TRAVELLING TO FLORENCE

Photography in Florence

2009-06-03T06:11:00.000-07:00

One of Europe’s most majestic cities in terms of art, architecture and culture, Florence boasts an infinitive wealth of photographic opportunities. This blog aims to point visitors in the right direction with regards to making the most out of these opportunities with some basic tips.
The first part of this blog will mention the “must-see” attractions while in the future I aim to offer suggestions on some places that are off the tourist map. With a wealth of Florence rentals in the city centre it is possible to find rooftop views that are not as common as those taken from buildings with entry to the public.

The following examples are some of the must-see attractions in Florence:

Ponte Vecchio

The Ponte Vecchio bridge is without doubt one of the most photographed landmarks in Florence. Some of the best views towards it are from along the river bank or from one of its neighbouring bridges.
The Ponte Santa Trinita is closer to the Ponte Vecchio than the Ponte Alle Grazie and is more favoured among photographers for this reason. It is well worth making two trips; both in the day or early morning and at night. In high season the early bird really does catch the worm, as by midday tourist numbers are so high that photographing the bridge can be difficult. The reflection of the buildings along the River Arno can be an enchanting sight and evening photo excursions are a must.

Il Duomo

The Basililica di Santa Maria del Fiore is the catedral of Florence. The building took over 400 hundred years to complete and was designed by architect Arnolfo di Cambio. The exterior façades of the building are faced in marble of and the octagonal dome is the largest masonry dome in the world. On a clear day it is worthwhile spending time to see how the light behaves at various times throughout the day. Due to the rich marble textures it is possible to achieve some impressive contrasts between light and dark with a fantastic blue sky backdrop. From the plaza of the Battistero di San Giovanni it is possible to achieve a composition that contains the Baptistery, Campanile and the Dome in the same photo. It is still possible to photograph inside the cathedral and the frescoes in the dome make an impressive composition though attention must be made to sunlight. Please note all photography within the building s must be carried out without the use of a flash.

Santa Croce

The Basilica de Santa Croce houses some of Florence’s most impressive frescoe paintings and contains the tombs of some of the most influential people from European history. The tombs of and monuments of Santa Croce include those to: Vittorio Alfieri, Charlotte Bonaparte, Dante, Galileo and Michaelangelo Buonarroti among others. The elaborately decorated tomb of Michaelangelo was decorated by Giorgio Vasari and is worth seeing at midday when it is illuminated at its best. The impressive facade of the building is also worth capturing, though an early morning visit is imperative to avoid snapping the hoards of tourist who are present on its large piazza from around mid morning.

Finding the perfect cappuccino in Florence

2009-05-26T02:45:00.000-07:00

Cappuccino for breakfast in Italy can be equated with the British love for tea, as a means of starting the day. A popular drink the world over that arouses the senses through its aroma and flavor, the cappuccino is said to have been invented by a Franciscan monk in the 17th century. The love of espresso-based coffee is now so popular that the majority of apartments in Florence have their own espresso maker.
The basic formula for the cappuccino involves a shot of espresso that has steamed milk and foam added to it. The exact measures of each and the temperature of the milk play an important role in the final flavor, as does the type of coffee used, the origin and the roasting process that is involved.

The Italians have various preferences when ordering their cappuccino and the following translations should aid you when making your decision:
Un cappuccino con schiuma – Espresso with foam, often ordered with chocolate sprinkled on top
Un cappuccino senza schiuma- Espresso without foam
Un cappuccino caldo – Hot
Un cappuccino freddo – Cold
Un cappuccino tiepedo – Not cold, not hot, just right or quite literally tepid

It is likely that foreign visitors to Florence will be impressed by the standard of coffee in the many cafes and trattorias as it differs so greatly in comparison to generic high street franchises. The following suggestions offer some great stops to recharge your batteries with a well-deserved authentic caffeine hit during your day of activities.

Giubbe Rosse Gran Café Ristorante
This café was founded by the Reininghaus brothers, two German brothers who quickly established the café as a meeting point for Florence’s large German community. The café was popular as it supplied newspapers from all over the world to its clientele. Important writers and artists frequented the café and Alberto Viviani defines the Giubbe Rosse as the birthplace of the Futurist movement, which had an important impact on Italian culture. An impressive and good value brunch is on offer and the cappuccino is said to be one of the best in the centre, both of which can be enjoyed on the ample terrace
Piazza della Repubblica 13r-14r, Firenze

Café Gilli
Another popular Florence café for enjoying both a quick coffee or an authentic Florentine slow dining experience. The Gillia is one of Florence’s oldest coffee institutions with a traditional style interior and also boasts an atmospheric terrace space in Piazza della Republica. There are an impressive range of pastries on offer that form the perfect Florentine breakfast or midmorning snack when washed down with a quality cappuccino in a historic and ambient setting.
Piazza Della Repubblica, Firenze (FI)

Chiaroscuro
This is a smaller and slightly more modern café in comparison to the previous two and is particularly popular for its vast range of hot drinks. Their clientele is around 60% tourists and 40 % locals which is a fairly high percentage of locals for a centrally located café, which is a good indicator of the quality. For Northern European and American tourists,the “aperi cena” which is a free buffet of light snacks that can be consumed when the client buys a drink, is a great way of filling up on an early meal if eating late is not your thing.
Via del Corso, Firenze

Gruesome gongs on in Florence

2009-05-25T04:24:00.000-07:00

The monster of Florence has become a legendary tale that bore its ugly head around summertime all over Italy from the latter part of the sixties until the mid eighties. The story has enticed numerous travel writers to rent apartments in Florence in search of new material. The most famous of these was the author Thomas Harris of Silence of the Lambs fame. He was so inspired by a trial he attended and by the mystery in general that he based the sequel Hannibal in Florence.

The serial killer that has been tagged the Monster of Florence is believed to have begun his killing spree in the summer of 1968, when a young couple that were carrying out an adulterous relationship, were killed while parked in a car in the outlying Florence countryside while the woman’s son lay sleeping in the back of the car. The woman’s husband was subsequently jailed for the crime although he was later found innocent.

The next murder was carried out in 1981 in a similar rural beauty spot and involved the killing of a young couple using the same Beretta .22 pistol that had been used in the 1968 killing. Ballistic experts traced the ammunition as Winchester bullets that had been bought in Australia in the 1950’s.

From this point on, the killings occurred every year until 1985 and all followed the same pattern bar one. The killer targeted courting couples that were parked in quiet lanes around rural Florence. The only time that there was a marked difference in the pattern of killing was when two German tourists were killed in their van that was parked in a country lane. Police commented that the killer may have mistaken one of the men for a woman on account of his long hair.

Various trials have been carried out in search of the killer with countless people being taken into custody and investigated. While two men (Mario Vanni and Giancarlo Lotti) remain incarcerated for the crimes committed in rural Florence there still remains a great air of mystery surrounding the story.

Fine Florentine dining that won’t break the bank

2009-05-20T00:53:00.000-07:00

Food lies at the heart of Italian culture and is one of the many enticing factors that attract the massive volume of tourists to its cities every year. The Tuscan kitchen is known as “cucina povera”, which literally translates as poor kitchen. The ethos of traditional Tuscan cooking is the use of fresh ingredients to create basic dishes that are wholesome and tasty, where preparation and process are fundamental to the outcome of each dish. It is essential to try some of the local cuisine during any trip to the Tuscan capital and this blog aims to offer a few suggestions for trying authentic and reasonably priced Florentine cuisine that will inspire you to try some cooking in your own Florence apartment.

Il Rifrullo
Situated in a charming and tranquil setting on the left side of the River Arno, Il Rufrullo boasts a picturesque garden that overlooks Florence’s medieval walls. The lunch menu offers an array of pasta dishes, traditional Tuscan soups, salads, hot and cold plates and a range of Tuscan specialties that are defined by the seasons. A popular favourite among locals is the Sunday brunch. It is still quite a novelty for a restaurant to open on Sunday in Florence and Il Rufrullo has catered for that market with its Sunday all you can eat buffet, which offers a vast range of foods both traditional and modern (5-15 € main course).
Il Rufrullo is located at via San Niccolò, 55, Florence.
http://www.ilrifrullo.com/

Ristorante del Fagioli
This is a traditional family run restaurant that offers only traditional Tuscan fare. It is considered by many to be one of the best places in Florence to try the famous bistecca fiorentina. In traditional Tuscan style the menu is heavily influenced by the foods that are in season at that particular time. Other specialties include, arista di maiale al forno—very thinly cut slices of pork loin, seasoned with fried garlic and sage and involtini di Gigi—thin slices of beef stuffed with cheese, ham and artichokes, rolled, and braised in butter and olive oil. Antonio, the restaurant manager will be happy to offer you his suggestions and the whole family of staff are very friendly and eager to converse with the diners. For the quality of food and service provided, Ristorante del Faglioli offers some of the most reasonable prices in Florence. (5-15€ main course)
Corso Dei Tintori, 47/R Florence.
Check this video.

Osteria de' Benci
Another favourite among locals and regular visitors alike, the Osteria de´Benci features on the list of many gastronomy tourist’s itinerary. The menu selection is diverse while preserving a strong Tuscan influence. This is a particularly good choice for tourists that don’t speak much English as the friendly staff are on hand to help and offer their own personal suggestions. Marco Meneghini, creates a welcoming and authentic atmosphere and the surroundings are in a typical Florentine style. The grilled meats are of a very high standard as are the pasta dishes, which come highly recommended in many popular guides and online reviews. If you have room for desert after your meal then it is definitively worth trying, though due to the size of the portions here it is often impossible to even manage a coffee after the main meal! Very reasonably priced for the amount of food and very friendly staff ( main courses from 5-15€).
Via de' Benci 13r, Florence
Review of the Osteria.

A Taste of the Tuscan Countryside in Florence - Le Cascine

2009-05-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

Blending a love of the countryside with Florentine history and prestige dating back to the Medici era, the wonderful Le Cascine park is a favourite for Florence families and citizens. Pack your picnic in your Florence apartment and head over towards the Porta al Prato neighbourhood, to spend a day in the Le Cascine park along the river Arno.

Le Cascine, literally meaning “The Farmsteads” had its beginnings in Medici times, when the first Duke of Florence commissioned the land for cattle farming and a farm house in around 1530. This plan was to change after his death, when Cosimo I de Medici turned the vast area into private woodlands for the Medici family, turning the farmhouse into a mansion, creating boulevards and covering the area with new oak groves, pine, elm and maple trees. After the end of the Medici line in 1737, Le Cascine park was granted to the city of Florence and its public by the new Grand Duke of Tuscany.

In the last two centuries there have been many beautiful additions to the park. There are several squares and avenues, somel Neo-classical fountains, such as the Fonte di Narciso which was made famous by the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley, and more modern features for enjoyment.

During the summer, the outdoor swimming pool and Pavionere bar makes a great spot for cooling off. Le Cascine is popular for joggers, horse-riding and biking. There’s also a hippodrome and ampitheatre space, which host events and productions over the milder months.
Florence’s biggest market also takes place in Le Cascine park every Tuesday morning, where you can buy fresh products, flowers, as well as clothing, shoes, jewellery and antiques.
Whatever your interests, the best thing to recommend in Le Cascine park is a relaxing day with a picnic and good company. The beauty of Tuscany can be found here in Florence’s finest park.

An alternative way to see Florence

2009-05-15T01:24:00.000-07:00

There is a new way to see Florence that causing quite a stir of interest among the streets of the Centro Storico. Rather than a conventional walking tour, Segway tours have embraced cutting edge technology and offer a tour where visitors maneuver their way around the city on a self balancing electric vehicle. Segway Tours provide a totally unique adventure around the historic city centre which boasts an abundance of Florence apartments that are available for short term rentals.

The Segway PT was invented by Dean Kamen and is produced by Segway Inc who are based in New Hampshire, United States. The word Segway is derived from the Italian verb segue, which means to follow, the PT part stands for Personal Transporter.

In order to make the Segway move forward the user simply leans forward and to go backwards, leans back. The design incorporates a “lean steer” handlebar which enables the user to turn. It is driven by an electric motor and travels at a maximum speed of 12.5 miles per hour (20.1 km/h). In order to deal with the issue of tilting the designers have incorporated Gyroscopic sensors which cause the motors to respond and return the handle and foot plate to an upright position.

The Segway tours are given by professional guides who have been educated in Art, History and Languages. Users are given a 30 minute “orientation session” so that they can become acquainted with the functions of the Segway before embarking on the tour.

This is a totally unforgettable way to see Florence’s highlights and you will have enough energy after the tour to carry on your holiday activities. The tours can be booked online at the official website here:
http://www.segwayfirenze.com/florence-segway-tours.asp?lang=en

Further Information
The Morning Tour Starts at 10:00 am *
The Afternoon Tour Starts at 3:00 pm *
*Given in English
From Monday to Saturday
15th of January - 31st of March: Available only the morning tours
1st of April - 31st of October: Available the morning and the afternoon tours
1st of November - 15th of December: Available only the morning tours
16th of December - 15th January: Not Available

Florentine Cuisine: Bistecca alla Fiorentina

2009-05-08T01:15:00.000-07:00

Many restaurants in Florence specialise in this typical steak, Bistecca a la Fiorentina, also known as Porterhouse steak. If you want to cook at home in your Florence apartment and want to impress, here’s an easy guide to preparing your own Bistecca alla Fiorentina.

Firstly you’ll need the right cuts at the macellaio (butchers). Bistecca alla Fiorentina uses local Chianina beef. These are huge white oxen raised in the Val di Chiana; their meat is tender and full of flavour.

You’ll need about 10 minutes to prepare the steaks and roughly half an hour to cook, depending on how rare or well-done you require the steaks.

Ingredients: Thick Chianina steaks, fresh cracked pepper and salt to taste.

Firstly, place the steaks in a hot grilled frying pan (if you do not have a charcoal grill) and let them sear briefly, then reduce the heat and cook slowly for a few minutes.

As soon as the steak will come off the grill easily, turn it and sprinkle salt over the grilled surface. After a few minutes on the other side, turn it again and apply salt on the surface. The seared surface will act as a barrier against the salt drawing moisture from the steak.

The next two turns of the steak should be for applying the fresh cracked pepper.

What’s important in cooking the steak is the first few minutes on high heat, to seal the exterior, followed by a constant medium heat to allow the steak to cook to your liking.

A 1-inch steak , for example, needs about 10 minutes if you want it rare, or medium about 15 minutes.

A 2-inch steak needs about 20 minutes rare and just over 25 minutes to become medium-cooked.

Bear in mind also that the steak will continue to cook a couple of minutes after you have removed it from the heat, so add a minute or two onto the estimated time for each steak. Also, if the meat has been kept at room temperature, it will cook a little faster.

Bistecca alla Fiorentina is best served in your Florence apartment, on the terrace or balcony, with a lemon wedge, a fresh green salad and a fine bottle of Chianti wine from your nearby enoteca (wine shop).
Buonissimo!

Florence Shopping Guide

2009-05-05T02:16:00.000-07:00

Florence has always had a great hand in commerce. Florence apartments and shops have existed since renaissance times and older, when each area of the city was characterised by a certain craftwork. Members of each guild were required to be descendants of each craft society to join the profession.

In this way, the skills have been handed down through the generations, to their present day glory. Florence is best-known for its gold and jewellery crafts, its leather bags and shoes, its art and renaissance antiques, as well as meats and of course, Chianti wine.
When in Florence, it’s important to note that the city specialises in luxury goods and high quality, so if you really want to go shopping, you´ll need a good budget.

Have a read on for some of the best places to satisfy your shopping desires.
Florence souvenirs and small charms can be found on the Ponte Vecchio bridge.
If you’re hunting for Florentine antiques, you can find the best on Via Maggio.
Leather goods are popular in this city; the best bet for luxury Florence shoe-makers, boutiques and accessories is Via dei Tornabouni, with brands such as Gucci.
If the old Florence pharmacies and perfumeries interest you, go to the Antica Officina di Santa Maria Novella, where it is possible to buy essences from yesteryear.
Pick up some better value in Florence’s high street shops, such as Diesel and Sisley, which are located on the main street Via dei Calzaiuoli near the Duomo.
From Monday through Saturday, look for bargains at Florence’s fleamarket at Piazza dei Ciompi. This outdoor market offers small antiques and nick-nacks.
Finally, for Florence fresh produce, meats and cheeses, an array of leather goods and general market items can be found in the San Lorenzo market, between Via Cavour and Via Nazionale.

Happy shopping and don’t forget to stop along the way for an espresso!

Uffizi Gallery in Florence - Beat the Queue

2009-04-25T08:15:00.000-07:00

Housed in the Palazzo degli Uffizi in Florence, Italy; the Uffizi gallery is one of the most famous art galleries in the World. It contains one of the biggest collections of Renaissance art and some of the most iconic artworks from Botticelli, Caravaggio, Da Vinci and Rembrandt, among others.

When booking your flights, Florence apartment and hire car, also consider booking your tickets for attractions such as the Uffizi Gallery. It is reported that in high season visitors can spend up to five hours queuing for entry to the gallery. Tickets can be booked online directly from the official Uffizi gallery website and will allow you more time to enjoy the abundance of other tempting attractions in Florence city centre.

Completed in 1581, after 21 years of construction, the Uffizi Gallery was designed by Giorgio Vasari as office buildings for the Florentine Magistrates, Uffizi means office in Italian. The design of the building is considered highly influential by architecture historians as the long internal courtyard that that looks towards the Arno River through a Doric Screen is considered to be the first uniform streetscape in Europe. The accentuated perspective and unbroken cornicing create the linear quality that led to this observation.

The Uffizi Gallery possesses a monumental collection of artworks that are distributed among some 45 exhibition rooms, meaning that it is advised to set aside at least 3 hours of your day to appreciate all of the vast collection and leave time to visit any of the other nearby museums or galleries.

It is also recommended to take one of the audio tours that are available, as this will give you historical insight and make your viewing experience a lot more worthwhile.

Ticket prices begin at €9.95 and visitors simply visit the official Uffizi website where they enter the date, time and number of visitors that they wish to admit and the ticket order can be made quickly and easily online using a credit card. The price includes a small booking fee but it is definitely worth paying to avoid the queue in the often stifling, Florence summer heat.

European citizens between the ages of 18 and 25 and teachers are entitled to a reduced rate and those under 18 and over 65 are entitled to free entrance, although children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

The Uffizi Gallery is located at the Piazzale degli Uffizi in central Florence.

Cantine Aperte 31st May 2009

2009-04-24T08:48:00.000-07:00

The region of Tuscany is world renowned for its beautiful rolling countryside and exquisite wines and cuisine. Wine production is deeply rooted in Tuscan culture and has existed since the Etruscans imported the grapevine from the orient and began cultivation of the vines on a large scale, the Greeks named Tuscany "the Land of Wine".

The last Sunday in May offers wine lovers the chance to sample wines that are produced throughout Italy through an initiative called the Cantine Aperte or Open Cellars. The public are invited to try the wines offered by each winery and observe the cultivation and production processes involved in making them.

With a wealth of central Florence apartments on offer, this initiative provides the perfect excuse for a day trip into the countryside that surrounds the city, which is a recommendable activity to help truly appreciate this part of Italy and its cultures, which are rooted in traditions of fine wines and good quality cuisine.

On the 31st of May 2009, around 800 wine cellars throughout Italy will open their doors to an enormous visiting public of around 1 million people, Tuscany alone has 130 participating wineries. The massive scale of this event represents the importance that wine cultivation has on Italian culture from region to region.

The event is coordinated by the Movimento Turismo del Vino, a non-profit organization that was set up in 1993 with the aim of promoting wine tourism in the region and improving the “image and prestige” of the wine producing areas. The wineries chosen to participate are given the opportunity based on strict criteria which places emphasis on a high level of quality in the visitor tours that are offered.

The event also celebrates the cultural and culinary traditions of the region and is an ideal way to discover many local delicacies . Information on participating wineries can be found by visiting the official webpage of the Movimiento Turismo del Vino.

Ponte Vecchio- A Brief History of One of Florence’s Most Iconic Landmarks

2009-04-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

The oldest of Florence’s six bridges, the Ponte Vecchio attracts thousands of visitors every year to marvel at this ancient landmark that dates back to Roman times. The original bridge was destroyed by a flood 1333 and was subsequently rebuilt twelve years later , however the architect that the project is attributed to is widely disputed. Some authorities claim that the bridge’s architect is Neri de Fioravante while others support the theory that the architect was in fact, Taddeo Gaddi.

The original design of the bridge included five arches while the Ponte Vecchio that exists today has three and is wider than the original. The bridge is famous for the shops that occupy its porticos or porches. These were initially owned by the Comune but in the 15th century were sold to private owners. The majority of the traders included butchers, greengrocers and fishmongers but in 1565 Ferdinando I ordered that the bridge should be cleared up and they were replaced with goldsmiths and jewellers to give the bridge a more elegant image.

The famous Vasari corridor or Corridoio Vasariano was built in 1565 under the order of Cosimo I de’ Medici who was the serving Duke of Florence at that time and is named after its designer Giorgio Vasari. This corridor links the Palazzo Vecchio and the Gli Uffizi with the Piti Palace. The motivation for the corridor was highly extravagant; it was built in 5 months to offer the Duke a means of moving freely between his residence and the Government Palace. Today the walls of the corridor are adorned with world renowned Renaissance artworks.

The Ponte Vecchio has endured numerous fires and floods, one of the worst cases on record was a flood that occurred in 1966, in which many valuable pieces of jewellery were washed away and the bridge suffered significant structural damage. During the Second World War, as the Germans retreated from the Allies, they destroyed all of the other bridges in Florence but left the Ponte Vecchio under explicit orders from Hitler, instead choosing to blockade its ends with large piles of rubble to hinder their enemy in its imminent advance.

In a city which boasts a massive wealth of attractions, the Ponte Vecchio is one of the few attractions in the city that is totally free; after all it is classed as a public byway. The most impressive views can be found from the neighbouring bridges, the Ponte Santa Trinita and the Ponte alle Grazie or by walking along the banks of the river Arno to snap that iconic shot of the bridge in its full glory.

The History of Chianti in Florence

2009-04-24T06:55:00.000-07:00

Created in the ripe Tuscan countryside since the 14th century and defined as a wine-producing area in 1716, Chianti and Chianti wine is one of Italy’s most favourite products. All apartments in Florence deem it necessary to have at least a couple of bottles of Chianti, their home-grown produce.

The Chianti area now incorporates about 65 square miles between Florence and Siena, which has grown and added new territories since its first days of wine-making.
The original Etruscan family of Clante settled in the area in the 7th and 8th centuries, and the wine-making activity is said to be attributed to them.
Always enamoured for its fertile valleys and natural beauty, the Chianti region mixes woods of oak and chesnut with olive groves, villages, vineyards and many little rivers.

In the 14th century, a dispute over land ownership was settled as two young nobles from the rivalry cities, Guelph Florence and Ghibelline Siena, had a race to cover land and claim it. According to the story, the race was to start at the first cock of the crow in each city. Florence had kept a black rooster without food, so that it would crow earlier in the morning and this led to Florence gaining more of the Chianti territory. The image of this black rooster is still used today as the seal on the Chianti wine bottle.

Striving to protect the Chianti wine production and its hugely popular culture in more modern times, there have been several societies established, to allow for the correct ecological management of the region around Florence, and the organisation of the tourist flow within the Chianti area. The seal of this community is marked by the ever-faithful Chianti rooster.

When in Florence, be sure to relax with a glass of Chianti and savour the city’s great past.

A 360 of Piazza della Signoria in Florence

2009-04-24T02:23:00.000-07:00

Well, here is a 360 of one of the most famous place in Florence, the wonderful Piazza della Signoria. More info on what you can see there here: Piazza della Signoria - Wikipedia.

Well-Heeled in Florence’s Ferragamo Museum

2009-04-22T06:28:00.000-07:00

Florence has produced many of the greats in art, many of whom had humble beginnings in an apartment in Florence, or simply settled in Florence, to later become renowned worldwide. In modern history, Salvatore Ferragamo made his mark on the world of fashion, designing shoes in Hollywood in the 20’s for stars and the silver screen and later brought their manufacture to his preferred city of Florence. Ferragamo died in 1960, but his legacy lives on; his name being a modern-day global luxury brand. For shoe-lovers, a trip to the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum is highly advised when in Florence.
Quite unlike the usual Florence museum, this conceptual shoe gallery, which was opened by the Ferragamo family in 1995 as a tribute to Salvatore’s ideas, showcases the designer’s work and collections. Each piece of footwear is viewed as an artwork, alongside documentary on Ferragamo’s life, photos of him with celebrities and an interesting insight into last century’s relationship with shoes.

The fascinating story behind Ferragamo’s work, pioneering the cork wedge during the scarcity of the world war years, his popularity with Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Ingrid Bergman, the re-planting of his business in his native Italy, these are all detailed within the museum’s permanent collections.

What’s more, the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum also organises temporary collections dealing with new contemporary artists, collaborating with arts and culture societies and hosting exhibitions. The entrance fee into the museum (€5) goes towards funding annual scholarships for up-and-coming footwear designers. The museum is definitely worth a visit for its inter-cultural aspect, if not for the shoes.

The Salvatore Ferragamo Museum is located on Piazza Santa Trinita 5r, in Florence’s Santa Maria Novella district. It’s opening hours are from 10am-6pm and it is closed only on Tuesdays. For information about reserving a visit, the contact phone number is +39 055 3360 456/455.

Divinely Dante in Florence

2009-04-22T03:54:00.000-07:00

Follow the Florence trail of Dante, the writer of the Divine Comedy, one of the most acclaimed literary masterpieces in world history. Dante Alighieri, Florentine born, frequented Florence apartments –many of which are still the same today- and streets at the end of the 13th century until his political banishment from Florence. In the years that succeeded, he wrote some of his works, as well as the Divine comedy, between 1308 and his death in 1321.

The 14,000 lines of Dante’s Divine Comedy or Divina Commedia unfold as the writer takes a journey through the three Christian phases of the afterlife; Hell (Inferno), Purgatory (Purgatorio) and Heaven (Paradiso). Written in the first person, the poem’s famed allegory and Christian themes, along with the Italian language used, helped to portray the religious and scientific ideas of those times in Florence and in the Western World, while establishing the Tuscan dialect in a historical context.

When in Florence, it’s worth visiting those monuments of a great literary past with Dante, as follows:

Baptistery of San Giovanni- Where Dante was christened. There is a painting depicting Dante showing Florence his poem, painted in 1465 by Domenico di Michelino.

Via Corso and the houses of Portinari- Where Beatrice lived; Dante’s obsession as portrayed in La Vita Nouva.

Chiesa di Santa Margherita de' Cerchi- The Florence church in which Dante is believed to have married Gemma Donati in 1295.

Florence’s House of Dante - A little museum with articles pertaining to Dante’s life and works.

Palazzo del Bargello- The building in which Dante’s banishment from Florence was proclaimed.

There is a Giotto fresco of Dante in Paradise, in the building’s chapel.

Chiesa di Santa Croce- See the Dante sculpture outside the church, created by Enrico Pezzi in 1865.

Chiesa di Santa Maria Novella- Frescoes by Nardo di Cione which show Dante’s Paradise and Hell.

For enthusiasts of literature, a trip to Dante’s monuments in Florence will make for an interesting trip.