Eleonora di Toledo: life of a Duchess
To this day, the way we learn European history is still male-centred. It is not surprising then, that the history of the Medici family focuses mostly on the male members of the family: Cosimo the Elder, Lorenzo the Magnificent, Cosimo I and his two sons Francesco and Ferdinand. Yet, the story of the female members […]
The Magi Chapel in the Palazzo Medici
the Magi and the Florentine politics Christmas is coming! Most of us wait impatiently for the arrival of the winter festivities! Who doesn’t love Christmas, with its atmosphere filled with magic, soft lights and unique flavours of Christmas dishes? The celebrations of Christ’s nativity is one of the most important and most ancient Christian feasts. […]
Poggi’s Ramps
a walk through nineteenth-century Florence Poggi’s ramps, connecting Lungarno Benvenuto Cellini with the Piazzale Michelangelo has been recently restored and inaugurated on 1 June 2019. This conservation project retrieved a piece of the city, which for such a long time remained inaccessible. Today we can again climb the ramps, enjoy the shade of this beautiful […]
Is pasta Italian?
Italy, food and history History is not a list of dates, names, wars, winners and losers. History talks also about people who lived on our planet, about their ideas, thoughts, feelings, emotion and their life style. This is why also local cuisine and gastronomic culture is a part of our history. By looking at our […]
“Medici. Masters of Florence” and the life of a Renaissance family
Story of Lucrezia Tornabuoni choosing a bride for Lorenzo il Magnifico Have you ever watched any episode of the series Medici. Masters of Florence? The first season of this American-Italian production was broadcasted in 2016. The series is inspired by the history of the Medici family and their rise to power during the fifteenth century. […]
Highlights of Siena
a day trip from Florence – part one Here we are with the second article from the series dedicated to day trips around Tuscany. After our trip to Lucca, this time I want to bring you to Siena, a gothic jewel of Tuscany, a city where the time is frozen, a magical place where you […]
Santa Croce Church in Florence
Art, history and Franciscan spirituality Florence is so much more than the Uffizi Gallery! Almost at every corner the city surprises you with yet another little treasure: a statue, a tabernacle or some beautiful frescoes. And then, there are the Florentine churches which preserve countless masterpieces, traces of long and prosperous history of the city. […]
The dreadful November
the flood of Florence, 4. 11. 1966 Autumn in Tuscany is one of my favourite seasons. It’s still warm outside so one can enjoy walks and hikes in the countryside and admire colourful landscapes with yellow, red and orange trees, bushes and vineyards. At the same time, November tends to be particularly rainy. The weather […]
The Most Important Facts about Brunelleschi’s Dome
What is the first thing that amazes the travellers who see Florence for the first time? No doubt – it is the dome of the Florentine cathedral, the most recognizable monument of the city, the symbol of its power and beauty. The history of its construction is one of the most fascinating and mysterious stories […]