Florence News Summer Edition 2018 by FN

Florence News SUMMER EDITION 2018, N 024

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Florence News

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Florence Dance Festival

EDITORS: Casandra Eriksen, Corrine Helman

Tuesday, July 17 (Music) ORCHESTRA DA CAMERA FIORENTINA Directed by Maestro Giuseppe Lanzetta MUSICA DAL GRANDE SCHERMO

CONTRIBUTORS: Christine De Melo, Migle Vaisnoraite, John Hood

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JEIRAS & COMPANY with TANGO FLORIDO NOVELLA TANGO L’ATIPICA MOCATA

Monday, July 16 (Music) ORCHESTRA DA CAMERA FIORENTINA MUSICA DAL GRANDE SCHERMO

GR APHIC & L AYOUT DESIGN: Narine Nalbandyan, Ekaterina Chebotareva

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Sunday, July 15 (Music) ORCHESTRA DA CAMERA FIORENTINA And the CORO POLIFONICO DI GROSSETO ANIMA MUNDI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Lorenzo Picchi

REGISTERED AT THE TRIBUNAL OF FLORENCE N. 6008, ON 9/12/2015. PUBLISHER: IAF PRINT: Rotostampa SRL, Florence

SUMMER EDITION

Saturday, July 7 (Dance) ANITA TANGO - ACCADEMIA NAZIONALE ITALIANA TANGO ARGENTINO REVELACION A LA SOMBA DE UN TANGO, ABRAZAME POR SIEMPRE Monday, July 9 (Dance) GRAN GALA “SOL INVICTUS” Gran Gala, performance and show. 8th Mercurio Volante Award Dedicated to the art and culture of dance. BILL T. JONES/ARNIE ZANE COMPANY – NY PLAY & PLAY: AN EVENING OF MOVEMENT AND MUSIC STORY

D-MAN IN THE WATERS Live music by ARMEL OPERA OCTET – Budapest Tuesday, July 10 (Dance) DANIELE CIPRIANI ENTERTAINMENT MEDITERRANEA BALLET by TEATRO DI TORINO IL CORPO SUSSURRANDO Friday, July 13 (Dance) COMPANY BLU ANGEL Sonnets by William Shakespeare Saturday, July 14 (Dance) YANINA BASSI CON LUCAS AMEI-

SPELLBOUND CONTEMPORARY BALLET SPELLBOUND choreography by MAURO ASTOLFI (Full €25 / Reduced €20 / €15 / €10 - information on website) Monday, July 23 (Music) SOUL TROUBLES - THE JASH CONCERT BY BAND EMERGENTI Tuesday, July 24 (Dance) National Ballet of Chechnya VAINAKH - DANZE CECENE Under the RUSSIAN SEASON Wednesday, July 25 (Dance) DUET D’AUTORE KINESIS DANCE COMPANY > MORE THAN HALF SEASON DO NOT EXIST MYSTES > CHAPTER I

Wednesday, July 18 (Dance) FLODANCE2.0 BOLERO - L’ORCHESTRA Choreography by MARGA NATIVO

Friday, July 27 (Dance) MICHAEL CLARK COMPANY to a simple, rock ‘n’ roll . . . song. Choreography by MICHAEL CLARK

Thursday, July 19 (Dance) MILAN BALLET LE MILLE E UNA NOTTE, SHERAZADE

Saturday, July 28 (Music/Dance) NICO GORI SWING 10TET with Ernesto Taco SWINGIN’ HIPS

Saturday July 21 (Dance) NEW GENERATION TOSCANA DANCE HUB > DANCERS COMPAGNIA DNA > GUIDA PER RISOLVERE IL CUBO DI RUBIK choreography by ELISA PAGANI ANTITESI > FRANTO choreography by ARIANNA BENEDETTI

Wednesday, Aug. 1 (Dance) DANCEBOURNE ARTS GODAI wind, earth, water, fire & void

Sunday July 22 (Dance)

All events begin at 9 or 9:30 p.m.

Thursday Aug. 2 (Music) ORCHESTRA DA CAMERA FIORENTINA DA VIVALDI A MOZART

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Florence News

NEWS

Towers and Fortresses Open this Summer

Palazzo Vecchio Tower Everyday 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. Thursday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. (last entry is one hour before closing) Cost: €8.00 (reduced) €10.00 (full) San Niccolò Tower June 24 - Aug. 31: Everyday on the half hour from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 1- 30 Everyday on the half hour from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Cost €4.00 Fortezza da Basso July 7 - Sept. 29: Saturday 9:30 a.m. 10 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Free admission (booking required) Forte di Belvedere and Eliseo Mattiacci Exhibit Every Saturday 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. and every Sunday 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

of the Niobids. Aug. 7 - Compagnia Silenda Rocks Experimental contemporary dance for Niobe’s mourning with the use of digital technologies through Myo armband by detecting muscle impulses, it translates them into commands for computers. Aug. 21 - Zlatko Kaucic Mystical Nature Set of original percussion instruments:objects, natural things and instruments in dialogue with The Spring by Botticelli. Aug. 28 - Kuku Painting’s Soul Voices: Music with a Movie Camera Experimental acoustic and electronic music through the use of video camera and sound flows deriving from the paintings’ spectrum of colors. Sept. 9 - Monsieur David I Quit Using my Brain Performance of physical theatre and metaphysical illusion both for adults and kids.

Cost: €4.00 (Florence residents) €5 (non-residents) Baluardo San Giorgio July 14: 5 p.m. 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Aug. 11: 5 p.m. 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Cost: €4.00 Zecca Tower July 21: every half hour 5 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18: every half hour 5 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Cost: €4.00 Porta Romana July 28: every half hour 5 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Aug. 25: every half hour 5 p.m. 7:30 p.m. Cost €4.00

July 3 - Amalia Franco A flower is not a flower. A performance both for dancing and lifeless bodies dedicated to Medusa by Caravaggio. July 10 - Koine Humana Societa D’Mes. A contemporary dance performance to represent the never-ending struggle (or encounter?) between instinct and reason in Pallas and the Centaur by Botticelli.

July 17 - Stellario Di Blasi A tutto tondo A dance inspired by the study of Michelangelo’s sculptures for his Doni Tondo. July 24 - Centro di Ricerca Teatrale di Venezia Gratia Contantes Choreography dedicated to the three Graces by Botticelli with costume setup. July 31- Miosotys Dans Academy Carnage Performance by 18 dancers focused on the sculpture group

Sept. 11 - Dimitri Grechi Espinosa Oreb Solo sax with reverb effect for prayers/meditations on the divinity of Enthroned Virgins in the Medieval altarpieces. Sept. 18 - Secret Theater Ensemble Human Dramas Musical compositions for female voice and live electronics written for three paintings by Caravaggio. Sept. 25 - SilviOmbre & Giovannangelo De Gennaro Arianna’s Power Performance of shadow puppetry and music for the Sleeping Ariadne.

Florence News

NEWS

The Elegance of Speed Exhibit tributes cars and beauty

itti Palace inaugurated the exhibition The Elegance of Speed last month. The exhibit showcases 90 rare photographs taken between 1934 and 1965 depicting the charm and speed of the automobile in Florence and Tuscany. The idea of such an exhibit in Florence came quite natural as Florence has somehow bounded its name to both elegance and the history of cars. The internal combustion engine was patented in our city in 1853; in 1894, the second automobile in Italy took to the streets; and, in 1948, the first Concorso d’Eleganza for automobiles – a beauty competition for works – was held. Divided into three sections, The

Elegance of Speed goes beyond the appreciation of cars in technical, aerodynamic and structural terms. This exhibition also evokes the courage, the feminine charm, the deafening rumble, the pungent smell of gas, as well as the screech of tires as they rounded the curves: in short, all that made the success of Italian and Florentine fashion between 1934 and 1965. The first section is dedicated to the races that sped across the soft curves of the Tuscan landscape. These races mark the history of Italian car racing and ignited a passion for speed and the mastery of race car drivers: a stretch of the Firenze-Mare highway became the stage for world records, with

legendary speed tests; in June 1935, famous pilot Tazio Nuvolari, driving a dual-engine Alfa Romeo prepared by Enzo Ferrari, reached the incredible speed of 323.175 km/h beating the record that Hans Stuck broke just a few months before on board a powerful Type B (later renamed the Type Lucca). Drivers are at the centre of the second section. Alongside the legendary Tazio Nuvolari are Giannino Marzotto - the latter famous for his elegance and for driving wearing a dress shirt, jacket and tie - and the Thai Prince Bira (who in addition to the Formula 1 race competitions participated in four Olympics as a yachtsman), the aristocrat Felice Trossi, who raced cars and yachts without ever losing his brilliant and detached selfconfidence, and the fearless and superstitious Alberto Ascari, who died the day he left the helmet he always wore at home. The third section is dedicated to the style of cars and focuses on the famous Concorsi d’Eleganza, which initially served as displays of elegance and later became a place to present new cars and products. The exhibit runs until Sept. 16.

The Elegance of Speed Palazzo Pitti, Andito degli Angiolini, Piazza de’ Pitti 1 June 11 - Sept. 16 Tuesday to Sunday, 8.45 a.m. - 6.50 p.m.

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Islamic Art and Florence CASANDRA ERIKSEN

slamic Art and Florence from the Medici to the 20th century offers visitors the opportunity to understand the relationships between Florence and the Islamic world from the Renaissance to the ‘1900s. Until Sept. 29, a combined ticket valid for three days allows you to visit the Uffizi, the Bargello, the exhibit, and the Museo

Archeologico di Firenze. This ticket costs €29. On display are pieces of Islamic art such as carpets, aquamaniles and vases, glasses, rock crystals, ivory, lustreware as well as other items. The Bargello section of the exhibit explores a crucial moment in the history of research, collecting and museography of Islamic art - the turn of the 19th century showcasing items from the Carrand collection and others acquired by

English collector Frederick Stibbert and by Tuscan connoisseurs Stefano Bardini and Giulio Franchetti. The Uffizi section explores the interaction between East and West in art and the appeal of Islamic art. Among the items on display at the Uffizi are the Arabic script used in the haloes of the figures of the Virgin and St. Joseph in Gentile da Fabriano’s Adoration of the Magi, those used by Cristofano dell’Altissimo’s series of portraits commissioned by Paolo Giovio; Islamic metalworks popular during the Renaissance; ceramics from the East or from Moorish Spain decorated with the coats-of-arms of Florentine aristocratic families; textiles and carpets from Mamluk Egypt woven at the turn of the 15th century (snapped up by the Medici Grand Dukes); and manuscripts including that by Persian King Firdūsī’s Shahnameh dated 1217. “The exhibition not only highlights the interest in Islamic culture that was rooted in Medici collecting and that continued well into the modern era, but also testifies of the unprejudiced aesthetic fascination with the Orient that has always permeated European Art,” said Uffizi director Eike Schmidt.

Islamic Art and Florence Bargello Museum and Uffizi Gallery Until Sept. 23

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Florence News

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‘The Florence Experiment’

Palazzo Strozzi Project explores the relationship between human and plants

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

The fear and joy of the visitors produce different chemical compounds that will then be transported through two ducts in order to test whether and how these 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

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, and 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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Ten Commandments For Tourists

group of 50 local tour guides transcribed a series of rules for tourists in Florence, which hit the headlines of local media last month. The initiative, called “l’Armata pacifica” (literally, The Peaceful Army), came last year shortly after Mayor Dario Nardella took measures to prevent tourists from picnicking and camping in front of the city’s iconic churches

by hosing down their steps. Summer, perhaps due to the severe heat, is surely the period of the year in which tourists most frequently misbehave. We have thus decided to take inspiration from this idea and rearrange the ten rules into commandments. Respectful tourists should obey them strictly, as if they had in fact come from the mouth of the almighty Lord above.

Thou shalt not crowd around the street vendors. Thou shalt not feast barbarically by the churches, basilicas, or other sacred grounds. Thou shalt not abandon your masses of rubbish on the streets. Honor the sidewalks and streets with strolling, not with your luggage. Thou shalt not ask for canals in Florence, for thou shalt not find them. Honor the que for the taxi. Thou shalt not gratuitously indulge in selfies in front of Palazzo Vecchio or other monuments . Thou shalt not use the sidewalks as toilets or urinals. Thou shalt not use the fountains as a shower. Thou shalt not shout aggressively - even if intoxicated.

Florence News

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Campaign Encourages Tourists to Respect Florence

he City of Florence has launched a campaign called #EnjoyRespectFirenze that promotes sustainable tourism to preserve the heritage of Florence by respecting the city and its inhabitants. Following are the main points of the campaign: • Remember you are not allowed to eat food, drink, or lie down on the street or staircases. If you wish to eat something or rest be sure to use proper benches and tables. • Don’t climb the monuments. • Vandalizing monuments, doors, or walls is a serious crime punishable by law. • It is forbidden to be drunk in public. • It is forbidden to litter. Please dispose of any garbage or recyclables in their proper containers. • It is forbidden to eat or drink on the steps of monuments and churches. • Don’t write on churches or works of art • Don’t swim in the fountains • In public places and establishments be sure to wear a shirt. Going shirtless or wearing a swimsuit is not considered enough coverage. • Don’t engage in any behavior that would endanger you or others. • In places of worship, short dresses, shorts, and tank tops generally aren’t allowed. If you plan on visiting any of Florence’s many churches, be sure to dress conservatively, making sure your clothing goes past your knees. • Beware of counterfeit goods. Just a few days ago I saw a scammer trying to sell a single watch on the street, claiming it was a Rolex. Always buy your goods from stores that are clearly marked. Abusive sellers are punishable by law, but you are too if you buy from them. • When it comes to your noise level, please be considerate, especially from midnight to 7 a.m. Don’t disturb the peace with excessive shouting or loud musical instruments. • If you need to relieve yourself, always use a public toilet. Urinating in public and exposing your private parts is strictly forbidden. • There are four information points in the city: Piazza Stazione, via Cavour, Bigallo (piazza Duomo) and at the airport. • In Florence there is fresh water available to the public. Be sure to carry a reusable water bottle.

10 Florence News

NEWS

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Tourism and Cross-Cultural Encounters

American students in Florence research their compatriots’ behavior as tourists ANNE SCHILLER

group of 11 anthropology students from George Mason University carried out field research concerning American tourists in Florence. The students investigated behaviors of their compatior tourists in public settings and their interactions with the residents of Florence. The students-researchers conducted observations, administered questionnaires, kept field journals, and interviewed Americans about their cross-cultural encounters. Topics considered included tourists’ attitudes toward pedestrian safety, their experiences with pavement artists, buskers, street performers and irregular vendors, and how they budgeted travel funds. Students suggest that anthropological fieldwork yields data that “helps Americans know how we should or should not act in unfamiliar situations” and assists local planners in anticipating the needs and concerns of particular subsets of international tourists. Such studies have potential to promote cross-cultural understanding, improve tourist/ resident relations, and help all of us better to enjoy and respect Firenze. Full results of their research will be published later this fall. Data gathered shed light on sim-

ilarities and differences in how Americans and Italians approached particular situations, and the role of American norms and values in shaping tourists’ behaviors and expectations. Students were astonished that local residents did not greet people whom they did not know when passing them in the streets or respond to a greeting from a stranger, as it commonly happens in certain parts of the United States. However, some reported other friendly overtures from local residents. One of the students, Ryan Bartee, recounts an incident that taught him about the importance of interpersonal relationships in Italy. Bartee was surprised when he realized the owner of the sandwich shop recognized him and considered him a regular patron. “One day my credit card didn’t work. I said I would run to a bank machine and return, but the owner replied “No, you can pay when you come on Monday.” I was taken aback because I never thought he noticed the days and times I came into his shop. I would not expect the owner of a sandwich shop in the US to extend the same level of trust,” says Ryan. Bartee compared behaviors of Americans and Italians in a sandwich shop. He found that Italians, unlike Americans, “rarely order

immediately: instead, they start off with light conversation or a joke.” Bartee also reports that “Italians usually stray away from the menu board and go straight to the display case; they look at the ingredients and order based on how they feel; American tourists order off the menu.” Another student, Nickolyn Jackson, conducted her research in a coffee shop with a varied customer base. Jackson found that Americans placed the most “to-go” orders: in only 20 percent of recorded instances was a “to-go” customer an Italian.

Nickolyn also notes that Italian customers almost invariably remove their jackets when seated, whereas Americans do so rarely, which led her to conclude that the difference reflects distinct value systems: “Italians value the moment for socialization; they remove their jackets as they settle in to chat, while Americans either order ‘to go’ or do not bother removing their jackets because they value efficiency and expect to move on quickly.” As an American, Nickolyn also experienced some sort of stereotyping. “When I went to order, the attendant asked to guess what I wanted. I was intrigued to discover what he would say. That attendant had taken my order on many previous visits; I wanted to learn whether his guess would be based on prior experience with me personally. Instead, he stereotyped me. As I am an American student, he guessed that I wanted iced coffee “to go.” His disappointed reaction to my ordering a cappuccino “to stay” amused me. His stereotype of Americans wanting ice coffee “to go” was based on experience, but no stereotype can be applied to every member of a particular cultural group,” Nickolyn says. Other students distributed questionnaires asking tourists to characterize certain places, people, or

experiences in three words. Kirstin Strubel, for example, asked more than 50 American tourists to describe walking in Florence. The most common answers were stressful (used 14 times), scary, and dangerous (both used 13 times). The most memorable response was from a tourist who chose “a living nightmare” as his three words. American tourists’ concerns about walking safety reflect the fact that they arrive in Italy with different expectations. This type of knowledge can be useful to civic leaders in helping visitors prepare for an environment that some may consider challenging. Another student, Amani Greene, investigated tourist behavior inside the Loggia dei Lanzi. Amani was curious which statues American tourists find most interesting and why. She discovered that some Americans were drawn to the back of the Loggia, where they believed that they were viewing a statue of the Madonna instead of the statue of a Sabine not dressed in a manner traditionally associated with Marian images. Greene concluded that Florence administrators may want to consider investing in more signage and locating signs closer to individual statues, as they seem unaware that some tourists are drawing incorrect conclusions regarding the art on display.

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Pontormo from Drawing to Painting

cquired by the Getty Museum of Los Angeles in 1989, for the record-breaking sum of $32.5 million, Pontormo’s masterpiece The Halberdier is back to its home town Florence after almost 30 years. The portrait is the centrepiece of the exhibition Miraculous Encounters: Pontormo from Drawing to Painting on show at Palazzo Pitti until July 29. Displayed together with the Halberdier in the Sala delle Nicchie of the Pitti Palace are also other pieces by Pontormo. One is the Portrait of a Young Man in a Red Cap. Another piece on display is The Pygmalion, which depicts the story, first told by Ovid, of how a prayer to the Goddess Venus transforms

an ivory statue into a living woman. This painting was not made by Pontormo but by his pupil Bronzino or was made in collaboration between the two artists. This latter hypothesis is supported by the fact that the figure of the young woman resembles Pontormo’s Venus and Cupid and may thus have been made by him, whereas it is certain that Bronzino portrayed the pygmalion taking good account from Pontormo’s St Francis of Assisi at Prayer which was made as part of the Holy Family, commissioned by Francesco Pucci for his family funeral chapel in the church of San Michele Visdomini. On display is also The Visitation, a painting in which Pontormo features the emotional meeting and passionate embrace between two cousins – the mother-to-be of Jesus and the mother-to-be of St John the Baptist – who exchange an expressive glance of profound serenity.

Miraculous Encounters: Pontormo from Drawing to Painting Pitti Palace Until July 29 Price: €16; reduced €8 Open Tuesday-Sunday 8:15 a.m. - 6:05 p.m.

Florence News 11

NEWS

Riding Through Time

The art of horse riding from antiquity to the middle ages

osted in the Limonaia in the Boboli Garden from June 26 to Oct. 14, this exhibit recounts the relationship between man and horse in all its possible aspects. From daily life and children’s games to war and religious ritual, horses were always a constant presence by man’s side. Riding Through Time explores the evolution of the tools to master horses such as bits, snaffle bits, spurs, stirrups and other artifacts alongside works of art illustrating the role played by the horse in the ancient world. The exhibition includes about 100 items coming from museums from all over the world. It is divided into five sections

– prehistory, the world of Greece and Magna Graecia, the Etruscan and Venetic world, the age of Rome, and the Middle Ages – covering a period of over 2,000 years from the Early Iron Age to the later Middle Ages. Items on display for the first time include the Populonia Gig, a rare example of an Etruscan carriage discovered in the mid-20th century in the so-called “Fossa della Biga” (or “Two-Horse Chariot Ditch”). The piece has been reassembled and restored for this special event. Made of wood, iron and bronze, the ‘Gig’ was a vehicle used to carry highprofile personalities on occasion of wedding processions or funeral

corteges and dates back to the early 5th century BC. Of particular interest are two horse skulls unearthed during excavations in the western necropolis of Himera usually on display in the Museo Pirro Marconi in the Himera Archaeological Park, and the Attic red-figure kylix depicting Athena and the Trojan Horse (The inner bowl of the cup, painted by the Sabouroff Painter, shows the goddess Athena enthroned, stroking a huge horse sporting the known red woollen bands which signify victory tainiai niketeriai). “The whole concept of this exhibition appears to be encapsulated in one of the pieces on display, a splendid pair of 4th century BC bronze and ivory chanfrons designed to protect the horse’s forehead, nose and muzzle: the silhouette of the metal sheeting, shaped and embossed to follow the outline of the horse’s elongated anatomy, but, far from displaying the anatomy of a horse, it represents the features of a human face sporting a helmet on its head, as the horse and its rider become a single, fused being,” said Uffizi director Eike Schmidt.

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Koenig on Display

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Il Ponte Presents Mauro Staccioli

Fritz Koenig 1924–2017. A Retrospective Uffizi and Boboli Ga Uffizi: full price € 20; concession € 10 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25; Boboli Garden: full price € 10; concession € 5 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25;

lorence is tributing Fritz Koenig – the German artist who made the bronze sculpture “The Sphere” that survived the 9/11 attack – with an exhibition, the first since the artist’s death in 2017, running until Oct. 7. The exhibit, on display at the Boboli Garden and the Uffizi Gallery, showcases sculptures and drawings made by Koenig in the last 40 years of his life. The bronze, stone and corten steel of Koenig’s monumental sculptures impart rhythm to the mother of all Italian-style gardens, the Boboli Gardens. Visitors can admire the smooth or rough forms of Koenig’s art against a backdrop of views of the city amongst hedges, majestic trees, and sweeping lawns. Love, eroticism, death, epitaphs, and

the Holocaust were the dominant themes of Koenig’s work. “Fritz Koenig had watchful blue eyes. He also had very fine hands with strong yet tapering fingers which looked exactly the way he drew them. He was a charming man and instantly bewitched his interlocutors. Charm, according to a definition coined by Albert Camus, is that which prompts a person to say yes even before he has been asked for anything. With women Koenig became a kind of Don Juan, and he himself found them impossible to resist,” wrote exhibit curator Alexander Rudigier. The exhibition is held under the lofty patronage of Duke Franz of Bavaria, a personal friend of the artist and a major international collector of contemporary art.

Admission free: for children of any nationality under the age of 18, disabled visitors and one carer, journalists, academic staff and students of architecture, cultural heritage conservation and the educational sciences, or pursuing the archaeology or art history pathway in a degree course in the humanities and philosophy, or a degree or equivalent course in any European Union member country, and for Italian full-time or parttime teachers in state schools or the equivalent. Opening hours The Uffizi: Tuesday – Sunday from 8.15 a.m. to 6.50 p.m.; closed Monday. The Boboli Garden: Monday – Sunday from 8.15 a.m. to 7.30 p.m. (June, July, August); from 8.15 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. (September, October); closed first and last Monday of the month. Until Oct. 7

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 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).

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Showcasing Models of Leonardo’s Designs

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Meeting Ed Tasca

The Fables of Leonardo 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

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.

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ward winning humor writer and novelist Ed Tasca presented and signed copies of his book “The Fables of Leonardo Da Vinci” at the Le Macchine di Leonardo Da Vinci Museum on Via Cavour 21 last June 26. The Fables of Leonardo Da Vinci is a small collection of allegories created from notes and ideas from Da Vinci’s famous manuscripts and codices. The collection is perfect for not only children and families, but also students of Leonardo Da Vinci who want a new perspective on his works. The stories teach how tales can create insightful human ironies and also display a bit of literary thought processes of a great genius. The book is very original and reveals fragments of Da Vinci’s moral code as well as concentrating on virtues such as humility, self-sacrifice, and egalitarianism while deploring pretension, dogmatism, and pomposity.

The Laurel and the Pear Tree One day deep in the woods, the short stubby laurel tree watched as the woodsman cut down the lush and fertile pear tree. The proud laurel tree was green all year long and proud of it. But its fruit was always scant and never prized by man like the pear. That’s why it was so happy to see the pear tree with all its wonderful fruit leaving the forest. ‘Oh pear tree, where are you going?” it chuckled, as it watched the woodsman drag the pear tree along the ragged forest floor. “Where is the pride you had when you were laden with ripe fruit?” The pear tree replied: ‘Laurel,

jealous laurel, you’ll never understand. I have been chosen for the greatest honor of all. I am going with the woodsman to the workshop of a good sculptor. He will make me into the statue of a saint, and I will have an honored spot in the church where I will be loved and respected.” “I’d rather be in the forest and left alone to flourish.” “But you are laurel,” said the pear tree. “Everyone knows that laurel boughs must be stripped away and wreathed so that they can be set about my feet to honor me, as the great saint.”

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Florence Dance Festival Returns in the Great Cloister in Santa Maria Novella

nder the artistic direction of its founders Marga Nativo and Keith Ferrone, the Florence Dance Festival returns from July 3 to Aug. 2. The festival has a 30-year-long history and its mission is to make dance accessible to the general public. This year the event will take place in the newly restored Great Cloister in Santa Maria Novella, a place of quiet splendor which testifies to the city’s cultural history, whose union with the festival will make a perfect fusion of tradition and modernity. The stage of the Grand Cloister will be shared with the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, directed by Maestro Giuseppe Lanzetta, and accompanied by Prosa Lombardi Tiezzi. The program features three

evenings with guests of the highest artistic profile in the world of contemporary choreography: the Nederlands Dance Theater 2 - NDT2 the largest contemporary European dance company that will perform on July 5; Bill T. Jones - New York, the historic figure of American and world dance who was also recognized by President Obama for his important social commitment. The music of the show will be played live by the orchestra Armel Opera Octet - Budapest (a very special Gala evening, on July 9; Michael Clark Company - London, historical icon of English punk and rock. They will perform on July 27. Over 400 artists will perform. Workshops, meetings with artists, party evenings and open classes are scheduled as well.

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Italian Brass Week Begins July 22 A

s in its custom, the Italian Brass Week festival will fuse Florentine historical traditions with the experience of artists coming from some of the most prestigious world orchestras including the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, and the Berliner Philarmoniker. The inauguration will be on Sunday, July 22, at 9.15 p.m. in the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella, with the Russian Horns Orchestra of Saint Petersburg which will duet with the soloists of the Rex Richardson Festival, Francisco ‘Pacho’ Flores, Massimo La Rosa and Luca Benucci under the direction of the founder Sergey Polyanichko. The Russian Horn Orchestra will perform again on Monday, July 23 at 9 p.m. in Piazza della Signoria, on the Arengario of Palazzo Vecchio when, after a homage to Florence with the Ave Maria by Gi-

ulio Caccini, will follow a tribute to Neapolitan music tradition with a performance of Luigi Denza famous song Funiculì Funiculà. The Buoneria of Fosso Macinante will host the Welcome Party: the title of the evening is ‘Buoneria in Jazz’. The trumpets and trombones of Andrea Tofanelli, Allen Vizzutti, Rex Richardon, Jamie Williams and Vincenzo Paratore will compete in improvisations on some of the most famous jazz pieces. On July 24 and 25, the Festival will renew its collaboration with the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina directed by Giuseppe Lanzetta who, in the courtyard of the Bargello Museum, will lead the soloists ‘Pacho’ Flores, Rex Richardson, Allen Vizzutti, Luca Benucci, Eric Terwilliger, Massimo La Rosa, Jamie Williams and Gene Pokorny, through Antonio’s Baroque masterpieces Vivaldi and George Friedrich Händel and music by the author, composed by the same soloists of the Festival. Both concerts start at 9 p.m. and are titled ‘Bargello Fiorentino’. On July 26 at 7 p.m. in the historical center of Florence the Brass, will be the world premiere ‘Brass in Fiacchera’, with the historic carriages of Florentine Fiaccherai. The musical journey will end at 9 p.m. at the Spiaggette sull’Arno, located on Lungarno Serristori, with the Havana Horn Quartet. On July 27 at 9 p.m., the Festival soloists will join the IBW Jazz House

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Band, formed by Massimiliano Calderai on the piano, Marco Benedetti on double bass and Stefano Rapicavoli on drums. The Arengario of Palazzo Vecchio will be the frame that will tend the fil rouge from the past to the present. Florentia G-Old Bridge is the main event of the festival. This world premiere will take place on Saturday, July 28, in the Ponte Vecchio, and the Lungarno Anna Maria Luisa de ‘Medici. The last concert is scheduled for Sunday, July 29, at 9 p.m., and is dedicated to the city of Florence. The Palazzo Vecchio Arengario will be the stage of the World Brass Ensemble, made up of over 100 brass instruments. The Ensemble will be directed by Luca Benucci.

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Remembering Ferragamo

Pioneering Air Conditioning

The air cooling system of the Medici at Pitti Palace

esearchers at the University of Florence have recently determined that Palazzo Pitti was equipped with an “air conditioning” system to make the sultry summer days more bearable for the Medici. The results of the study conducted by a team of of engineering and architecture experts of the University of Florence revealed that the fresh air coming from the Boboli Park, located behind the building, was channeled through a system of levels of pavement to a room

in the basement of the building equipped with special receipt nozzles. From here, the now chilled air was distributed through a network of trellises into the rooms above. Given a summer temperature of 35 degrees Celsius in the square in front of Palazzo Pitti, the temperature differential in the premises obtained with this system could be significant, amounting to about 10 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Researchers also discovered that to strengthen cooling power, ice-cold water was stored in

the building to lower the temperature and humidity in the air. Although forms of cooling houses have existed since classical antiquity, the type of air conditioning discovered in the Pitti Palace is unique because is a domestic technology made possible by the presence of a cool garden right next to the building. According to the research team, similar examples can be found in the Custoza Venetian villas and mansions in Palermo from which the system of the Pitti Palace was inspired. Modern air conditioning as we understand it today was not developed until the late 19th century, and wasn’t popularized until the 20th century. Despite this, early forms of it can be traced back to ancient Rome, where aqueduct water was circulated through structural walls in order to cool them. To conduct the investigation, the researchers used models of the Pitti Palace, a wind tunnel, and computer simulations. Hot days in the summer were a problem even for the aristocratic families of the past. With Leonardo engaged in his flying experiments, the Medici had to solve the problem by themselves, and they did it just by opening a few windows and closing some doors. Could their ingenious methods be applied today and help save some energy and possibly some money too?

ugust 7 marks the 55th anniversary of the death of Florence’s world-famous fashion icon, Salvatore Ferragamo. Born into an impoverished family in 1898, Ferragamo created his first pair of shoes at the tender age of nine. He later became an apprentice to a local cobbler in his home town of Bonito in southern Italy and then an entrepreneur at the age of 14, opening a small shoe shop with a total number of six assistants working for him. Persuaded by his elder brother to accompany him to the United States, Ferragamo immigrated to Boston in 1914 at the age of 16. It wasn’t until the designer moved to Santa Barbara, California and finally to Hollywood that his success began. He met high-profile clientele and movie stars, who fell in love with his trademark shoes, and gained a reputation as the

‘shoemaker of dreams.’ With his remarkable talent and entrepreneurial skills, by 1919 Ferragamo had established one of the most famous fashion brands in the world. Upon his return to Italy, Ferragamo set up shop in Florence in Via Minnelli, where he copyrighted his luxury shoe brand. In 1929, he bought and converted Palazzo Spini Feroni into his headquarters. The Salvatore Ferragamo brand eventually expanded to include other luxury goods, such as bags, clothing and perfumes, consistently maintaining its standards of excellence and refinement. Ferragamo died in 1960 at the age of 62 in Pietrasanta, a small town in Tuscany. Ferragamo’s legacy is destined to last for many years to come, and is kept alive by the success of his family and the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum at Palazzo Spini Feroni.

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Primestone Launches New Collection at Gucci Garden August 27

rimestone is launching its new collection Calacatta in Florence this August. The company will present is new catalog on occasion of an event taking place on Aug. 27 Gucci Cafè Lounge on Piazza Signoria. Tuscan marbles have inspired artists such as Michelangelo and Brunelleschi. Today, the marriage between marble, luxury, and beauty seems destined to continue as the Calacatta – a particular type of marble that can be found in the northern part of Tuscany, the province of Carrara and the Versilia area, used principally to produce luxury wall and floor manufacturing – was used by Primestone to produce the decorations of the extra-luxury hotels of Trump. The company was founded in Canada by Alireza Tehrani to cover market demand in North America for high end stones and at the top

of them Onyx selection, and is now also based in Los Angeles, London, and in Carrara, Italy. After becoming a millionaire at the age of 28 in the Iranian natural stone industry, Tehrani had another even bigger dream: developing a worldwide brand name thereby bringing change to the industry, while at the same time creating artwork for high-end projects where quality is appreciated and recognized. “It was a dream of mine since childhood” he says. He even dreams of seeing statues like Michelangelo’s David made with his precious stones. The first step was to expand the business internationally. At the age of 31 he packed his bags and moved to North America where Primestone was born in 2007 in Toronto, Canada. “I chose Canada because it was known as the the Switzerland of North America where

the government supports its businessmen and citizens with security and finance. My investment would therefore be safe”. But on top of that, its neighboring country was the largest consumer of natural stone products: The United States of America. The two countries are known to have the highest trade figures among each other. The business plan seemed more real. “I was closer to my dreams, with passion, hard work and a unique idea: creating a demand and a niche for the most expensive and precious stone, onyx, for the highend market” Tehrani said. He was able to offer better deals than those offered by competitors because the Canadian banking system provided cheap funds when discounting insured accounts receivable. “I was also quite experienced in sourcing the raw material and blocks of Onyx worldwide. But on top of that, in order to create my top quality brand, I had to process, pack and ship my material to the

one and only country hosting masters in design and technology, always bringing creative changes to the industry: Italy,” he said. Tehrani’s business plan was simple yet effective: securing and controlling the source, producing a “made in Italy” top quality work of art and, finally, controlling demand. “I managed to put in place the Rolex of the natural stone industry, and in less than four years I was nicknamed as the King of Onyx,”

Tehrani said. Now his track record includes Onyx procurement contracts with the most expensive high rises, 5 star Luxury Hotels and private mansions for some of the most important public figures and celebrities. He said, “Italy taught me to be an artist: love your product and be different was the motto. In all honesty just the word Italy made my brand name shine through”. Today Primestone is a brand well known for its goal: a quality which lasts forever.

18 Florence News

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City Awards Its ‘Professor’

Giovanni Sartori honored posthumously with Fiorino d’Oro

he City of Florence honored Professor Giovanni Sartori, one of the most prominent Florentine personalities in the world of culture, with its most important award - the Fiorino d’Oro. During the ceremony - which took place last month in the Salone dei CInquecento, one of the greatest rooms of Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s town hall - mayor Dario Nardella handed the prestigious award to Sartori’s family. On occasion of the event, former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato gave a lecture on the theme of “Europe as a political system.” Amongst those who attended the lecture were the dean of curricula of the University of Florence, Luigi Dei, the president of the European Institute University, Renaud Dehousse, and the president of the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze, Umberto Tombari. “Sartori has been an intellectual that has brought the name of our city in the most prestigious universities of the world. With his active participation in the political debate of our country, he has spread the knowledge of political science outside the university in any crucial moment of our democratic evolution,” said Nardella. Sartori was an influential social scientist and philosopher who helped shape the fields of con-

temporary sociology and political science. He died in April 2017 at 92. Born in Florence on May 13, 1924, nearly two years after Mussolini rose to the position of Prime Minister, Sartori began his academic career as a lecturer in the History of Modern Philosophy and later became Dean of the University of Florence’s Political Science department. His academic influence skyrocketed after the publication of his seminal paper “Concept Misformation in Comparative Politics” in the American Political Science Review, considered a must-read classic for political science students around the world. “One may be a wonderful researcher and manipulator of data, and yet remain an unconscious thinker,” he wrote in the paper’s abstract. He went on to publish numerous books, such as “Parties and Party Systems” (1976), a standard textbook in many universities, and “Homo Videns” (2002), which analyzed the effects of television on modern societies. Sartori taught at Stanford University in California during the early 1970s and then served as Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Department of Humanities at Columbia University in New York

from 1979-94, eventually being appointed Professor Emeritus. In 2005, he received the Prince of Asturias Award in the Social Sciences category for his contribution to constitutional law and “observing politics honestly and making it understandable for citizens,” according to the jury. A frequent contributor to Italy’s most renowned newspaper Il Corriere della Sera - for which he wrote thought-provoking columns that made him, as the newspaper noted in its obituary, a “caustic polemicist” - Sartori coined the term “Mattarellum” after center-left lawmaker and current Italian President Sergio Mattarella to describe Italy’s electoral system between 1994-2001, which was later modified during Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s first term. He was a steadfast atheist who often criticized the Catholic Church’s hypocrisy, especially when it came to birth control issues. His most recently-published work was “The Race to Nowhere: Ten Lessons on our Endangered Society” (2016), in which he analyzed 10 relevant topics of our day, such as the boundary between freedom and dictatorships, the clash of civilizations between Christian and Islamic cultures, the “War on Terror,” immigration, citizenship, and bioethics, among others.

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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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Genten Presents Soetsu Line and Ukiyo-E Sumo Collection in Florence

he Japanese brand Genten presented last June its new woman fashion line Souetsu, inspired by the woodlock print The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai – a Japanese ukiyo-e painter and printmaker of the Edo period

– and its new capsule collection Ukiyo-e x Sumo. The presentation took place in Florence on occasion of the celebration of the progress in the restoration of the Palazzo Vecchio courtyard, for which the Japanese brand contributed € 500,000.

The Ukiyo-e x Sumo collection is inspired by Sumo, the traditional Japanese sport, as well as by the Ukiyo-e, Japanese prints typical of the period between the 18th and the 19 centuries recently showcased in important art exhibits throughout

Europe. This line of accessories is entirely vegitale-tanned and handmade by Japanese artisans and inspired by prints of artworks by Hokusai. The images of Hokusai’s artworks are printed using natural colors on the bags and the leather items and accessories of the Ukiyo-e x Sumo line, and were granted to Genten by the Hokusai Museum in Tokyo as part of the collaboration that the brand has established with the museum. Produced in Japan and distributed in Italy by Genten in the Florence store, the new line emphasizes a concept of fashion that respects nature and environment. Souetsu is a line produced in Japan and distributed under the Genten brand. This line was born out of the

collaboration between Genten and the Japan Leather Promotion Committee, a join-venture established to produce leather items maintaining the deepest attention on the quality of the production process as well as a focus on Japanese traditional art. Souetsu too proposes a type of fashion that respects nature and environment, as even in this case items are made by hand in vegitale-tanned by Japanese artisans. The collection is inspired to Hokusai’s masterpiece The Great Wave off Kanagawa, as well as by other works by the notorious Japanese artist. The images are printed on the bags, hats, and the household items of the Souetsu line using natural colors.

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Beauty Beyond Time

Genten celebrates restoration progress of Courtyard of Palazzo Vecchio which contributed to fund

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special event took place last June at Palazzo Vecchio to celebrate the progress in the restoration of the fresco in the Courtyard of Michelozzo inside the palace. After five years, the restoration of the northern and eastern walls of the fresco has been completed, while the restoration of the western wall should be completed with the end of 2018. Genten contributed €500,000 to the project, helping immensely in the restoration progression.

One of the goals of the Japanese brand is to improve the relationship between Japan and Italy in projects that follow three main concepts to create sophisticated products: to respect the environment, take into account the value of objects, and create products that can last. To fulfill these goals and principles, Genten has worked together with the City of Florence to support projects related to the artistic and architectural heritage of the city, including the restoration of the Courtyard of Michelozzo. The restoration work has been carried out over the course of five

years. Giorgio Vasari originally created the fresco in 1565 to honor the marriage between Francesco I and Maria Giovanna of Austria with a presentation of the views of the cities of the Austro-Hungarian Empire on the walls. The Municipality of Florence began the restoration process in 2007, as restorers touched up the frescos on columns and pillars of the courtyard. The first phase of work involved the restoration of the frescoed frieze that faces the courtyard, the stuccos of the columns and pillars, stone bearing string courses of the first register, the vaults and the walls on the west side and a portion of the north side courtyard. Work was at a standstill in 2013. However, thanks to the sponsorship of Genten work could continue in May 2013. From here the restoration of the north wall and east wall could continue with the concluding restoration of the west wall and entrance within the year. The work is incredibly complex and the precarious state of conservation is difficult due to the number of tourists that enter the courtyard and the Florence climate. Most of the restorers spend hours with their arms up high repairing old paintings, much different than the rumors Michelangelo laying on his back. At the end of 2018 the work will be

completed, and to celebrate the Japanese brand launched the capsule collection “Anniversary” – a limited edition accessory line with prints that faithfully reproduce the frescos. The celebration also included beautiful music on the harp by local young musicians and

a presentation of appreciation of Yoshimura Teiji. The line contains calf leather bags and cashmere scarves with the intricate designs of the Courtyard of Michelozzo. The line is on sale in Tokyo and Florence boutiques and also available online.

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Pianist to perform at Estate Fiesolana

band born under the initiative of Francesco, it includes some of the biggest and respected names on the jazz scene amongst its members. Among these are trumpeter and band conductor Fabio Morgera, who played under legendary American jazz cornetist; composer and conductor Butch Morris for 30 years in New York; Dario Cecchini, sax and leader of Italian marching band Funk Off; trumpeter Luca Marianini; trombone player Ste-

“We never play anything recorded here” he says with a smile. The method of bridging cultures 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. The club has also created its own big band, the Eskimo Jazz Orchestra. An all-star Tuscan jazz

MUSIC

Bollani Live!

A ‘Port’ for All Musicians

s with any port, Porto di Mare-Eskimo is synonymous with exchange, correspondence, and coming and going. This year the club has an important novelty: courses of typical Italian dance Tarantella, which will be taking place on Friday night. 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.

Florence News 23

fano Scalzi and guitarist Riccardo Onori, who both played alongside renowned Italian singer-songwriter and rapper Jovanotti; percussionists Walter Paoli, ex-member of 1970s Italian jazz, progressive rock and electronic group Area, and Piero Borri; clarinet player Nico Gori; and guitarists Paolo Conte, Ivano Fossati and Riccardo Galardini – to name just (a little more than) a few.

talian pianist-composer Stefano Bollani will present his new album Que bom at the Estate Fiesolana summer festival. The concert will be on July 10 in the ancient Roman setting of the Fiesole Amphitheatre. Que Bom is a genuine hymn to life marked by sparkling liveliness and contagious joy. The album is a mix of original tunes and distinctive melodies influenced by Brazilian music culture, which Bollani has always cherished since the very beginning of his rich, multifaceted career. In this new album, entirely produced by himself and the first to be released worldwide by his newly created label Alobar, as in his earlier album Carioca released 10 years ago Bollani is joined by a Brazilian rhythm section: Jorge Helder

(bass), Jurim Moreira (drums) and Armando Marçal (percussion), and Thiago da Serrinha (percussion). Que Bom also ‘hosts’ some Brazilian guest stars such as Caetano Veloso, João Bosco, Jaques Morelenbaum and Hamilton de Holanda. Bollani began studying the piano at the age of six and made his professional debut at 15. After graduating at the music Conservatory in Florence in 1993 and a brief experience as a session musician with some renowned Italian pop artists, he became an established jazz musician and performed on stages such as the Town Hall in New York, the Barbican in London, the Scala in Milan, and the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Crucial in his career has been his collaboration with Enrico Rava, with whom he has

performed hundreds of concerts and recorded 13 albums, the most recent of which are Tati (2015), The Third Man (2005) and New York Days (2008). Bollani has also worked with musicians such as Richard Galliano, Bill Frisell, Gato Barbieri, Sol Gabetta, Phil Woods, Lee Konitz, Pat Metheny, and Chick Corea, with whom he recorded the live album Orvieto in 2011. His most recent productions include: Big Band (2013); Joy in Spite of Everything (2014); Sheil Yer Zappa (a 2014 live recording dedicated to Frank Zappa); Arrivano gli Alieni (a 2015 album in which he tried his hand as a singer-songwriter for the first time); Napoli Trip (a 2016 album made in collaboration with Neapolitan artists Daniele Sepe, Manu Katché, Jan Bang and others); and Mediterraneo, a live recording in Berlin with Jesper Bodilsen, Morten Lund, Vincent Peirani and members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, arranged by Geir Lysne. In the field of classical music, Bollani has performed as a soloist with symphonic orchestras (Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Orchestre de Paris, Filarmonica della Scala in Milan, Santa Cecilia in Rome, Toronto Symphony Orchestra) alongside conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Kristjan Järvi, Daniel Harding, Antonio Pappano and especially Riccardo Chailly, with whom he recorded Rhapsody in Blue and Concerto in Fa by Gershwin in a CD (2010) that won the Italian Platinum disk after selling over 70,000 copies.

24 Florence News

MUSIC

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

A Tuscan Summer in Music Lucca Summer Festival Lucca Until July 26 The main musical event will take place inside the historical center of Lucca in Piazza Napoleone. This year the festival will host some of the most influential international artists including Queens of the Stone Age, Ringo Starr, Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, the Gorillaz, Lenny Kravitz, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, James Taylor, Norah Jones, and Hollywood Vampires (a collaboration with actor Johnny Depp and musicians Alice Cooper and Joe Perry from Aerosmith).

as Mark Lanegan Band and Supersonic Blues Machine featuring Billy F. Gibbons.

Terre Di Arezzo Music Festival Arezzo July 10 – Aug. 25 The festival presents opera and classical music all summer long as well as an annual mastery of baroque music and opera. A variety of events within the event will take place such as “Living Tango” by Ensemble Hyperion, From Morricone to Beatles, Italian Soul, Spanish Serenata, and Masterworks of Mozart and Schubert.

Estate Fiesolana Fiesole June 21 – Aug. 18 This year artists such as Roberto Vecchioni, Stefano Bollani, Bobo Rondelli, Neri Marcorè with the tribute to the song by De André, Elio Germano with the new version of Journey to the End of the Night, the Avion Travel and others will perform in the fantastic location of the Fiesole Roman Amphitheatre.

Barga Jazz Barga Aug. 18 – 26

Pistoia Blues Pistoia July 4, 10, 13-15 Pistoia hosts its largest annual event with Pistoia Blues. Dedicated to rock and blues, Pistoia Blues has been astounding the historical city since 1980 with renowned artists from all over the globe. This year a variety of artists will be present: Graham Nash, Alanis Morissette, James Blunt, Steve Hackett, as well

glory and prominence. Concerts are free.

Arezzo Wave Arezzo July 17 – 21 The longest running music contest in Italy, Arezzo Wave hosts bands from all over the country as the up and coming musicians compete against each other for a chance at

July 27, 9 p.m.

Maschere del Novecento CARL NIELSEN arr. HANS ABRAHAMSEN Two Fantasy Pieces Op. 2 Oboe and string trio ERIC SATIE arr. HANS ABRAHAMSEN Gymnopédie n.1 for Oboe and string quartet IGOR STRAVINSKY arr. MICHELE SARTI Estratti da “Pulcinella” for oboe and string quartet ENNIO MORRICONE arr. MICHELE SARTI Gabriel’s oboe for oboe and string quartet SAMUEL BARBER Adagio for string quartet BÉLA BARTÓK arr. MICHELE SARTI Romanian dance for oboe and string quartet

Aug. 12, 9 p.m.

Each year the festival dedicates itself to prominent figures in jazz history. This year the event will be in honor of Dizzy Gillespie.

Salotto all’italiana GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Ouf! Les petit pois GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Arietta spagnola; La fioraia fiorentina GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Duo, I tempo GIOACCHINO ROSSINI La promessa GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Petit caprice VINCENZO BELLINI Per pietà, bell’idolo mio GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Petite polka chinoise GIOACCHINO ROSSINI Sonata a quattro n. 6

Wellness Shu-Xin Body Massage

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Via della Catena 2 392 172 4859 ◆ www.lepavoniere.it ◆ Live music begins at 9 p.m.

26 Florence News

CITY BEAT

he City of Florence denied hosting the 2018 Tuscany Gay Pride. The decision was announced by mayor Dario Nardella last month. However, Nardella said that Florence City council will recognize homosexual couples parenting adopted children. “I have decided to sign the transcription in the registers of the register of children of homosexual couples for the Municipality of Florence. We respond to the ideologies with the concreteness of the facts, just as happened with our law on civil unions. The rights of people first of all,” twitted Nardella. The 2018 Tuscan Gay Pride was hosted by Siena on June 16 with 10,000 in attendance, according to the organization. Under the slogan “for pride and for love” parade goers celebrated the achievements reached after decades of discrimination, while also recognizing there is still work to be done. “We need a greater commitment against bullying or any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity through interventions in schools, workplaces and nursing,” said one of the organizers of the event. The council decision to not host

the pride came quite unexpected as Florence did so much in the last decades to defend gay rights. In the last decade, Italians have changed their stances on many LGBTQ issues largely due to the progress made in Tuscany. While Catholic doctrine has historically shaped Italian opinion against homosexuality, a cultural shift in Florence and Tuscany have gradually led to a more inclusive country for LGBTQ people. In 1974, the Tabasco gay disco club, the first gay club in Italy, opened in Florence. Many gay clubs and bathhouses have opened since then, building an active gay nightlife for the city. Tuscany reached another LGBTQ milestone in 2004 when it became the first region of Italy to ban discrimination against homosexuals in employment, education and public services. In 2015, Florence was one of a dozen Italian cities to create a domestic partner registry for samesex couples, granting them some of the legal privileges for married couples. These same-sex unions, however, were not recognized outside the city until June, 2016, when they were legalized across Italy by national law. Still, the new law falls short of allowing those in samesex unions to adopt their partner’s children.

www.florencenews.it

Generations of Sculptors

City Faces Controversy on LGBTQ Issues CORRINE HELMAN

SUMMER EDITION

Meet Raffaello Romanelli of Galleria Romanelli sides that I imagine that growing up, living and breathing into the sculpture studio environment, and being surrounded by sculptures and seeing art pieces since you are born, might already plant the seeds of the sculptor inside you.

s soon as you enter Galleria Romanelli, a myriad of sculptures surround you, boasting majestic, graceful forms. The gallery has been managed by the same family since 1860. The first Romanelli sculptor was Pasquale Romanelli. Now, nearly 160 years later, Raffaello Romanelli and his brother Vincenzo Romanelli manage the sculpture studio. We asked Raffaello a few questions on the history of the gallery and his love for art. How is it possible that this love for sculptures appears to be genetic in your family? What do you think is particular about your family that makes you so tied to this art? Well I guess we should ask God why the genes are passed through from one generation to another...but be-

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I see that your specialty is creating portrait busts, do you like sculpting men or women more? It depends, it is difficult to say. At the end of the day they both have a different aspect. For example, a wise wrinkly old man could be really interesting, or maybe a very classic Roman-looking man with a strong straight big nose could also be interesting. But a beautiful woman with beautiful hair could be amazing to sculpt and to get the grace and beauty out of. It’s always a challenge and it’s always exciting…doesn’t matter whether it’s a man or a woman. What is the most difficult thing to sculpt in a bust? The eyes. Why are the eyes the most difficult? The eyes are the reflection of the soul so it is very hard to capture. What happens if you do a mistake in marble? You have to start all over again. Has that happened to you?

It has happened and sometimes you can find a way to fix the trouble... Even Michelangelo broke his David and then he fixed it, so at the end of the day there’s always a way of fixing things. What other artist inspire you? All masters. Like Michelangelo, Bernini, some Greek ones …normally Classical or Renaissance pieces. What do you usually do in your classes here? Who usually goes to them, what age? All ages. From 15 years old to 80 years old. Females, males, all kinds of people. And we teach basically, mainly, how to read volumes and masses in a sculpture, and how to reproduce something that you see. So basically, we train you to be able to see lines and to be able to see a figure and to be able to transform something from a moveable person to a sculpture. What do you hope to capture in your work? What defines your style as a sculptor? Well I always try to get the most beautiful part of someone in my work, because I believe each one of us has got something beautiful and unique and I want that to come out in the sculpture. Everyone is different from each other, so I try to get that little thing which makes you different from someone else.

Alpaca craftsmanship ORGANIC COTTON ITEMS

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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

Via dei Pilastri 22r 339 362 5372

Via dei Boni 5r 334 7007714 www.leftluggageflorence.com

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Escaping the Florentine Heat

Florence News 27

CITY BEAT stop ‘Ghirlandaio’. Address: Via Micheli Information: 055 27 57 402

from train station S.Maria Novella to bus stop Gioia Address: Via Federigo Stibbert, 26 Info: www.museostibbert.it/en or call 055 47 55 20

Cascine Park

Giardino Torrigiani (Torrigiani Garden)

A guide to the shady spots in Florence

In the summer, Florence is always the hottest city in Italy- even hotter than the cities in the South. Why? The answer is simple: the humidity of the city makes the temperature feel hotter to the extent that sometimes the local authorities advise seniors and children to remain inside as much as possible, possibly with air conditioning or a fan. What can those who prefer to stay outdoors, even in the terrible Florentine summer days, do then? Maybe this short guide of the shady spots can be useful.

Piazzale Michelangelo The perfect place for a panoramic view of the city, especially great for sunsets. Transportation: Take bus line 12 or 13 from the Santa Maria Novella station.

Opening hours: Every day from 9 a.m. until sunset.station.

Giardino dell’Orticoltura Built in 1879 by Giacomo Roster for the Tuscan Horticultural Society. Transportation: Take bus line 2 from Santa Maria Novella station. Address: Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 Information: 055 20 06 62 37 (Tue afternoon or Fri morning)

Bardini Gardens

Giardino delle Rose (Rose Garden) A green terrace with different sort of roses from all around world below Piazzale Michelangelo, overlooking the historic center of the city. Transportation: Take bus line 12 or 13 from S.M.N station Address: Viale Giuseppe Poggi 2 (near Piazza Michelangelo)

On the hills near Piazza Michelangelo is one of Florence’s best kept secrets. Visitors will see camellias, viburnum, hydrangeas, glycines and rose trees of various species. Full ticket: €10 Address: Costa San Giorgio, 2 Information: 055 200 66 206

Botanical Gardens Giardino dei Semplici Established by Cosimo dei Medici in 1545, this is one of the oldest parks in the world. It is currently maintained by the University of Florence and boasts a collection of carnivorous plants. Transportation: Take bus line 14 from Santa Maria Novella to bus

A daytime hotspot for outdoor activities, much loved by Florentines. Every Tuesday the park hosts the city’s largest open-air market, with a very good offers on local specialties such as cheese, vegetables and honey. Transportation: Take the tram line from the Santa Maria Novella station to the Cascine stop

Frederick Stibbert Villa Transformed from a simple Italian park to a romantic English garden by Giuseppe Poggi, this outdoor space features temples, rock caves, fountains and a mysterious Egyptian temple. Entrance to the garden is free; closed only on Thursdays. Transportation: Take bus line 4

The widest privately owned garden in the city boundaries within Europe. The land was inherited by Marquis Pietro Torrigiani in the early 19 th century. He transformed the park into the ‘english style’ as fashion of the time. The garden still known as a botanical garden with great wealth of plant and tree from all around the world. It can be visited if one of the owners will accompany the visitors during their tours. Transportation: Take the bus line 11 from Piazza San Marco to bus stop ‘Campuccio’. Adress:Via dei Serragli 144 Information: www.giardinotorrigiani.it or call 055-224527

28 Florence News

CITY BEAT

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

A Florentine Gift V

Firenze Card The Firenzecard is a way for tourists and locals alike to visit 72 museums in the city. For 85€, 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 72 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

isconti is an authentic Florentine company which manufactures pens, watches, and other accessories. The company was founded October 20, 1988 by Luigi Poli and Dante Del Vecchio, who shared a passion for high quality pens. The luxury of the work shows in the uniqueness of each piece and the special manufacturing process. If you are looking for a memorable souvenir stop by Pinart, located at Via de’ Guicciardini, 2r, 50125 Firenze, located near Ponte Vecchio.

PINART

Bring Home Organic Cotton

ou can get clothing made from organic cotton at the MP shop located on via dei Pilastri 22r. Organic cotton is not genetically modified, so it is more environmentally friendly. The growing process allows the soil to remain fertile, and it reduces the need for toxic fertilizers, making organic cotton a good choice for the eco-conscious consumer.

Meet a Florentine Stylist Fusing passion and creativity is the formula of Florentine stylist Andrea Sassi. Andrea began producing women’s shirts in 1985, and in the early ‘90s he was already one of the most successful emerging stylists in Florence. This rapid growth brought to an expansion of his production, which began to include dresses, suits, and accessories. Today the brand has two shops in Florence, one on Via de’ Federighi 1r – right off Via Tornabuoni, Florence’s most famous fashion street – and one on Via Senese 19r, near the Porta Romana, where it is possible to buy items of clothing made of pure silk or linen, as well as accessories such as handkerchiefs, leather bags, handmade necklaces and bracelets.

Via Ghibellina 178/r • 055 2645411 • www.ristoranterubaconte.it New! Wine tasting and buffet dinner from 30 euro!

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

allets, jewelry, fragrance, handmade by a real Florentine craftsman, Marco Cantini. Marco was born and raised in Piazza della Passera, in the most ‘authentic’ neighborhood of Florence, Santo Spirito, where you can still find pure Florentines today, which seems to be an increasing rarity in this city. Since childhood, his life has been devoted to his strong passion for work. In these early years, Marco’s daily life consisted of school in the morning and working at a boutique with a craftsman in the afternoon, polishing frames and restoring small objects. He later became the apprentice of a Florentine goldsmith. “I could ‘smell’ the beauty of this noble and ancient art,” Marco says, recalling this time, “but couldn’t accede to it until I was 20, when my mentor started teaching me the medieval techniques of his job. My adventure begins here. I bought my first workbench and started creating.” But still, Marco’s curiosity was not satisfied. “I needed to know, to see, to explore. Being Florentine and a goldsmith has been really helpful in my tours and adventures. In London I worked for David Morris on Bond Street. It’s there that I was introduced to the world of international fine jewelry,” says Marco. “I under-

stood that, thanks to what I learned in my early ages, I could travel and work all over the world. And that’s what I did. I travelled to Brazil, Mexico, New York and connected my craftsmanship techniques and to the new ones I learned abroad.” Despite these travels, Florence has always been Marco’s real home. And it’s here that, back in the 90’s, he opened his first shop, with more on the way.

Marco Cantini

Via del Castello D’Altafronte, 28/r, www.marcocantini.com

CITY BEAT

Benheart Opens New Stores in Strasbourg, Rome, and Riyadh

Marco Cantini: Jewelry and Fragrance W

Florence News 29

lorentine brand Benheart will open three new stores this summer: one in Strasbourg, one in Rome, and one in Riyadh. Benheart had also recently opened a renewed shop in Florence too, on Via Della Vigna, the street that made Florence the capital of Italian fashion in the 60’s. The first Benheart store opened in Florence 8 years ago. Since then, the brand rapidly expanded to seven stores, five of which are in Italy. The clothing and accessories are crafted entirely by hand. Customized pieces are available if you visit one of the two Benheart stores in the city. The story of this young stylist is quite literally derived from his heart. It was after a heart transplant, in fact, that Ishan woke up with a new perspective on life, realizing that he now had the best chance to express his emotions through his hands. This is why Benheart is synonymous to ‘son of the heart’ - the distinctive logo imprinted on all his leather goods: shoes, bags, jackets and belts. Along with his heart, Ishan takes inspiration from the American way of living, which he describes as vivacious, happy, full of hopes, and fueled by dreams.

Nine Years of OEJ

“We look at quality first: quality is our brand’s identity. Then, of course, all our products have to fit and look beautiful when you wear them,” Ishan told us.

Benheart Via della Vigna Nuova, 97/r Via CImatori, 25/r www.benheart.it

ne Eyed Jack celebrates its 9th anniversary with a cocktail event inspired by the famous Blues Brothers movie. The event will be on July 27 at the pub, which is located on Piazza Nazario Sauro 2r. At the anniversary party the pub will serve an Orange Whip cocktail inspired by the famous Blues Brothers movie. Since 2009 One Eyed Jack has hosted live music, inviting to play on their stage local bands as well as affirmed international musicians. At the pub you can enjoy famous beers such as the Brew Dog and Stone Brewing, and a wide selections of cocktails.

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Florence News 31

TUSCANY

Discover Colle Val d’Elsa

‘The Italian Way of St. James’ Via Francigena, among ancient routes and modern “pilgrims”

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

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 €35 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)

FREE WINE TASTINGS IN COLLE VAL D’ELSA

ENOTECA IL SALOTTO Wine tastings

Traditional Tuscan first courses and cold cuts

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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

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Florence News 33

TUSCANY

Gelato Classes with a World Champion

On Horseback in Tuscany

ON THE ROAD

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

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

Pastry Shop, Via dei Fossi 3a, San Gimignano • 0577 940597 Delivery service available in Chianti depending on the area

THE LARGEST ENOTECA IN TUSCANY

WINE & TYPICAL TUSCAN PRODUCTS • INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING

Piazza Matteotti 18, Greve in Chianti (FI) 055853631 • chianticlassicoshop@gmail.com

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.

Florence Country Life From € 100

(€ 80 for students) www.florencecountrylife.com info@florencecountrylife.com Tel.: +39.366.4738711 TRANSPORTATION INCLUDED

34 Florence News

TUSCANY

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Il Palagetto Vernaccia

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.

Chianti Cakes 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.palagetto.it

Pici All’aglione

www.casanovadipescille.com

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.

Via dei Fossi 3a, San Gimignano 0577 940597 Delivery service available in Chianti depending on the area

typical pasta of the Sienese countryside, the pici are shaped like spaghetti and go well with any sauce. Recommended are the pici all’aglione, a tomato and garlic typical of the Siena area. The sauce starts with bringing oil in a pan to a low heat. Add garlic and chilli pepper. When the garlic begins to brown, it is time to add the peeled and cubed tomatoes. Add a splash of vinegar and a sprinkle of salt. Cook the sauce until the tomatoes have broken down and the consistency is creamy. The last step is to drain the pasta and add it to the saucepan. Recommended Wine: Chardonnay, Rosso di Montalcino or Montepulciano

Bar dell’Orso

Via Cassia Nord, 23 Monteriggioni (Siena) 0577 305074

A CORNER OF PARADISE BETWEEN VOLTERRA AND S. GIMIGNANO Restaurant Zafferano by Casanova di Pescille

THE BAR DELL’ORSO IS RENOWNED FOR ITS CURED MEATS, CHEESES AND PRESERVES IN OIL

THE FARMHOUSE • BED AND BREAKFAST • RESTAURANT Loc. Pescille, 53037 San Gimignano (Siena) 0577 941902 • pescille@casanovadipescille.com www.casanovadipescille.com

Via Cassia Nord, 23, 53035 Monteriggioni (Siena) 0577 305074

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Man Ray: Wonderful Visions T

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 provided 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 1999, ARTnews magazine named Ray one of the 25 most influential artists of the 20th century.

MAN RAY: Wonderful Visions Galleria di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Via Folgore 11, San Gimignano Price: Euro 9, reduced 6 Until Oct. 26

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TUSCANY

Ready for the Palio

wice a year, on July 2 and Aug. 16, Siena’s bowl-shaped Piazza del Campo is covered with a thick layer of dirt for the city’s most important event of the year: il Palio. Since the first Palio in 1656, just one race was initially held each year on July 2, named Il Palio di Provenzano, in honor of the Madonna of Provenzano. The second, on Aug. 16, began in 1701 and was named Il Palio dell'Assunta, in honor of the Assumption of Mary. Coinciding with the Feast of the Assumption, it is assumed that this second palio was probably introduced spontaneously as part of the celebration of feast. Of the original 59, there are 17 contrade still in existence today; of these, only 10 are chosen to race in each year’s Palio. The seven contrade that do not take part in the previous year are automatically included, and three more are chosen by draw. Each contrada’s participant enters the square around 3:30 p.m., but the main processional does not start until nearly 5 p.m., when a pageant of flag-throwers bearing the colors and symbols of their districts perform in the piazza. The order of the line-up is decided by lot immediately before the race, and only nine of the 10 contrade initially enter the space between the two ropes that constitutes the starting line: the 10th, called the rincorsa, waits outside, giving him yet another chance to cheat. The front rope is only dropped to start

A Journey Through Human Cruelty

the race once the rincorsa enters the space; and as deals have invariably been made between contrade and jockeys to affect when he enters, this process can take some time, as the rincorsa waits for a particular horse to be well or badly placed. After a rapid and intense three laps around the Campo the race is over, and the celebrations, or lamentations, begin. The winning contrada is awarded the prestigious prize of a banner, called the palio or drappellone, which is thought to bring great luck to the district that wins it, and is newly designed each year by a local artist for the July Palio, or an internationally recognized artist for the August Palio.

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

Galleria Gagliardi Presents Danilo Martinis 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. It is located in San Gimignano on Via San Giovanni 57 and is open every day until 7:30 p.m. The website of the gallery is galleriagagliardi.com.

WINE TASTINGS IN SAN GIMIGNANO

alleria Gagliardi is presenting a solo exhibition by Danilo Martinis beginning on July 21. Born in 1976 in Milan, Martinis studied architecture and design in Como. In september 2010 he began a career as a professional artist that brought him to showcase his works in Milan, Florence, Miami, Moscow, Capri, Monaco, Amsterdam, Dubai and Mumbai. His subjects present a perfect anatomy, every position being absolutely elegant. The 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

Via Racciano 10 - 53037 San Gimignano 334/6399484 • 0577/943090 www.palagetto.it

Il Supermercato... da Gustare e deGustare HOME DELIVERY SERVICE AVAILABLE Sapori & Dintorni is the new way to do the shopping: in the heart of Florence there is a place where Food, Culture and Territory meet. Get in and discover the Big Supermarket to test and taste! Inside you will find many typical products of the Italian food tradition. Buy your favorite product and taste it within the tasting area.

FIND YOUR LOCAL BIG SUPERMARKET IN THE CITY CENTER

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THE BIG SUPERMARKETS ARE OPEN: • Monday - Saturday: from 08.30 am to 9.00 pm • Sunday: from 09.30 am to 9.00 pm

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Florence News 37

TUSCANY

Voyage Inside a Blind Experience Exhibit tributes Josef and Anni Albers

Siena Dome Shining New

The Duomo of Siena opened its doors June 27 to a sea of visitors awaiting to see it’s famous floors. While the marble carpet did not change, the cathedral enhanced them by adding new lighting technology. The event included music by Gianluca Littera and a light show on the facade. The cathedral’s floors can be seen from June 27-July 31 and August 18-October 28.

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

Cooking Classes

Cartoleria Lory Srl P.za Frescobaldi 8r 50125 055-213246 Shop.lory.net www.digital-fineart.it www.lorycad.net

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

SUMMER EDITION www.florencenews.it

Taste Wine with Pino In a renovated 700-year-old well

‘P

ozzo Divino’ is a witty play on words: literally meaning ‘divine well’, it also translates as ‘wine well’ when read as ‘Pozzo di Vino’. The ancient well is now the cellar that hosts Pozzo Divino’s wine tours. Dating back to 1312, the well was built to supply water through a vast system of underground tunnels and pipes to the prisoners of a local prison known as ‘The Stinche’ (now Teatro Verdi) that stretched as far as the Bargello. Pino bought the location in 2006 and restored it himself with the help of some friends. Despite its

restoration, Pino reveals that it was always his principal intention to maintain a tangible sense of history when stepping into the cellar. This is something he has undoubtedly achieved; the place is almost like a time-machine propelling you back a few centuries into a part of authentic medieval Florence – albeit in excellent condition. Pino imparts his knowledge while taking guests around the cellar, offering a range of Italian wines to sample with an appetizer of complementary regional cheeses, cuts of meats, bread, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Guests are offered a spectrum of Tuscan flavors to try, from a variety of the region’s renowned Chianti Classico to white wines that include Chardonnay, Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio. The wine-tasting ends with the most exclusive reds of the cellar: Bolgheri, Super Tuscan, Morellino and Montepulciano. Upon request, guests also enjoy a buffet lunch comprising fresh pasta, specialty Italian second courses, and “the best panini in the world” made by Pino himself. Pino boasts that 90 percent of the wines he holds are of Tuscan origin, and that his tours prove so popular that he often ships back boxes of the wine sampled to America in order to appease impressed customers. Those looking to take a taste of Tuscany back home can find comprehensive information on shipping zones and freight costs on the company’s website. Pozzo Divino’s wine tours can be organized for tourist groups, families and universities, and cost only €15 a head – which not only makes it an experience to enjoy over the festive season but also an ideal Christmas gift for lovers of Tuscany’s finest vintages.

Pozzo Divino Only 15 Euro! Via Ghibellina, 144/r 055 24 66 907 Open from Monday to Saturday Wine-tasting on Sundays by appointment (minimum 10 people) www.pozzodivino.it

Florence News 39

FOOD&WINE

Dine with Dante

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

Via dei Pandolfini, 26r • 347 381 8294

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Palazzo dei Cerchi

Via della Condotta 50R 50122 Firenze Tel. (055) 2776472 www.gentenfirenze.it Genten Firenze

Contribuisce al restauro di Palazzo Vecchio di Firenze Contributes to the restoration of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence