LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE
With Expo 2015 in nearby Milan and myriad other international events, such as the Flora Firenze flower show in May and Pope Francis’ visit in November, this is a year of opportunity for Tuscan businesses. The Florentine spoke with Leonardo Bassilichi, president of Florence’s Chamber of Commerce,
Ex-prime minister Silvio Berlusconi once famously claimed that the evasion of high taxes is a ‘God-given right.’ As many European nations grapple with debt crises, the costs of rampant tax evasion are once again at the forefront of public debates in Italy. Reports from the country&
Although apples, a classic harbinger of autumn, have been grown in Italy for more than 2,000 years, most people are surprised to learn that Italy is one of the two prime European producers of fresh apples, supplying 30 percent of the demand in the 15 EU member states and
Not that long ago, the only facilities in Florence for travelling business professionals or those without permanent office spaces were those offered by Marconi World Office, Centro Servizi Firenze Nord and Executive Service, all of which still provide offices and support services but with prices and facilities aimed at top
Placing interns at a local business in Florence is a service offered by an increasing number of American universities with campuses in Florence, such as Syracuse University (theflr.net/syracuse), and professional intern placement agencies, such as Global Experiences (theflr.net/globalexperiences). While most internships are in social media and
Culturally and historically, Italy does not have an overtly philanthropic nature, or perhaps it is fairer to say that, traditionally speaking, giving back to the community has not represented a mainstream mentality: while the important charity work of confraternities and the like have centuries of history, and Italy is at
Are you going to Italy in order to work and live in the land of pizza, pasta and great coffee? If so, you are surely interested in the costs of living there. And while it is near impossible to give exact numbers, we’d like to at least try
Once upon a time, we talked about change across centuries, generations and decades. Of late, time has condensed, shrunk and undergone inverse exponentialism. Now we can actually talk about astounding changes to the face of Tuscan tourism in terms of months. In general terms, the ‘hardcore’ Tuscan
UPDATE, NOVEMBER 8, 2013: The Florentine has just released its Inferno Florence Guide app. Written by TF editors, the guide takes you through the places of Inferno, giving you historical and visitor information about the locations experienced by the book's protagonists to get to know Florence in depth. Download
If you are thinking about having children in Italy, you probably need to sit down in front of a Google spreadsheet and first start playing with some numbers. Among the obvious costs associated with children (adequate housing, food, clothes, toys, possibly private schooling) is the glaringly large figure that is
To say that the Polo Universitario Città di Prato (PIN) is a satellite campus of the University of Florence seems reductive, but it is the most immediate way to label this innovative educational structure. In truth, with more research labs than degree courses, PIN is a small university that,
As the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, Florence and the region of Tuscany have long had a ‘European calling.’ For this reason, Florence was chosen as the home of the European University Institute (EUI), which studies the activities and development of the European Union (EU). Now, Florence has
Florence is known for its traditional artisans who work leather, paper, and other materials—many of whom we have ‘met’ on the pages of The Florentine. Today, however, there’s a new type of nontraditional artisan whose tools include lasers and 3D printers. They’re
Italy is struggling with one of the most difficult recessions in the last 50 years. Unemployment has peaked at 11 percent, with youth and women, especially in the south, suffering the most from the stagnant economy and lack of jobs. But what about the almost 5 million foreign-born residents,
The Internet and the new interpretation of freedom of speech it offers has long been causing headaches to many different members of global society: governments, businesses and individuals. However, many are now learning to manage it rather than fight it. With some surprising results. Two years ago, TripAdvisor was
There are many students arriving this September anxious to explore a new city, culture, and nightlife options. But how many of them have considered the economic and cultural impact of their three- or four-month stay in Florence? Study abroad is an extended form of cultural tourism that, beyond personal
Sometimes the best innovation is right under our noses and we just need help seeing it. At a time when economists are desperately searching for sustainable business models that go ...
Recently, when I was in the Salone dei Cinquecento in Palazzo Vecchio for TEDx Florence, I realized that it had been nearly 1,000 days since my last visit to this marvellous place. I also realized that the theme of the conference, Innovation and Optimism, perfectly reflected my own thoughts
Although the peak wedding season is now over, an upcoming trade fair in Florence will keep brides-to-be, whether foreign or native, shopping around for wedding-related products and services the whole year long. At the Fortezza da Basso from October 29 to November 6, 2011, the Tutto Sposi
The next time you are on Google Maps, look at Italy in its entirety. You will notice that Florence is equidistant from the country's two largest cities, Milan and Rome. Then look at the geography of Italy and note that Florence is nestled just inside the great Apennine mountain
