LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE
With your back to the Baptistery, look closely at the lowest frieze on the bell tower, at the relief depicting a shepherd and his dog tending a flock of sheep. According to legend, this is not just any dog: it is Giotto’s childhood companion. The dog would watch
To the viewer taking in the panoramic views from piazzale Michelangelo, tones of pale tan, burnt amber and earth brown blend the city of Florence into the old-world charm of the Tuscan landscape. Against the neutral buildings, an almost turquoise dome immediately attracts the eye. This color contrast serves
In search of something crafty to do in 2014? Knitting might be the thing. Florence is brimming with knitting groups stitched with an international make-up. Head to the knit café at IBS.it bookshop in via de’ Cerretani, 16R, on Mondays from 5 to 7pm. Participants
High up on the bell tower of Santa Maria Maggiore, the stone head of a woman, known as Berta, juts out bizarrely from the rough façade. The story goes that on September 16, 1327, Cecco d’Ascoli, a doctor, astrologer and teacher, was being led to
For visitors to the Uffizi Gallery who are short on time but eager to take in the highlights of the famed museum, there's an app for that... the Uffizi Art History Guide. The easy-to-use app for IOS devices (there is also Kindle e-book version) lists
Have you ever wondered what a pyramid is doing in the Cascine? Just off viale degli Olmi, which runs the length of the park, this mysterious structure was once an ice house. Built in 1796 by Grand Duke Ferdinando III’s architect Giuseppe Manetti, it was used to store
For centuries, the city's niches and shrines have been regarded as sacred places. Yet today, the original meaning of many of these tabernacles has been lost, and they have become increasingly invisible in the complexities of the cityscape. Although many still contain faded frescoes or votive offerings behind glass,
Looking for the multi-ethnic heart of Florence? Want to see the city from a different point of view? Walk Florence with guides from the Ukraine, Romania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nigeria, Somalia, Brazil and Russia. On these guided walks hosted by Firenze Migranda, hear about how immigrants from different
How many times have you walked past the sundial outside the Galileo Museum in piazza dei Giudici without giving it a second glance? Merging contemporary art and ancient science, the sundial indicates the time, date and direction. It can even orient stargazers to the night sky. Built in 2007,
Our events listing keeps you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly entertainment. This is a selection of the best events in ...
Some local bed and breakfasts are finding creative, new ways to attract and serve those who wish to travel without breaking the bank. From November 18 to 24, you can stay in an Italian bed and breakfast in exchange for goods or services during 'Barter Week'. How does it
Visual artist Jan Fabre imagines men with donkey ears, Japanese Yokoo Tadanori creates ‘funeral’ masks in pop colors emblazoned with the phrase ‘dreaming me, shh,’ while Andy Warhol transforms people into black and white ‘comics’ with spots of purple: these are just a few
The statue of Ferdinando I, astride his horse in piazza Santissima Annunziata, is a familiar sight. But take a closer look at the base of the statue. On the bronze plaque at the rear of the statue is a curious circle of bees, all facing the queen in the centre:
Nestled along via del Parione, home to artisanal businesses through the generations, is the newly opened Officina de’ Tornabuoni. Step inside and enter a sweet-scented world of natural health and beauty for the body and mind. Officina de’ Tornabuoni is a historic brand, established in 1843,
Have you ever been buffeted by the strong gusts of wind that tear through piazza del Duomo? An old legend claims that this is no ordinary wind, but the work of the devil himself. Many centuries ago, a cleric was preaching to a crowd in the piazza, on the
Have you ever looked closely at the bronze doors on the façade of the Duomo? If you do, you will notice, on the right-hand set of doors, the head of a troubled-looking young man with a snake wrapped around his neck. No, this is not one
Not long ago, I wrote about the lantern that sits atop the Cupola. I spoke about the fact that it took twice as long to build as the Cupola itself and Brunelleschi never saw it finished. Now and again, I climb the Cupola. Mostly, I do so to take
Filmmaker David Battistella moved to Florence from Canada in 2011 to pursue his dream: writing and producing a feature film based on Ross King’s 2000 book Brunelleschi’s Dome, about the life of Filippo Brunelleschi and the building of Florence’s Cupola. This column, which began
In the early days of May, strains of guitars, violins and accordions accompanied by drumbeats, are heard in the streets of Pistoia’s mountain villages. Joyous voices ring out, announcing the official arrival of spring. When I started writing this column, I was on a four-month journey
Filmmaker David Battistella moved to Florence from Canada in 2011 to pursue his dream: writing and producing a feature film based on Ross King’s 2000 book Brunelleschi’s Dome, about the life of Filippo Brunelleschi and the building of Florence’s Cupola. This column, which began
Trattoria Mario's is not for the faint-hearted. It is not the place for those who prefer a quiet dining experience with an elegant ambiance, a romantic view of the Ponte Vecchio, an impeccable wait staff, shiny silver cutlery and freshly pressed tablecloths and napkins. Mario's is chaotic,
The Cupola is a marvel. An eight-sided marvel. As round as it looks from a distance, up close we can observe that it was built on an octagonal base. Its eight sides are referred to as ‘veils' or in Italian, vele, like the sails of a ship. It
