Are there any of us out there who haven’t seen a nativity display? At home, at school, or in the local parish, the small figurines depicting the birth of Jesus are something that many of us have grown up with.
Read moreDan Brown’s latest book Inferno has all the plot elements his legions of fans have come to expect. Set in the heart of Dante’s beloved Florence, Inferno pits series hero Langdon against a mad-scientist villain with evil intentions.
Read moreFlorence is during 1400 and 1500 at the peak of its success. You could say it seems that all the great people of the time were born in Florence, or have moved there in order to breathe that magic air. But to think of Florence just as the cradle of painting, sculpture and architecture is limiting.
Read moreAs someone who is passionate about art, it’s in my nature to share my love for Florence’s history with the many people who join me on tours. And while I like to think I’m on top of all there is to know about this part of the world, I am constantly learning new things.
Read moreOn the second floor of Palazzo Davanzati there is the bridal chamber of Tommaso Davizzi and of Catelana degli Alberti. This bedroom is especially interesting because there are the frescos with the story of the Chatelaine de Virgy: an intrigue of love, seduction and betrayal that ends in tragedy. This story appeared for the first time in France around […]
Read moreDid you know where the ice cream was born? If you ask it to a Florentine he will say: “in Florence”. Well, this is half true…
Read moreThe equation is easy to do: 15 + august = holiday Ferragosto has always been (at least since some decades) the symbol of summer holidays and it is the same nowadays. Ferragosto is national holiday in Italy because for the catholic calendar it celebrates the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and it is also […]
Read moreWhat do Florentines eat during the hot summer months? Summer dishes have to be quick to prepare, cold, nutritious and particularly refreshing. Vegetables and fruits are for this reason essential. Here is a recipe of a typical Florentine dish: panzanella.
Read moreA visit to Florence in July or August is not for the fainthearted, with high temperatures producing some very hot days. Luckily, in addition to various monuments, the city is also home to a large number of public and private pools. Which means that when the heat gets too much, a refreshing break is not […]
Read moreIn Siena July 2nd and August 16th there is the Palio, the world’s most famous bareback horse race. Some might think that it is organized for the many tourists who descend on the city for this occasion. Nothing could be more wrong! The Palio belongs to Sienese people DNA. It is and has always been this way.
Read moreCalcio, or football, is Italy’s National SPORT. What is played in the month of June in Florence Piazza Santa Croce is considered the ancestor of the today most popular game, with which it has many differences being more physical and violent. One might say that it is closer to the current rugby rather than modern football.
Read moreIn all major festivals of Florence the most important attraction is represented by the show of the flagwavers. It ‘s really a pleasure to see the flags moving and fluttering in the air! The historical origin of flag-waving is definitely military.
Read moreFlorence was founded by the Romans in 59 BC when Julius Caesar through the Lex Iulia, decided to reward with lots of ground the soldiers of his many wars. Florence was built at the narrowest point of the Arno river, exactly where it is easier both to cross and to control.
Read moreTaking a moment to relax over a freshly brewed cup of coffee is something that people everywhere can enjoy – and the coffee break is now an important part of modern culture. But for Italians coffee is about more than just relaxing, it is also a way of life and there is a set way […]
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