonaia di Villa Strozzi Firenze May 31, 2018 20:00 AGNESE LANZA /IN-TI-MO/ PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 31, 2018 20:00 ALICE NARDI THE SURROUNDER PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 31, 2018 20:00 DANILA GAMBETTOLA ROOM 00#1 PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 31, 2018 20:00 DAVIDE VALROSSO STUDIO ANATOMICO SULLA MEMORIA PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze May 31, 2018 20:00 FRANCESCA LOMBARDO BORDERLIGHT PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze
Florence News 19
CITY BEAT May 31, 2018 20:00 LUCREZIA GABRIELI CUBIC MILLIMETER PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 1, 2018 20:00 BEATRICE BRESOLIN IO E L(‘)ORO PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 1, 2018 20:00 ISABELLA GIUSTINA MUTAMENTI PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 1, 2018 20:00 MONICA GENTILE / MARCELA GIESCHE FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 1, 2018 20:00 PIETRO PIREDDU | MOSÈ RISALITI MURPHY PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 1, 2018 20:00 SINA SABERI PRELUDE TO PERSIAN MYSTERIES PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze
June 2, 2018 16:00 MONICA GENTILE / MARCELA GIESCHE FIRE OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 2, 2018 16:00 SARA CATELLANI COCKTAIL PARTY EFFECT PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 2, 2018 16:00 SINA SABERI PRELUDE TO PERSIAN MYSTERIES PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze June 2, 2018 20:45 ANNE TERESA DE KEERSMAEKER / JEAN-GUIHEN QUEYRAS / ROSAS MITTEN WIR IM LEBEN SIND/ BACH6CELLOSUITEN Teatro della Pergola Florence June 3, 2018 17:45 ANNE TERESA DE KEERSMAEKER / JEAN-GUIHEN QUEYRAS / ROSAS MITTEN WIR IM LEBEN SIND/ BACH6CELLOSUITEN Teatro della Pergola Florence
June 2, 2018 16:00 BEATRICE BRESOLIN IO E L(‘)ORO PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze
June 9, 2018 21:00 BENOÎT LACHAMBRE / PAR B.L.EUX LIFEGUARD Secret Florence
June 2, 2018 16:00 DAVIDE VALROSSO STUDIO ANATOMICO SULLA MEMORIA PARC ex Scuderie Cascine Firenze
June 10, 2018 21:00 BENOÎT LACHAMBRE / PAR B.L.EUX LIFEGUARD Secret Florence
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20 Florence News
CITY BEAT
MAY www.florencenews.it
Il Ponte Presents Mauro Staccioli
Tribute to Giorgio Laveri
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sen. Laveri’s objects are sometimes anto Ficara Contemporary Art kitsch and predictable, however Gallery presents an exhibition icons of the 20th century and alon Giorgio Laveri, one of the most ways present is our life: artifacts renowned Italian contemporary that communicate and urge us to artists. The exhibit inaugurates reflect upon things. For their aesMay 5 at 11 a.m. Laveri’s production spans from ce- thetic, chromatic and formal perfection, these artifacts fascinate, ramics to theatre, film, reflections on mental illness, and civil com- seducing sight and heart first, and then the viewer.” mitment. As art critic Claudio Casali wrote, Irony and seduction thus become Laveri’s art main ingredients. “just one, simple piece of data is enough for us to comprehend the “Laveri takes us with irony and seduction to the enchant of memcomplexity of this author, who ories, of our youth, to the charm cannot be constrained within a single form of art but has to be con- and romance of playing, to finally reach the subtle lightness of living, sidered in all of his productions: which is rich of elegant, intellecfrom the ‘90s on, 300 were in fact Laveri’s cinema, theatre, perfor- tual, and spiritual reminders; in short, it is a sort of oxymoron of our mances and other events.” According to Casali, “Laveri choos- daily life.” es his subjects from our daily life, the techniques that he uses alGiorgio Laveri: ways recall some Italian tradition The Daily Chant in their being refined, elegant in the choice of the colors, with their Santo Ficara Contemporary Art shiny enamels, with the perfection Gallery of each sign; to all this, it must me Via Arnolfo 6L added a certain maniacal kind Open every day except Sundays of virtuosity, that is never cutesy 10 a.m.-12.30 p.m., 4-7 p.m. but always nicely researched, as santoficara.it demonstrated by the contrasts and the decorative patterns cho-
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he contemporary art gallery Il Ponte presents a solo show dedicated to the sculptor Mauro Staccioli until July 27. The exhibit, which inaugurates on Friday May 11 at 6 p.m., showcases works between 1969 and 2009. Born in 1937 in Volterra, Staccioli earned a degree at the Art School in 1954. After an early stage in which he experimented with painting and engraving, Staccioli approached sculpture at the end of the 60s. In this period, he began to focus on the relationship between art and society, and developed the idea
that sculptures are intrinsically related with the places in which and for which they are created, both physically and socially. In Staccioli’s art, thus, places are central and without them sculpture would not exist. In 1972 Staccioli organized a series of “sculptures-interventions” in Volterra after a series of exhibitions in Milan galleries such as Studio Sant’Andrea, Studio Marconi, and Galleria Bocchi. He was later invited to the prestigious Venice Biennial in 1976 and 1978. In the ‘90s he continued to experiment on new forms and created
exhibits in Italy and Europe. In recent years, his research yielded several installations, in Italy and abroad: at the the Lapiz Building in La Jolla, San Diego (2003) where a steel beam crosses the building’s façade, in Taiwan (2003), Puerto Rico (2004), Carrazeda de Ansiães, Portugal (2008), Voisins-le-Bretonneux, France (2008), and in Italy, Greve in Chianti (2009) and Parco della Cupa in Perugia (2009). In Mauro Staccioli, All’origine del fare/At the Roots of Sculpting, art critic Maria Laura Gelmini writes: “Mauro Staccioli follows his own peculiar procedure designed to meet the grounding need underpinning his own line of thought: to interpret a place in light of history and leave an indicative sign in the wake of this interpretation. The artist conscientiously adopted this approach in the late 1960s: politically engaged, he believed that art was his dutiful way of getting involved in debate. His awareness of the historical-social environment emerged in Volterra in 1972: the place, urban space, building and nature have their own history, their own life, they carry the imprints of ancient events or socio-environmental situations.”
Mauro Staccioli. Marking Space Il Ponte Art Gallery Via di Mezzo 42/b May 11 – July 27
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22 Florence News
CITY BEAT
Firenze Family
Get to know the Benheart team
TAYLER BRADFORD
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hen you walk into Benheart, a leather store originated in Florence six years ago, your eyes are immediately drawn downward. With each step, you notice different children’s drawings laminated onto the floor. Even though the store is filled with handmade leather goods, you feel the need to discover what these drawings represent before taking a look around. These drawings were given to co-founder, Ben, when he was in the hospital. At age 29, Ben experienced heart failure and spent the following seven months in a coma. Before receiving a heart transplant,
Ben and his childhood best friend, Matteo, promised one another if Ben survived, they would pursue their dream to open a leather shop in the heart of Florence. Today, they have [HOW MANY?] stores throughout Europe. Telling the story of Benheart, these drawings invite new and returning customers to celebrate the heritage of the store, creating an emotional connection between clients and the brand. Benheart is not only recognized as a leather store, but also as a symbol of life, passion, hope and strength. “If you buy our product, you don’t just buy a product. You buy the story of Benheart,” says Petra Haisek, 29, a sales associate at Benheart.
This morning, Petra went to Benheart’s second Florence location to say “ciao” to her coworkers and give them coffee. “We are a family,” she says. “Of course we want to go to work for money because we have a life, but we really decided to work here and not somewhere else because we love the idea of Benheart.” One of her favorite memories with her Benheart family took place one and a half years ago in Palazzo Vecchio. They discussed work and ideas on how to improve the brand. “I want to remake that moment,” she said. “I remember the feeling and the positive energy with my colleagues and Ben.” Petra grew up in the country side of Sienna, but has been a resident of Florence for 10 years now. She met Ben through her ex-boyfriend, so she was able to visit him in the hospital. “I remember the strength he had after the transplant,” she said. “He has an amazing heart.” Before Benheart, Petra worked at another shop. But, when she found out Ben started a business of his own, she immediately left her job to join his team. “My heart followed him. I fell in love with this business and his dream.” Simone Razzino, 38, started to work with Ben for the same reason. Friends for 30 years, Simone and Ben reunited three years ago. After speaking for two minutes, Simone decided to join the Benheart team. “I worked in fashion for 24 years, but Benheart is the first brand I don’t like to call a brand because it’s a family,” says Simone, born and raised in Florence. Another
MAY www.florencenews.it difference between Benheart and other brands is the selling process. “I love working here because we don’t just sell just jackets and shoes,” he said. “It’s important to sell the story and build friendships with customers too.” Through Benheart, Petra and Simone are philanthropically involved with the community. For one week last year, the team produced blue bracelets for the national day against bullying. “We handed them out to young students in Florence,” Petra said. “I like how
I was able to be a part of a cause and make a difference.” Instead of sharing his charitable efforts with the press, Ben keeps to himself; his intentions are genuine and pure. “I love Ben because he has a crazy, big heart,” Simone says. “Anytime you need him, you call and he is there.” Petra and Simone work at the same location in Florence. They smile when customers enter the store and ask about the drawings on the ground. “I want to work here forever,” Simone said.
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LITERATURE
Dante’s Commedia Misconceived by Dan Brown LEE FOUST
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he theme of the Book of Revelations, like the Old Testament Book of Daniel upon which it was based, is thlipsis—a Greek word meaning tribulations. Consequently, our whole Judeo-Christian concept of God’s judgment in the afterlife stems from how we morally react to life’s tribulations. Since Revelations recounts mostly the retributions meted out to the enemies of Christianity and other evildoers at the end of time, a lacuna of early Christian theology was the knowledge of what happens to the souls of the faithful in the interim between death and the last judgment. Into this gap stepped the Vision of St. Paul, an apocryphal biblical text that spawned a considerable but little-read medieval genre of visions recounting journeys into a moralized Christian land of the dead—there are about 100 such texts written in Europe between the 2nd and 14th centuries and it is from them that we take most of our common modern images of hell and heaven, as well as the entire concept of Purgatory. Dante Alighieri’s tripartite epic poem, The Commedia (“Divine” was added to the title later, by Giovanni Boccaccio), is one such encyclopedic, late-medieval account of how the unrepentant are
punished in Hell, how the repentant are cleansed in Purgatory, and how the blessed celebrate their salvation in Heaven. It is the last of the medieval visionary tradition—a text too exhaustive, poetic, and influential to top. As alluring as a descent into the infernal regions at first sounds, however, the poem has nothing at all
to do with any medieval plagues, nor with the threat to anyone’s life, and its villain is a chained-up, non-speaking, and totally ineffectual Satan. Neither the poem’s focus on morality, nor its lack of an active villain, is compatible with the modern thriller genre. We saw it in the film Se7en’s weak Dantesque references, we saw it in
the over-romanticized video game Dante’s Inferno, and we see it yet again in Dan Brown’s mostly pointless attempt to exploit Dante’s poem in his recent thriller, Inferno. Just as modern-day romance plays no part whatsoever in the poet’s spiritual salvation as granted him by the figure of an allegorical, unknown woman who is called “Be-
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atrice” because the name signifies that she is a miracle from heaven, “a blessing,” (as I discussed in last month’s article) so the episodic and poetic invocation of divine justice after death presented in the Commedia has no secular stakes—no ticking bombs or terrorist plots. It just doesn’t fit the thriller mold, and that’s why Dan Brown’s Inferno, for me, fails by choosing Dante’s epic as a platform—it grafts two incompatible species of tree together too haphazardly. The basic plot—a mad genius biologist cooking up a virus to save the world from human overpopulation—is interesting enough, but all of the half-baked information regarding the Commedia, Dante’s life, and his love for Beatrice, is needless, awkward, and often just plain wrong. Without it, the novel might also have clocked in at a more readable 250 pages instead of its tedious 462. For a really interesting take on Dante’s epic poem—and some awesome Godfather, Goodfellas, and Sopranos-style gangster shenanigans—try Nick Tosches’s In the Hand of Dante (No Exit Press, 2002). Tosches’s novel juxtaposes the medieval poet’s struggle to complete his poetic vision of Paradise with the bloodbath produced by modern-day gangsters fighting over the newly discovered original manuscript of the Commedia in the poet’s own hand. Now that would be a find worth fighting over!
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24 Florence News
CITY BEAT
Playoffs got off on the right foot! T
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oached by former Italian National team player Andrea Niccolai, All Food Fiorentina Basket, an explosive mix of experience players and rookies, participates in the Italian third national league, Serie B, and ended the A Conference (Girone A) regular season with a surprisingly 25W-5L record (ranked #2). The first playoff round got off on the right foot with a convincing home game win over Tigers Forlì from Emilia Romagna (95-77). All Food Fiorentina Basket is competing in order to access the National Final Four (Palaterme, Montecatini - LU, June
9-10) and be promoted to Serie A2 – the Italian Second National league. To experience the Florence basketball atmosphere and to support All Food Fiorentina Basket for the next playoffs home games, go to the San Marcellino Arena located on via Chiantigiana, 28 – bus 32 from Piazza San Marco (direction to Antella); info on the bus can be found at www.ataf.net; further information can be found at www.fiorentinabasket.it or on www.facebook. com/fiorentinabasket and www. legapallacanestro.com/serie-b. For additional information, news, interviews and reports, visit firenzebasketblog.it also available on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube.
www.florencenews.it
Porto di Mare Goes Jazz and Arezzo Wave
he smooth sounds of a saxophone and the vibrant roar of the trumpet will echo in Porto di Mare – Eskimo as it opens up to jazz music. Porto di Mare – Eskimo has had a variety of acts in the past, but now it will bring in some of the most famous jazz musicians in Tuscany as it hosts the initial rounds of the Arezzo Wave contest,
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tures at Porto di Mare is just getting out an instrument and beginning to play. “I’d be keen to talk to anyone who is interested in playing and sharing their music with us,” Francesco says. Every Tuesday the club hosts an open-mic night where any artist can truly go out and share their music. Make sure to tip the musicians!
The Week at Porto di Mare THE PORT OPEN TO ALL MUSICIANS TUES: PALCO D’AUTORE: Music lab for emerging artists and songwriters WED: CITY LAB PROJECT: Musicians forming an orchestra will accompany the Palco D’Autore artists THURS: CAM’ ON: Students from the school of music CAM exhibit their talents. Then open mic jam sessions open to all musicians FRI - SAT: Rock music or singer-songwriters
a famous Italian music festival that takes place in July. The venue will be a part of the circuit where musicians compete with each other for a spot in Arezzo. Porto di Mare’s focus on live music and cultural exchange is one that the man who started the club, Francesco Cofone, holds close to his heart. “We never play anything recorded here,” he says with a smile. The method of bridging cul-
The club is also introducing a new way to tip the performers. While the musicians are still getting paid for their gigs, Porto di Mare is introducing a “tipping basket” where patrons can tip the musicians. Porto di Mare – Eskimo is located on the corner of Via Pisana and Via del Ponte Sospeso, open for lunch at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and with music in the evening from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
SUN: TARANTA NIGHT: Popular southern Italian music and dance. Starts at 6 p.m. CONTACT FRANCESCO COFONE Via Pisana, 128 055 71 20 34
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Understanding Chianti Wine Chianti Classico
Chianti
Bottles simply labeled as Chianti are made from a mix grapes from several regions in the Chianti region. The main difference with generic Chianti and the rest, is that the minimum percentage of Sangiovese allowed is 75%, with the rules permitting white grapes to be blended in. Adding white grapes to a red wine isn’t as crazy as you might think! The French have been addingViognier to their Syrah in
the Rhone region of France for decades. The reason they do so is to soften the tannin in the Syrah, and to add what they call “aromatic complexity”. The addition of white grapes into the Sangiovese mix however, is less about romance and more about cutting costs. As with all Chianti’s, there are some minimum rules set, i.e. the minimum alcohol level in regular Chianti is 11.5%, and grape harvest yields are “restricted” to 4 tons per acre.
WINE ON TAP IN SANTO SPIRITO Bring your bottles and fill them directly from the barrels of Il Santo Vino, starting at less than €1.50. Patrons can choose from a gamut of Italian wines alongside selected local specialty and organic products
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; 5–9 p.m. Borgo Tegolaio, 46/r Tel. 055 53 87 122 , 345 90 93 425 www.ilsantovino.it Facebook: Il Santo Vino
The Chianti Classico region is central to the region and arguably the most famous. In 1996 it was awarded DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) status, in an effort to raise its perceived quality. All Italian DOCG wines are actually tasted and analyzed in a lab in order to meet government approval. Kind of like SAT exams for wine. If the wine passes, it will receive an individually numbered governmental seal across the cap or cork. Chianti Classico bears a black rooster on the neck of the bottle. This is a conglomeration of Chianti producers whom have setup the Consorzio Chianti Classico, in a bid to improve the quality and reputation of the region. The minimum percentage of Sangiovese allowed in Chianti Classico is 80%, with only red grapes permitted to make up the rest of the blend. Producers can of course choose to make their wine up to 100% Sangiovese, but it’s the exception and not the rule. The alcohol content must also be at least 12%, and the wine must spend at least 12 months aging in oak barrels. The Chianti Classico region covers an area of around 100 square miles, and the grape harvest is restricted to no more than 3 tons per acre.
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TUSCANY Chianti Riserva / Classico Riserva
If you guessed that Riserva is Italian for Reserve you would be correct! Riserva on a bottle of Chianti is your first clue that the bottle of Chianti you’re holding, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Riserva is a term that can be applied not just to Chianti, but to plenty of other Italian wines such as Brunello and Barolo. Of course, just to make things difficult, it has various meanings, but Riserva on a Chianti just means that the wine spends a minimum of two years (in oak) and three months (in the bottle) aging. The alcohol content must also be at least 12.5%. Chianti Riserva is also a great candidate for additional bottle aging, depending on the producer and vintage.
Vin Santo
Vin Santo (literally meaning “holy wine”) is a style of Italian wine dessert typical of Tuscany. Vin Santo wines are often made from white grape varieties such as Trebbiano and Malvasia, though Sangiovese may be used to produce a rosè style known as “Occhio di Pernice” or eye of the partridge. Vin Santo is described as a straw wine since is often produced by drying the freshly harvested grapes on straw mats in a warm and well ventilated area of the house. However several producers dry the grapes by hanging on racks indoors. Though technically a dessert wine, the wines can vary in sweetness levels from bone dry (like a Fino Sherry) to extremely sweet.
WINEMAKER FOR A DAY Winemaker for a Day is a wine tasting course in which you also will be able to create your own, unique, signature vintage by blending up to 5 different grapes while working alongside our award-winning winemaker. Your signature wine will be shipped home for your future enjoyment.
EDUCATIONAL VINEYARD Spend a few hours in the vineyard with an agronomist learning how grape has to be cultivated. HIKing...wine...food...@monterinaldi Hike in the breathtaking landscape of Chianti before enjoying a home made Tuscan lunch while sipping the real Chianti Classico
OFFROAD ADVENTURE IN CHIANTI Discover the Chianti hills, vineyards and lakes on a land-lover. Then enjoy a homemade lunch paired with Chianti Classico More info on: www.monterinaldi.it
DIRECT TO BUS FROM PISA AIRPORT
PISA AIRPORT
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PISA AIRPORT
Timetable may change, check on-line for updates. Journey time: 70 minutes, valid from December 2017 Free WiFi
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Florence News 27
TUSCANY
Gelato Classes with a World Champion San Gimignano Saffron Ravioli A Recipe by Casanova di Pescille For pasta: 450 grams of flour, 150 gr egg yolks, 150 gr tomato concentrate 1 cup of extra virgin olive oil from Tuscany, 1 pinch of salt For the stuffing 500 gr sheep’s cottage cheese, 200 gr fresh spinach bacon It sucks enough, Enough nutmeg, 50 gr of Parmesan cheese For pecorino fondue 200 gr mature pecorino cheese, 200 gr fresh cream 0,20 gr Saffron of San Gimignano Method For pasta: knead flour, egg rises, tomato concentrate, oil and salt in a planetary hook. Once ready to rest for about 30 minutes. With the help of a matematello spread the compound in rectangles. For filling: thoroughly crush the spinach and combine with the previously privately-owned ricotta of whey, then add all the other ingredients and mix the compound Once the sheet is laid out, form filling pans and close them by taking care to remove the air. For the fondue: cut the pecorino to cubes and put it in a saucepan with cream and saffron, let it soften for a few hours, then put everything to bake to bath Maria until the cheese is loose. Cook the ravioli in plenty of salted water and season with the cheese fondue www.casanovadipescille.com
WINE TASTINGS IN SAN GIMIGNANO
Via Racciano 10 - 53037 San Gimignano 334/6399484 • 0577/943090 www.palagetto.it
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ormer Gelato World Champion, Sergio Dondoli, offers gelato classes for adults and kids alike in his hometown San Gimignano, in the very heart of Tuscany. Gelato was invented in this region thanks to the famous Florentine architect Bernardo Buontalenti, who in 1500 amazed the Medici family with gelato made from fruit and zabaione before Caterina de’ Medici, who was married to King Henry II, and introduced this precious Florentine dessert to the Royal French Court. From here, gelato spread across all of Europe.
Dondoli opened his famous Gelateria di Piazza in San Gimignano in 1992. In 2011, his Gelateria was the only Gelato-shop mentioned by Lonely Planet among the ten “Best Gourmet Places in the World.” In his career as a gelato-maker Dondoli has earned many prestigious awards, including the Master of Art & Craft Living National Treasure Award in 2016. Since last year, he offered his knowledge and creative energy to whoever, from all over the world, is willing to learn the secrets of preparing real Gelato.
Each class consists of an introduction to Gelato History and to its ingredients. It follows the preparation of a Fiordilatte Gelato made with raw milk and seasonal fruit. The best part of these classes is the end, when groups can eat the gelato they prepared. Via del Castello 15 San Gimignano www.dondoligelatoclass.com +39 393 5448969
A CORNER OF PARADISE BETWEEN VOLTERRA AND S. GIMIGNANO Restaurant Zafferano by Casanova di Pescille
THE FARMHOUSE • BED AND BREAKFAST • RESTAURANT Loc. Pescille, 53037 San Gimignano (Siena) 0577 941902 • pescille@casanovadipescille.com www.casanovadipescille.com
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5 Tips for Visiting Greve, Voyage Inside a Blind Experience Exhibit tributes Josef and Anni Albers the Heart of Chianti
1) How to get to Greve: Although getting to Greve in Chianti via car would be the easiest and the most scenic, there are other modes of transportation available. An easy way to get to the town would be from the Santa Maria Novella station. Hop on bus line 365 and you will get to Greve in Chianti in just about an hour. 2) What to do: Beyond being the entrance gate into the Chianti region, Greve in Chianti is full of historical sites. Every Saturday morning, the weekly market takes place in Greve in Chianti’s main square, Piazza Matteotti. The Saturday morning market offers local products by artisans, workshops and restaurants. 3) What to see: the Piazza Matteotti; the Chiesa Santa Croce, constructed in the 11th century and was rebuilt in 1325 with a neoclassic façade; the Montefioralle and
Verrazzano castles. 4) Museums: Greve offers two museums, the Museum of San Francesco, which was inaugurated in 2002 in the former convent of San Francesco and presents several important paintings and other pieces of art; the Wine Museum, just outside the square, set in a space as big as 800 square meters where previously were the Mirafiori cellars and where now it is possible to learn and ‘see’ the history of wine. 5) What to eat: Beyond sipping on the wine from Greve in Chianti, must-eats in Greve are grilled meat and pig products such as prosciutto, salami, finocchiona, crostini, and truffles. For more information on Greve visit the website: http://www.comune. greve-in-chianti.fi.it/
SPECIALTIES Typical Tuscan Grill Handmade Pasta
Via C. Battisti 9 50022 Greve in Chianti 0558544802 www.enoristorantegallonero.it
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he Siena museum complex Santa Maria della Scala presents an exhibition on Josef and Anni Albers, two leading pioneers of 20th century modernism, until July 4. The showcase will then move to two other European museums: The Lewis Glucksman Gallery in the University College Cork in Ireland, and the Muzei Suvremene Umjetnosti in Zagreb, Croatia. The objective of the organizers – the Santa Maria della Scala Museum, the Glucksman Museum, the Zagreb Museum of Contemporary Art, the Milan Institute for the Blind – was to create an exhibit for visually impaired people through special tactiles and auditory tech-
nologies. “It is an innovative approach that mixes in one cognitive sensorial and participatory exercise the visit experience of seeing and not seeing, inducing the former to extend their sense of perception through touch, and the latter to approach the composite and stylistic complexity of the artworks,” said Daniele Pitteri, director of the Santa Maria della Scala Museum. For the first time, visitors will have the opportunity to touch five original works by Josef and Anni Albers (Rail, Montanius III, Intaglio DUO E, Homage to the Square, and Color Study per Homage to the Square). Audio guides will make it possible
to tactil explore three-dimensional textured surfaces while receiving information in their headphones. An entire section dedicated to listening and music will relate covers designed by Josef Albers for Command Records with the music of their vinyl. Finally, it will be possible to touch 12 epoxy reproductions of the pieces on display. Lifelong artistic adventurers, Josef and Anni Albers were among the leading pioneers of 20th-century modernism. Josef Albers (1888– 1976) was an influential teacher, writer, painter, and color theorist best known for the Homages to the Square he painted between 1950 and 1976 and for his innovative 1963 publication Interaction of Color. Anni Albers (1899–1994) was a textile designer, weaver, writer, and printmaker who inspired a reconsideration of fabrics as an art form, both in their functional roles and as wallhangings.
Josef and Anni Albers: Voyage Inside a Blind Experience Santa Maria Della Scala Museum Siena Until July 4 santamariadellascala.com
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Man Ray: Wonderful Visions
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he exhibit, on display at the San Gimignano Galleria d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea until Oct. 7, presents over 100 photos in a chronological order as part of unitary path that intends to give importance to Man Ray’s overall look regardless of the genre of photos. Born Emmanuel Rudnitzky, Man Ray was the son of Jewish immigrants from Russia who moved to Brooklyn as a child. After finishing high school in 1908, he followed his passion for art by studying with Robert Henri at the Ferrer Center and frequenting Alfred Stieglitz’s Gallery 291. Stieglitz’s photographs influenced Ray considerably, as Ray utilized a similar style and photographed images that provid-
ed an unvarnished look at the subject. The Armory Show of 1913 featuring the works of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Wassily Kandinsky and Marcel Duchamp also influenced this extraordinary artist. In this phase, which coincided with his soon-to-end marriage with Belgian poet Adon Lacroix and a growing relationship with fellow artist Marcel Duchamp, Ray’s work evolved from a Cubism to Abstract art. He soon became a leading figure in Dadaism in New York. The movement which, taking its name from the French nickname for a rocking horse, challenged existing notions of art and literature while at the same time encouraging spontaneity. In 1921, Ray moved to Paris and became close to such famous figures of the artistic avant garde as Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway. He also became known for his portraits of his artistic and literary associates. At the same time, he developed a thriving career as a fashion photographer taking pictures for such magazines as Vogue. Man Ray was also a photographic innovator, as he discovered a new way to create interesting images by accident in his darkroom – the so-called “Rayographs” – made by placing and manipulating objects on pieces of photosensitive paper. In 1974, Ray received the Royal Photographic Society’s Progress Medal and Honorary Fellowship “in recognition of any invention,
research, publication or other contribution which has resulted in an important advance in the scientific or technological development of photography or imaging in the widest sense.” In 1999, ARTnews magazine named him one of the 25 most influential artists of the 20th century.
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TUSCANY
San Gimignano Prepares Harvest Festival Fiera delle Messi returns June 15-17
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MAN RAY: Wonderful Visions Galleria di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Via Folgore 11, San Gimignano Price: Euro 9, reduced 6 Until Oct. 26
modern version of the Harvest Festival of the Middles Ages, in which towns of central Italy celebrated the harvest season with music, dances and jousters, every year on the third weekend of June the festival recreates the magic atmosphere of the happiest moment of the year. Organized by the Cavalieri di Santa Fina – an association that gets its name name from Fina dei Ciardi, patron of the city, and that has the goal of celebrating the past of San Gimignano – the event begins on Friday, June 15 at 9:30 p.m. in Piazza Duomo and goes until 11 p.m. with dances, drums and knight exhibits. On Saturday festivities start at 4 p.m. with a reproduction of a mil-
itary camp in the Rocca di Montestaffoli. A colorful costume parade will arrive in Piazza Duomo at 4:30 p.m., marking the start of other attractions and events that wil end at night with music and dancing in the piazza. The festival begins at 11 a.m. with a medieval market in the Piazza delle Erbe. In the afternoon there is a parade with more than 500 men dressed in handmade costumes, and a joust and a flag-thrower show. At 7 p.m. the Joust of Bastioni will reward with a gold blaze the knights of the best of the four borough’s contrade. The festival will end on Sunday at around 7:30 p.m. with a circle dance involving all participants and visitors.
SUPER CARRIAGE TOUR AND WINE TASTING
Here the perfect chance to live a special moment in Chianti a romantic CARRIAGE tour will take you in two of the most charming wineries of Greve in Chianti
THE BAR DELL’ORSO IS RENOWNED FOR ITS CURED MEATS, CHEESES AND PRESERVES IN OIL
Pastry Shop, Via dei Fossi 3a, San Gimignano • 0577 940597 Delivery service available in Chianti depending on the area
Piazza Matteotti, 11 50022 Greve in Chianti 055 853606, 055 8546299
Via Cassia Nord, 23, 53035 Monteriggioni (Siena) 0577 305074
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Explore the Gagliardi Contemporary Art Gallery
On Horseback in Tuscany
ON THE ROAD
A Journey Through Human Cruelty
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he Galleria Gagliardi was established in 1991, in a 400-square-meter space once used as a garage and farm machinery store. Today the gallery bears absolutely no resemblance 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 contemporary art. Every work is chosen
directly from the studios of artists who constantly experiment new solutions through their research, renewing their approach and skills. The gallery exhibits ceramic, bronze and marble sculptures; conceptual, abstract and figurative paintings as well as works in steel, iron and wood by Italian and international artists.
Galleria Gagliardi 393 1643 615 www.galleriagagliardi.com
Pistoia Bans Kebab Shops and non-Italian Shop Signs
The Torture and Death Penalty Museum 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 include the notorious ‘iron maiden,’ the guillotine, rack, torture chair and the chastity belt. Also on display are lesser-known sophisticated devices, such as the ‘heretic’s fork,’ the ‘noisemaker’s fife,’ the ‘Spanish spider’, and flaying instruments. Via San Giovanni, 82 & 125 San Gimignano Open daily: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 0577-940526, 055-940151 Tickets: Full €10 Concessions: €7; Groups: €5 www.museodellatortura.it
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he Tuscan town Pistoia has banned new kebab shops from opening in the historic centre. The decision, which was officialized at the end of last month, applies to the entire historic centre of the city. New regulations also include that all shop signs may not be neon, must be written only using the Italian alphabet, and “must be composed of the Latin alphabet characters, except for texts translated for communication with tourists.” In addition, the council ruled that new businesses will have to submit an application outlining “the aesthetic impact of the business on the historical context” of the city before being approved. Furnishings must also comply with the council’s quality stan-
his tour offered by Florence Country Life is an adventure through the lush vineyards, native woods, olive groves and rolling hills of Chianti, with a collection of breathtaking and unforgettable views in the most wonderful and romantic way: on horseback. No prior experience is needed. Before the ride, you will be given a lesson by a trained guide to become better acquainted with your horse. After the ride, you will enjoy a Tuscan meal washed down with Chianti wine and an oil tasting. If you do not want to ride a horse, you can still come and enjoy the tour with a 20% discount. So, while your friends go on the horse ride
you can enjoy snacks, wine and a nice walk around a traditional Tuscan farm. If you have never horse-whispered before, then let horses whisper to you.
Chianti Cakes
Meet Vernaccia
A Typical Dish From San Gimignano Asparagus and Truffle Risotto 1/2 kilo fresh asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces 2 scallions, chopped 2 T olive oil 3 cups arborio rice 1/2 cup Vernaccia di San Gimignano 4 cups vegetable broth 3 T butter 1/2 cup grated cheese (Parmesan or Aged Pecorino)
dards which include a minimum of two metres of space between food preparation and the street. The council has also banned the opening of any new night clubs, betting shops, money transfer services, sex shops, vending machines, and fast food stores in the protected area. New regulations restricting the sale of glass alcoholic bottles for outdoor consumption during nighttime were also introduced. Pistoia is not the first Italian city to clamp down on fast food businesses in its centre. Many of Italy’s most loved cities, including Florence and Venice, have struggled to reconcile mass tourism with the need to protect their own heritage and maintain the city’s identity.
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1. Place olive oil in pan with scallions and asparagus. Sauté for 2 minutes. 2. Add rice, wine, and half of the water. Lower heat and let simmer. 3. As water evaporates, keep adding more, stirring frequently to achieve a creamy texture. 4. Rice should be cooked until tender yet al dente. Add butter and cheese, stirring to distribute evenly. 5. Sprinkle generously with grated truffle.
Ristorante Il Pino Via Cellolese 6 San Gimignano 057 79 40 415 www.ristoranteilpino.it
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asticceria Il Criollo is a craft pastry shop located in the enchanting medieval village of San Gimignano, in the heart of Tuscany. Il Criollo loves to take care of the customers. The shop creates tarts, chocolates, and other pastries using high quality ingredients, enhancing the flavors to the fullest by using techniques that do not alter their characteristics. Il Criollo always keeps special attention to those who have food intolerances but want to give a moment to sweetness.
Florence Country Life From € 100
(€ 80 for students) www.florencecountrylife.com info@florencecountrylife.com Tel.: +39.366.4738711 TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED
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ante Aligheri, Giovanni Boccaccio, Pope Martin IV, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Michelangelo, just to name a few of the greats that praised the most famous wine produced in San Gimignano. A delicious white wine, that is even referenced in Dante’s legendary “Divine Comedy.” First mentioned in tax documents from 1276, Vernaccia is not only one of Italy’s most esteemed wines, but also one of its oldest. The wine boasts a bold straw-yellow color and a flavor that delicately combines floral and fruity. Perfectly suited for fish and white meats in particular, Vernaccia can be enjoyed even more when combined with complimenting cuisine.
Via dei Fossi 3a, San Gimignano 0577 940597 Delivery service available in Chianti depending on the area
www.palagetto.it
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Florence News 31
TUSCANY
Discover Colle Val d’Elsa
‘The Italian Way of St. James’ Via Francigena, among ancient routes and modern “pilgrims”
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ver 25,000 people, half of whom are Italian, walked at least a part of the Via Francigena last year. Compared to the number of people who walked that stretch in previous years, this is encouraging — an improvement due to the increasing number of bed & breakfasts along the route and to the efforts to promote the route made by the region of Tuscany who has been trying to transform it in a sort of Italian version of the Spanish Way of St. James — but that could, and should, be improved in the future. It was this the conclusion of Italian newspaper Il Fatto Quotidiano that recently published a reportage on the route. According to Il Fatto, the potential of the route are huge and, if well exploited, could make it the Italian version of the St. James Way. First documented as the Lombard Way and then the Frankish Route in 725, according to the travel records of Willibald, Bishop of Eichstätt in Bavaria, the route was named Via Francigena in 876, given its crossing with French territories (Francia, in Italian) at the Abbey of San Salvatore al Monte Amiata in Tuscany and was used
throughout the Middle Ages by pilgrims headed to Rome from the North, particularly from France. Nearly 400 kilometers of the Via pass through Tuscany, accounting in part for the development of a number of the region’s historic settlements and trade and religious centers. Today, tourists and history buffs can enjoy the cultural mecca that is Via Francigena by following one or all of the 15 Tuscan legs, beginning with the journey from Passo della Cisa to Pontremoli and ending with the route from Radicofani to Acquapendente. The Via passes through San Gimignano and its Fortress of Montestaffoli. Originally a castle for the Lombard Astolfo and later a Dominican Convent, the fortress took on a defensive role in the 14th century while under the threat of attack from Siena.
To book a trip to the Via Francigena: www.spreadyourwings.it
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ts name means “Hill of Elsa Valley”, where “Elsa” is the name of the river which crosses it. Today, Colle di Val d’Elsa is internationally renowned for the production of crystal glassware and art (15% of world production), largely produced in the industrial lower town. The area was settled by man from at least the 4th millennium BC, but first mentions of the city are from the 9th century AD. In 1269 it was the seat of a famous battle during the wars of Guelphs and Ghibellines and in 1479 it was besieged by Neapolitan troops. From the 14th century it was a possession of Florence and the Grand Duchy of Tuscany until the unification of Italy in 1860. In the 20th century it became
an important industrial center. During World War II it was bombed by Allied aircraft. The oldest part of the town is the “colle alta”, the higher part, with a well preserved medieval center. The town developed along the river from the 11th century onwards, building an artificial canal to power various industrial activities, such as wheat mills and paper factories. The city is also famous as the birthplace of sculptor and architect Arnolfo di Cambio.
Deluxe rooms with private garden and panoramic view in Colle Val d’Elsa from euro 35,00 For info contact 349-4651605
To book a trip to Colle Val d’Elsa: www.spreadyourwings.it
Wine Tour Chianti Classico (Every day, transportation included)
ENOTECA IL SALOTTO Wine tastings
Traditional Tuscan first courses and cold cuts
0577 926983 • www.enotecailsalotto.com • info@enotecailsalotto.com
From 50 euro TRUFFLE HUNTING • WINE TOUR IN A CASTLE WALKING TOUR VIA FRANCIGENA ART AND FOOD IN VOLTERRA Via Vecchia, 3 - 53037 San Gimignano (Siena) 0577 940568 - 3393817394 www.spreadyourwings.it
HOME DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE
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MAY www.florencenews.it
3 Recommended Seafood Dishes
1) Flambè King Prawns with Grand Marnier and Curry sauce
2) Raw Fish and Oyster
3) Crispy Octopus with a Topinambur Sauce
Ristorante Inferno Via Ghibellina 80/r
Florence News 33
FOOD&WINE
Dine with Dante
Home of the Dragoon T
hroughout its 35 years of history, the Kikuya English Pub has been a meeting place for friends, students, and tourists of all nationalities. The current owner Annalisa, a native Brazilian, has kept a diverse atmosphere alive within this iconic pub. When Annalisa first started working at Kikuya with her sister, she could not imagine calling the pub her home away from home 24 years later. Her passion for English beers and customers who later became her friends has created a welcoming and memorable pub with a knack for English ales and good times. Located on Via De’ Benci, Kikuya is the only home to the Charles Wells Dragoon beer. A strong, yet sweet pale ale is the highlight of the pubs
draft beers. Annalisa has put her own fun twist on the beer by serving it with a sweet lollipop. The eclectic addition is indicative of Annalisa’s own vibrant personality and ability to keep Kikuya’s atmosphere young and fun. Everyday from 7 p.m. - 10p.m. the pub offers any burger or panini with fries and a drink for €10.
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amed after Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, a homely, rustic taverna fittingly lies on Via dei Cimatori, only a few meters away from Dante’s house. The restaurant offers traditional dishes based on medieval recipes. Some are adapted and revisited for the modern age in a way that one maintains the omnipresent feeling of Florentine history and tradition – so much so that Dante himself could walk in and dine next to you. Others are as they were centuries ago. Traditional medieval-style dishes include homemade ribbon pasta 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, including 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 terrace, and is fittingly decorated in a medieval style with armour and banners.
Taverna Divina Commedia Via dei Cimatori, 7r 055 21 53 69
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Florence News 35
TRAVEL
Sun and Fun: Visiting the Amalfi Coast
Croatia’s Natural Beauty Unveiled
side town of Positano. Positano is made up of picturesque multi-colored buildings that cling to the cliff above the black sand and pebbled beaches. The Smart Trip tour includes transportation to the aforementioned areas, 3 nights of accommodation, breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday along with dinner on Friday and Saturday night. Visit smarttrip.it for more details and bookings for a memorable time at the Amalfi Coast.
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nown for its picturesque sights and serene beach atmosphere that attracts celebrities, weekend jetsetters and college students across the world, the Amalfi Coast is an Italian paradise. It’s located in the region of Campania, home to a variety of renowned destinations like Naples, Pompeii and the Island of Capri, particularly attractive in the months of March and April because of the cool weather, making a trip to Capri and the seaside towns of Positano and Sorrento ideal. The almighty Mt. Vesuvius greets Smart Trip travelers as it looms over the countryside, accompa-
nied by fantastic views of beautiful, traditional cities built into the sloping cliffs. The first day of the trip includes breakfast and a ferry ride to the Island of Capri, one of the most spectacular Italian islands. There, visitors will journey to mystical places, to the home of many ancient myths, such as the site of the infamous sirens from Homer’s Odyssey, and to the world famous Blue Grotto: an accessible sea cave with sunlight that pierces the clear water, bringing out brilliant hues of blue and green. Travelers will then visit the sea-
5 Best Views in Amalfi Mount Solaro in Capri View from Positano beach looking at all the pastel color buildings Top of Mount Vesuvius overlooking Napoli Blue Grotto Pompeii
roatia’s natural beauty makes it one of the best destinations for outdoor activities like relaxing on the beach and admiring cultural wonders. Student travel company Smart Trip offers a convenient way to reach the country and an itinerary that covers must-see locations and exciting activities. The tour focuses on the medieval port town of Split located on Croatia’s pristine Dalmatian coast. On the first day, Smart Trip organizes optional water activities such as white water rafting or canyoning on the Cetina River. Other adventures lay ahead, like spending the day laying on one of Split’s beaches, touring the Split’s historic city center, visiting the Diocletian Palace, renting a bike and riding up
Marjan Hill, or taking a day trip to the local surrounding towns, such as Omiš or the Krka Waterfalls. On the last day the group takes a trip to Krka, where a few hours are dedicated to swimming and exploring the magnificent waterfalls of the national park before heading back to Florence.
Croatia’s Five Gems Krka National park waterfalls Centa River Diocletian’s Palace Old Town Split Split’s Beaches and Coves
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36 Florence News
TRAVEL
The Top Beaches in Italy HANNAH NAGLE
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he 2017 edition of an annual survey of the 15 most beautiful beaches in Italy released by travel website Skyscanner has shown that some of Italy’s most beautiful beaches are on its islands. The top four beaches on the list are on the islands of Sicily, Sardinia and Ponza. Five other Italian regions made it into the top 15: Puglia, Campania, the Marche, Abruzzo and Liguria. However, the islands dominated the list, with three Sardinian beaches, three Sicilian beaches, and the lone Lazio beach on the island of Ponza. The classification relied on tips from travelers and also took other criteria into account, including water and beach cleanliness, as well as the uniqueness of the surrounding the scenery and landscape. The top beach honour went to Tonnarella dell’Uzzo, in the Zingaro nature reserve on Sicily - a seven-kilometre stretch of beach that runs from San Vito lo Capo to Castellammare del Golfo. The island of Sardinia took second place with its Cala dei Gabbiani beach, which is still little-known because it is overshadowed by the fame of nearby Cala Mariolu beach.
In third place is the island of Ponza with its Cala Feola beach, located in the region of Lazio not far from Rome. Sicily also took fourth place with the protected marine area known as Plemmirio, which was celebrated in the epic poem Aeneid written by Virgil between 29 and 19 B.C. Nowadays it’s a favorite destination for scuba divers. The third Sicilian beach in the top 15, at number six, is Capo Graziano on the island of Filicudi, one of the eight Aeolian Islands just northeast of Sicily, which are part of Sicily’s province of Messina. Campania took the fifth place spot, with its Marina Grande beach in Positano, a town perched high on a cliff along the Amalfi Coast. The two other Sardinian beaches on the list are in eighth and 14th place: Cala Cipolla at number eight with its white sands, and Cala Luna, made famous by the 1974 Lina Wertmuller film Swept Away, at number 14. Puglia took the seventh and 10th spots with Torre di Sant’Andrea and Baia di Punta Rossa, respectively. photo: Tonnarella dell’Uzzo beach. As the summer approaches, if you have the posibility to travel off the foreign tourist beaten path, these are the right advices for you.
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MAY CALENDAR
19 May Pisa Green Chianti 20 May Cinque Terre Venice 21 May Amalfi Coast Croatia Cinque Terre I Love Tuscany
4 May Amalfi Coast Croatia 5 May Cinque Terre 6 May Cinque Terre 7 May Cinque Terre Amafli Coast Croatia
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25 May Amalfi Coast Croatia 26 May Green Chianti 27 May Pisa & Lucca Cinque Terre Venice 28 May Cinque Terre Verona & Lake Garda Amalfi Coast Croatia
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38 Florence News
CITY GUIDE
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MUSEUMS & MONUMENTS Cappelle Medicee The Old Sacristy, the New Sacristy, with architecture and sculpture by Michelangelo, and the Chapel of the Princes, decorated with inlaid marble and hard stones. P.zza Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6 Tel: +39.055.294883 Hours: 8.15-17.00 Closed: 2nd, 4th Sunday; 1st, 2nd, 5th Monday of month
Galleria degli Uffizi Open since 1591, the Uffizi hosts one of the most important collections of art of all time, classical sculpture and 13th to 18th century paintings Loggiato degli Uffizi Tel: +39.005.294883 Hours: 8.15-18.50 Closed: Mondays
Palazzo Vecchio Quartieri Monumentali Residence of the Priors, the Signoria and the Medici. Paintings, sculpture, furniture and hangings. Piazza della Signoria Tel: +39.005.2768224 Hours: Sept: 9-24 - Thursdays 9-14 Oct: 9-19 - Thursdays 9-14.
Galleria dell’Accademia Michelangelo’s masterpieces: the David and the Slaves. Sculpture, paintings and casts by various artists. Via Ricasoli, 60 Tel: +39.005.294883 Hours: 8.15-18.50 Closed: Mondays
Museo del Bargello Residence of the Captain of the People, of Justice and ancient prison. Masterpieces of painting and sculpture, plus minor arts. Frescoes by the school of Giotto in the Chapel. Via del Proconsolo, 4 Tel: +39.005.294883 Hours: 8.15-17.00. Closed: 2nd, 4th Sunday; 1st, 3rd, 5th Monday of month.
Battistero di San Giovanni Romanesque temple dedicated to St. John the Baptist, patron saint of the city. Outside, the doors by Ghiberti. Piazza San Giovanni Tel: +39.055.2302885 Hours: 11.15-18.30 - Sundays, 1st Saturday of month 8.30-13.30.
Campanile di Giotto Famous bell tower, a masterpiece of Gothic architecture by Giotto, built between 1334 and 1359. Piazza del Duomo Tel: +39.055.2302885 Hours: 8.30-18.50. Closed: Easter.
Galleria d’Arte Moderna Paintings and sculptures related to the art in Tuscany from the late 18th century to the period between the two world wars. Temporary shows of contemporary art. Piazza Pitti Tel: +39.055 294883 Hours: 8.15-18.50. Closed: Mondays.Fri, Sat, Sun 9.00 18.00. Thur 9.00 - 14.00.
Cupola di Brunelleschi The masterpiece of Brunelleschi. Frescoes of the Last Judgement by Federico Zuccari. Suggestive itinerary to the top of the dome with breathtaking views over the city. Piazza del Duomo Tel: +39.005.2302885 Hours: 8.30-18.20 - Saturdays 8.3017.00pm. Closed: Sundays and Easter day.
Museo delle Porcellane
Galleria Palatina e Appartamenti Reali The Palatine Gallery occupies the whole left wing of the first floor of the Pitti Palace, which was the residence of the Medici grand-dukes. In 1828, when Tuscany came under the rule of the Lorraine, the most important paintings in the Palace, most of which had been collected by the Medici. Piazza Pitti Tel: +39.055.294883 Hours: 8.15-18.50 Closed: Mondays
Giardino Bardini These beautiful gardens, recently restored, contain many rare plants and specialised areas, such as Italian and English gardens, as well as a fine Baroque staircase, statues, fountains, a small amphitheater and panoramic views. Entrances: Via dei Bardi, 1 r and Boboli Gardens. Info and reservations: Tel: +39.055.294883 Hours: 8.15-18.30 Closed: 1st and last Monday of month.
Collections of porcelain from reigning royal families. Palazziana del Cavaliere, Boboli Gardens, Piazza Pitti, 1 Tel: +39.055.294883 Hours:8.15-18.30 Closed: 1st and last Monday of month
Museo degli Argenti Summer apartments of the Grand Dukes. It contains vases in hard stone that belonged to Lorenzo the Magnificent, and the jewellery that belonged to the Electress Palatine. Piazza Pitti Tel: +39.055.294883 Hours: 8.15-18.30 Closed: 1st and last Monday of month.
Museo Novecento Italian art of the 20th century, in a journey backwards from the Nineties to the first decades of the century. Piazza Santa Maria Novella Tel: +39.055 286132 Hours: Oct to March- Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat, Sun 9.00 - 18.00. Thur 9.00 14.00.
Cooking Classes THE RESTAURANT OF THE FLORENTINES
Cartoleria Lory Srl P.za Frescobaldi 8r 50125 055-213246 Shop.lory.net www.digital-fineart.it www.lorycad.net
Located on 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 STEAK Mon. to Sun.: 12–2:30 p.m. & 7–11:30 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays. Via Ghibellina, 70/r •055 22 60 010 www.daqueiganzi.it • info@daqueiganzi.it
In Tavola aims to spread the rich food and wine culinary traditions of Italy and the Tuscany region through an incredible variety of dishes and recipes to all interested in learning the secrets behind the traditional Italian kitchen. With this intent to promote their knowledge, In Tavola organizes several opportunities for professionals and beginners to participate in cooking and baking lessons with the guidance of professional Chefs in an individual or group setting.
Via dei Velluti, 18/20r 055 217672 www.intavola.org
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Your Private Concierge Firenze Card
Via dei Boni 5r 334 7007714 leftluggageflorence.com
The Firenzecard is a way for tourists and locals alike to visit the countless museums the city has to offer. For 72€, the card includes the cost of entrance, the ticket for the exhibition, and the reservation for all the museums of the Firenzecard Circuit.The card lasts 72 hours after it is activated. Activation occurs when the card is used for the first time at a museum. Cardholders do not need to make any reservation with Firenzecard because it includes, in its price, the reservation for all the museums. With Firenzecard, cardholders can visit the museums when they choose and can access to the museums through the reserved entrance. Firenzecard can be used at 67 museums, but it can only be used once per museum. The card cannot be shared or transferred. For more information on the card or to purchase one, visit www.firenzecard.it
Florence News 39
CITY GUIDE TOURIST INFORMATION SOS
EMERGENCIES
Emergency Phone Number: 113 Ambulance Service: 118 Carabinieri (National Military Police): 112 Environmental Emergency: 1515 Fire Department: 115
+ HEALTH SERVICES Piazza Duomo: 055 212221 Open Pharmacies: 800 420707 Veterinary Services: 055 7223683 Poison Center: 055 7947819
LAW ENFORCEMENT Railway Police: 055 211012 Florence Municipal Police: 055 3283333 Local National Police Force: 055 49771 Fire and Rescue Service: 055 24901
BUSES Ataf: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. : 800424500 Li-nea: Bus info, 055 7355742 FBUSITALIA: SITA NORD: www.fsbusitalia. it, 800 373760
LIVE MUSIC AND SPORT Via Faenza 27/r • 055 274 1571
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TOURIST INFO POINTS
Via Cavour, 1r - 055 290833 Vespucci Airport - 055 315874 Piazza del Duomo - 055 215440 Piazza Stazione, 4 - 055 212245
ON THE ROAD Roadside Assistance for Foreigners: 800 116800 Obstruction, theft, and towed vehicles: 055 4224142
AIRPORTS A Vespucci, Firenze Peretola: www.aeroporto.firenze.it/en 055 3061300 Lost and found: 055 3061302 G. Galilei, Pisa: www.pisa-airport.com 050 849300 Lost and found: 050 849400
TAXI
TAXIS
055 4242 Night Taxi only for Women Service from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.: 334-66 22 550 (WhatsApp or SMS)
Italian artisan workmanship
Via della Vigna Nuova 97R | Via dei Cimatori 25R www.benheart.it