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
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
“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
Already during the XIV century, Florence was famous for the production of leather, from tanning to selling. Therefore, leather craftsmanship has very ancient origins. Around 1282, the Arte dei Cuoiai o Galigai (curriers and tanners guild) was created. This guild included all those people who were responsible for tanning, working, read more
In order to get to know deep inside the grumpy and polemic Florentines, we must know something about Fiorentina, the city soccer club. Florentines have always argued about everything, but there is only one thing they always agree about: the boundless passion for Fiorentina soccer club. The bond between a read more
In the Florentine vernacular, it is very common to hear the expression “a ufo”. This expression is used in a negative sense when someone does something without paying. Where does this expression come from? It comes from Florence! We must go back to the Latin language used in medieval times. read more
A fun fact about the Renaissance period, transmitted through the centuries: Leonardo da Vinci and Sandro Botticelli were friends and, for a short period, they owned an inn together. Leonardo and Botticelli met around 1470, they were both pupils of master Verrocchio, a sculptor, painter, goldsmith, mathematician and engineer. They read more