The black rooster on a gold background is the historic symbol of Chianti Classico. The mascot has a deep-rooted background which dates to the middle ages when Florence and Siena were chief enemies and tensions between the rival city-states was high. Chianti is the area which falls between the two read more
The so-called buchette del vino were little windows built outside the main entrance of the old Renaissance palaces in the historic city center, just outside from where the indoor cellars were. These windows are made of a little wooden door and decorated with an arch. The main purpose of these read more
Perhaps the most memorable part of the Siena’s incredible Duomo isn’t in the Duomo at all, but the grand façade just outside of it. During the Middle Ages, Siena in constant competition with its arch rival, Florence, and wanting to prove their power and wealth, entered into the competition for read more
For many years oriental cuisine has been popular in Europe. Japanese restaurants are the new fashion among the young; sushi has nearly replaced the dates for pizza we had “unlike the young” a few decades before. On one hand we fear the East, and on the other we are fascinated read more
In the beautifully decorated Loggia of the Galatea in the Villa Farnesina, one particular image stands out. It is a monochromatic drawing of a man’s head, a stark contrast to the brightly colored frescoes and landscapes that otherwise fill the room. Longstanding rumors attribute this remarkable work to Michelangelo who read more
This “little” Farnese palace, perhaps would better be named Villa Chigi, in honor of the powerful and wealthy Sienese banker and art lover, Agostino Chigi, who commissioned the building and decoration of the impressive palace. Located in a tranquil position in the Trastevere, the palatial villa is set amongst beautifully read more
In September 2015, Professor Pietro Armienti found, embedded in the façade of Saint Nicola’s Church in Pisa, a message that had been hidden for over 800 years. It is a code embedded in the geometrically perfect lunette of the church, which might sound familiar to the readers of Dan Brown’s read more
“The double line of dark cypress, and the intricate underbrush of rosemary, lavender and Chinese roses, the shimmering meadow of spring daffodils and wild orchids, and here and there the busy buzz of the bees, compose an unforgettable picture.”… (Janet Ross, Old Florence) In Florence, wonderful writings of its sumptuous read more
What do Florence, Palermo and the English throne have in common? Let’s go back in time to the Medici era to discover this little known curiosity, for which we have the written chronicles of Giorgio Vasari to thank. Luigi Di Toledo, brother of Eleonora, wife of Cosimo I de’ Medici, read more
Let us now talk about the first D.O.C. (Denominazione di Origine Controllata, controlled designation of origin in English) ever. It all dates back to September, 24 1716, when the Gran Duke of Tuscany Cosimo III ‘de Medici issued an edict entitled Sopra la Dichiarazione de’ confine delle Quattro regioni Chianti, read more