Scientifically known as Acacia dealbata, the mimosa is a plant native to Australia
and Tasmania, that Europeans introduced in Europe in the early 1800s, fascinated
by its exotic beauty.The common name comes from the latin mimus (to mime), evolved in the Spanish mimar (to cuddle), because some
species are particularly sensitive...
Beyond the Campo di Marte station, in the San Salvi area, lies one of the greatest
masterpieces of the sixteenth century: the Last
Supper by Andrea del Sarto, the "painter without errors", painted
between 1511 and 1530.Andrea del Sarto was twenty-five
years old when he began working on the fresco...
In the period of Lent (Quaresima in italian), that is from Ash Wednesday until Holy Thursday, in all Florentine pastry shops we find Biscotti Quaresimali, Lenten biscuits: typical cocoa biscuits connected to the period of abstinence from animal-derived foods imposed by the Christian tradition, in respect of the days of...
If Saint Valentine, the patron saint of lovers, celebrates
"us", Saint Faustino, patron saint of unrequited love, is the time to
celebrate "me".
In recent years, February 15th has become known as "Singles' Day", a
modern and charming label, somewhat reflective of the times we live in.
Of course, love...
On the ground floor of the Uffizi Gallery, a truly
interesting and surprising exhibition has been set up, sure to attract also
many enthusiasts of the macabre and the unusual.
Wax
upon a time. The Medici and the arts of ceroplastics, is an exhibition
entirely dedicated to this ancient yet...
Quant’è bella giovinezza,
che si fugge tuttavia!
chi vuol esser lieto, sia:
di doman non c’è certezza.
"How
beautiful is youth, / though quickly it does flee! / be happy if you want to: /
for tomorrow may not come"
This is what Lorenzo
il Magnifico wrote in the opening...
A golden shield with five red balls and
a blue one decorated with three golden lilies. You must have seen it everywhere
in Florence, since it is the Medici coat of arms.
The Medici blazon underwent inexplicable changes during
most of the fifteenth century, particularly in regards to the number...
Today special guided visits are taking place in Via Il
Prato 48 to see the Brindellone, the
ceremonial chart used for thetraditional Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) on Easter morning in Piazza del Duomo.
It’s a tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages, associated with Pazzino
de’...
One of the symbols of Christmas in Italy is the poinsettia (in italian called Stella
di Natale, meaning “Christmas Star”) a plant that is actually native to
Mexico. There, it was called Cuetlaxochitl
("leather-petaled flower") since the 16th century, and the Aztecs
used it to decorate their temples, produce red...
We’re in 1327 Florence,
dominated by the Catholic Inquisition, and Florentines are about to witness
the execution of Cecco d'Ascoli, who
during his lifetime was a poet, physician, teacher, philosopher, astronomer and
astrologer. Unfortunately, it was precisely this last occupation that sealed
his fate and earned him a death sentence....
