One of
Florence's jewels is the Opificio delle
Pietre Dure, founded in 1932, today one of the most prestigious restoration
centers in the world.
Its origins date back to 1588, when Grand Duke Ferdinando I de' Medici needed
to train the craftsmen needed to build the Chapel of the Princes...
Nowadays,
if images deemed inappropriate appear on TV or social media, they're blurred or
covered with black bars to prevent them from offending or disturbing us. But
did you know that censorship was practiced even atthe time of the great
Renaissance masters?One
of the most famous examples is the censorship...
When
we think of Florence, our mind immediately turns to its Renaissance
masterpieces of painting, sculpture, and architecture, especially those of
Michelangelo, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci and Brunelleschi. But there's a
lesser-known art form that has left its mark on the city's history: Florentine
majolica.With
its vibrant colors and intricate...
From September 12th to 14th, the Artigianato e
Palazzo exhibition returns to Corsini Garden!
Artigianato e Palazzo was created in 1995 by Neri Torrigiani and with the
patronage of Princess Giorgiana Corsini.
A selection of 100 Italian and European artisans, historic and emerging,
will be given space to present their work...
On August 30, 1436, the Dome of Florence Cathedral was
inaugurated, an architectural masterpiece unparalleled to this day.When it was built, the dome designed by Filippo Brunelleschi was
the largest dome in the world, and it
remains the largest masonry dome ever built.The mighty octagonal structure has a
diameter of...
The 18th century marked the
transition of the Uffizi from a dynastic collection to public museum, the
first in Europe. It was Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici who bequeathed the family's
artistic heritage to Florence in 1737, and later, Pietro Leopoldo opened the
museum to the citizens.The
exhibition Florence and...
Visiting Florence in August has its
downsides. Around the second week of the month, you will find yourselves
walking the almost deserted city streets looking for a bar, restaurant or
grocery shop that does not display the sign "CHIUSO PER FERIE" (closed for the holidays).
That’s because most Florentines -...
The Festa di San Lorenzo, Florence's co-patron saint, is a beloved holiday among Florentines. It's the height of summer and people go out in the evening to watch the shooting stars, but not before filling their stomachs with the delicious food offered to the citizens in Piazza San Lorenzo!The holiday...
In summer it’s
possible to access the Torre di San Niccolò, Torre della Zecca and Porta
Romana, usually closed to the public.
The Torre di
San Niccolò usually opens to the public on the occasion of the celebrations
of Saint John's Day on June 24, to allow visitors to watch...
Palazzo Pitti is known as the residence of the Medici family, but the
name reveals its true origins. It was Luca Pitti, archenemy of Cosimo de'
Medici, who had it built in 1441 by the architect Luca Fancelli, a testament to
the merchant family's economic power.
A power they lost...
