Founded by the Romans in 59 BCE, it is no surprise that witches and ghosts have made their mark during Florence’s long history. Several years ago, Halloween was virtually unheard of- much less celebrated- in Italy. Fortunately, this is no longer the case. WHAT TO SEE: Hotel / Pensione Burchianti: This 17th century building contains beautiful frescoes …
It’s What’s Inside That Counts, The Florence of Michelangelo Photo by Ben Rimmer By Jessica Card. The Florence of Michelangelo, of Lorenzo the Magnificent, of Machiavelli looked much like the city you and I see today – narrow, cobblestone streets, shops lining the main roads, and around every corner the palazzo of one of the great …
Count Giovanni Pico della Mirandola lent his name to a Florentine saying: “You have the mind of Pico della Mirandola”. This means “you are very bright”. We would probably say someone was as clever as Einstein. Pico was born, in body, on the February 24, 1463 in Mirandola, Province of Modena, the youngest of the …
Photo by Scott MacLeod Liddle What Greenwich Village is for New York and Soho is for London, Santo Spirito is for Florence. As part of the district of Oltrarno, this neighborhood is the most typical and genuine in the city center. Less frequented by tourists, Santo Spirito is a seemingly tranquil area whose narrow side roads …
Photo by Matthew Hutchinson (Flickr user) Walking into Piazza della Signoria, where does one look first? David, Perseus, Neptune and Hercules all vie for attention. Practically an open-air sculpture museum, the piazza boasts a colorful and violent history. Savonarola was burnt to death in 1498 and a mob once ate a man alive in the …
Pappa al Pomodoro Photo by C. De Melo When winter drags on, when the rain and snow take the spring out of your step and the sky is full of clouds, the place to be is where you can find those silver linings. Those crisp, cold sunny days that so illuminated January in Florence have, …
The cafes are packed with people enjoying hot cappuccinos and fresh croissants as they discuss the day ahead. The people of Florence are always relaxed, in no rush to go anywhere. Initially this pace may seem frustrating. How is it possible to get to work, to class, to dinner, to the library on time if …