Should you be in Florence between April and May you shouldn’t miss out on the spectacular display of hundreds of Irises in a riot of colors inside the Iris Garden at Piazzale Michelangelo. Founded in 1954, in concurrence with an international competition for the best Iris variety, the gardens hold read more
Everyone knows the Pitti Palace; everyone associates the Pitti name to that particular building. But the coat of arms? Do you mean to tell me that the Pitti, one of the most noble and powerful families in Florence, did not have its own coat of arms? In a city where read more
Although the Santa Maria Novella Church is an excellent example of the gothic style, and boasts the oldest facade in Florence, it regretfully isn’t usually considered one of the principal attractions of the city. Not only is it a beautiful church, but inside it houses many masterpieces, including Giotto’s crucifix read more
La Certosa is an impressive castle complex perched on the peak of Monte Acuto (now called Monte Santo) just outside of Galluzzo, a small town on the outskirts of Florence. A working monastery, the walled complex contains the monastery, a study hall or library, the church, and rooms. Certosa came read more
Weather prediction has always been a problem. But many believe that popular wisdom or lore is every bit as accurate as other sources, for example: “Rosso di sera bel tempo si spera….” Or “Red sky at night, good weather hopefully…” The Florentines, whose tradition of popular sayings is renowned for read more
“The most beautiful Roman vestige is undoubtedly the Pantheon. This temple has suffered so little, it appears to us, as it must have appeared to ancient Romans during those times. ” Stendhal, Roman Walks. One of the most famous and best preserved monuments of the capital is the Pantheon. The read more
Many of the Tuscan hill towns were divided into “contrade” or neighborhoods which competed against each other in annual town games – none better known than the Siena’s world famous Palio. Siena is divided into 17 Contrade: Aquila (eagle), Bruco (caterpillar), Chiocciola (snail), Civetta (little owl), Drago (dragon), Giraffa (giraffe), read more
Piazza della Repubblica has (almost) always been the center of life for Florence and its citizens. To one side, is the “Colonna dell’Abbondanza” or “Column of Abundance” that once marked where the cardo and decumanus maximi (the main north-south, and east-west roads of a city) crossed. This was the geographical read more
Carrara marble is world famous, mention the name and immediately one thinks of Michelangelo’s Il David or Pietà; but not everyone realizes that just outside of Florence is a small cave, which might not be as famous as Carrara, but has still given birth to famous stoneworks. Just below Fiesole, read more
Domenico Bigordi, born in Florence in 1449, was the first of five children. The nickname “Ghirlandaio” came from his father’s art as a goldsmith. In fact, his father was a famous jeweler excelled for his silver garlands that young Florentine noblewomen wore to adorn their headdresses. Ghirlandaio worked primarily in read more