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The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence was built circa 1294, perhaps by a plan of Arnolfo di Cambio. It was constructed with funding from the population and the Florentine Republic and built above the foundations of a small church which some monks had erected outside the walls of the city in 1252, just a few years after the death of St. Francis. The remains of the original building were not identified until 1966, when in the aftermath of the great flood that sumerged the city, part of the paving belonging to the present Basilica gave way.
From its beginnings, the history of Santa Croce has been closely linked to the history of Florence itself. It has been continually re-planned and re-designed throughout the course of those seven centuries without suffering significant interruptions, and therfore acquiring new symbolic connotations each time. From the original Franciscan church it evolved to become a religious "town hall" for the important families and corporations when Florence was ruled by the Medici family. From being a craftsmen's laboratory and workshop - first Humanist and then Renaissance - it became a theological centre; and in the 19th Century, it saw a change from being a pantheon of the nation's glories to a place of reference for the political history of Italy before and after its unification.
Basilica of Santa Croce
Piazza Santa Croce 16
50122 Firenze
Tel. 055 24 66 105
Fax 055 24 66 105
Email: info@operadisantscroce.it
Palazzo Strozzi was begun in 1489 by Benedetto da Maiano for Filippo Strozzi, a rival of the Medici who desired to have the most magnificent palace in the city. Filippo Strozzi was left in ruins by the cost of the project and died in 1491. The palazzo was eventually finished in 1538 by Il Cronaca (Simone del Pollaiuolo).
Palazzo Strozzi
Piazza Strozzi, 50123 Firenze
Telephone +39 055 27 76 461/06
info@fondazionepalazzostrozzi.it
The Gold Market is a popular jewelry store on Piazza Santa Croce - they have been in business at this location for almost 40 years. They have a brand new website and now you can buy their gold jewelry directly from Italy and have it shipped to most countries.
The Gold Market
Piazza Santa Croce 20/r
50122 Florence (FI), Italy
Tel. 055 242 983
http://the-gold-market.com
OIBÒ is a newer restaurant/bar/club at the corner of Via dei Benci and Borgo dei Greci - right next to Piazza Santa Croce. This is a great place for cappuccino and pastry in the morning, a light lunch, or an aperitivo. Owned by the Peruzzi family who have a giant leather emporium across the street, and a Piazza in their name nearby. Free Wi-fi is available too - as a matter of fact, we made this post from the bar!
OIBÒ
Via dei Benci 53r
50122 Firenze
tel-fax +39 055 2638611
info@oibo.net
http://www.oibo.net
The 2005 Rosso Di Montalcino from Argiano is a very nice "baby" Brunello. If you are looking for something that costs much less than a Brunelo di Montalcino but in the same style, this rosso should do fine. A little tight on the nose, with a hint of menthol - but very full flavors of red fruit and surprisingly smooth on the mid-palate and finish. 100% Sangiovese Grosso from vineyards surrounding this famous estate.
This year is the 25th Biennale of the Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato, the oldest antique fair in Italy and one of the most important of its kind in the world.
The fair will be held from September 29th to October 7th, 2007 in the aristocratic setting of Palazzo Corsini.
If you are in Florence this weekend there is a wine tasting event centered around the Piazza Pitti and other locations of the oltrarno (the other side of the Arno). €10 for the glass will get you 16 tastes from many popular wineries. We suggest trying the following: Casale dello Sparviero (a small producer from Castellina), Castello del Teriiccio, Il Borro and Villa Mangiacane. There is more information here.
Poggio a Caiano is a former Medici villa at the foot of the Albano hills. It is on record as being the only surviving architectural structure commissioned by Lorenzo the Magnificent, and became a favorite of his that was used by the family dynasty for centuries. It was also one of the favored summer residences of the grand duchess of Tuscany Elisa Baciocchi Buonaparte, Napoleon's sister, and the possible site of her affair with Nicolò Paganini, who gave concerts in the Villa's theater. It was eventually a summer residence of King Victor Emmanuele II before being turned over to the state.
The Basilica of Santa Croce in Florence was built circa 1294, perhaps by a plan of Arnolfo di Cambio. It was constructed with funding from the population and the Florentine Republic and built above the foundations of a small church which some monks had erected outside the walls of the city in 1252, just a few years after the death of St. Francis. The remains of the original building were not identified until 1966, when in the aftermath of the great flood that sumerged the city, part of the paving belonging to the present Basilica gave way.
From its beginnings, the history of Santa Croce has been closely linked to the history of Florence itself. It has been continually re-planned and re-designed throughout the course of those seven centuries without suffering significant interruptions, and therfore acquiring new symbolic connotations each time. From the original Franciscan church it evolved to become a religious "town hall" for the important families and corporations when Florence was ruled by the Medici family. From being a craftsmen's laboratory and workshop - first Humanist and then Renaissance - it became a theological centre; and in the 19th Century, it saw a change from being a pantheon of the nation's glories to a place of reference for the political history of Italy before and after its unification.
Basilica of Santa Croce
Piazza Santa Croce 16
50122 Firenze
Tel. 055 24 66 105
Fax 055 24 66 105
Email: info@operadisantscroce.it
Continue reading Santa Croce.
The Florence Airport (FLR) is named "Amerigo Vespucci Airport" but is also known by many people by its old name "Peretola" (many road signs still have this name on it, more history of Peretola here), which is the area where the airport is located. The airport is about 5 kilometers from the city center. There is now a fixed taxi fare of € 20 (nights, Sundays, and baggage are extra) from the airport to the center. There is also a bus shuttle run by ATAF from the airport to the main train station (Firenze, Santa Maria Novella) every half hour from early morning to 8:00 PM.
This is a small airport, with one runway (which was recently expanded to handle larger planes) - there is a larger one at Pisa, Galileo Galilei, which is 80 kilometers away. Florence Airport has a bar/café, a duty free shop, and a currency exchange. The airport handles about 2 million passengers a year.
Amerigo Vespucci Airport
Via del Termine 11
50127 Florence
Information on flights (24 hours): 39 055 3061700 Ext. 702
Palazzo Strozzi was begun in 1489 by Benedetto da Maiano for Filippo Strozzi, a rival of the Medici who desired to have the most magnificent palace in the city. Filippo Strozzi was left in ruins by the cost of the project and died in 1491. The palazzo was eventually finished in 1538 by Il Cronaca (Simone del Pollaiuolo).
Today the Strozzi houses 2 separate exhibition spaces (the main space, and the Strozzina in the basement) with rotating exhibits (3 a year), a brand new café, administrative offices, and a library.
Palazzo Strozzi
Piazza Strozzi, 50123 Firenze
Telephone +39 055 27 76 461/06
info@fondazionepalazzostrozzi.it
The Gold Market is a popular jewelry store on Piazza Santa Croce - they have been in business at this location for almost 40 years. They have a brand new website and now you can buy their gold jewelry directly from Italy and have it shipped to most countries.
The Gold Market
Piazza Santa Croce 20/r
50122 Florence (FI), Italy
Tel. 055 242 983
http://the-gold-market.com
OIBÒ is a newer restaurant/bar/club at the corner of Via dei Benci and Borgo dei Greci - right next to Piazza Santa Croce. This is a great place for cappuccino and pastry in the morning, a light lunch, or an aperitivo. Owned by the Peruzzi family who have a giant leather emporium across the street, and a Piazza in their name nearby. Free Wi-fi is available too - as a matter of fact, we made this post from the bar!
OIBÒVia dei Benci 53r
50122 Firenze
tel-fax +39 055 2638611
info@oibo.net
http://www.oibo.net
The 2005 Rosso Di Montalcino from Argiano is a very nice "baby" Brunello. If you are looking for something that costs much less than a Brunelo di Montalcino but in the same style, this rosso should do fine. A little tight on the nose, with a hint of menthol - but very full flavors of red fruit and surprisingly smooth on the mid-palate and finish. 100% Sangiovese Grosso from vineyards surrounding this famous estate.
Conde Nast's Portfolio.com has a profile on the high end real estate and villa rental company "The Best In Italy":
Like the European aristocrats in Henry James novels, Brandolini trades in connections, linking New World money with Old World nobility and property. Financier Felix Rohatyn, film mogul Paula Wagner, and ad supremo Charles Saatchi have all been clients of Brandolini's. When Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman were still married and sought a secluded Tuscan bolt-hole, the Contessa secured them the Villa Pisana, a stately 19th-century mansion discreetly tucked into a 7,400-acre estate outside Pisa. Sting, a longtime client of Brandolini's, once brought along his mobile studio to record an album in his rental villa. Brandolini persuaded the owners--who weren't quite sure what this blonde inglese actually did--not to balk at the trucks and hordes of technicians"
This year is the 25th Biennale of the Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato, the oldest antique fair in Italy and one of the most important of its kind in the world.
The fair will be held from September 29th to October 7th, 2007 in the aristocratic setting of Palazzo Corsini.If you are in Florence this weekend there is a wine tasting event centered around the Piazza Pitti and other locations of the oltrarno (the other side of the Arno). €10 for the glass will get you 16 tastes from many popular wineries. We suggest trying the following: Casale dello Sparviero (a small producer from Castellina), Castello del Teriiccio, Il Borro and Villa Mangiacane. There is more information here. Poggio a Caiano is a former Medici villa at the foot of the Albano hills. It is on record as being the only surviving architectural structure commissioned by Lorenzo the Magnificent, and became a favorite of his that was used by the family dynasty for centuries. It was also one of the favored summer residences of the grand duchess of Tuscany Elisa Baciocchi Buonaparte, Napoleon's sister, and the possible site of her affair with Nicolò Paganini, who gave concerts in the Villa's theater. It was eventually a summer residence of King Victor Emmanuele II before being turned over to the state.
Continue reading Medici Villa at Poggio a Caiano.