Florence Concierge n.239 | march-april 2022 by Gruppo Editoriale srl

OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE TUSCAN ASSOCIATION OF HOTEL CONCIERGES “LES CLEFS D’OR“

FLORENCE CONCIERGE

USEFUL CITY INFORMATION

information

n.239

march | april 2022

ART AND EVENTS \ FLORENCE FOR KIDS \ BEST GARDENS ART MASTERPIECES \ SCOPPIO DEL CARRO CHOCOLATE VIBES \ ATTRACTIONS AND FOOD GUIDE

INDEX

N.239

march | april 2022

11 Events: dates for your diary 15 Art appointments 18 The unmissable recipe of Buca Mario’s ribollita 21 Fashions tips: the must-have items for spring 24 The Concierge Adriano Pecoraro’s advices 26 The city’s most beautiful gardens 32 The traditional Scoppio del Carro on Easter 36 Florence in Chocolate: festivity means deliciousness 38 The ten masterpieces not to be missed 46 The most fun things to do with children

EVENTS diary

ART diary

ITINERARY gardens

V I A D E L C O R S O, 3 4 R | P H . + 3 9 0 5 5 2 8 3 5 3 8 | G I N G E R F I R E N Z E . C O M

V I A P O RTA R O S S A, 4 2 | P H. +3 9 0 5 5 2 9 1 4 4 8 | T RY M E.IT

INDEX march | april 2022

N.239 TOP PLACES 52 Restaurants 68 Cafe & Aperitif 76 Museums 80 Churches 83 Top Attractions 85 Squares & Towers 86 Gardens & Parks 88 Medici Villas 90 Markets 92 Information travelling 94 Celebrations timetable 95 Consulates in Florence 96 Hotels 98 Map

ITINERARY art masterpieces

ITINERARY Florence for Kids

bi-monthly magazine Official magazine of the Tuscan Association of Hotel concierges “Les Clefs d’Or” www.florence-concierge.it PRESIDENT Alessandro Marchese COORDINATION Sergio Iannotta PUBLISHER

Alex Vittorio Lana & Matteo Parigi Bini EDITOR IN CHIEF Matteo Parigi Bini MANAGING EDITOR Martina Olivieri EDITORIAL STAFF Teresa Favi, Francesca Lombardi, Virginia Mammoli COVER Villa Bardini ph. Ottavia Poli PHOTOGRAPHERS Lorenzo Cotrozzi, Andrea Dughetti, Dario Garofalo, Pasquale Paradiso, Ottavia Poli, Pressphoto, Antonio Quattrone ART EDITORS Martina Alessi, Melania Branca TRANSLATIONS Centotraduzioni, Tessa Conticelli ADVERTISING AND MARKETING DIRECTOR Alex Vittorio Lana ADVERTISING Nicola Brigandì, Gianni Consorti, Alessandra Nardelli, Monica Offidani EDITORIAL OFFICE Gruppo Editoriale via Piero della Francesca, 2 - 59100 Prato - Italy ph +39 0574 730203 - www.gruppoeditoriale.com Florence Concierge information is registered with the Court of Florence under n°2491 PRINT Baroni & Gori Questo periodico è associato alla Unione Stampa Periodica Italiana

Via San Niccolò, 2 | +39.055.046.0476 |Bespoke@StefanoBemer.com

Via San Giuseppe 5R Firenze | ph. (+39) 055.244.533/4 www.scuoladelcuoio.com

EDITORIAL

WELCOME TO FLORENCE

TEXT Alessandro Marchese President of the Tuscan Association of Hotel concierges “Les Clefs d’Or”

ear Guest, We wish you a very warm welcome to Tuscany, on behalf of all the “Golden key” concierges. Florence Concierge Information is our concrete commitment to make your stay in our region a truly memorable experience. In this magazine you’ll find all the information you might need and, above all, our suggestions for the best the city currently has to offer. In Florence, every month is unique and special, with fabulous one-off events. This issue is packed with features perfect for a season of intense flavours and aromas, like the article on Florence gardens, which return to their brilliant

COUNCIL MEMBERS

President Alessandro Marchese Vice President Sergio Iannotta Secretary Romano Pallai Treasurer Andrea Oppoliti Councilor Michele Paonessa Councilor Antonio Pagano Councilor Simone Spulcioni Councilor Adriano Pecoraro Councilor Jacopo Chierici Councilor Aldo Maestosi senior Councilor Antonio Mitrione senior Past President Francesco Brunori senior

splendour at this time of year. There are exhibitions and events, such as the traditional Scoppio del Carro on Easter Sunday; there’s also a journey to the best places to buy delicious chocolate to take home. Florence is synonymous with art and beauty too, so we had to include suggestions of must-see masterpieces in the city’s celebrated museums. And perhaps you’re visiting Florence with children? No problem, there’s plenty for them to do too. If you have questions, we’re at your disposal at our counter, delighted to receive your enquiries and help you make the most of your trip to Florence in the spring. Have a wonderful stay.

EVENTS

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

TASTE FIRENZE

26-28/03/2022 Stazione Leopolda The return of Taste, the Pitti Immagine event that presents the very best of Italian gastronomy, wine and contemporary food culture. This year Taste changes venue, moving from Stazione Leopolda to Fortezza da Basso, offering a new journey of discovery into the diversity of flavours.

FESTIVAL DEL MAGGIO MUSICALE

12/04 - 16/07/2022 Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Six operas, 10 symphonies and even a show for children, Ayda: the Maggio Musicale festival is back with a packed programme for its 84th edition.

THE BEST OF ITALIAN GASTRONOMY, WINE AND CONTEMPORAY FOOD CULTURE

SCOPPIO DEL CARRO 17/04/2022 Piazza del Duomo

Every year, Florence celebrates Easter Sunday with the Scoppio del Carro, also known as Brindellone, in which a cart is pulled by two oxen through the city streets to Piazza del Duomo. The archbishop then uses the holy fire to light a dove-shaped rocket (the Colombina), which strikes the cart, causing it to explode in a spectacular firework display. 11

EVENTS

MIDA

24/04 - 1/05/2022 Fortezza da Basso Every year the Florence International Crafts Fair fills Fortezza da Basso with creatives and artisan companies of every size and type, giving visitors a sense of the richness, variety and quality of a sector that’s both ancestral and innovative; interest is always keen.

IRIS GARDEN

May Viale Michelangiolo, 82, Viale Giuseppe Poggi, 3/C This beautiful garden in Piazzale Michelangelo was created in 1954 to host the annual International Iris Competition. The ‘Premio Firenze’ is an initiative of Flaminia Specht and Nita Stross Radicati, members of the Italian Amici dei Fiori society and passionate hybridisers. It opens only in May.

FAI SPRING DAYS 26-27/03/2022

The key annual event for the FAI (Italian environment foundation), during which, since 1993, more than 14,000 art and nature sites all over Italy have been opened to the public. As ever, this year the protagonist will be an extraordinarily rich heritage, to be explored in visits run by FAI volunteers to more than 700 places in the city that are little-known or usually closed to the public.

CAPODANNO FIORENTINO 25/03/2022

The Catholic Church has celebrated the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary since ancient times. From the 7th century the date has been fixed: 25 March, nine months before Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ. Until 1750, the Florentine New Year was celebrated on 25 March, marking the start of the secular year with the feast of Maria Santissima. FOR MORE DETAILS AND RESERVATIONS, ASK YOUR “LES CLEFS D’OR” CONCIERGE 12

Villa La Massa vi invita a festeggiare la Pasqua sulle rive dell’Arno all’insegna della buona tavola. Un percorso di gusto tra le prelibatezze del nostro Chef, le tradizionali uova di cioccolato e le immancabili colombe nella cornice unica del ristorante Il Verrocchio. Un’occasione speciale per godersi le prime giornate di primavera immersi nel verde del Chianti, a pochi minuti da Firenze

VIA DELLA MASSA, 24 CANDELI, FIRENZE +39 055 626 11 +39 055 633 102 RISTORANTE@VILLALAMASSA.IT VILLALAMASSA.COM VILLALAMASSAOFFICIAL

EXHIBITIONS

ART APPOINTMENTS

ANJ SMITH. A WILLOW GROWS ASLANT THE BROOK until 1/05/2022 Bardini Museum

The Bardini in Florence hosts the first solo show in an Italian museum for British artist Anj Smith. Entitled A Willow Grows Aslant the Brook, the exhibit is a selection of twelve works in which the artist’s interior landscapes, peopled with faces, animals and surreal elements, dialogue with the ancient art on display in the museum.

2 3

LE TRE PIETÀ DI MICHELANGELO until 1/08/2022 Opera del Duomo Museum

For the first time, an exhibition that compares - side by side in the Tribuna di Michelangelo hall of the Opera del Duomo Museum - the original Bandini Pietà, whose restoration has recently been completed, and casts of the Vatican Pietà and the Rondanini Pietà, from the Vatican Museums.

FOR THE FIRST TIME, AN EXHIBITION THAT COMPARES THE THREE PIETÀS

DONATELLO, THE RENAISSANCE

19/03 - 31/07/2022 Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi and Musei del Bargello

A once-in-a-lifetime exhibition that sets out to reconstruct the extraordinary career of one of the most important masters of Italian art, in juxtaposition with masterpieces by artists such as Brunelleschi, Masaccio, Andrea Mantegna, Giovanni Bellini, Raphael and Michelangelo.

EXHIBITIONS

MICHELANGELO: DANIELE DA VOLTERRA’S BRONZE EFFIGIES until 19/06/2022 Galleria dell’Accademia

For the first time an exhibition brings together nine similar busts, attributed to Daniele da Volterra and depicting the features of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475 – 1564). The very likenesses we are all accustomed to linking with the unrivalled Renaissance artist.

GALILEO CHINI AND EUROPEAN SYMBOLISM until 25/04/2022 Villa Bardini

Focusing on the youthful years of Galileo Chini (Florence 1873-1956), which brought him international fame, this exhibition contains more than 200 items - paintings, drawings, illustrations and ceramics - in a constant succession of links and parallels between the artist and the international art that inspired him and was often inspired by him.

PAINTINGS, DRAWINGS, ILLUSTRATIONS AND CERAMICS AT VILLA BARDINI FOR MORE DETAILS AND RESERVATIONS, ASK YOUR “LES CLEFS D’OR” CONCIERGE 16

Bik eT ou r

ur i To z ﬁ Uf

Ec oC art To ur

ur To g n lki Wa

+39 389 4996 747 / +39 055 4932 280 info@ecotoursitalia.it www.ecotoursitaly.com Firenze - Via De Girolami 8/r - 50122 FOR RESERVATIONS ASK YOUR “LES CLEFS D’OR” CONCIERGE

(ph. Andrea Dughetti) 18

TUSCAN DISH

THE RECIPE OF BUCA MARIO’S RIBOLLITA Learn how to make the traditional Tuscan dish with this step-by-step recipe TEXT Martina Olivieri

n any discussion of traditional Florentine cuisine, we have to mention ribollita, a humble dish with rural origins, handed down through the generations. But what’s the best way to prepare it? To find out, we’re helped by the classic Buca Mario restaurant, a symbol of the Florence of bygone times, which reveals its secret recipe. INGREDIENTS: 400 g cannellini beans, 400 g stale Tuscan bread, cavolo nero (not too long, if possible), 2 carrots, 1 potato, 3 or 4 stalks of celery, 4 peeled tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, 1 white onion, ½ a Savoy cabbage, 2 cloves of garlic,

salt and, if desired, black pepper ground over the finished dish. PREPARATION: Rinse the beans and soak for 12 hours. Then place in a large pot with cold water, the garlic and one stalk of celery. Cook on a low heat, topping up with boiling water when necessary: you need more water than usual to soak the bread. Cook for about 2 hours. Blanch the cavolo nero in a little water, chop coarsely and place in a pan with the onion, chopped celery, the peeled and sliced potato, the chopped cabbage, sliced carrot and tomatoes, in plenty of extra virgin olive oil. Then add a ladleful of the

bean cooking water and cook on a low heat for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, remove half the beans and and purée them, leaving the rest whole, and keep warm. Add the cooking water to the vegetables and continue cooking gently for another 30 minutes. In another pan, place the slices of bread soaked in the stock; add the garlic, some of the whole beans and some of the vegetables. Allow to cook uncovered for 45 minutes on a very low heat. The ribollita should be thick, smooth, inviting and homogeneous. Serve hot or warm, garnished with a grind of black pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. 19

TRATTORIA CAMMILLO Borgo San Jacopo 57/r, Firenze - 50125 TEL. +39 055 212427 | CAMMILLO@MOMAX.IT CAMMILLO@MOMAX.I T Giorni di chiusura settimanale: Martedì e Mercoledì Orari dal Giovedì al Lunedì: 12.00-14.30 e 19:30 - 22:30

SHOPPING

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Via de’ Tornabuoni 14r, Firenze

IL THÈ DELLE 5 AT TRY ME Via Porta Rossa 42r, Firenze

LADYLIKE Comfortable and elegant choices for discovering the city BY Francesca Lombardi VERSACE Via de’ Tornabuoni 17, Firenze

BLUMARINE AT MCARTHURGLEN Barberino Designer Outlet

HERMÈS FIRENZE Piazza degli Antinori 6/R, Firenze

ANNAMARIA CAMMILLI Via Vacchereccia 12, Firenze

www.angelacaputi.com

ph.alessandrobencini.com

SHOPPING

TOD’S Via de’ Tornabuoni 60r, Firenze

STEFANO BEMER Via di S. Niccolò 2, Firenze

BESPOKE Sartorial cuts and handmade accessories: alphabet of style BY Francesca Lombardi

FENDI Via de’ Tornabuoni 40r, Firenze

SARTORIA VESTRUCCI Via di S. Niccolò 2, Firenze

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO Via de’ Tornabuoni 14r, Firenze

LET’S DISCOVER FLORENCE WITH ADRIANO PECORARO

As a Chiavi d’Oro Concierge in Florence, here are a few tips to those visiting the city to help them get the most out of their stay.

Born in Calabria 44 years ago, I grew up professionally in Rome. I moved to Florence in 2006 and I have been working since then, uninterruptedly, at Villa San Michele, where modern luxury meets Renaissance splendour. Nestled in the Fiesole hills, this former medieval monastery perfectly captures the romance of Florence. I became Head Concierge in 2018 and I am, at present, Councilor of Les Clefs d’Or Toscana, Belmond Ambassador and LVMH’s Metiér d’Excellence.

I am married and father of two children. I’ve always been passionate about art, food and nature. I enjoy spending my free time in the countryside or at the seaside. I play the guitar and DJ sets and, when I need to relax and want some time for myself, I usually paint. My favorite food is grilled meat and I love powerful red wines. My favorite spot in Florence is Borgo La Croce. My wish for the future is to be able to hand down the passion for the local heritage to young people.

TIPS

CONC IERGE ADVIC E SEUM D U O M O M U al doors L E D A R E P O gin ues and ori the stat are It displays tly on show mo. Curren o u D e d th from de by si e. ulptures, si sc tà ie P e the thre

THE CONVEN T OF SAN FR ANCESCO IN F IE S O L E

I don’t thin k you get a m ore panoram view than fr ic om the terr ace of this 14 -century co th nvent. Insid e, you’ll feel pervaded w ith a sense of timeless calm .

LA VIA DEL TÈ In the Oltrarno neighborhood, this cozy shop is the perfect place for enjoying tea or relaxing herb teas. They also have a wide selection on sale.

CA NT IN ET TA AN TI NO RI

ENZE A Q U A F LO R F IR the Church of Santa

from Just steps away cratic palazin an old aristo ed us ho d an an Croce e house, with tacular perfum zo, it is a spec laboratory. underground

This iconic Florentin e restaurant located in the heart of the city has been offering tradit ional Tuscan cuisine for generation s, in an elegant yet informal atmosph ere.

Rosa Garden (ph. Pasquale Paradiso) 26

GARDENS

ESCAPE ROUTES The city’s most beautiful gardens, between greenery and history TEXT Francesca Lombardi

he inventor of what we still call the Italian garden was Niccolò Tribolo, appointed by Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany, to design the garden of his beloved Villa di Castello. Inspired by this anecdote, here’s an itinerary to discover the city’s most beautiful gardens BOBOLI GARDENS Covering 45,000 square metres, Boboli is one of the most spectacular examples of the Italian garden. Construction began in 1418, when the land was bought by Luca Pitti, with renovations carried out in the 19th century by the House of Savoy. Fountains and

mazes, copses and tree tunnels, statues, grottoes and summerhouses make Boboli a vast open-air museum. The oldest section extends eastwards from the Mosè

A SPECIAL ITINERARY TO DISCOVER THE CITY’S MOST BEAUTIFUL GARDENS Grotto to the Giardino del Cavaliere. The extension of the garden at the behest of Cosimo II goes beyond Cosimo I’s forti-

fications for the war against Siena and moves southwards to touch Porta Romana. It was Cosimo’s trusted garden designer Niccolò Pericoli - dubbed Tribolo - who brought harmony to the great site by dividing it into orthogonal sections with box hedges and fruit plants, but it took the genius of Ammannati to transform the pietraforte quarry into an amphitheatre, first using hedges, and later brickwork. From here, we leave the Artichoke Fountain behind, pass the Egyptian Obelisk and the Neptune Fountain and climb to the bastion built by Michelangelo during the 1529 siege, 27

GARDENS

UNIQUE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN ENJOY WONDERFUL VIEWS OF THE CITY now occupied by the Giardino del Cavaliere and once the site of a large water tank that served to irrigate the whole garden. But our visit is not complete without being drawn irresistibly to the Grotta Grande. Arising from the alchemical genius of Francesco I de’ Medici

COVERING 45,000 SQUARE METRES BOBOLI IS A SPECTACULAR EXAMPLES OF THE ITALIAN GARDEN and his right-hand man Bernardo Buontalenti, this is a kind of initiation to Mannerist beauty, capable of reinventing and exceeding nature itself. The three chambers are 28

frescoed by Bernardino Poccetti, and depict rural scenes; the walls are covered in stalactites, once fed with water from hidden outlets; Michelangelo’s Prisoners (today replaced by copies of the originals), lead us inside, where we encounter first a statue of Paris embracing Helen, and then Venus leaving the bath, sculpted by Giambologna. Our wonderful visit concludes with the Nano Morgante, Cosimo I’s favourite court jester, who is depicted elderly and naked, astride the Grand Duke’s tortoise. BARDINI GARDEN The Baroque staircase of the Italian garden is magnificent, but what sticks in the mind is the incredible pergola of wisteria that flowers in spring and symbolises the development of human consciousness. Since the Middle Ages, the Bardini Garden have belonged to a succession of wealthy families: originally

used for agriculture, over the centuries the site has developed into the splendid Italian garden it is today. In the early 20th century it was even used by the owner whose name it takes - the collector Stefano Bardini, known as the “prince of antiquarians” - as a spectacular reception area, a place to receive his affluent clients. Bardini is three gardens in one, with different periods and styles: the Italian garden, with its extraordinary Baroque staircase; the English wood, whose exotic touches are a rare example of Anglo-Chinese garden design; and the agricultural section, featuring a new orchard and the glorious wisteria pergola. ROSE GARDEN A thousand plant varieties and 350 antique rose species on a hectare of land sculpted in French-style terraces and located below Piazzale Michelangelo at Via Giuseppe Poggi 2, offering

GARDENS

2 3

1. Horticulture Garden (ph. Dario Garofalo) 2. Boboli Gardens details (ph Lorenzo Cotrozzi) 3. 5. Bardini Garden 4. A view of Florence from Villa Bardini (ph. Ottavia Poli)

GARDENS

Iris Gardens (ph. Pasquale Paradiso)

OPEN ONLY FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM BETWEEN 25 APRIL AND 20 MAY, THIS IS A JEWEL BOX DEDICATED TO IRIS an unparalleled viewpoint over the city. The garden is embellished with a Japanese Shorai Oasis and 12 works by Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. IRIS GARDEN Located at the corner of Viale dei Colli and Piazzale 30

Michelangelo in the Podere dei Bastioni, the Iris Garden covers approximately two and a half hectares and offers breathtaking views of Florence and its famous square. Open only from 10 am to 6 pm between 2 and 20 May, this is a jewel box dedicated to the flower that symbolises Florence, which grows spontaneously here on the precipitous slopes and among the olive trees, in a landscape that seems light years away from the city. HORTICULTURE GARDEN Elegant enough to be chosen as a film set, this garden was established in 1852 by the Tuscan Horticultur-

al Society on land belonging to the marquess Ginori Lisci and marchioness Venturi. In 1880 a national exposition took place in Florence, and the architect Giacomo Roster designed the Liberty-style iron and glass tepidarium that graces the garden to this day. Not far from the stunning greenhouse is a lawn with a gorgeous Renaissance-style pavilion. A footbridge over the railway brings us to the Orti del Parnaso, a small green area on different levels, where a fountain in the shape of a serpent or dragon twists its way down the staircase.

GARDENS

Boboli Gardens (ph. Lorenzo Cotrozzi) 31

Scoppio de carro, a spectacle between faith and tradition 32

TRADITIONS

SCOPPIO DEL CARRO An old tradition relived on Easter Sunday, April 17th

TEXT Martina Olivieri COURTESY PHOTO Società di San Giovanni Battista

spectacle half-way between faith and tradition which every year attracts people from all over the world. An event deeply rooted in history, but still very much alive among the Florentines. It is the Scoppio del carro, one of the city’s most beloved traditions, popular with children and adults alike. Legend has it that during the First Crusade in 1099, the noble Florentine condottiere Pazzino De’ Pazzi was the first man to scale the walls of Jerusalem and raise the crusade flag over the city. As a reward for his act of bravery,

he was given three flints from the Holy Sepulchre, which were brought back to Florence and guarded by the Pazzi family until they were driven out of the city by the Medicis. The relics were then moved to the Church of SS. Apostoli where they are still kept. The flints are now used to light the Holy Fire on Easter Eve, which is then transported in procession to the Duomo and escorted by the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, recognizable by the Jerusalem cross standing out on the left shoulder of their white cloak.

On Sunday morning, the procession of the cart begins. The cart is affectionately nicknamed ‘brindellone’, a name deriving from Florence’s Festa della Zecca, a feast celebrated on June 24 (the patron St. John’s day) when a badly dressed man, commonly called brindellone, wearing only a camel skin like John the Baptist, pulled a cart full of hay across the city. Today’s Brindellone cart 12 meters and 3 tiers-high, weighing 40 quintals - is kept in a storehouse at 48 Via il Prato, just steps from Porta al Prato. The keeper is Gianfranco Bernardini. The Brindellone begins 33

TRADITIONS

THE SCOPPIO DEL CARRO, ONE OF THE CITY’S MOST BELOVED TRADITIONS its parade from here, from Via il Prato, and is drawn by white oxen across the city, accompanied by the Historic Parade of the Florentine Republic, flag-wavers and the city authorities, and arrives in Piazza del Duomo where it stops between the Baptistery of San Giovanni and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Inside the Cathedral, the holy fire lit by Pazzino’s flints burns and is used, at 11 am during Mass and at the singing of the Gloria in Excelsis Deo, to light the fuse that sends a dove-

shaped rocket hurtling along a cable line to reach the cart. The dove, the symbol of the Holy Spirit, speeds from the high altar through the church to the cart and triggers an explosion of fireworks placed on the brindellone. If the ritual proceeds smoothly and all the fireworks go off, good luck is ensured for the year. On the contrary, if the dove does not make it to the cart, the year will be marked by bad fortune. And actually, the Florentines remember very well that the last time the dove failed in its mission was 1966, that is, the year of the terrible flood that hit the city of Florence. This ritual has been performed every year in Florence for a long time and originally it was a very simple ritual: Florentines were allowed to light their torches directly from the holy fire inside the church. In the 13th century, instead, a richly festooned cart was

made to go through the city, allowing for a more widespread distribution. The tradition as we know it today began in 1515. One last interesting fact… did you know that the term grullo in Florence is associated with this ritual? Grulli were, in fact, the peasants

THE DOVE, THE SYMBOL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, SPEEDS TO THE CART AND TRIGGERS AN EXPLOSION who accompanied the cart’s oxen and their shabby appearance and sleepy expression made them appear ridiculous compared with the sumptuousness of the people attending the event.

The Brindellone in Piazza del Duomo. In the previous page Gianfranco Bernardini, the keeper of the Brindellone 35

TOP PLACES TO SHOP FOR EASTER DELIGHTS

CAFFÈ GILLI

Caffè Gilli has been synonymous with quality since 1733. Don’t miss the handcrafted eggs, particularly the Extra Dark version, and the chocolate Easter figures (Via Roma, 1r) 36

GOURMET

FLOR ENCE IN CH OCOL ATE R I V O I R E tory is evident in its elegaten

t la is h co s o e’ Rivoir brated ch e. The cele d using atmospher lly prepare fu il sk s re a es chocolatier r) specialiti by master ,5 es a p ri o ci n re ig l S a origin iazza della (P s ef ch and pastry

VENCHI

Venchi Eas ter eggs are made to impress. D elicious choc olate jewel enclosing a cases gourmet tr easure, for unforgettab an le sensory ex perience (Via dei Calz aiuoli, 65r)

GALLERIA IGINIO MASSARI

Talent, passion and dedication are the keys to the success of maestro Iginio Massari, who brings his greatest delicacies to Florence, including delicious chocolate creams and pralines (Via de’ Vecchietti, 3)

VESTRI A great choc olate-makin g tradition si nce 19 From bars to 60. chocolate, V hot es always synon tri is ym ous with excell ence and delicio (Borgo degli us treats Albizi, 11r)

T O R TA P I S T O C C

HI The first Pistocchi dark chocolate cake was made in 1990. A large, moist and cre amy chocolate that’s become a fav ourite for Florence residents and visito rs alike (Via del Ponte di Me zzo, 20)

Michelangelo’s David, Galleria dell’Accademia 38

ART

THE MAGNIFICENT 10 Unmissable art in the city TEXT Francesca Lombardi

MICHELANGELO’S DAVID David is Italy’s ambassador to the world. Michelangelo Buonarroti was commissioned to create the sculpture by the overseers of Florence cathedral on 16 August 1501, for a fee of 400 ducats. The statue was placed at the entrance to Palazzo Vecchio, to symbolise the strength and independence of the Florentines. It remained here until July 1873, when it was decided to move it to the Galleria dell’Accademia to prevent further damage by atmospheric agents. Including the carved pedestal, the sculpture is 517 centimetres tall and weighs 5560 kilos.

In Florence today there are three versions of Michelangelo’s David: the original at the Accademia, a copy made in 1910 in Piazza della Signoria and an earlier copy in

THE WORKS THAT HAVE MADE FLORENCE FAMOUS IN THE WORLD Piazzale Michelangelo. But nothing compares to seeing the original: the extraordinary Tribune of the Accademia offers a thrilling and

unique view of Michelangelo’s colossus. PRIMAVERA AND THE BIRTH OF VENUS, SANDRO BOTTICELLI In the Uffizi Gallery there are two works by Botticelli that delight visitors from all over the world. We’ll start with an interesting fact: the protagonist of both paintings is Simonetta Cattaneo Vespucci, a Genoese noblewoman loved by Giuliano de’ Medici, the younger brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent, and idolised by Sandro Botticelli, who made her his muse and immortalised her in his most famous paintings. We see her in the guise of the goddess in The Birth of Venus, but she is 39

ART

MICHELANGELO,, MICHELANGELO DONATELLO, BRUNELLESCHI... MASTERS OF THE RENAISSANCE also one of the Three Graces (the middle one) in the allegorical Primavera. Both enormous in size, the two works display captivating elegance and harmonious composition. The first, entitled Primavera, shows nine figures from classical mythology in a flower-filled meadow, in front of a grove of orange and bay trees. The painting is a celebration of love, peace and prosperity. A total of 138 different plant species have been identified, meticulously painted by Botticelli, perhaps with help from a herbalist. Painted on a panel of poplar wood, the work came to Villa di Castello in 1550, and was described by Giorgio Vasari along with The Birth of Venus. The second of Botticelli’s masterpieces is a detailed depiction of the goddess of love and beauty arriving at the island of Cyprus, born of the sea and blown by the wind god Zephyr and perhaps Aura. Unlike Primavera, The Birth of Venus was painted on canvas, a fairly common 40

medium in the 15th century for decorative paintings for noble residences. BRUNELLESCHI’S DOME An admirable example of timeless architecture, the dome consists of eight double-shelled sections, strengthened by 24 meridian and 10 parallel ribs, an elegant structure that supports the two shells and creates a cavity between them to allow access and ascent of the dome. Filippo Brunelleschi completed the work in 1436, sixteen years after the start. He also designed the lantern for his dome, but never built it, as he died before the work began. The intrados is entirely decorated with a Last Judgement, painted in the 16th century by Federico Zuccari and Giorgio Vasari. PORTA DEL PARADISO, OPERA DEL DUOMO MUSEUM The Porta del Paradiso (Gates of Paradise) is the east door of the Baptistery of Florence; the main entrance, originally

facing the Cathedral. Created between 1425 and 1452 by the goldsmith and sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti and his son Vittore, this is his greatest work. The name is credited to Michelangelo Buonarroti, who was delighted by the perfection of the door. Damaged during the great flood of Florence, the original panels were restored and preserved in the Opera Museum in front of the reconstructed ancient facade of the cathedral displayed in the museum, thus recreating the original iconographic relationship between the two. DONATELLO’S DAVID AT THE BARGELLO MUSEUM The first full nude of the post-classical world, Donatello’s David is one of the masterpieces that paved the way for the Renaissance. An imposing sculpture depicting David, the young shepherd called by God to defend his people from their enemies; he is seen resting after having won a tough fight against the giant Goliath.

ART

Brunelleschi ‘s Dome painted in the 16th century by Federico Zuccari and Giorgio Vasari 41

ART

1. Expulsion from Eden, Brancacci Chapel 2. Raphael’sMadonna of the Chair, Palatina Gallery (ph. Pasquale Paradiso) 3. 4. Primavera and The Birth of Venus, Sandro Botticelli 5. Porta del Paradiso, Opera del Duomo Museum (ph. Antonio Quattrone)

ART

Fra Angelico, Annunciation Museo di San Marco (ph. Pasquale Paradiso) 43

ART

THE 16TH CENTURY: A PERIOD THAT MARKED THE HISTORY OF UNIVERSAL ART Donatello created a very unusual base for the statue: the laurel wreath invites the viewer to walk around it, emphasising its perfect dynamic occupancy of the space. FRA ANGELICO, ANNUNCIATION, MUSEO DI SAN MARCO The first floor of the museum dedicated to this extraordinary artist is home to Fra Angelico’s masterpiece. At the top of the stairs to the third level is an Annunciation as clean and clear as an arrow: sharp faces, gorgeous robes, colours that compose a palette so perfect it is almost divine. RAPHAEL’S MADONNA OF

THE CHAIR, PALATINA GALLERY One of the last tondi of the typically Tuscan 16th century school, and utterly convincing, thanks to the perfect balance of bodies: the Christ child’s plump, rounded form reveals his eminent role in the detail of the elbow, almost as if keeping his distance. He is balanced by his mother, her expression full of a compassion that both attracts and seduces. THE EXPULSION FROM EDEN, BRANCACCI CHAPEL The painting of this fresco by Masolino and Masaccio was interrupted in 1428 when Masaccio had to travel to Rome, where he died. Some sixty years would pass before the work was completed, this time by Filippino Lippi. And thanks to this, the chapel offers a wide variety of painting styles: courtly Gothic for Masolino and Renaissance for Masaccio. Original Sin on the right-hand wall contrasts

with The Expulsion from Eden by Masaccio, the artist who launched the Renaissance and introduced mathematical perspective. A work whose modernity continues to move us. MASACCIO’S HOLY TRINITY, SANTA MARIA NOVELLA In the third arch from the left, instead of the altar is the Holy Trinity fresco by Tommaso Guidi, aka Masaccio. This magnificent architectural composition is one of the earliest and most perfect examples of perspective in Renaissance art, and continues to instruct painters, as it did in the early 15th century. In a chapel reminiscent of a classical triumphal arch, we see the Eternal Father at the top, the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, and the crucified Christ flanked by the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist. Lower down on either side are the figures of the husband and wife who commissioned the work.

ART

Previous page: Donatello’s David at the Bargello Museum In this page: Masaccio’s Holy Trinity, Santa Maria Novella 45

Stibbert Museum (ph. Dario Garofalo) 46

CHILD

FLORENCE FOR KIDS The top places and fun things to do with the little ones, and much more TEXT Virginia Mammoli

inosaur bones, sparkling suits of armor, court stories, beautiful parks and thousands of interesting things to explore. Florence is a family-friendly destination. Here are the top places to see and entertainment to share with your children but that you will love as well. Our tour starts at Palazzo Vecchio, where the Children’s Museum was established in 2000. The building itself, which looks much more like a castle than an elegant place of dwelling, gives free rein to children’s imagination, but the many activities that

can be enjoyed there are the reason why the museum is a popular attraction for families. Such as the tours designed for children from the age of 4, guided

FLORENCE IS THE PERFECT FAMILY-FRIENDLY DESTINATION YEAR-ROUND by historical figures such as Duchessa Eleonora, donna Lisabetta and Cosimo I de’ Medici, who describe the life at court and its sumptuousness during

the Renaissance and tell fun stories, tales of plots and conspiracies and secret passages. Short but extremely immersive and fascinating performances which your kids will talk about for days. But also intersting workshops, such as those for children from eight years old up, who can have fun creating little frescoes. And the turtle telling about the Duke’s passion for this animal, including a hunt for all the turtles portrayed in the Palazzo. There are also thematic tours designed for children aged 10 years up. The Museum extends beyond 47

CHILD

MUSEUMS, BEAUTIFUL GARDENS, AND ENTERTAINMENT TO SHARE WITH YOUR CHILDREN Palazzo Vecchio with guided visits across the city, such as the fun Porcellino tour, the tour of medieval Florence and the one devoted to Dante Alighieri, and also activities in other museums, including Museo Novecento, with Marino Marini’s magical horse and painting and animation workshops,the Complex of Santa Maria Novella, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the Gino Bartali Cycling Museum and the Leonardo da Vinci Museum, a very interactive experience, with the extraordinary machines designed by Leonardo and interesting workshops such as the mirror writing workshop. The Galileo Galilei Museum features over 1,000 objects, including astronomical instruments, optical illusions, chemistry and science exhibits, in addition to a number of educational programs for families. There are also special tours 48

of the Uffizi Gallery and Palazzo Strozzi with its beautiful temporary exhibitions and experimental workshops, designed to engage visitors of all ages. Among the museums that will leave your children speechless are the Muse-

DINOSAUR BONES, SUITS OF ARMOR, INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES, COURT STORIES um of Geology and Palaeontology, featuring fascinating stones and many fossils, including that of a blue whale and huge mastodons, the Archaelogical Museum, one of Italy’s oldest and largest, which houses sarcophagi and ancient finds and, in the Montughi Hill, the Stibbert Museum, with its magnificent

CHILD

2 3

Previous page from above: Horticulture Gardens and Palazzo Vecchio In this page: 1. 3. Galielo Galilei Museum 2. Boboli Gardens 4. Palazzo Vecchio (ph. Ottavia Poli) 5. Leonardo da Vinci Museum

The ‘Dragon’ of the Orti del Parnaso, above Horticulture Gardens (ph. Pasquale Paradiso) 50

CHILD

FINALLY A BRIEF DIGRESSION ON FOOD, TO SATISFY OUR LITTLE ONES EVEN OUTSIDE THE HOME armors from all over the world, including menacing Japanese arms and the Cavalcade Room, in addition to a magnificent park that leads to the garden of Villa Fabbricotti with its little temples, sculptures and giant trees. Speaking of parks, Florence is home to some magnificent green areas, from the vast Boboli Gardens, where children can play hide-and-seek for hours, to the Horticulture Garden, with its fairy tale-esque charm and the ‘Dragon’ of the Orti del Parnaso, the garden’s highest and most panoramic location. In the countryside but not far from downtown Florence, in the sweet hills of Fiesole, is Fattoria di Maiano. Here children can meet the farm’s animalschickens, goats, horses, cows, donkeys, geese and even ostriches in the wild state- or visit the Botanic Garden and the estate’s oil

mill, learning all about the plants and process that lead to the making of the famous Tuscan olive oil. Suitable for children are also the safari tours on off-road vehicles, during which they will most likely come upon wild animals

IN THE COUNTRYSIDE BUT NOT FAR FROM DOWNTOWN FLORENCE, DISCOVER FATTORIA DI MAIANO such as foxes, roe deer, porcupines and wild boars. And now a brief digression on food, considering that our little ones can be hard to please when it comes to eating out. At Fattoria di Maiano we suggest you do not miss the opportu-

nity to try their delicious products at Ristorante Lo Spaccio. As you go back to downtown Florence, stop at Mama’s Bakery (34 Via della Chiesa) for its colorful cupcakes and panini, or at the lively Central Market of San Lorenzo with its many specialties, or enjoy a hamburger at Lungarno 23 (23 Lungarno Torrigiani), a restaurant whose atmosphere and service will please the little ones, or the kids menu of Hard Rock Cafe (1 Via dei Brunelleschi), where kids can pretend to be little rock stars; go to Santarosa Bistrot (Lungarno di Santa Rosa), nestled in a green area within the San Frediano walls and, last but not least, for the dish that everyone will love, kids and adults alike, head to Berberè (1 Piazza dei Nerli and 7 Via dei Benci), with their delicious pizzas served cut into 8 slices, ideal for sharing with the whole family. 51

RESTAURANTS

BEST FOOD EXPERIENCES

The best restaurants, aperitifs and cafes in Florence. Reservation recommended, the ‘Les Clefs D’Or’ concierge is at your service 1

ATELIER DE’NERLI

A restaurant, but also an arts and crafts gallery and shop, in the Oltrarno neighborhood. A truly special concept, the fruit of Daniele Cavalli’s creativity. Soft lights, a vintage and glamorous atmosphere, evocative of New York City in the ‘70s. The cuisine is a tribute to Italian culinary culture, unpretentious and genuine, but with its own identity. Rem ex et officia dunt.

BORGO SAN JACOPO 2

Romantic with a view, it is the Hotel Lungarno’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Haute cuisine with view over the Ponte Vecchio, even better if on the small terrace overlooking the Arno river. In addition to the à la carte menu, two tasting menus including must-try dishes by Executive Chef Claudio Mengoni, such as the Cooked and Raw vegetables with Porcini mushroom ice cream and fig molasses.

BUCA DELL’ORAFO

By going down the steps of a 13th -century palazzo only a stone’s throw from the Uffizi Gallery, you’ll walk into a historic Florentine ‘buca’, one of the smallest and coziest in town, a landmark for traditional Tuscan cuisine. Delicious ribollita soup, Sangiovannese-style stew and fried chicken, but the signature dishes are artichoke frittata and chine of pork with potatoes.

Piazza dei Nerli, 8/9r ph. +39 055 7602982 atelierdenerli.it

Borgo San Jacopo, 62r ph. +39 055 281661 lungarnocollection.com

Via dei Girolami, 28r ph. +39 055 213619

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

RESTAURANTS

TRADITIONAL FLORENTINE DISHES AND FABULOUS PLACES CANTINETTA ANTINORI 6

BUCA LAPI

The newspapers and posters that the cabmen once used as tablecloths now cover completely the walls of the dining room of this historic “buca”. The owner and chef Luciano Ghinassi is an ambassador of traditional Tuscan and Florentine cuisine. Excellent pasta dishes and homemade desserts, in addition to a fabulous T-bone steak cooked over an olive wood-burning fire.

BUCA MARIO

A typical corner of Florence of bygone days in the former wine cellars of Palazzo Niccolini (a few steps from Piazza Santa Maria Novella), which has been offering its customers traditional Florentine dishes - Ribollita, Pappardelle pasta with wild boar sauce and a spectacular T-bone steak cooked over a lava stone, strictly rare - since 1886.

A name you can trust. This restaurant on the ground floor of Palazzo Antinori is one of Florence’s best known dining spots. The extensive list of Antinori wines accompanies the dishe, which are a celebration of seasonal and local ingredients. Among the signature dishes are Florentine-style gnudi and rosemary-flavored Tuscan beef tagliata. Rem ex et officia dunt.

Piazza degli Antinori, 3 ph. +39 055 292234 cantinetta-antinori.com

Via del Trebbio, 1r ph. +39 055 213768 bucalapi.com Piazza degli Ottaviani, 16r ph. +39 055 214179 bucamario.com

The excellent quality of the fish that arrives every day from the fish market in viareggio, skilfully cooked and served with expertise and ability in a simple, friendly and merry feel, but elegant at the same time, are the essential elements that have determined the success of our restaurant

The real flavor of the sea

Open for dinner from 8 pm closed on Sundays Via Pisana, 37r tel. +30 055 222299 www.fuordacqua.it

RESTAURANT RESTAURANTS GUIDE

Via del Verrocchio, 8r ph. +39 055 2341100 cibreo.com

Via dei Vecchietti, 5 ph. +39 055 2665651 collezione.starhotels.com

Piazza di Cestello, 8 ph. +39 055 2645364 cestelloristoclub.com

CESTELLO RISTOCLUB 7

An evergreen nightlife venue in the Oltrarno area and a cult restaurant for fish lovers in Florence. Its iced fish counter, from which customers are invited to choose what they want -perhaps even by assembling the restaurant’s famous grand plateau of raw fish- is irresistibly tempting. The oysters and Iranian Beluga caviar are must-tries too.

CIBRÈO RISTORANTE 8

A restaurant that has been changing with the seasons since 1979. Started by Chef Fabio Picchi, a great ambassador of Florentine cuisine, Cibrèo Ristorante, together with Cibrèo Trattoria, was the first piece of the empire of taste that he put together in the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood. Fava beans in summertime, Tuscan kale in winter, chicken liver, old traditional dishes such as stuffed chicken’s neck… A skillfully achieved blend of nature and tradition.

CIBRÈO RISTORANTE (HELVETIA & BRISTOL) 9

It is the elegant restaurant of the Helvetia & Bristol Hotel, born out of the collaboration with an icon of Florence’s restaurant scene. The chef and owner is Giulio Picchi, the son of the famous “cook-eater”, as he enjoyed describing himself. Faithful to his father’s philosophy, Giulio offers genuine cuisine with Italian specialties, such as ricotta cheese crespelle with white meat sauce and Piedmontese Fassona beef filet.

CUCINA TORCICODA

On one side, an excellent pizzeria with wood-fired oven- which offers classic pizzas but also new and exciting ones, made with 72-hour leavened dough- on the other, a gourmet restaurant that includes more traditional dishes too, such as tortelli pasta and T-bone steak from a variety of cattle breeds: Fassona, Angus, Chianina, Scottona, Wagyu Style Kobe and Buffalo. Via Torta, 5r ph. +39 055 2654329 cucinatorcicoda.com

RESTAURANTS

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

ALSO WINE BAR WITH A WIDE CHOICE OF NATURAL WINES 11

ENOTECA BRUNI

A truly special fine dining restaurant, six tables and two ‘surprise’ tasting menus of 5 to 7 courses, accompanied by an extensive wine list, because this restaurant is also a wine bar with a wide choice of natural wines and a shop with excellent food products for true connoisseurs.

ENOTECA PINCHIORRI 12

It is Florence’s three Michelin-starred restaurant, since 1993, thanks to Annie Féolde, Italy’s first female chef to be awarded three stars, and the fourth in the world, who has been working side by side with her head chef, Riccardo Monco, for years now. As the name suggests, the restaurant has an amazing, world-renowned wine cellar.

Borgo Ognissanti, 25/27/29r ph. +39 055 3880177 enotecabruni.it

Via Ghibellina, 87 ph. +39 055 26311 enotecapinchiorri.it

FUOR D’ACQUA

Just steps from Porta San Frediano, a historic name for fish-based cuisine in Florence. The menu features only fresh and daily-caught fish, both simple and more creative dishes. Enjoy the appetizers, truly unique, as well as the grand raw fish plateau. Among the signature dishes, Catalana and Paccheri alla Trabaccolara.

Via Pisana, 37r ph. +39 055 222299 fuordacqua.it

TUSCAN TYPICAL CUISINE

P I A Z Z A D E L L A PA S S E R A | + 3 9 0 5 5 2 1 8 5 6 2 | 4 L E O N I.C O M

Via torta, 5r - Firenze | tel. 0552654329 orari di apertura dal martedi alla domenica dalle 19.00 alle 22.30

RESTAURANT RESTAURANTS GUIDE

Lungarno Vespucci, 22r ph. +39 055 2396700 harrysbarfirenze.it

Via Il Prato, 42 ph. +39 055 2771704 sinahotels.com

Piazza della Signoria, 10 ph. + 39 055 0621744 gucciosteria.com 14

GUCCI OSTERIA

You can expect nothing but the best from a project that brought together a fashion icon and one of Italy’s most famous chefs, Massimo Bottura. He put his pupil, now a very successful chef herself, Karime Lopez, at the helm of Florence’s Gucci Osteria. Her original versions of classic Italian dishes won the restaurant a Michelin star right away.

HARRY’S BAR

Paul Newman, Robin Williams, Franco Zeffirelli and Elizabeth Taylor are only some of the celebrities who, since 1953, have been dining at this historic restaurant, with outdoor seating and wonderful view of the Lungarno. Among its cult dishes, Harry’s Bar-style taglierini pasta au gratin, prawn tail curry and beef tartare, in addition to the restaurant’s signature Bellini cocktail.

HARRY’S BAR THE GARDEN 16

The restaurant and American bar with international atmosphere of the Sina Villa Medici Hotel, which the legendary Florentine restaurant has chosen for its second location in town. Traditional cuisine served in a lovely lush garden with swimming pool.

IL PALAGIO

It is the Michelin-starred restaurant of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze, which gives onto the wonderful Gherardesca garden. The Executive Chef is Paolo Lavezzini, a master of Italian cuisine, in particular, a cuisine based on the use of seasonal and local ingredients. The menu features both traditional dishes with a gourmet twist and more creative and original ones. Borgo Pinti, 99 ph. + 39 055 2626450 ilpalagioristorante.it

RESTAURANTS

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

ELEGANT RESTAURANTS TO ENJOY THE BEST TUSCAN FOOD AND MORE 18

IL VERROCCHIO

The elegant restaurant of the Villa La Massa Hotel, in Candeli, where the city begins to give way to the countryside. With a magnificent terrace overlooking the Arno river and the perfect spot for sunset watching, it is the ideal location for special and romantic occasions, with a menu featuring traditional Italian dishes with a Mediterranean touch and a gourmet twist.

IRENE

The Savoy Hotel’s restaurant, offering the best of Tuscan food and wine. Simple but elegant dishes, according to the philosophy of Chef Fulvio Pierangelini, the creative director of all Rocco Forte restaurants, who elevated his famous dish of spaghetti with local fresh tomato sauce and fragrant basil to an art form.

LA LEGGENDA DEI FRATI 20

Inside the Villa Bardini museum complex, there’s a Michelin-starred restaurant where you can enjoy one of the most magnificent views of the city while savouring creative dishes cooked by husband and wife chefs Filippo Saporito and Ombretta Giovannini. The food is based on superb local ingredients, and there’s plenty to impress. The Gran Menu dei Frati, nine courses chosen by the chefs, is an unparalleled experience.

Costa San Giorgio, 6/A ph. +39 055 0680545 laleggendadeifrati.it Via della Massa, 24 - Candeli ph. + 39 055 62611 villalamassa.com

Piazza della Repubblica, 7 ph. + 39 055 2735891 roccofortehotels.com

RESTAURANTS

Viale Machiavelli, 18 ph. +39 055 228790 villacora.it

Lungarno Torrigiani, 23 ph. +39 055 2345957 lungarno23.it

Via Doccia, 4 - Fiesole phl. +39 055 5678200 belmond.com

LA LOGGIA (VILLA SAN MICHELE) 21

At Villa San Michele, a former monastery in the Fiesole hills and now the Belmond hotel, chef Alessandro Cozzolino offers an astonishing culinary journey through past and present. Don’t miss his Roast pepper risotto with Casentino pork sausage and, when the weather’s fine, remember to book a table in the fifteenth-century loggia with breathtaking views.

LE BISTROT

In winter the elegant restaurant at the Villa Cora hotel is in the oriental splendour of the Moresca Room, in summer in the poolside garden, part of the enormous and ancient park surrounding this stately home with views of the Boboli Gardens and the historic centre of Florence. Executive chef Alessandro Liberatore skilfully interprets the best seasonal ingredients, most of them locally sourced.

LUNGARNO 23

Overlooking the gorgeous Lungarno Torrigiani from a lovely veranda, cool in summer and heated in winter, this restaurant is renowned for top-quality antipasti, fabulous first courses of fresh home-made pasta (make sure you try the Spaghetti with parmesan cream and black truffle) and excellent meats served in the form of gourmet hamburgers, tagliata and other specialities.

VIA DELLO SPRONE, 15R | +39 055 4939246 Piede enoteca 4 leoni.indd 1

14/03/22 11:15

RESTAURANTS

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

THE ATMOSPHERE IS REALLY INTIME AND REFINED MARINA DI SANTOSPIRITO

OSTERIA DELLE TRE PANCHE 26

A former carpentry workshop in Santo Spirito is now an original fish restaurant, where chef Marina delights diners not only with her exquisite dishes of the freshest fish, from the classic to the unusual, but also with her live music, taking the stage with her guitar at the end of the evening.

ORA D’ARIA

The restaurant of chef Marco Stabile, the cornerstone of Florentine cuisine. Eggs and traditional recipes take centre stage in some of his timeless dishes, like Egg en meurette or Étouffée of roast pigeon with honey and puntarelle. The atmosphere is intimate and refined, and if you want to see the chef at work, book a table upstairs, where the open kitchen is.

Via Maffia, 1/C ph. +39 338 2844182 marinadisantospirito.it

Via dei Georgofili, 11r ph. + 39 055 2001699 oradariaristorante.com

The historic Florentine restaurant specialising in truffles moves to the panoramic terrace on the sixth floor of Hotel Hermitage, seemingly touching Ponte Vecchio. Behind the venture are Andrea and Vieri Bista, true masters of flavour and experts in showcasing the most precious of tubers and local cuisine in general.

Vicolo Marzio, 1 ph. +39 055 583724 osteriadelletrepanche.com

Lungarno Torrigiani, 23 50125 Firenze | Tel. +39 055 2345957 WWW.LUNGARNO23.IT

WELCOME TO ITALY The Luxury Florence

Hotel Bernini Palace. La regia di un’esperienza indimenticabile nel cuore di Firenze: eleganza, lusso e tutta l’autenticità dell’ospitalità Made in Italy. Il Ristorante La Chiostrina propone una cucina tradizione accompagnata da un’ampia selezione di vini. Hotel Bernini Palace. Discover the Italian marvels from a top class point of view. Elegance, beauty, comfort and care. The Restaurant La Chiostrina is the right place to taste Tuscan typical cuisine and local wines, thanks to a menu that changes according to the seasons menu that changes according to the seasons. Piazza S. Firenze, 29 - 50122 FIRENZE ITALIA tel. +39 055 288621 - fax +39 055 268272 hotelbernini.duetorrihotels.com - bookinghotelbernini@duetorrihotels.com

RESTAURANTS

Via Ricasoli, 14r ph. +39 055 269 3772 reginabistecca.com

Piazza della Signoria, 31 ph. +39 055 284724 it.frescobaldifirenze.it

Via del Parione, 74/76r ph. +39 055 214005 parione.net 27

PARIONE

RISTORANTE FRESCOBALDI 29

A stone’s throw from Ponte Vecchio, in a 14th-century palazzo that connects two of Florence’s most ancient streets - Via del Parione and Via della Vigna Nuova, this is the perfect restaurant if you want to enjoy the unmistakable dishes of Tuscan tradition, prepared with love and accompanied by excellent wines from the outstanding cellar.

REGINA BISTECCA

Housed in a former antique bookshop, Regina Bistecca is one of the most interesting restaurants in the centre of Florence. A passion for Bistecca alla Fiorentina combines with traditional Florentine dishes. Simple, flavourful cooking using superb quality ingredients which enhance the results, and more than 150 wine labels offering a broad overview of Tuscan wine culture.

This restaurant shares the philosophy and values enshrined by the Frescobaldi family for more than 700 years. The menu is mainly inspired by Tuscan cuisine; pasta and bread are made daily on the premises and the dishes are based on the best seasonal produce. Accompanying the food are the prestigious wines that have made the Frescobaldi name famous all over the world.

RISTORO L’ANTICA SCUDERIA

The restaurant is located in the Florentine Chianti countryside, next to the Abbey of Badia a Passignano. Housed in the building’s former stables, the restaurant is run by Maria, the executive chef, and her husband Stefano, who is in charge of the wine cellar stocked with one thousand wines. The menu is a celebration of the most traditional, authentic and genuine Tuscan cuisine. Via di Passignano, 17 - Tavarnelle Val di Pesa ph. + 39 055 8071623/957 ristorolanticascuderia.it

RESTAURANTS

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

MOST TRADITIONAL TRATTORIAS FREQUENTED BY LOCAL CLIENTELE 31

TRATTORIA 13 GOBBI 33

SANTA ELISABETTA

The two-Michelin-starred restaurant of Hotel Brunelleschi is located in the ancient Byzantine Pagliazza tower. Chef Rocco de Santis presents dishes that are minimalist, essential and pure, focusing on a single star ingredient backed by two or three others. Everything is perfectly balanced between acid and sweet, raw and cooked, intensity and lightness.

SE·STO ON ARNO ROOFTOP BAR 32

An iconic place with breathtaking views of the entire city. The restaurant combines contemporary Mediterranean cooking with a unique atmosphere; the result is an avant-garde culinary experience. The elegant transparent glass structure extends over two large terraces, for a dining experience steeped in beauty.

Piazza Santa Elisabetta, 3 ph. +39 055 2737673 ristorantesantaelisabetta.it

Piazza Ognissanti, 3 ph. +39 055 27152783 sestoonarno.com

In the heart of Florence’s historic centre, a place of Tuscan authenticity. The decor evokes the Florence of bygone days; the menu brings traditional cuisine together with cutting-edge experimentation. House specialities are the Rigatoni served in a glass soup bowl and the unmissable Tagliata of beef served on a wooden block.

Via del Porcellana, 9r ph. +39 055 284015 casatrattoria.com

RESTAURANTS

Borgo San Jacopo, 57r ph. +39 055 212427

Via del Porcellana, 25r ph. + 39 055 212691

Via de’ Vellutini, 1r ph. +39 055 218562 4leoni.it

TRATTORIA 4 LEONI 34

A typical Tuscan trattoria in the centre of Florence, in the classic Piazza della Passera between Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti. The atmosphere has all the vitality of the popular neighbourhood, now with a decidedly elegant contemporary slant, which extends to the dishes. Don’t miss the 4 Leoni salad, the Pear fiocchetti in taleggio and asparagus sauce and the Peposo.

TRATTORIA CAMMILLO 35

One of Florence’s most traditional trattorias, frequented by a faithful and enthusiastic local clientele. The venue is timeless, as is the cooking: ancient yet eternally youthful, traditional but never obsolete. Don’t leave without trying the Fritti, the Braciola rifatta and the home-made Tortellini.

TRATTORIA SOSTANZA 36

This is no mere restaurant, it’s a real institution. It’s the city’s most famous literary address and, even today, going for dinner at Trattoria Sostanza is like a journey back in time. Alongside the classic Bistecca alla Fiorentina, cult dishes include Artichoke tortino and Buttered chicken breast.

WINTER GARDEN

In the gorgeous setting of the elegant winter garden at the St. Regis Florence, executive chef Gentian Shehi offers a sophisticated culinary experience that reflects and showcases Tuscan tradition, and impeccable service with close attention to detail. Perfect for a coffee break, a quick lunch, afternoon tea or exclusive aperitifs. Piazza Ognissanti, 1 ph. +39 055 27163770 wintergardenflorence.com

CAFE RESTAURANTS & APERITIF

Borgo Pinti, 99 ph. +39 055 2626450 fourseasons.com

Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, 6 ph. +39 055 23588560 b-roof.it

Via Calimala, 2 ph. +39 339 4113863 hotelcalimala.com

ANGEL ROOFBAR & DINING 38

Towering over Florence’s rooftops, Angel Rooftop & Dining is a wonderful location spreading over the three top floors of the Calimala Hotel. A place to be, with a green space tended to by Serre Torrigiani, with a spectacular full view over Florence, which makes it one of the city’s most popular cocktail, dining and nightlife venues.

ATRIUM BAR

The beauty and charm of Palazzo della Gherardesca are the perfect backdrop to the Atrium Bar, housed in the magnificent Four Seasons Hotel Firenze and whose bartenders master wonderfully the art of mixology. Among the cult drinks are the Vintage Negroni and Moulin Rouge, and for those who plan to stay for dinner and order the tasting menu, Executive Chef Paolo Lavezzini has designed a box full of surprises that changes with the seasons.

B-ROOF

On the fifth floor of Grand Hotel Baglioni, a special place where you can enjoy top-quality cuisine and the spectacular view of Florence’s skyline. Brunelleschi’s Dome and Giotto’s Bell Tower are so close you feel like you can touch them. The menu features simple and traditional dishes with a creative twist by a team of talented chefs.

CAFFÈ DELL’ORO

A ‘living room with kitchen’, warm and cozy. The menu is rich in genuine flavors and tasty combos, in an elegant location inspired by the sophisticated atmosphere of the 1950s. The perfect place to fall in love with Florence by taking in the view of the Ponte Vecchio from such a vantage point. Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 2/P ph. +39 055 27268912 lungarnocollection.com

LeVanità PROFUMERIE FIRENZE di Sabatini

VIA MARCONI NEW STORE FIRENZE Via Porta Rossa, 55 • Via del Corso, 15r • Via Pietrapiana, 8r • Via Masaccio, 264 • Viale De Amicis, 83/c POGGIBONSI c/c Poggibonsi • Via Pertini, 23 • CASTELFIORENTINO (FI) Piazza Cavour, 3 • BORGO SAN LORENZO c/c Mugello www.levanitaprofumerie.it • shop online: www.levanita.com

Dagli anni ‘60 agli inizi del XXI secolo, da Boetti a Schifano da Mirò a Basquiat

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Untitled, 1984, acrilico, pastelli grassi e serigrafia su tela, cm 223,5x198

Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni, Via Tornabuoni (Piazza Santa Trinita, 1), Firenze - +39 055 602030 www.collezionerobertocasamonti.com info@collezionerobertocasamonti.com - prenotazioni@collezionerobertocasamonti.com

CAFE RESTAURANTS & APERITIF

Piazza della Libertà, 6/7/8r ph. +39 055 2696874 caffelietta.it

Piazza della Repubblica, 35r ph. +39 055 210236 caffepaszkowski.com

Via Roma, 1r ph. +39 055 213896 caffegilli.com 42

CAFFÈ GILLI

It is Florence’s oldest café. Since always the city’s elegant gathering place, it is now very popular because of its variety of bakery and confectionery production. The innovative cocktail bar, instead, stands out for its top-quality classic, contemporary and signature drinks. An unmissable appointment at any time of day.

CAFFÈ LIETTA

Established by Francesca and Lucilla Tacconi, the daughters of Lietta Cavalli, from whom the café takes its name and inspiration. An artist and experimenter, Lietta inspired the creation of a versatile place, based on quality and style. The must-try is the Pirulo, a tall puff pastry shell filled with whatever the creative chef has in mind.

CAFFÈ PASZKOWSKI 44

From a brewery to a literary café and meeting place for intellectuals in the late 19th century, Paszkowski has retained all its style and charm, becoming one of the symbols of Florentine tradition. The coffee and pastries are top quality: don’t miss the Paszkowski cake, breads and pies for a breakfast that will start the day with a smile.

Buca Mario dal 1886

Piazza degli Ottaviani, 16r - Firenze | tel. +39 055214179 bozze Buca Mario PIEDE2.indd 1

09/03/22 11:46

CAFE & APERITIF

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

PERFECT PLACES TO FALL IN LOVE WITH FLORENCE 45

CAFFÈ SCUDIERI

A veritable institution in town. Located on the corner of Via Cerretani, Caffè Scudieri and its outdoor seating area offer a breathtaking view of Piazza del Duomo. The interiors are synonymous with luxury and its window, filled with cantucci biscuits, Vin Santo wine, cakes and pastries of all sorts, gives you a good idea of what awaits you inside.

CIBRÈO CAFFÈ (HELVETIA & BRISTOL) 46

A landmark of Italian culinary excellence inside the Helvetia & Bristol Firenze – Starhotels Collezione Hotel, the ideal place for those looking for a welcoming and convivial venue for any time of the day, from coffee breaks to lunch, drinks and dinner, accompanied by the Cibrèo’s authentic cuisine.

Piazza San Giovanni, 19r ph. +39 055 210733 scudieri.it

Via dei Pescioni, 8r ph. +39 055 2665610 collezione.starhotels.com

COLLE BERETO

A special lounge bar amidst historic buildings and designer boutiques, offering unforgettable drinks from its prestigious cocktail list. Tropical Jungle, Fashion Colle and Penta Negroni are only a few of the creations by the bartenders who every day create something new and exciting, to be enjoyed while listening to DJ sets and international music.

Piazza degli Strozzi, 5 ph. +39 055 286601 cafecollebereto.com

CAFE RESTAURANTS & APERITIF

Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia, 38 ph. +39 055 26236 hotelplazalucchesi.it

Via de’ Vecchietti, 3/5 ph. +39 055 8025253 iginiomassari.it

Via dei Carducci, 2r ph. +39 055 9367419 dittaartigianale.com

DITTA ARTIGIANALE SANT’AMBROGIO 48

Located in the 14th-century refectory of an ancient building, Ditta Artigianale is a café offering a wide choice of pastries and food and houses Europe’s first Coffee School. At aperitivo time, gin lovers can choose from a range of 150 gins and 12 different tonic waters, including the signature Peter in Florence gin.

EMPIREO ROOFBAR & POOL 49

Since its opening, Empireo has been offering the Hotel Plaza Lucchesi’s customers and locals alike a breathtaking view of the city. Having a drink by the pool while taking in the view of the Duomo and the beauty of the sun going down is an amazingly intense experience, enjoyable throughout the summer season at Empireo.

GALLERIA IGINIO MASSARI 50

The king of cakes and bakery products has just moved to the ground floor of Florence’s beautiful Helvetia & Bristol – Starhotels Collezione Hotel, with two glittering windows just steps away from Via Tornabuoni and Palazzo Strozzi. A veritable temple to the art of pastry making. Among the most popular creations are the apple fagottino, the maritozzo and the tasting of macarons, but the choice is definitely wide.

VIA DEL PARIONE, 74 / 76 R | VIA DELLA VIGNA NUOVA, 17 TEL. 055 214005 WWW.PARIONE.NET

bozze PARIONE-PIEDE.indd 3

04/03/22 10:53

CAFE & APERITIF

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

IDEAL FOR ENJOY A DRINK AT SUNSET WITH BREATHTAKING VIEW 51

GUCCI GIARDINO 25

The fashion house’s new café & cocktail bar, which adds to the Gucci Garden restaurant. The space was designed by Creative Director Alessandro Michele, who combined the best of a traditional Tuscan shop and of an elegant French bistro. Open all day from breakfast to after-dinner drinks, with cocktails masterly prepared by bartender Martina Bonci. The must-try drink? Mémoire di Negroni.

LA TERRAZZA ROOFTOP BAR 52

The rooftop bar La Terrazza is located on the top of the medieval Consorti Tower, on the last floor of Hotel Continentale, surrounded by art treasures. A private, contemporary-looking and very elegant space, ideal for enjoying a drink at sunset with breathtaking view.

Piazza della Signoria, 37r ph: +39 055 75927012 guccigarden.gucci.com

Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 2r ph. 39 055 27265987 lungarnocollection.com

LOCALE

The heart of the city’s nightlife scene is the beautiful hall of Il Locale, a restaurant and cocktail bar with a dual identity: an easy, more traditional side and a more sophisticated and elegant one. The perfect place for an unforgettable experience of the best of the local culinary tradition reinterpreted by the chefs’ creativity and of innovative cocktails.

Via delle Seggiole, 12 ph. +39 055 9067188 localefirenze.it

CAFE RESTAURANTS & APERITIF

Piazza San Giovanni, 1r ph. +39 055 219251 moveonfirenze.com

Borgo San Jacopo, 14 ph. +39 055 27264997 lungarnocollection.com

Piazza Santo Spirito, 9 ph. +39 055 2658376 palazzoguadagni.com 54

LOGGIA ROOF BAR

Located on the beautiful panoramic terrace of the Hotel Palazzo Guadagni, this wonderful rooftop bar overlooks the Piazza and Basilica of Santo Spirito and offers a unique view of the city and surrounding hills. With its romantic and relaxing atmosphere, it is a truly special setting for an unforgettable drink with view of the sun going down behind Florence’s red roofs.

MOVE ON

A multi-sensory venue in which contemplation of the pleasures of the palate blends harmoniously with the joy of good music, against the backdrop of one of Italy’s most evocative settings: Piazza San Giovanni. Unparalleled Made in Italy quality is evident in the craftsmanship of the furnishings, as well as the contents of the menu.

PICTEAU BISTROT & BAR 56

An elegant cocktail bar and bistro with a unique view of the Ponte Vecchio and Arno river as if from a boat. If the view from the outdoor tables is amazing, the tables inside are in no way inferior, surrounded as they are by a collection of 20th-century works of art. Equally wonderful are the dishes by Chef Claudio Mengoni, who never ceases to amaze his customers.

PROCACCI

A delicatessen founded in 1885 on the elegant Via de’ Tornabuoni. Its truffled panini are an institution in Florence. Taken over by Marchesi Antinori in 1998, the shop, filled with the unmistakable aroma of truffle, has preserved its walnut shelves and green marble Art Nouveau-style counter. A not-to-miss local ritual at aperitivo time. Via de’ Tornabuoni, 64r ph. +39 055 211656 procacci1885.it

TOP PLACES

TOP PLACES TO SEE IN FLORENCE Museums, churches and all the attractions that you should not miss in city. Reservations are recommended in some museums, ask your ‘Les Clefs D’Or’ concierge

MUSEUMS 1

UFFIZI GALLERIES

Florence’s museum complex consisting of the Uffizi Gallery, the Vasari Corridor, Palazzo Pitti and the Boboli Gardens. The Uffizi Gallery is one of the world’s greatest museums, built in 1560 by Cosimo I de’ Medici, and houses works by the greatest Renaissance artists, from Botticelli to Leonardo da Vinci, from Michelangelo to Raphael and Titian. Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6 ph. +39 055 294883 uffizi.it Closed on Monday 2

PALAZZO PITTI

The royal residence of three families: the Medicis, the

Habsburg-Lorraines and the Savoias. Palazzo Pitti is still named after its first owner, the Florentine banker Luca Pitti. It currently houses some of the city’s most important museums: the Palatine Gallery with masterworks by Raphael, Titian, Tintoretto, Caravaggio and Rubens, the Imperial and Royal Apartments on the Palazzo’s main floors (now temporarily closed), the Modern Art Gallery featuring works by Macchiaolo painters, the Treasury of the Grand Dukes, the Fashion and Costume Museum (now temporarily closed), the Porcelain Museum, the Carriages Museum and the new Museum of Russian Icons. The Palace is completed by the Boboli Garden. Piazza de’ Pitti, 1 ph. +39 055 294883 uffizi.it Closed on Monday 3

Signoria and later enlarged by Vasari as the Medici family’s residence. Among the must-see sixteenth-century rooms are the grand Salone dei Cinquecento, Francesco I’s small secret study, the Hall of the Lilies and the Hall of Geographical Maps. The Palace is crowned by the Tower of Arnolfo. Piazza della Signoria ph. +39 055 2768224 cultura.comune.fi.it

OPERA DEL DUOMO MUSEUM 4

A journey through the places and artists who created the monumental Opera complex, the cradle of the Renaissance, and today one of the world’s most important museums. Its showcases the original works of art that de-

PALAZZO VECCHIO

Designed in 1299 by Arnolfo di Cambio as Palazzo della

Galleria dell’Accademia Palazzo Strozzi

Uffizi Galleries

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

TOP PLACE

corated the city’s monuments over seven centuries: from Michelangelo to Donatello, Brunelleschi, Ghiberti and many more. Piazza del Duomo, 9 ph. +39 055 2302885 duomo.firenze.it Closed every first Tuesday of the month

GALLERIA DELL’ACCADEMIA 5

It is also known as ‘Michelangelo’s Museum’, because it showcases most of the statues by the famous artist, first of all, the David, but also the Prigioni, St. Matthew and the Palestrina Pietà. Other masterworks are the Rape of the Sabine Women by Giambologna and Botticelli’s Madonna with Child and Madonna of the Sea. Via Ricasoli, 58/60 ph. +39 055 294883 galleriaaccademiafirenze.it Closed on Monday 6

PALAZZO STROZZI

A masterwork of Renaissance architecture and a lively cultural center of international standing, which every year houses exhibitions ranging from ancient to modern and contemporary art. Piazza Strozzi ph. +39 055 2645155 palazzostrozzi.org

Palazzo Pitti

verted into a museum which today showcases major works of art by Michelangelo, Donatello, Verrocchio, Giambologna, Brunelleschi and much more. Via del Proconsolo, 4 ph. +39 055 0649440 bargellomusei.beniculturali.it Closed on Tuesdays and on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month 8

MEDICI CHAPELS

and consist of Michelangelo’s New Sacristy, Buontalenti’s Chapel of the Princes and the two crypts with the tombs of the Medici and Lorraine family members. Piazza di Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 6 ph. +39 055 0649430 bargellomusei.beniculturali.it Closed on Tuesdays and on the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sunday of the month

They are part of the complex of the Church of San Lorenzo

Medici Chapels

MUSEO NAZIONALE DEL BARGELLO 7

Once the city’s main prison, in 1865 the building was con-

Opera del Duomo Museum

Palazzo Vecchio

TOP PLACE

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

Museo Novecento

MUSEO DI SAN MARCO 9

It was Savonarola’s home and in addition to the exhibition halls, you can also visit the cells containing frescoes by Beato Angelico, who was also a monk here. Piazza San Marco, 3 ph. +39 055 0882000 polomusealetoscana.beniculturali.it Closed on the 1st , 3rd and 5th

Sunday of the month, on Mondays following the open Sunday

PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI 10

Designed by Michelozzo, the Palace houses the Magi Chapel with the famous frescoes of the Journey of the Magi by Benozzo Gozzoli. Via Cavour, 3 ph. +39 055 2760552 palazzomediciriccardi.it Closed on Wednesdays

Innocenti Museum

STEFANO BARDINI MUSEUM 11

The collection of the most important Italian antiquarian. From the Romans to the 18th century. Via dei Renai, 37 ph. +39 055 2342427 cultura.comune.fi.it Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 12

STIBBERT MUSEUM

A historic house museum featuring an extensive collection of arms, armors, costumes and objects of various ages and origin, collected by Frederick Stibbert throughout his life. Via Federigo Stibbert, 26 ph. +39 055 475520 museostibbert.it Closed on Thursdays

CASA DI DANTE MUSEUM 13

Gucci Museum

Salvatore Ferragamo Museum

The museum aims to make Dante and the everyday life

TOP PLACE

in medieval Florence better known to the public. The various rooms showcase replicas of objects and clothing commonly used in the 1300s. Via Santa Margherita, 1 ph. +39 055 219416 museocasadidante.it Closed on Mondays 14

MUSEO NOVECENTO

The museum is devoted to 20th and 21st-century Italian art. In addition to a permanent collection, it houses temporary exhibitions, installations and special projects. Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 10 ph. +39 0552768224 museonovecento.it Closed on Thursdays

INNOCENTI MUSEUM 15

The museum illustrates the past and present of the Innocenti Institute, committed to the promotion of children’s rights for six centuries, through art and history. Piazza della SS. Annunziata, 13

Museo di San Marco

ph. +39 055 2037122 museodeglinnocenti.it Closed on Tuesdays

SALVATORE FERRAGAMO MUSEUM 16

Established in May 1995 by the Ferragamo family for the purpose of making Ferragamo’s role in the history of footwear and international fashion better known. Palazzo Spini Feroni Piazza Santa Trinita, 5/r ph. +39 055 3562846 +39 055 3562466 ferragamo.com/museo/it 17

Via Ghibellina, 70 ph. +39 055 241752 casabuonarroti.it Closed on Tuesdays and Easter holidays 18

GUCCI MUSEUM

The museum illustrates the fashion house’s 90-year history. From Gucci’s origins to its most iconic models that have become must-haves all over the world, to the logo’s history. Piazza della Signoria, 10 ph. +39 055 75927010 gucci.com/it

CASA BUONARROTI

The museum is devoted to the memory and celebration of Michelangelo’s genius through drawings, paintings and sculptures.

Palazzo Medici Riccardi Stibbert Museum

Stefano Bardini Museum

TOP PLACE

tury antiques, sculptures and paintings. Via dei Benci, 6 ph. + 39 055 244661 museohorne.it Temporarily closed

CHURCHES OPERA DI SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE COMPLEX 22

Santa Croce

NATIONAL ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM OF FLORENCE 19

The museum showcases finds from excavations all over Tuscany, very precious Etruscan and Roman finds, and collections related to other civilizations. Piazza SS. Annunziata, 9b ph. +39 055 23575 polomusealetoscana.beniculturali.it

Closed on the 2nd , 3rd , 4th and 5th Sunday of the month

FRANCO ZEFFIRELLI MUSEUM 20

The museum is part of the Zeffirelli Foundation and Monumental Complex of San Firenze. It showcases over 250 works by Maestro Zeffirelli, including stage sketches, drawings and costume plates, playbills and studies. Piazza San Firenze, 5 ph. +39 055 2658435 fondazionefrancozeffirelli.com Closed on Mondays 21

HORNE MUSEUM

The Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296 and it is the world’s third largest church after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London. In 1412, it was dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore with a clear reference to the lily, the city’s symbol (closed on Sundays). The Dome was designed by Brunelleschi many years later, in 1420, and decorated by Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari. It is a masterwork of art and to this day the largest masonry dome ever built, surrounded by outdoor terraces open to visitors. Opposite the Cathedral is the Baptistery of San

Established by the bequest of Herbert Percy Horne, the museum reconstructs the rooms of a typical old Florentine house, with 14th and 15th-cen-

Brancacci Chapel, Church of Santa Maria del Carmine Orsanmichele

Santa Maria Novella

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

TOP PLACE

Giovanni, accessed through three doors, the most important of which is the Gate of Paradise, located on the main façade. Giotto’s bell tower, 84,7 meters high and about 15 meters wide, is one of the most important examples of 14th-century Florentine Gothic art. Do not miss the Opera del Duomo Museum. Piazza del Duomo ph. +39 055 2645789 duomo.firenze.it

COMPLEX OF SANTA CROCE 23

It houses several frescoes by Giotto, the Crucifix by Cimabue, works by Donatello and Orcagna. Piazza Santa Croce, 16 ph. +39 055 2466105 santacroceopera.it

BASILICA OF SANTO SPIRITO 24

Designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, it houses works by the greatest Florentine artists, including the wooden Crucifix, an early work by Michelangelo. Piazza di Santo Spirito, 30 ph. +39 055 210030 basilicasantospirito.it Closed on Wednesdays

Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore

Do not miss the Green Cloister with frescoes by Paolo Uccello. Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 18 ph. +39 055 219257 smn.it

COMPLEX OF SAN LORENZO 26

It includes the Basilica, the Laurentian Library and the magnificent cloister and houses many artistic treasures, such as works by Donatello, Bronzino, Filippo Lippi, Michelangelo and Brunelleschi.

MONUMENTAL COMPLEX OF SANTA MARIA NOVELLA

Piazza San Lorenzo, 9 ph. +39 055 214042 operamedicealaurenziana.org

CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA DEL CARMINE AND BRANCACCI CHAPEL 27

In the heart of the Oltrarno neighborhood, the Carmelite Church and Convent of Santa Maria del Carmine houses the Brancacci Chapel and the

The Basilica of Santa Maria Novella houses The Holy Trinity by Masaccio, the Crucifix by Giotto and Brunelleschi, frescoes by Ghirlandaio and Botticelli.

Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore

Basilica of Santo Spirito

Santa Croce

TOP PLACE

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

was consecrated to Christian worship. It now contains sculptures by Donatello and Ghiberti and a beautiful marble Tabernacle dedicated to the Madonna delle Grazie. Via dell’Arte della Lana ph. +39 055 0649450 bargellomusei.beniculturali.it Open only on Tuesday mornings and Saturday afternoons

ABBEY OF SAN MINIATO AL MONTE 30

Via de’Tornabuoni

famous frescoes by Masaccio, Masolino and Filippino Lippi. One of the city’s major landmarks since the 13th century. Piazza del Carmine ph. +39 055 2768224 cultura.comune.fi.it Closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

BASILICA OF SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA 28

A place rich in art, devotion

and local history. Florence’s main Marian sanctuary, the mother church of the Servite Order. The church is located on the piazza by the same name, next to the Spedale degli Innocenti. Piazza della SS. Annunziata ph. +39 055 266181 annunziata.xoom.it

CHURCH OF ORSANMICHELE 29

Originally a grain market, in the mid-1300s the building

BASILICA OF SANTA TRINITA 31

One of the first Gothic churches in Florence. The façade was rebuilt in the 1500s by Bernardo Buontalenti, the Sassetti Chapel is a work by Ghirlandaio. Piazza di Santa Trinita

CHURCH OF OGNISSANTI 32

Abbey an Miniato al Monte

Oltrarno

82Jewish Synagogue

Built between the 11th and 13th centuries, the church is a masterwork of the Florentine Romanesque style. The façade is in green and white marble, the interior houses precious works such as the Crucifix Chapel by Michelozzo with glazed earthenware vaulting by Luca della Robbia. Via delle Porte Sante, 34 ph. +39 055 2342731 sanminiatoalmonte.it

Located on Piazza Ognissanti, the Church was built in 1251 and belonged to the conventual complex of the Umiliati order, replaced with the Franciscan order in 1571. Not to be

TOP PLACE

San Miniato al Monte

missed Giotto’s Crucifix and Botticelli’s Tomb. Borgo Ognissanti, 42 ph. +39 375 5652013 chiesaognissanti.it Closed on Wednesdays

JEWISH SYNAGOGUE AND MUSEUM 33

city’s history. The museum showcases a rich collection of Jewish artistic ritual objects. Via Luigi Carlo Farini, 6 ph. +39 0552989879 jewishflorence.it

TOP ATTRACTIONS

Closed on Saturdays 34

Established in 1882 in the Mattonaia neighborhood, the Synagogue is the heart of the local Jewish community and an integral part of the

PONTE VECCHIO

Built in 1345, it is Europe’s oldest stone bridge. Once lined with butcher’s shops, today Ponte Vecchio is home to the city’s luxury jewelry boutiques. The Vasari Corridor, which connects Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, runs above it. During World War Two, it was the only bridge in Florence that was not destroyed by the Germans.

LOGGIA DEI LANZI

The monument located on Piazza della Signoria to the right of Palazzo Vecchio and next to the Uffizi Gallery, which adjoins it at the back with a terrace at the top of the Loggia dei Lanzi. It is also known as Loggia dei Priori or dell’Orcagna and houses precious works of art such as the Perseus by Benvenuto Cellini, The Rape of the Sabine Women and the Hercules and Nessus by Giambologna. Piazza della Signoria

Loggia dei Lanzi Ponte Vecchio

Forte Belvedere

TOP PLACE

over the world and keep the tradition of pottery, wood carving and decoration alive. 39

Piazza Santo Spirito 36

SHOPPING

The best-known fashion houses have their boutiques and shops on Via de’ Tornabuoni and Via della Vigna. The other shopping streets are located just a few meters away from the city’s main attractions. And so, by walking from the Duomo to Piazza della Signoria, you will be able to browse and shop at the many stores along Via Calzaiuoli and Via del Corso. Be sure to

visit the Ponte Vecchio lined with sparkling jewelry shops. 37

CRAFT SHOPS

It is the other side of Florence, the traditional one, oozing with the creativity and colors of craft shops. It is Florence’s Oltrarno, the neighborhood of old arts and crafts. The San Frediano, San Niccolò and Santo Spirito areas are filled with goldsmith’s workshops that work and assemble gemstones to create unique and extraordinary jewels. 38

ANTIQUE SHOPS

Via Maggio and Via dei Fossi are the streets where the ancient techniques of etching, metalworking and furniture and frame gilding are still performed. Workshops that attract customers from all

FORTE BELVEDERE

Besides being one of the city’s most panoramic locations, it is an architectural work designed in the late 1500s by Bernardo Buontalenti for Ferdinando I de’ Medici. It is the Vasari Corridor’s final stretch and it has been housing international contemporary art exhibitions since 2013. Via di S. Leonardo, 1 ph. +39 055 2768224 musefirenze.it Open from June to October, closed on Mondays

LOGGIA DEL PORCELLINO 40

Loggia del Porcellino is the common name for Florence’s Loggia del Mercato Nuovo, so called to distinguish it from the Mercato Vecchio, which was located in the area of today’s Piazza della Repubblica. The Loggia’s focal point has been, since 1640, the Fontana del Porcellino ( the piglet fountain), actually a replica of the seventeenth-century

Piazza del Duomo Tower of San Niccolò

Piazzale Michelangelo

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

TOP PLACE

Piazza Pitti

bronze wild boar by Pietro Tacca currently showcased at the Stefano Bardini Museum.

SQUARES & TOWERS 22

PIAZZA DEL DUOMO

The heart of the city where you can admire all together the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Brunelleschi’s dome, Giotto’s bell tower and the Baptistery of San Giovanni.

PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA 3

The square’s current design dates back to the 13th century and it was paved in the late 14th century. It has always been the symbol of the city’s civil power. Its most iconic building is Palazzo Vecchio, with a replica of Michelangelo’s David at the entrance and next to the Loggia dei Lanzi. In the middle of the piazza is the Fountain of Neptune, also known as the Biancone, with

its central statue designed by Bartolomeo Ammannati. 2

PIAZZA PITTI

Nearly completely dominated by the imposing Palazzo Pitti, it is one of the major piazzas of the Oltrarno neighborhood.

PIAZZA DELLA REPUBBLICA 41

The heart of the city since ancient Roman times. Rising in the middle of the square is the Column of Abundance, which marks the point where the

main ancient Roman roads, the Cardus and Decumanus, intersected. Today some of the city’s most popular cafés are located on the piazza.

PIAZZALE MICHELANGELO 42

Piazza Santa Croce

Piazza della Signoria

Piazza della Repubblica

TOP PLACE

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

low the crowds to hear the sermons preached by the Carmelites, who owned the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine facing the piazza.

PIAZZA SAN FIRENZE 43

The square was named after the complex of San Filippo Neri, also known as San Firenze due to the mispronouncing of the name of a pre-existing building dedicated to San Fiorenzo. Rose Garden

the bronze replicas of the four allegories of the San Lorenzo Medici Chapels, and the imposing David, the original statue being kept at the Accademia Gallery.

PIAZZA SANTA CROCE 23

It owes its name to the basilica, one of Italy’s largest Franciscan churches. Located in front of the basilica is the monument to Dante Alighieri by Enrico Pazzi.

PIAZZA SANTO SPIRITO 24

Crowded with market stalls, tourists and art students during the day, Piazza Santo Spirito is one of the focal points of the city’s nightlife. Standing on one side of the piazza is the monument to Cosimo Ridolfi. 27

PIAZZA DEL CARMINE

This square was built to al-

The name derives from the nearby neighborhood of San Niccolò, and it was built in 1324 probably to the design of Orcagna, while the last circle of walls was being erected. It is the only Florentine gate which has preserved its original height.

GARDENS & PARKS

apertura 45

BOBOLI GARDENS

The Boboli Gardens spreads out at the back of Palazzo Pitti. The Medici family planned the garden’s layout by creating the model for the Italian garden. An open-air museum, filled with statues, grottos (including the one designed by Buontalenti) and large fountains, such as the Neptune and Ocean fountains. Piazza de’ Pitti, 1 ph. +39 055 294883 uffizi.it

Bardini Garden

Horticulture Garden

TOWER OF SAN NICCOLÒ 44

Rose Garden

TOP PLACE

Closed on the first and last Monday of the month, except from June to October 46

BARDINI GARDEN

On one side the beautiful Baroque staircase, the English wood and the agricultural park where a wonderful wisteria pergola blooms in spring; on the other, the villa built in the 1600s by architect Gherardo Silvani, also called Villa Belvedere because of its wonderful panoramic position, and later enlarged by Stefano Bardini. Via dei Bardi, 1r and Costa San Giorgio, 2 ph. +39 055 2638599 +39 055 2346988 villabardini.it Villa closed on Mondays, garden closed on the first and last Monday of the month 47

ROSE GARDEN

Located beneath Piazzale Michelangelo, the Rose Garden features over 350 varieties of roses which bloom from May to June and 12 sculptures by Belgian architect Jean-Michel Folon. Viale Giuseppe Poggi, 2

Bardini Garden 48

IRIS GARDEN

Established in 1954 for the purpose of housing the annual International Flower Show for the best iris varieties. Via Bolognese, 17 ph. +39 055 483112 societaitalianairis.com Open only in May

HORTICULTURE GARDEN 49

A nineteenth-century garden, the home to national floriculture shows, with a Renaissance loggia and an Art-Nouveau tepidarium. The highest point is accessed from Via Trento through the Orti del Parnaso, also called “del Dragone” because of the odd dragon-shaped fountain winding up the staircase. Via Vittorio Emanuele II

CASCINE PARK

Established as a Medicean farm in 1563 by Cosimo I, with the Lorraine family the Cascine Park became a place of entertainment and Sunday outings. Do not miss the equestrian statue to Vittorio Emanuele II, the Pegasus Column, the Pyramid and the Indian Monument. Piazzale delle Cascine

MEDICEAN PARK OF PRATOLINO 51

Villa Demidoff was demolished in 1822, while the park still remains open to visitors

Boboli Gardens Cascine Park

Boboli Gardens

TOP PLACE

Villa Gamberaia

and features the Apennine Colossus by Giambologna and the Cupid’s Cave by Buontalenti. Via Fiorentina, 276 ph. +39 349 8800380 Open from April to September

VILLA GAMBERAIA GARDENS 52

The beautiful garden of Villa Gamberaia, in Settignano, spreads over several levels, where one can admire the lemon-house, a niche decorat-

ed with pebble mosaics and a spectacular modern parterre. Via del Rossellino, 72 ph. +39 347 2386326 villagamberaia.com

MEDICI VILLAS MEDICI VILLA LA PETRAIA 53

An ancient fortress whose tower still stands, belonging first to the Brunelleschi family and later to the Strozzis, La Petraia was bequeathed by Cosimo I de Medici to his son, the cardinal Ferdinando, in 1568 and later converted into an elegant Renaissance residence. The villa is surrounded by a large English-style park. Via della Petraia, 40 tel. +39 055 452691

villegiardinimedicei.it Closed Mondays

MEDICI VILLA OF CASTELLO 54

One of the oldest country residences of the Medici family, who acquired it in 1477. The villa was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013, and is currently home to the Accademia della Crusca; the garden is a prototype of 16th-century Italian design. Via di Castello, 44 tel. +39 055 452691 villegiardinimedicei.it Temporarily closed

Villa Gamberaia Park of Pratolino

Villa of Castello

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

TOP PLACE

Villa la Ferdinanda

MEDICI VILLA OF POGGIO A CAIANO 55

Designed by Giuliano da Sangallo for Lorenzo the Magnificent, as an example of Renaissance architecture. The splendid Sala di Leone X on the piano nobile is astonishing; the second floor is devoted to the Still Life Museum, and the gardens outside are dominated by a 19th-century lemon house. Piazza de’ Medici,14 tel. +39 055 877012 villegiardinimedicei.it Closed Mondays, Thursdays and the 1st, 4th and last Sunday of the month

dred Chimneys, for the numerous chimney pots that make the building unique. Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 1 tel. +39 333/9418333 villegiardinimedicei.it Open subject to booking

MEDICI VILLA IN FIESOLE 57

The first example of a Renaissance villa, this became the inspiration for numerous other residences. After the

MEDICI VILLA LA FERDINANDA

Medicis, the marquise Del Sera turned the western terrace into a loggia, while the lower terraced area was home to the vegetable garden, with aromatic plants for household use. Via Beato Angelico, 2 villegiardinimedicei.it Garden may be visited by appointment

Built in 1596 on the orders of Grand Duke Ferdinando I de’ Medici and to a design by Bernardo Buontalenti, Villa La Ferdinanda is also known as the Villa of a Hun-

Medici Villa in Fiesole

Villa la Petraia

Villa of Poggio a Caiano89

TOP PLACES

VIEW THE MAP ON PAGE 98

market, built on the site of a large vegetable garden beyond Santa Croce towards the city walls, was inaugurated in 1873 and today houses grocery stores. Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti ph. +39 055 2480778 mercatosantambrogio.it Closed on Sundays and public holidays

PORCELLINO MARKET 60

San Lorenzo Market

MARKETS SAN LORENZO MARKET 58

The historic San Lorenzo Market spreads over two floors. The ground floor is full of stalls selling food of all sorts, whereas the first floor houses restaurants, pizzerias, shops and tables where you can sit down and eat. The streets surrounding the building are lined

with traditional artisan workshops, wine bars and osterias. Piazza del Mercato Centrale and Via dell’Ariento mercatocentrale.it/firenze ph. Mercato Centrale +39 055 265742 +39 055 2741150

SANT’AMBROGIO MARKET 59

The indoor Sant’Ambrogio

It is commonly called Mercato Nuovo to distinguish it from the Mercato Vecchio, which was located in the area of today’s Piazza della Repubblica. The name Mercato del Porcellino comes from the statue of a wild boar that the Florentines call “porcellino” (piglet). It is covered by an old loggia which was designed by Giovanni Battista del Tasso and built in 1547. Piazza del Mercato Nuovo mercatodelporcellino.it 61

FLEA MARKET

Until a few years ago, the market was located in the historic Piazza dei Ciompi. In 2019, it was moved to a permanent structure just steps away from the Sant’Ambrogio market. You can shop there for antiques, collectibles, paintings, books and second-hand items. Largo Pietro Annigoni

ARTE MODERNA E CONTEMPORANEA

Joan Miró, Femme dans la nuit, 1966, china, pennello e pastello a cera su carta sgualcita, cm 83x69

Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini, 3 - 50125 Firenze tel. +39 055.6812697 / 6813360 - info@tornabuoniarte.it - www.tornabuoniarte.it FIRENZE - MILANO - FORTE DEI MARMI

INFORMATIONS

INFORMATION

GETTING AROUND IN FLORENCE AND TUSCANY Everything you need to know about getting around in the city and further afield

TAXI

For business and tourism, individuals and small groups, Taxi4390 is the leading provider in Florence and the surrounding area, with more than 400 vehicles. The price from Amerigo Vespucci airport to the city centre is approximately €22. The same journey at night (22:00 - 6:00) is €25.30; public holidays €24.

CAR SHARING & NCC

Car sharing is a simple, sustainable use of vehicles. To access the service, you need to register on websites offering the facility and download the dedicated app. Car sharing in Florence is currently offered by Enjoy and TiMove (Adduma Car). There are also plenty of car rental providers, with drivers if required; they include NCC Firenze Bartolini, Veloce Fast Cars, Tuscany Vip Service, Your Driver in Florence and Firenze NCC.

CITY BIKE AND KICK SCOOTERS

Florence is the perfect place to visit by bike or scooter. Florence by Bike is currently the most reliable cycle hire service in Florence and all over Tuscany. If you prefer the electric option, a sharing service is offered by Ridemovi. Meanwhile, electric scooters and mopeds are available from TiMove and Bit Mobility. Helmets are obligatory, and we recommend checking the websites for all the rules.

BUS

Bus services in Florence and throughout Tuscany are provided by Autolinee Toscane, both within and outside the urban area. Tickets can be purchased digitally by texting Firenze to (ph. +39) 488 01 05 or via the Tabnet app, but are also available from official ticket offices, machines and authorised dealers.

INFORMATIONS

DISTANZA DA FIRENZE A:

AREZZO 76 Km FORTE DEI MARMI 124 Km GROSSETO 147 Km LIVORNO 105 Km LUCCA 79 Km MASSA CARRARA 173 Km PIOMBINO 176 Km PISA 98 Km PISTOIA 38 Km PRATO 21 Km SIENA 69 Km

MASSA FORTE DEI MARMI PISA

TRAM

TRAIN

Florence’s main railway station, Firenze Santa Maria Novella, is an important hub for high-speed trains operated by Trenitalia and Italo. From here you can reach Bologna in just 35 minutes, Rome in

FIRENZE

AREZZO SIENA

PIOMBINO

one hour 20, Milan in one hour 50, and Forte dei Marmi in one hour 40.

AIRPORTS

PRATO

LIVORNO

Isola d’Elba

The tram network is an efficient and eco-friendly way to get around in Florence. The system currently offers two lines: Linea 1 (connecting Careggi and Scandicci) and Linea 2 (Peretola to Piazza dell’Unità d’Italia). Check the gestramvia.it website for stops and timetables.

PISTOIA

LUCCA

The Tuscany Region has two airports: Amerigo Vespucci (Firenze Peretola) in Florence and Galileo Galilei in Pisa. Firenze Peretola is a few kilometres from the centre of the Tuscan capital, and connected by 2 tram lines, buses and taxis. If you arrive in Pisa, you can reach the capital by a combination of the Pisa Mover bus and the train, or on one of the many shuttle buses

GROSSETO

that depart from the Arrivals area and take you to Firenze Santa Maria Novella station.

FERRIES

Sea links with the Tuscan Archipelago are operated by Toremar S.p.A., which runs services to the islands from the ports of Piombino, Livorno and Porto Santo Stefano.

INFORMATIONS

SANTA MARIA NOVELLA Piazza Santa Maria Novella ph. +39 055 219257 Weekdays: 7:30, 18:00; Saturdays: 18:00; Festive days: 10:30, 12:00, 18:00 SANTISSIMA ANNUNZIATA Piazza Santissima Annunziata ph. +39 055 216912 Weekdays: 7:00, 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 18:00; Festive days: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:30, 13:00, 18:00, 21:00

CELEBRATIONS TIMETABLE CATHEDRAL OF SANTA MARIA DEL FIORE Piazza San Giovanni ph. +39 055 294514 Weekdays: 7:30, 8:30, 9:30, 10:30, 18:00; Festive days: 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00, 18:00

SAN MINIATO AL MONTE Via delle Porte Sante, 34 ph. +39 055 2342731 Weekdays: 7:15, 17:30; Festive days: 8:30, 10:00, 11:30; 17:30 Gregorian Mass SANTA CROCE Piazza Santa Croce, 16 ph. +39 055 244619 Weekdays: 18:00; Festive days: 11:00, 18:00 SAN LORENZO Piazza San Lorenzo ph. +39 055 216634 Weekdays: 9:30, 18:00; Festive days: 9:30, 11:00, 18:00 SAN MARCO Piazza San Marco ph. +39 055 2396950 Weekdays: 18,30; Festive days: 11:00, 18:30

SANTO SPIRITO Piazza Santo Spirito ph. +39 055 210030 Weekdays: 9:00; Saturdays: 9:00, 18:00; Festive days: 9:00, 10:30, 18:00 RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH Via Leone X, 8 ph. +39 055 471630 Sunday and liturgical feast 10am, Saturday 5pm. In Russian SYNAGOGUE Via Farini, 4 ph. +39 055 245252 Saturdays 9am-12:30pm; Last admission at 11:30 Times may change, please contact the phone number for confirmation

INFORMATIONS

CONSULATES IN FLORENCE AUSTRIA Lungarno A. Vespucci, 58 ph. +39 055 2654222 BANGLADESH Via Pellicceria, 6 ph. +39 055 217500 BELGIUM Via dei Servi, 28 ph. +39 055 282094 BRAZIL Lungarno A. Vespucci, 18 ph. +39 055 290948 BURKINA FASO Via Maggio, 26 ph. +39 055 219571 CAMEROON Piazza Indipendenza, 21 ph. +39 055 5047149 CHINA Via della Robbia, 89 ph. +39 055 573889 COLOMBIA Via Fra Giovanni Angelico, 73 ph. +39 055 2345536 - 333 7582291 COSTA RICA Via Giambologna, 10 ph. +39 055 573603 CROATIA Via Mattonaia, 13 ph. +39 055 2639272 DENMARK Via Pier Capponi, 73 ph. +39 055 2398942 DOMENICAN REPUBLIC Via Marconi, 30 ph. +39 055 5000777 - 055 5537145 ECUADOR Vie Trieste, 67 ph. +39 055 473151 EL SALVADOR Via Condotta, 12 ph. +39 055 292256 ESTONIA Via Lamarmora, 55 ph. +39 055 588313

FINLAND Borgo SS. Apostoli, 27 ph. +39 055 3562838 - 340 1635261 FRANCE Piazza Ognissanti, 2 ph. +39 055 2302556 GRENADA Via dello Studio, 8 ph. +39 055 0776222 - 055 290394 HUNGARY Via Belgio, 2 ph. +39 055 6531817 INDONESIA Via Pier Capponi, 17 ph. +39 055 582580 - 328 9672044 ISRAEL Via della Spada, 2 ph. +39 366 3457098 LEBANON Via del Proconsolo, 16 ph. +39 055 213102 - 393 9299225 LITHUANIA Viale Belfiore, 33 ph. +39 055 363045 LUXEMBOURG Piazzale Galileo, 5 ph. +39 349 8080773 MAURITIUS Via degli Alfani, 34 ph. +39 055 0981972 MEXICO Via dell’Agnolo, 76 ph. +39 055 217831 - 055 283696 MOLDOVA Via Peri Capponi, 87 ph. +39 334 1766164 MONGOLIA Via Firenzuola, 18 ph. +39 0574 606136 MYANMAR Via di Camerata, 11 ph. +39 339 5066456 NETHERLANDS Via Pier Capponi, 73 ph. +39 055 0749108 NORWAY Viale Matteotti, 25 ph. +39 055 5000512 PERÙ Via dei Bardi, 28 ph. +39 055 2608803 PHILIPPINES Piazza Indipendenza, 17 ph. +39 055 4628848

PRINCIPATO DI MONACO Lungarno Vespucci, 58 ph. +39 055 2670608 ROMANIA Viale del Poggio Imperiale, 32 ph. +39 055 0197075 SAINT KITTS E NEVIS Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 93 ph. +39 055 496539 SAN MARINO Via Roma, 3 ph. +39 055 214063 SENEGAL Via Borgo San Lorenzo, 1 ph. +39 055 216999 SLOVENIA Via Pasquale Villari, 39 ph. +39 055 0546555 SOUTH AFRICA Piazza Saltarelli, 1 ph. +39 055 281863 SOUTH KOREA Via Madonna della Pace, 62 ph. +39 055 5048516 - 333 6874142 SPAIN Via dell’Agnolo, 76 ph. +39 055 212207 SWITZERLAND Piazzale Galileo, 5 ph. +39 055 222434 TUNISIA Piazza San Marco, 12 ph. +39 055 352626 - 342 1938984 UKRAINE Via XX Settembre, 124 ph. +39 055 4625252 U.S. OF AMERICA Lungarno A. Vespucci, 38 ph. +39 055 266951 UZBEKISTAN Via dell’Agnolo, 76 ph. +39 055 7477517 - 334 7444397 YEMEN Via Maffia, 10 ph. +39 055 219588 055 2398747 - 055 2399328

HOTELS

CONCIERGE ‘LES CLEFS D’OR’

HOTELS COMO CASTELLO DEL NERO Via Strada Spicciano, 7 Tavarnelle ph. +39 055 8064701 ph. +39 055 0981946 FOUR SEASONS HOTEL FIRENZE Via Borgo Pinti, 99 ph. +39 055 26261 GOLDEN TOWER HOTEL & SPA Piazza degli Strozzi, 11r ph. +39 055 287860 HELVETIA&BRISTOL FIRENZE Via de’ Pescioni, 2 ph. +39 055 26651 ph. +39 055 288353 HOTEL BERNINI PALACE FIRENZE Piazza San Firenze, 29 ph. +39 055 288621 HOTEL FIRENZE NUMBER NINE Via dei Conti, 9 ph. +39 055 293777 HOTEL LUNGARNO Borgo San Jacopo, 14 ph. +39 055 27261 HOTEL REGENCY FIRENZE Piazza Massimo D’Azeglio, 3 ph. +39 055 245247 HOTEL SAVOY FLORENCE Piazza della Repubblica, 7 ph. +39 055 27351 IL TORNABUONI HOTEL Via de’ Tornabuoni, 3 ph. +39 055 212645 NH COLLECTION FIRENZE PORTA ROSSA Via Porta Rossa, 19 ph. +39 055 2710911 PALAZZO MONTEBELLO FIRENZE Via G. Garibaldi, 14 ph. +39 055 27471 PORTRAIT FIRENZE Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 4 ph. +39 055 27268000 RELAIS S. CROCE BY BAGLIONI HOTELS & RESORTS Via Ghibellina, 87 ph. +39 055 2342230

SINA VILLA MEDICI Via Il Prato, 42 ph. +39 055 277171 THE PLACE Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 7 ph. +39 055 2645181 THE ST. REGIS FLORENCE Piazza Ognissanti, 1 ph. +39 055 27161 THE WESTIN EXCELSIOR, FLORENCE Piazza Ognissanti, 3 ph. +39 055 27151 VILLA CORA Viale Macchiavelli, 18 ph. +39 055 228790 VILLA SAN MICHELE A BELMOND HOTEL FIRENZE Via Doccia, 4 - Fiesole ph. +39 055 567 8200 VILLA TOLOMEI HOTEL & RESORT Via di Santa Maria a Marignolle, 10 ph. +39 055 3920401 VILLE SULL’ARNO Lungarno Cristoforo Colombo, 1/3/5 ph. +39 055 670971 AC HOTEL FIRENZE Via Luciano Bausi, 5 ph. +39 055 3120111 AMBASCIATORI HOTEL Via Luigi Alamanni, 3 ph. +39 055 287421 BORGHESE PALACE ART HOTEL Via Ghibellina, 174r ph. +39 055 284363 BRUNELLESCHI HOTEL Piazza Sant’Elisabetta, 3 ph. +39 055 27370 CASA HOWARD FIRENZE RESIDENZA D’EPOCA Via della Scala, 18 ph. +39 055 7094605 CLUB HOTEL Via S. Caterina da Siena, 11 ph. +39 055 217707 CONTINENTALE Vicolo dell’ Oro, 6r ph. +39 055 27262 DIPLOMAT HOTEL Via Luigi Alamanni, 9 ph. +39 055 2608400

FH55 HOTEL CALZAIUOLI Via dei Calzaiuoli, 6 ph. +39 055 212456 GALLERY HOTEL ART Vicolo dell’ Oro, 5 ph. +39 055 27263 GLANCE HOTEL FLORENCE Via Nazionale, 23 ph. +39 055 290082 GRAND HOTEL ADRIATICO Via Maso Finiguerra, 9 ph. +39 055 27931 GRAND HOTEL BAGLIONI Piazza dell’Unità Italiana, 6 ph. +39 055 23580 GRAND HOTEL CAVOUR Via del Proconsolo, 3 ph. +39 055 266271 GRAND HOTEL MEDITERRANEO Lungarno del Tempio, 44 ph. +39 055 660241 GRAND HOTEL MINERVA Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 16 ph. +39 055 27230 HOTEL ADLER CAVALIERI FIRENZE Via della Scala, 40 ph. +39 055 277810 HOTEL ALBANI FIRENZE Via Fiume, 12 ph. +39 055 26030 HOTEL ART ATELIER Via dell’Amorino, 20 ph. +39 055 283777 HOTEL ATLANTIC PALACE Via Nazionale, 12 ph. +39 055 213031 HOTEL BALESTRI FIRENZE Piazza Mentana, 7 ph. +39 055 214743 HOTEL BERCHIELLI Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli, 14 ph. +39 055 264061 HOTEL CALIFORNIA Via Ricasoli, 28 ph. +39 055 282753 ph. +39 055 283499 HOTEL CELLAI FIRENZE Via XXVII Aprile, 52/R ph. +39 055 489291 HOTEL CERRETANI FIRENZE - MGALLERY Via de’ Cerretani, 68 ph. +39 055 0643811

HOTELS

HOTEL CROCE DI MALTA Via della Scala, 7 ph. +39 055 261870 ph. +39 055 218351 HOTEL DEGLI ORAFI Lungarno degli Archibusieri, 4 ph. +39 055 26622 HOTEL DOMUS FLORENTIAE Via degli Avelli, 2 ph. +39 055 2654645 HOTEL EXECUTIVE Via Curtatone, 5 ph. +39 055 217451 HOTEL FIRENZE LAURUS AL DUOMO Via de’ Cerretani, 54r, ph. +39 055 2381752 HOTEL GINORI AL DUOMO & GINORI GARDEN DELUXE COLLECTION Via de’ Ginori, 22/24/26 ph. +39 055 218615 HOTEL HOME FLORENCE Piazza Piave, 3 ph. +39 055 243668 HOTEL KRAFT FIRENZE Via Solferino, 2 ph. +39 055 284273 HOTEL L’OROLOGIO FIRENZE Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 24 ph. +39 055 277380 HOTEL LONDRA FIRENZE Via Jacopo da Diacceto, 16/20 ph. +39 055 2739141 ph. +39 055 27390 HOTEL MONNA LISA Borgo Pinti 27 ph. +39 055 2479751 HOTEL NH COLLECTION FIRENZE PALAZZO GADDI Via del Giglio, 9 ph. +39 02 87368144 NH FIRENZE Piazza Vittorio Veneto, 4/A ph. +39 055 2770 HOTEL PALAZZO DAL BORGO Via della Scala, 6 ph. +39 055 216237 HOTEL PIERRE Via dei Lamberti, 5 ph. +39 055 216218 HOTEL FIRENZE PITTI PALACE AL PONTE VECCHIO Borgo S. Jacopo, 3/R ph. +39 055 2398711

HOTEL PONTE VECCHIO SUITES & SPA Via Dè Belfredelli, 9 ph. +39 055 217379 HOTEL PRINCIPE FIRENZE Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 34 ph. +39 055 284848 HOTEL ROMA Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 8 ph. +39 055 210366 HOTEL SANTA MARIA NOVELLA FIRENZE Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 1 ph. +39 055 271840 HOTEL VILLA CARLOTTA Via Michele di Lando, 3 ph. +39 055 2336134 JOY HOTEL Via degli Orti Oricellari, 30 ph. +39 055 214628 LUNGARNO VESPUCCI 50 Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 50 ph. +39 055 0458100 MERCURE FIRENZE CENTRO Via Nazionale, 21/23 R ph. +39 055 530 0700 MILU HOTEL Via de’ Tornabuoni, 8 ph. +39 055 217103 PALAZZO CASTRI 1874 Piazza Indipendenza, 7 ph. +39 055 472118 PALAZZO GAMBA LUXURY APARTMENTS FLORENCE Via de’ Martelli, 2 ph. +39 055 271861 PALAZZO SAN NICCOLÒ Via di S. Niccolò, 79 ph. +39 055 244509 HOTEL PARK PALACE FIRENZE Piazzale Galileo, 5 ph. +39 055 222431 PLAZA HOTEL LUCCHESI FIRENZE Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia, 38 ph. +39 055 26 236 RIVOLI BOUTIQUE HOTEL Via della Scala, 33 ph. +39 055 27861 ROOM MATE ISABELLA HOTEL Via de’ Tornabuoni, 13 ph. +39 055 239 6464 ROOM MATE LUCA HOTEL Via XXVII Aprile, 3 ph. +39 055 2645539

SAN FIRENZE SUITES & SPA Piazza di S. Firenze, 3/A, ph. +39 055 285009 SAN GALLO PALACE Via Lorenzo Il Magnifico, 2 ph. +39 055 463871 STROZZI PALACE HOTEL Via dei Vecchietti, 4 ph. +39 055 283898 THE FRAME HOTEL Via Panzani, 2 ph. +39 055 2670549 THE J & J HISTORIC HOUSE HOTEL Via di Mezzo, 20 ph. +39 055 26312 VILLA OLMI FIRENZE Via degli Olmi, 4/8 Via del Crocifisso del Lume, 18 - Bagno a Ripoli ph. +39 055 637710 HOTEL BENIVIENI FIRENZE Via delle Oche, 5 ph. +39 055 238 2133

HISTORIC RESIDENCES & RESORTS ANTICA TORRE DI VIA TORNABUONI N.1 Via de’ Tornabuoni, 1 ph. +39 055 265 8161 ph. +39 380 9025494 HOTEL CENTRALE Via dei Conti, 3 ph. +39 055 215761 +39 055 215216 PALAZZO ALFIERI RESIDENZA D’EPOCA ALFIERI COLLEZIONE Lungarno Corsini, 2 + 39 055 230 2185 ph. +39 055 289618 PALAZZO ROSELLI CECCONI Borgo Santa Croce, 6 ph. +39 055 0749120 +39 366 8792690 VILLA LA MASSA Via della Massa, 24 Candeli Bagno a Ripoli ph. +39 055 62611

Lu Via

ala

de rie ll’A

a enz

Largo Alinari

Piazza del Merca Centrale

Via

Fa Via

Via oni nn Za

ione Staz

o rat lP

ia viar erro ella ne Fria Nov io z Sta ta Ma San

i Via

ale nic Pa a Vi

le na zio a N Via

m Fiu Via

lla

ni man

lla a de Piazz

la igi A

Vi a

Piazza Adua

o nt

aie

Ca ld

lle

Teg ola

Via M

37 mana o

Via de’ Brunelleschi

Via de’ Vecchietti

Via Pellicerria

Via de’ Sassetti

elle

Term

Bor go S

i Ac 41 cia iuo li

Piazza d Angio egli lieri

cop 56 o

Via de’ Barbadori i din iar

Via Por San ta M aria

toli

egl

n Ja

z Pia

itt ’P de

Via La m

Via d

e’ B a

rdi

c uic

Via

’G de

Palazzo Pitti

rgo

55 MEDICI VILLA OF POGGIO A CAIANO 56 MEDICI VILLA LA FERDINANDA 57 MEDICI VILLA IN FIESOLE

45 Giardino di Boboli

51 MEDICEAN PARK OF PRATOLINO 52 VILLA GAMBERAIA GARDENS 53 MEDICI VILLA LA PETRAIA 54 MEDICI VILLA OF CASTELLO

S. A pos

Pon te V ecc hio

ell’I

Piazza della Repubblica

Via Porta Rossa

o Sa

Sd de rucc ’ P io itt lo i

Via de’ Pescioni

arn

Piazza degli Strozzi

44 42

Vi a

agg io

ola Teg rgo

ett azz

Vi a

Via d

Lun g

uti

gli erra ei S

iV ell

50 46

Via degli Strozzi

Piazza Santa Trinita

Borg

Via del Campidoglio

a Cost

Via d

Mic Via hel ozz

Via

M Via

Viale F. Petrarca

Giardino giani TorriMUSEUM ViaSAN MINIATO AL MONTE 12 STIBBERT 30 ABBEY OF Sa nta Ma 49 HORTICULTURE GARDEN 50 CASCINE PARK ria

ro Sp

el 13 FUOR D’ACQUA 18 ILdVEROCCHIO 21 LA LOGGIA Ca mp uc cio SCUDERIA 43 CAFFÈ LIETTA 22 LE BISTROT 30 RISTORO L’ANTICA

35 ello

Via M

affi

agg io

d Via

Piazza Santo Spirito

nfer

no cin on Via Pa ri

piri

ies OUT OF THIS MAP: a Ch

ell

ant oS

Via

n sti

ella

Pon te S ant a Tr init a

uic cia

rdin

o ’Ag an

Via d

Via de’ Tornabuoni

de iF os si de del M ’F or ed o er ig hi Vi a

Co rs

S Via

RESTAURANTS, CAFÈ & APERITIF

Via

Via S

Borg

o St ella

ato ri

el P urg

16 arn

MAP LEGEND

Via

rno

va a Nuo

Via de l Pario ne

ini

Lun g

Via d

Via

dian

Piazza del Carmine

TOP PLACES

6Via de’ Corsi

To sc

n Fre

a Vign

ll Via de

Via M

Via d e

l Leo

o Sa

ll’Ort o

Lu n

lla

Borg

Via d e

Pi Go azza ldo ni

Ca rra ia

Po nte a

i Nerli

rin

ell

Piazza Antinori

Via d

Via

cci pu .V es Po nte A ofrio nt’O n Via S a

ode

Piazza Cestello

Piazza d e

Via d

lli Via de’ Cerretani ne di on R ei ad Vi Via degli Agli Via de’ Pecori

ne Belle Don

arn

ole

37 Piazza ssanti B Am Ogni or eri go 32 go O Ve gn sp iss uc ci an ti 15

Lun g

rno

chi

ll’A llo

Via dei B an

Via

osa

Piazza di Santa Maria Novella

an a

as o

Lu n

ala

olo

Via delle

on te b

lla

lP or ce ll

zzu

Vi a

an ti

Via

Vi a

Pa la

Via Con ti

ell’A lbe ro Via d ra er gu Fin i

Cu r

ta to ne

Via Pa les tro

Via S

rib

ald

tal

Via

lio ig lG e d Vi ad Via e

ti et

Og ni

Pa n

n Za Via

rg o

Vi a

nz Fae Via

o rat lP

.L uc ia

i Via

Co rs

Piazza dell’Unità Italiana

Forte di Belvedere

lfa

Via

ica so

li A lfa

Via

ius

ura

cci

gli

Via

Alf a

lla

Piazza D’Azeglio

fal

ini

Via

a Vi

cc oli

str

Via

ila iP

Via Far ini

Via

de lla Pe rg ola

icas

oli

Co lo

Via R

Borg

o San

Via d e’ Ma rtelli

Loren zo

e’ P u

Via

Via d

lC as te lla cc io

Via

Via R

Bo rgo

Via d

Pin ti

Piazza SS. Annunziata

Giu

Via Cav ou r

Via d e’ Gin ori

lla S tufa

Giardino delle Gherardesca

Ba tti

sti

ato e

Via d e

Via

Via Vit to

iF ib

Via G

enera

le Arm

oT orr

Via

li agno

igia

’B de

sta Co

di ar

ando

dei

uon Via B

aM dell Viale

Alle gri

i Sa

elle

Via d

Con ce

e’ M

acc

Bor go

ibellin

ius

epp

Via Piet ro T h

lle

a Vi

s Ca

Via d

oua

ei M

alco

nte nt

Diaz Lungarno delle

Via Tripoli

Grazie

Via Tripoli

Lungarno de

lla Zecca Vecch

arp

Lungarno

uc cia

Via Lupo

o gi or Gi

Serristori

Via di San Nic colò

atto naia

suè Gio Via le

cci Via d e’ M a

arro

Bor go A lleg ri

Tint ori

’Agno lo

Via G h

Via d

ta Cro o San

che

Via d. P i

nzo

el F ico

Mag

Cor so

uc ci Ca rd

a Via Fie sol an Via d e

osa ano

aV err azz

Via R

i Ve rd pe ep Via G

Via d

Via de ll

Piazza Ghiberti

Pont e alle

dei M

arn

Co s

Graz ie

rno G

Via A .

ponai

Lung a

Piazza dei Ciompi

Borg

Via dei Sa

Lun g

ius

Piazza de’ Peruzzi

Via d

eri

chi

ibellin

Piazza Santa Croce

Mez

liabe

gia

de’ Gre

Via G h

e’ B en ci

Via

Via d

Borgo

Via Vin e

Via de ’ Ca ste llan i

Via della Bu rella Via del l’Anguill ara

ici

Via de’ Geo rgo fili Piaz zale deg li Uffi zi

mb ert esc a

Via Pietrapiana i Pep

Via Santa Elisabetta

3 35

Via della Vigna Vecchia

ccia

43 29 51 Piazza 18 San Firenze 14 20

r To

cche re

Via Ghibellina

Via d i

Piazza S. Ambrogio Piazza G. Salvemini

Via

ia Va

iuolo

Via dei Pandolfini

Via dei Cimatori

Piazza della Signoria

nt ’Eg idi

ust

ia Calimaruzza

Borgo degli Albizi

Via de i Le on i

ll’Or

Via del Corso

Via dei Cerchi

Via de’ Calzaiuoli

Via Calimala

Via d e

Via de iR

Via Roma

Via degli Speziali

Via

Via del Proconsolo

Via dei Tosinghi

Piazza del Duomo

Giardino Bardini

Piazza Gius

eppe Pogg i

46 Viale Giuseppe Poggi

47 B Via di

ere

elved

Via dei Bastioni

Torre San Niccolò

ccolò

Via di San Ni

Giardino delle Rose

Giardino dell’Iris

48 Piazzale Michelangelo

P P

Florence Concierge n.239 | march-april 2022

Articles inside

Celebrations timetable

Markets

Medici Villas

Events: dates for your diary

Museums

Top Attractions

The Concierge Adriano Pecoraro’s advices

Churches

Squares & Towers

Gardens & Parks

Florence in Chocolate: festivity means deliciousness