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l veFlorence
pitti immagine
fashion museums
Calcio Storico
Events & exhibitions
Restaurants, Nightlife
& Wellness
may/jun
2014
fashion
Pitti Immagine
focus
Arte della Seta
Woman in Fashion
itinerary
Fashion Museums in Florence
Boboli Gardens
Exhibitions & events
LoveFlorence
Year #12 – Issue #3
May/June 2014
Free magazine for
international students also
published online at
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2
Sacred Splendour
Other Exhibitions
Events
Classical Music
Pop Music
Folklore & Shopping
Calsiuo Storico Fiorentino
4
8
14
16
44
22
24
32
36
39
40
gourmet
The Legend of IceCream Inventor 48
Gelaterie
52
Flavours of Tuscany
54
Pizza Pizza Pizza!
58
nightlife
Nightlife Reviews
Wellness
59
Wellness Reviews
60
CIty MAP
62
fashion
PItti immagine
Pitti Immagine: Fashion in Florence
T

PITTI uomo
86°
PITTI W 14°
Fortezza da
BAsso
Viale Strozzi, 1
June 17th-20th
4
here will be over 1,030 brands at Pitti Uomo,
plus the 70 women’s collections at Pitti W. With
a determined focus on internationality 40% of the
exhibitors at this edition come from over 30 countries over
30,000 visitors representing the world’s major large and
small retailers attended the last winter edition of the fair.
Here are just some of the main new events and previews that
will be presented at Pitti Uomo 86. The spotlight will be shining on the big names of the new classics, on research from
the world of accessories, on brands that have revolutionized
the meaning of sportswear, all the way to the most avantgarde collections and new talents in men’s fashion.
The main theme for Pitti June trade shows will be Ping Pitti
Pong, an exploration of sport and its simplest, almost Zen-like
forms. With Ping Pitti Pong, Pitti will represent the contemporary lifestyle through a sports lens, demonstrating its close
connections with fashion: a never-ending competition with a
different response every time, a game with uncertain results,
the strategies and the final outcomes ever changing. For the
60th anniversary of the Centro di Firenze per la Moda Italiana, FIRENZE HOMETOWN OF FASHION will present a
program of special events, Fashion shows and original performances, live installations and evenings of music, exhibits
and motion-picture screenings.
5
Pitti Bimbo
More at: < www.pittimmagine.it >
P
itti Bimbo rules as the only
trade fair in the world that
presents a complete overview
of children’s fashions combining it with
an extraordinary platform for presenting
the new lifestyle trends for kids.
From the classic-elegant look of the big
names at Pitti Bimbo, to the sportswear
at Sport Generation, from the creativity
of the brands in the New View and EcoEthic sections to urban couture at Super
Street, plus design items and textiles for
the young set, up to the avant-garde collections at Apartment – it’s all here at Pitti
Bimbo and shown via the myriad links
connecting contemporary art, food &
design and fashion. The core offering of
Pitti Bimbo is enriched with items that are
part of the young set’s lifestyle: jewelry,
fragrances, eyewear, furnishing items,
bags and travel accessories.
June 26th-28th

PITTI BIMBO 79°
Fortezza da BAsso
Viale Strozzi, 1
6
Pitti Filati
& Vintage Collection
More at: < www.pittimmagine.it >
P
itti Immagine Filati, the key
international event featuring
yarns for the knitting industry
will be held at the Fortezza da Basso
in Florence from 2 to 4 July 2014. It
is a research lab and an observatory
that looks onto lifestyle trends projected
towards the future. Pitti Filati presents
world-scale excellence in yarns to its
audience of international buyers and
designers from the biggest names in
fashion who come to Florence looking
for new creative inspiration. This, the
75th edition, will feature previews of
yarns for the 2015-16 fall-winter season, in a unique atmosphere that combines business, high technology and
entertainment and essential inputs for
the fashions of tomorrow.
July 2nd-4th

PITTI FILATI 75°
Fortezza da BAsso Viale Strozzi, 1
VINTAGE SELECTION 23°
STAZIONE LEOPOLDA Porta a Prato
7
focus
Arte della Seta
At the origins
of the Florentine Fortune
O
ne of the key businesses for Florence’s development
was the manufacture of textiles. Starting from Medieval times the city was one of the main silk producers in Europe, and this and the financial activities together
laid the basis for a later unbelievable economic growth, that
characterised the city from the end of the 13th century.
Florence’s worldwide renown monuments and artworks are
sign of that times prosperity. A natural consequence of these
flourishing businesses was the establishment of a corporate
system called ‘delle Arti’ (guilds of Arts), among which one
of the most influent one was the ‘Arte della Seta.’
The Arte della Seta was also known as ‘Por Santa Maria,’
from the name of the city gate around which many weavers
and cloth sellers had their laboratories / shops. Their typical
products were cloth, velvets and satins. The main raw material, silk, was imported from the East, but at the end of the
14th century an important breeding of silkworms started in
Florence and enhanced the city’s textile business.
The golden age of the Arte della Seta started in the 15th century,
thanks to the inventiveness of Florentine Gino Capponi, who
taught his collaborators how to spin gold and weave it with silk.
From this brand new idea a wide production of golden and
silver brocade fabric came to production and Florence became
quickly famous in the known world. This long and demanding
8
main:
Eleonora da Toledo
& his son Giovanni
by Agnolo Bronzino
on top:
Coat-of-arms of the
Arte della Seta
9
on the right:
Portrait
of a young man
by Agnolo Bronzino,
Metropolitan
Museum
of New York
process merged fantasy and an accurateness of sketches (often
by talented designers), quality of the raw materials and the mastering of all the techniques needed for the production process.
This manufacturing exuded the real Renaissance Florence and
in particular of the Medici court of Lorenzo the Magnificent,
where beauty and elegance became a way of being, living
and appear. The clothing of Florentine bankers and merchants,
and of their wives, stopped being simple - as it was in the
14th century - to become more sophisticated, harmonious in
shapes, bright in colours and rich in materials. We can admire
this change in many beautiful frescoes by the great masters of
the 15th and 16th century, such as Masaccio’s and Masolino’s
masterpieces in the Brancacci Chapel (commissioned in 1424
by Felice Brancacci, member of the Arte della Seta), representing figures in fine silk garments, to Benozzo Gozzoli’s fresco
‘La Cavalcata dei Magi,’ inside the chapel of Palazzo Medici
on Via Larga, depicting sumptuously dressed subjects, not to
10
on the left:
Portrait of Lucrezia
Panciatichi
by Agnolo Bronzino
mention Domenico Ghirlandaio’s frescoes in the Tornabuoni
Chapel, in the Church of Santa Maria Novella.
In the Uffizi Gallery too, the very elegant dresses of the female figures depicted by Sandro Botticelli stand out amongst
the many masterpieces on display, while Agnolo Bronzino’s
artworks show the Renaissance fashion trends, such as in the
nice portrait of Eleonora di Toledo, with refined details.
At the beginning the members of the Arte della Seta used to
gather in a rented laboratory, in Via Por Santa Maria, but from
the 2nd half of the 14th century their headquarter became the
nearby Via del Capaccio, in a Palazzo still showing today
their coat of arms on the facade.
The most beautiful and expensive products were displayed in
the guild’s shops, which were all along Via Porta Rossa and
Via di Port Santa Maria - the latter a very important street still
leading to the Ponte Vecchio. Many gold/silver spinners and
other artisans part of the guild had their laboratories near the
11
Statue of St. John, Patron saint of the
Arte della Seta in Orsanmichele
12
Ponte Vecchio, which is still a prominent window for Florentine handicrafts
in gold. It was even for its elegant and
rich brocade fabric that Florence became renown in the worldwide fashion
industry, a prestige already well known
and grown under Cosimo I de’Medici
who, in 1574, commissioned the New
Market (or Loggia del Porcellino), a
brand new building entirely dedicated
to the market of gold and silk goods.
The influence of the Florentine guilds, in
particular of the Arte della Seta, was not
only in the economic fields, it extended
to the political and cultural life.
Starting from 1293, with the laws of
Giustizia di Giano della Bella, it was
stated that only guild members could
work for the public office. This led to the
creation of a steady middle class made
of workers, the same class supporter of
all the Renaissance intellectual movements. Amongst the projects financed by
the Arte della Seta during Renaissance
a mention must go to the Spedale degli Innocenti. The building was carried
out by Filippo Brunelleschi starting from
1418 in Piazza della SS. Annunziata,
to welcome orphan children and young
unwed mothers. The guild also financed
the bronze statue by Baccio da Montelupo representing San Giovanni Evangelista (1515), patron saint of the Arte
della Seta that was placed in the Church
of Orsanmichele.
13
Women & Fashion
in Bronzino’s Portraits
B
ronzino is one of the most important artists of the
16th century, well known for his elegance and
psychological characterisation in portraits. His
work, which is very representative of his time, always depicted influential people.
His skills are especially evident in the portrait of Eleanor of
Toledo, the daughter of the Spanish Viceroy of Naples and
wife of Cosimo I de’Medici.
During Medici times, Cosimo, a distant maternal relative
to Lorenzo the Magnificent, revived the old family power.
Although he lacked political connections and economic resources, the benefits of his marriage were vast, and included
a rank and certain patrimony.
However, Florentines disliked the duchess, finding her too
proud and distant. She was never seen walking the streets as
she only hid in her carriage adorned with velvet and satin.
Her portrait depicts this pride through her precious dress,
which plays more of a protagonist than Eleanor herself. The
fabric is an advertisement of the Florentine silk industry at the
time, one of the city’s main sources of wealth.
In contrast, the portrait of Lucrezia Panciatichi displays her
social rank not only through pose and dress, but jewels. Her
belt is decorated with hard stones set in gold, and a round
pendant consisting of white pearls and a ruby center.
Even the portrait of Laura Battiferri, an intellectual and poet,
impressively shows her character. A conservative white
monk-like gown underlines her nobility, austerity and intelligence: “Iron inside and ice outside” as Bronzino described
her in a sonnet.
14
main:
Portrait of Laura Barriferri
by Agnolo Bronzino
15
itinerary
Fashion Museums
Florence: cradle of the Renaissance
and birthplace of Fashion
O
on the right:
Gucci Museum
16
n February 12, 1951 highend Italian fashion was born
in Florence when Giovanbattista Giorgini organised the ‘First Italian
High Fashion Show,’ attended by important buyers from all around the world.
Due to its quick success, a new edition
of the event was hosted in the sumptuous
White Room of Pitti Palace, the former
residence of Tuscan Grand Dukes and
Italian kings.
The Palace is currently home to the National Museum of the History of Fashion
and Costume, or The Costume Gallery,
where Italian Fashion continues to be internationally appreciated and admired.
The collection was mainly created through
private donations, with the first being
from the famous Theatre tailor Umberto
Tirelli, who in 1986 gave the Gallery
more than 300 historic items and 100
costumes. Another major contributor was
Gianfranco Ferrè, who in 2003 enriched
the Museum with more than 90 items and
17
Palazzo Pitti,
Sala Bianca 1952
a shot by David Lees
a splendid collection of historic buttons.
Roughly every two years the entire exhibition of the dynamic museum goes through
a thorough enrichment with the addition
of new collections. The burial clothes of
Cosimo I de’ Medici, his wife Eleanor of
Toledo and their son Grazia are the only
permanent items on display, and are the
extraordinary results of long and complex
restorations.
www.polomuseale.firenze.it
Salvatore Ferragamo is a name strongly
tied to Made in Italy shoes of top quality.
He moved to California when still very
young and began making shoes for Hollywood. In 1923 he opened his famous
Hollywood Boot Shop, becoming a
sought after celebrity shoe maker.
His ambition and dissatisfaction with the
quality of his creations led him to return to
Florence to collaborate with expert local
artisans. Major success followed and in
1938 he bought Palazzo Spini Ferroni,
still owned by the company.
Inside this Palazzo, which is located at the
end of the luxury fashion street Via Tornabuoni, the Ferragamo Museum opened its
doors in 1995. A wide collection of shoes
is a testament to the long standing work
and creative research of Salvatore Ferragamo. The models, categorized according
to year of production, material and colour,
show the use of advanced production
Museo Ferragamo
Museo Ferragamo
18
techniques and innovative materials. On
display are models created for legendary
Hollywood stars such as Marilyn Monroe,
Greta Garbo and Audrey Hepburn.
www.museoferragamo.it
In 1950 the young Roberto Capucci
opened his first couture salon in Rome,
and soon after held his first fashion show
in Florence as part of the great event organised by Giovanbattista Giorgini in
the ‘Sala Bianca’ of the Palazzo Pitti. In
1958 he won the Boston Fashion Award
for best Italian designer. As a fabric artist,
he chose a path of free creativity and experimental research. This led his company
out of the classic market schemes, and allowed him to bring brand new collections
to the world’s most famous museums.
The Capucci Museum was founded in
2005 and is located inside the Villa Bardini, which was recently restored with the
help of the bank Ente Cassa di Ri-sparmio
di Firenze. The permanent exibition is displayed through four halls: Capucci’s works
are modern masterpieces of seemingly
futuristic shapes. The preserved items,
including dresses, sketches and photos,
come from the Roberto Capucci Archive.
The Foundation also organises temporary
exhibitions, events and educational activities for students both inside and outside
the building.
www.fondazionerobertocapucci.com
Museo Roberto Capucci
Galleria del Costume
19
above:
Gucci Museum
20
Young Guccio Gucci worked as a concierge at London’s Savoy
Hotel, where he refined his taste by observing British socialites
and aristocrats. He returned to Florence and decided to create
a travel collection inspired by the high quality standards of all the
international travellers he encountered in London. The collection
‘G. Gucci Travelling Goods Florence’ was born, and the name
appeared on the first labels of the suitcases and bags made
in Florence in 1921. The Gucci Museum opened in 2011 for
the 90th anniversary of the fashion house’s birth and is a true
historic archive of the brand’s creations.
Hosted in the historic Palazzo della Mercanzia, the exhibition
covers multiple floors. On the ground floor the Travel Hall boasts
a beautiful selection of suitcases and trunks, made with the most
refined materials. The first floor holds the Bags Hall with a wide
range of small suitcases, clutches, and bags of every size,
shape and colour. Upstairs, the Logomania Hall tells the story
of the historic ‘double G’ brand symbol. The museum’s ground
floor also has a bookshop carrying texts on fashion, art and
photography as well as a Restaurant-Cafè.
www.guccimuseo.com
21
Exhibitions
Sacred Splendour
The Treasure of the ‘Chapel of the Relics’
in Palazzo Pitti
more at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
I

Museo degli
Argenti
Palazzo Pitti
Piazza Pitti, 1
055.294883
22
n 1616, the symbol of the devotion of the grand
duchesses of Tuscany and of the last grand dukes
of the Medici family, known as the ‘Chapel of
the Relics’, was consecrated in Palazzo Pitti with a solemn
ceremony.
Cosimo I had built this octagonal-plan chapel in the 1560s
but it was in 1610 that the archduchess of Austria and grand
duchess of Tuscany Maria Maddalena d’Asburgo, wife of
Cosimo II de’ Medici, had it embellished to house the precious reliquaries that formed an important part of her collections. In the span of a few years, Maria Maddalena assembled an extraordinary collection of items in the ‘Chapel
of the Relics’ becoming one of the vastest sacred treasures in
Europe. Painstaking archive study has enabled the exhibition
to reconstruct an image of these very precious collections,
tokens of the grand-ducal family’s profound devotion and,
at the same time, a symbol of prestige and magnificence,
source of wealth and object of cultural identity. The exhibition intends to offer a reconstruction of the extraordinary collection of relics and reliquaries that belonged to the Medici,
originally held in Palazzo Pitti and successively broken up by
Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine beginning in the mid 1780s.
From June 10th
23
Pontormo & Rosso Fiorentino
More at: < www.palazzostrozzi.org >
P

palazzo
strozzi
Piazza Strozzi, 1
055.2469600
24
ontormo and Rosso Fiorentino trained under Andrea
del Sarto while maintaining a strongly independent
approach and enormous freedom of expression.
Pontormo, always a favourite with the Medici, was a painter
open to stylistic variety and to a renewal of the traditional approach to composition. Rosso Fiorentino, on the other hand, was
more tightly bound to tradition, yet at the same time he was fully
capable of flights of originality and innovation, influenced also
by Cabalistic literature and esoteric works. A unique and unrepeatable event bringing together for the very first time a selection
of masterpieces by the two artists in Italian and foreign collections, many of them specially restored for the occasion.
Until July 20th
Family Matters
More at: < www.strozzina.org >
F
amily Matters. Living and Portraying the Family Today displays works by eleven international artists that
allow us to investigate the images, dynamics and
structures that define the family concept in the world of today.
The idea behind the exhibition itself follows two main directions
with, an analysis of the dynamics that characterise a family and
a survey of the family image and what lies hidden behind it.
The videos, photographs and installations in the show analyse
and deconstruct this concept, combining the suggestive autobiographical subjects of each artist with a collective research for
their meanings and reflecting on the cultural, moral, ethical and
biological ties that define and identify a family.
Until July 20th

CCCS
STROZZINA
Palazzo Strozzi Piazza Strozzi, 1
055.391711
25
Baccio Bandinelli
Sculptor & Master
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
V
asari offers his final judgement of Baccio Bandinelli
in his Lives, defining him as
“an artist of eternal fame”; this is what
the exhibition almost defiantly hopes to
confirm as it wishes to redeem Bandinelli’s important position in the panorama
of Italian Mannerist sculpture and re-establish the truth about an artist who has
been ostracised by critics. The exhibition will present all his sculptures and
paintings, or at least those that it has
been possible to transfer, his drawings
and prints, bronzes and medals, as
well as a rare wax model from Montpellier. Various works in relief that have
been definitely attributed to him and
loaned by various foreign museums,
are also on display (in marble, plaster
and bronze), together with others copied directly from the originals using the
preparatory graphic sketches.
Until July 31st

Museo Nazionale del Bargello
Via del Proconsolo, 4
055.2388742
26
Jacopo Ligozzi
Universal Painter
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
J
acopo Ligozzi. Born in Verona in 1547 into a family
of Milanese embroiderers
and son of painter Giovanni Ermanno,
Ligozzi’s early activity unfolded on Veronese soil. He soon moved to Florence where, in 1577, his presence
is documented at the court of grand
duke Francesco I, where he set up a
successful bottega and lived stably until his death in 1627. The show will
attempt, for the first time, to illustrate
systematically the span of the painter’s
activity, highlighting the various ambits
he worked in and his multifaceted and
versatile physiognomy on the Florentine
panorama.
From May 27th

Galleria Palatina
Palazzo Pitti, Piazza Pitti, 1
055.2469600
27
Jackson Pollock
More at: < www.pollockfirenze.it >
F

Palazzo
Vecchio
Piazza della
Signoria
055.290383
28
or the first time Florence pays tribute to Jackson Pollock (1912 -1956), one of the leading figures in
the world of Art of the twentieth century, who has
undermined the rules of western figurative culture dissolving the
last bastions of Renaissance perspective. The exhibition ideally
combines the work of the American painter with another titan of
Art, Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564) of whom this year
we celebrate the 450th anniversary of his death. The show’s
title, in fact “the figure of fury” wants to be a reference to Pollock himself, his figure in the act of painting canvases walking
around, filling them with the heat of passion and a dynamic fury
like a shamanic ritual.
Until July 27th
The Pure, Simple & Natural
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
V
asari attributed a fundamental role in the ‘rebirth’
of modern art to Florentine artists Andrea del
Sarto and Fra’ Bartolomeo, placing them beside
the triumvirate formed by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and
Michelangelo. Their excellent and highly inventive artistic
production based on the constant practise of drawing stood
out for honesty of invention and perfect imitation of nature,
from the flesh to the vividness of the affections. The exhibition
seeks to illustrate this identity of Florentine art by means of a
rich and serried cross-referencing of painting and sculpture.
From June 17th

Galleria degli
Uffizi
Piazzale degli Uffizi
055.391711
29
Elliott Erwitt - Icons
More at: < www.sangimignanomusei.it >
G
reat author from the Magnum agency directly recruited by the famous Robert
Capa, Elliott Erwitt has signed images
that had become icons of the twentieth
century. Among them: the kiss of two
lovers, in the rearview mirror, a beautiful Grace Kelly at her engagement
ball, a sad Jacqueline Kennedy at the
funeral of her husband, portraits of Che
Guevara and Marilyn Monroe, some
photos from the series of meetings between dogs and their owners, and also
9 exclusive self-portraits. The exhibition
will be accompanied by a publication
edited by Erwitt, a collection of prints,
each with unpublished texts from the
backstages.
Until August 31st

Galleria di Arte Moderna
e Contemporanea
“Raffaele De Grada”
Via Folgore, San Gimignano
0577.286300
30
31
32
mcf mercato centrale
Read, Eat, Dream
MERCATO CENTRALE FIRENZE
First floor - Piazza del Mercato Centrale
055.2399798 - www.mercatocentrale.it
RED la feltrinelli
Piazza della Repubblica, 27
www.lafeltrinelli.it
At the first floor of the famous San
Lorenzo market just opened MCF, Florence Central Market. It is the city’s ‘hot
spot’ for food and wine culture, with its
area of 3,000 square meters, able to
seat a total of 500 guests. It hosts 12
shops selling local food and a space
entirely devoted to Consorzio Chianti
Classico - the official union of Chianti
wine producers. Moreover, a restaurant, a pizzeria, a beer house and a
cafè. MCF is a big modern market
where food artisans and masters will
tell you the secrets of their arts. Here
you will have the possibility to taste and
buy each shop’s specialties In the Street
Food area you will find tasty meatballs,
‘fritto alla fiorentina’ (local dish of fried
vegetables) or lampredotto and organic
sandwiches.
In the very heart of Florence, Food &
Wine perfectly match with books from
Feltrinelli Publishing. Historic bookstore
Edison becomes RED. The ground
floor is completely devoted to food &
wine, with a restaurant-cafe where
you can have your breakfast, dine,
sip an espresso or aperitivo, while at
the first floor you will find a choice of
20,000 books. RED is a restaurant in
a bookstore, or the opposite, depending on perspectives. Tuscan specialties
will be the protagonists: you will taste
lampredotto sandwich, local salami or
fish supplied and cooked by Leghorn’s
fishermen, and in the weekends the
menu will include a Florentine t-bone
steak. The bookstore also offers you the
chance to buy the best food & wine of
Tuscany.
The seduction of the Etruscans
More at: < www.cortonamaec.orgt >
F
or the very first time the public can admire some
truly “symbolic masterpieces” by this ancient people – among them the bronze of the Arringatore
or Orator and the “Putto Graziani” – alongside some of the
original drawings from the Royal Hetruria and a series of
wonderful Etruscan testimonials that have come to form part
of the collections of the British Museum during its three centuries of collecting, clashes and acquisitions: this great London
museum has in fact loaned over forty artefacts.
Until August 31st.

MAEC
Piazza Signorelli, 9
Cortona
0575.637235
75th Notturna Race
Deejay Ten Foot Race
Piazza Duomo
www.firenzemarathon.it
Piazza Signoria
www.deejayten.it
The annual Notturna race is set to take
place this year on June 22 at 9pm, the
night of the city’s Patron San Giovanni.
The race, which begins and ends in
front of The Duomo, is one of the oldest
of Italy, involving around 1,500 participants (locals and foreigners) aged
between 20 and 60, plus 1,000 more
people who join the less intensive race
Family Walking.The 10 km path (6.21
miles) includes superb sights of the most
beautiful monuments and is preceded
by a relay. More info and enrolling:
www.firenzemarathon.it
The race, whose passed editions saw
even mayor Renzi running among the
other 7,000 participants, is organized
by the Italian radio station Radio Deejay
(audience share around 5,000,000)
and offers two non-competitive options:
a 5 or a 10km race - 3 or 6.21 miles.
Both paths start in Piazza Signoria and
end in Piazza Santa Croce, the more
intensive goes up the scenic hills of Piazzale Michelangelo.
Enrol at the points listed on
www.deejayten.it/punti-di-iscrizione.
June 21st
34
May 18th
fabbrica europa 2014
Artigianato e Palazzo
Stazione Leopolda
Viale Fratelli Rosselli 5 - 055.2638480
www.fabbricaeuropa.net
Giardino Corsini
Via della Scala, 115 - 055.2654588
www.artigianatoepalazzo.it
The XXI edition of the Fabbrica Europa
Festival opens transversal reflection on
the “human condition” and “contemporary memory”, touching on the concepts of identity, community and otherness through artistic creation.
New visions from a scenario of poetic
resistance: performances by international artists.
A programme of theatre, dance, performing and visual arts which from
Stazione Leopolda spreads throughout
other spaces in Florence.
The annual showcase of handcrafted
products takes place in the beautiful garden of Palazzo Corsini, on Via
della Scala, 115. Here eighty selected
artisans will show the public how they
make their creations, accompanied by
Tuscan wines and delicacies. Cooking
and bakery classes are held daily to
the visitors. Guided tours to the beautiful palace will be offered by the local
non-profit Città Nascosta.
This year Artigianato & Palazzo celebrates its 20th anniversary .
May 8th - June 28th
May 15th-18th
35
classical Music
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
by RICHARD WAGNER
“O Night of love, grant oblivion that I
may live; take me up into your bosom,
free from the world!”: This is how the two
lovers sing of their love in the duet of the
second act, the core and heart of the opera Tristan und Isolde, the most amazing
creation of the genius of Wagner and a
turning point in the history of music. All
the themes closest to Romance are present here, but altered and transformed.
Wagner’s score is sublime with an almost
unbearable expressive tension and exhaustive melodic expansion, bringing it to
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< www.operadifirenze.it >
the height of poetic pathos. Tristan und
Isolde returns to the Maggio with Zubin
Mehta on the podium for a new production designed by Stefano Poda.
May 7: 19.00; May 4 and 11: 15.30
- Teatro Comunale - Corso Italia, 16
OPENING GALA - ZUBIN MEHTA
A gala of extraordinary interpreters conducted by Zubin Mehta is the welcome to
Florentines and worldwide public chosen
for the opening of the Opera di Firenze. A
show in which opera and ballet alternate
interpenetrating, an evening designed
to embrace and hug our audience, with
Verdi’s Otello by Gregory Kunde, La
Valse by Maurice Ravel choreographed
by Davide Bombana and interpreted by
the dancers of Maggiodanza, and with
the precious presence of Alessandra Ferri, prima ballerina assoluta and pride of
Italian dance, famous in the world, who
has returned to Florence with Christopher
Wheeldon; Fiorenza Cedolinis that will
be Tosca and, above all, the Orchestra
and Chorus of the Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino, which begins this evening an
artistic journey in their new “home”.
May 10: 20.30 - Piazza Vittorio Gui
SINGSPIELE by MAGUY MARIN
World premiere: The latest work by Maguy
Marin, dance pasionaria, created for David Mambouch. Singspiele is the story of
a man who tries to sneak under other peoples’ skin. The mysteries hidden between
the sensations arising from a meeting. Listening to what faces say to us, because a
face is more than a face, it is the other that
we present to ourselves and that asks us to
become ourselves.
May 16, 17: 20.30 - Teatro Goldoni Via Santa Maria, 15
VADIM REPIN
L’Orchestre Philharmonique de MonteCarlo after the enthralling romance of the
overture from Euryanthe by Carl Maria
von Weber, proposes the famous Concerto for violin and orchestra by Max
Bruch. Composed in 1866 for the virtuoso Joseph Joachim and loved by the
greatest violinists, in Florence it returns
to life thanks to the full-blown talent of
Vadim Repin and his precious Guarneri
del Gesù. The evening concludes with
the majestic Symphony no. 7, a tribute
to Antonín Dvořák and the struggles of his
fellow Czechs for independence from the
Austro-Hungarian Empire.
May 17: 20.30 - Opera di Firenze Piazza Vittorio Gui
ROBERTO DEVEREUX
by GAETANO DONIZETTI
Donizetti’s version of the story of the troubled love affair between Queen Elizabeth
of England and her favorite, was not alone:
in 1833 La Scala staged Il conte di Essex
by Saverio Mercadante, with a libretto by
Felice Romani. Donizetti’s opera, which debuted at San Carlo on October 29, 1837,
37
KRYSTIAN ZIMERMAN
Considered by some critics as a spiritual
triptych full of possible artistic and philosophical allusions, representing the revolutionary upheaval of pre-existing musical
forms. One of the absolute pinnacles for
the art of the piano, here entrusted to the
mastery of Krystian Zimerman.
May 23: 20.30 - Piazza Vittorio Gui Firenze
was successfully received - even Salvatore
Cammarano, the librettist, was invited for a
curtain call - but disappeared from opera
houses after 1888. Only after the 1964
Neapolitan production with Leyla Gencer
does it return to the repertoire.
May 18, 20: 20.30 - Piazza Vittorio
Gui - Firenze
CONTEMPOARTENSEMBLE
Contempoartensemble devote an evening
to Peter Maxwell Davies, one of the most
prominent living composers. Master of the
Queen’s Music, he has explored various
musical forms creating numerous pieces
for orchestra and chamber works. In the
program, along with two examples of his
earlier works, there is the world premier of
a new creation
May 19: 20.30 - Teatro Goldoni - Via
Santa Maria, 15
38
VITALIJ KOWALJOW
AND MZIA BACHTOURIDZE
Bass Vitalij Kowaljow returns to Florence accompanied by Mzia Bachtouridze’s piano
with a recital in which there are opera pieces
from the great nineteenth-century repertoires.
Alongside the famous Gremin aria of Evgenij
Onegin and the rarity from Prince Igor by
Borodin, also the great roles from the golden
age of Italian opera are represented here by
Alfonso d’Este, Jacopo Fiesco and Filippo II.
May 25: 20.30 - Teatro Goldoni - Via
Santa Maria, 15
L’AMOUR DES TROIS ORANGES
by SERGEJ PROKOF’EV
L’amour des trois oranges, thanks to the
witty and surreal fantasy and scathing
parody of overused theater clichés, is in
fact one of the most brilliant works of the
operatic repertoire of the twentieth century. After the production of 1979, sung
in Italian under the direction of Juraj Valcuha, in a new production by Alessandro
Talevi.
June 1, 3, 5, 7: 20.30 - Teatro Comunale
- Corso Italia, 16
Pop Music
Ebi the legend of Persian Pop
Ebi, Persian pop legend will arrive at the
Teatro Obihall for the only Italian date of his
world tour. A musician who has succeeded
to combine the traditional Persian rhythms
with western pop, Latin music, pop and British rock in his long career. An event with a
unique flavor and tone distant but close.
10/05/2014 - Obihall - Via Fabrizio
De Andrè - www.obihall.it
DIRE STRAITS LEGENDS
After the sold out 2013 tour, DIRE STRAITS
Legends “Concept Show,” is back again
with some huge surprises. John Illsley, bassist and original founder of the Dire Straits
in 1977 does his entrance into the band.
DIRE STRAITS Legends is a “concept band”,
a term used by the same musicians who
joined together after so many years, and
will revive “unique” songs such as “Romeo
and Juliet”, “Sultans of Swing”, “Money for
Nothing” , “Tunnel of Love”, “Walk of life”
and many others.
19/05/2014 - Obihall - Via Fabrizio
De Andrè - www.obihall.it
PAT METHENY UNITY GROUP
Multi-instrumentalist Pat Metheny, from
thirty years in the jazz scene, 20 Grammy
Awards in 12 different categories, takes
the stage of the Roman Theatre with its
Unity Band, with whom he won his twentieth Grammys. Recently, Chris Potter on
sax and bass clarinet, Antonio Sanchez
on drums and Ben Williams on bass have
been joined by the Italian multi-instrumenGiulio Carmassi. Here is the Pat Metheny
Unity Group.
16/06/2014 - Teatro Romano - Via
Portigiani 1, Fiesole
www.estatefiesolana.it
AMADOU & MARIAM
Two extraordinary musicians that have
plagued with the rhythms and melodies of
their homeland stars such as Manu Chao,
U2, Coldplay, David Gilmour, Damon
Albarn and Jovanotti. Their meeting took
place in 1977 when both were attending
the Institute for Young Blind in Bamako.
26/06/2014 - Teatro Romano - Via
Portigiani 1, Fiesole
www.estatefiesolana.it
39
folklore
calcio storico fiorentino
by the Roman army
T
he folklore and the history of Florence is most represented with the celebration of St. John the Baptist
which occurs every year in June. It is during this time
that the annual tournament of “Calcio Storico“ occurs. Calcio
Storico is a traditional game that many Florentines hold true to
their heart. The game dates back to ancient times, when it was
used as a method to train troops of the Roman army by testing
their strength and endurance.
The tournament is now an all out battle between four different
squads that represent different areas of the city. The sport is a
mixture of soccer and rugby and the style of play attracts both
Florentines and visiting tourists who admire the “anything goes”
strategy of play. There are, in fact, no rules for this game which
allows the players to do whatever they feel necessary to win for
their neighborhood. The main purpose of the match is to score
a “caccia“ or a goal, however there are fights during the game
where the ball is nowhere in sight. Games are typically about 50
minutes long and there are 27 players on each team.
For the event, Piazza Santa Croce is filled with sand and transformed into the site of play for the tournament. There are two
preliminary matches that are played and the championship takes
place on June 24th concluding the festival. The matches
40
41

torneo del
calcio
storico 2014
piazza santa
croce
June 14th:
Azzurri - Bianchi
June 15th:
Verdi - Rossi
June 24th:
Final Match
42
commence after a parade through the city of all the four
squads donning Renaissance style clothing for their uniforms. The teams each represent four different quadrants in
the city where the calcio players reside. The white team is
from Santo Spirito, blue is from Santa Croce, red is Santa
Maria Novella, and green is San Giovanni.
There are many differing opinions about Calcio Storico
in Florence. Many believe that the fighting style of play
represents the city of Florence in a negative manner,
while many Florentines feel that it represents the history
and cultural roots of the city. If you are in Florence for the
celebration, head over to Piazza Santa Croce for the
championship game. It is a sport unlike any other and is
something you will not want to miss!
the feast of St. John the Baptist
J
oin the locals for Florence’s most important feast
day on June 24th. St. John was chosen as the city’s
Patron Saint in Lombard times, replacing its former
protector Mars. The day opens with the solemn procession of
the Cathedral clergy, followed by the offering of a candle for
the feast of St. John, a tradition that has survived to this day.
Other events include the rowing regattas along the Arno and
the San Giovanni Nocturnal Race, a marathon on Saturday
June 23rd at 9pm. The traditional fireworks over the Arno date
from the 17th century, they are always very popular among
the Florentines, who crowd the bridges and the banks of the
Arno to enjoy their own special event, though afterwards they
are quite capable of saying that the fireworks were nothing
like as spectacular as the year before!

st. John
the baptist
JUNE 24th
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itinerary
boboli gardens
Enchanted
Gardens
more at: < www.polomuseale.firenze.it >
W
e enter the magnificent boboli gardens from the great
square dominated by the Pitti Palace, royal palace
and home of all the reigning dynasties. The Medicis
resided here, followed by the Lorraines and lastly the Savoy family, who lived in the palace when Florence was temporarily the
Capital of Italy.It not only contains the Monumental Apartments
but also boasts six other museum collections.
The magnificent Boboli Gardens lie behind the Palace, with
Fort Belvedere, dedicated to St. George, at the top of the hill.
A stroll around the Boboli Gardens, especially on a sunny day,
make a very pleasant change between museums. The name
44
of the Boboli hill probably derives from
the “Borgoli” or “Borgolini” family, who
owned houses and land in this part of
the Oltrarno beside the Church of Santa
Felicita. Luca di Bonaccorso Pitti however bought the area and the farm that
stood here in 1418 from the De’ Rossi
family in 1418 and then commissioned
Filippo Brunelleschi to build the palace.
The spectacular gardens cover 320.000
square metres of land and are full of rare
plants, grottos, fountains and statues laid
out along the slopes of the hill. The design
of the gardens, carried out by architect
and sculptor Niccolò Pericoli, known as
Il Tribolo, was used as a basis for all the
royal gardens in Europe, including Versailles. This artist had already shown his
worth by carrying out the gardens of the
Medici Villas of Castello and La Petraia,
where he also proved to be a master of
hydraulics, creating magical fountains
45
and plays of water. Il Tribolo created his
masterpiece of “landscape gardening”
at Boboli between 1550 and 1558,
the year in which he died.
The garden of the late Renaissance transformed the small and intimate garden
of the Middle Ages into a symbol of
princely power.
It became a theatre for festivities and
performances, somewhere for the Court
to relax, while providing an allegorical
itinerary through woods populated with
statues, grottoes and fountains, many
of them Mannerist inventions by Buontalenti. Typical examples are the Grotta
Grande or Large Grotto, the splendid
fountains and statues, among them the
Fountain of Neptune or The Abundance
(Joan of Austria, Cosimo I’s first wife was
the original subject for this statue), by
Ammannati, Giambologna and Tacca,
and the recently restored Gladiator, a
17th century restoration of a Roman copy
of Aristogitone, which was brought to
Florence from Villa Medici in 1616. The
authors of the restoration of Aristogitone
have been identified as being two brothers Domenico (1600-1656) and Giovan
Battista Pieratti (1599-1662), Florentine
sculptors, who worked in the Boboli Gardens for the Medici Court during the first
half of the 17th century.
The two architects Giulio and Alfonso
Parigi, father and son, carried out the
stone Amphitheatre in the 17th century,
46
the unique setting for many celebrated
theatrical performances, the cypress alley
known as the “Viottolone” and the square
and the large square containing the pond
of Isolotto, with Giambologna’s Fountain
of the Ocean.
The last additions, built in 18th century,
like the Coffee house (1774-76, today
restored and functioning as a bar for visitors to the gardens, who can admire a
unique view of the city from its tables), the
Lawn of Columns (1776) and the Lemon
House (1785), were installed by the Lorriane family who, in the 19th century,
transformed some areas in the grounds
into an ‘English garden’, according to
the latest romantic trends then in vogue.
Pietro Leopoldo decided to open the
garden to the public in 1776.
The Giardino del Cavaliere, or Garden
of the Knight, a solitary and private area
in the grounds, can be found at the top
of the hill, close to Fort Belvedere, hiding
the small palace that today houses the
Porcelain Museum.

boboli gardens
palazzo pitti - Piazza Pitti, 1
055.2388786
May 8.15-18.30
June 8.15-19.30
Entry is permitted up to 1hr before
closing time.
Closed 1st & last Monday of each month.
47
gourmet
The Legend of Ice Cream In
The True Story
W
hen the narrow streets of the city centre are transformed
into flaming desert canyons by the summer sun, there
is really only one solution: a whopping great multicoloured dripping and cool ice cream cone.
That is just what Florentine architect and military engineer Buontalenti must have thought while he was toiling under the scorching
sun to build Fort Belvedere or some other villa in the countryside
when invented ice cream.
Bernardo Buontalenti, apart from being a famous architect in
his day, was also employed by the Medicis as their master of
ceremonies at court. Tradition has it that a great banquet was held
for a delegation of Spanish diplomats in the summer of 1565.
Buontalenti not only took care of the usual dining arrangements
but also - wonder of wonders! - created a luscious new dessert
that left the Spanish guests utterly amazed. According to this
legend, it was the very first ice cream! Buontalenti, a genius of
the Renaissance, would never have been able to create his ice
cream (made with egg yolks, honey, milk, butter and a drop of
sweet wine) if it had not been for his chemical expertise, for he
also discovered how to freeze the fatty ingredients like milk, butter and eggs. Needless to say, word of this new creation soon
spread all over Europe and it became popular.
Today there are an abundance of flavours and ice cream parlours
and it is really hard to choose from the vast selection of colourful
ices on display when buying a cone. There is almost always
48
nventor
49
Who was Buontalenti?
Bernardo Buontalenti was born in
Florence 1536. He entered the service of the Medici as a youth and
remained with them the rest of his life.
His first known work is from 1568,
the Palazzo di Bianca Cappello in
Florence. His main achievements include the project for the new city of
Livorno, the decoration of Palazzo
Pitti and the Boboli Gardens with the
famous grotto, as well as the Park
of Pratolino. Buontalenti’s skills as a
military engineer are shown by the
fortifications of the port of Livorno,
the Fort of Belvedere in Florence, the
city walls of Pistoia, Grosseto, Prato,
Portoferraio (Elba) and Naples; he
also perfected designs for cannons,
and devised a new type of incendiary grenade. Beside his activity as
an architect he worked as a stage
designer and possibly more important
than the rest, he created ICE CREAM!
Despite his successes, his prodigality
led Buontalenti to financial ruin; he
survived in his late life thanks to a
pension given him by the Grand Duke
of Tuscany. He died in 1608.
50
a choice of creamy, fruity or even vegetable flavours - though I would be somewhat wary of some of the newer brightly
coloured ones in Chernobyl-orange, fluorescent green or Smurfs-blue...
Too much to choose from? The best start
could definitely be the local specialty: flavour Buontalenti!
Indeed, in 1979, a Florentine ice cream
maker won the contest that celebrated the
inventor of this wonderful product, by creating the flavour (at base of egg cream and
whipped cream) then named after him.
You will hardly be disappointed, but - just
in case - do not forget that you can always
buy another, and another, and another...
gelaterie
gelateria della passera
Gelateria della Passera is located in the heart of Florence
just a few steps from Ponte Vecchio and Piazza Pitti. A
small shop that produces high quality ice creams and
sorbets with or without milk. The ingredients are carefully
chosen with a special attention to local products, such
as milk, eggs, fruit and Tuscan honey. More than 20 flavors, in addition to the classic ones we suggest Monnalisa, Messer Brunelleschi and many others. Secret recipes and experimentations to create the magical sorbets,
made ​​with infusions and decoctions of seasonal fruits,
in this period of the year strawberries rule in all their
freshness, but you can also taste the new spring/summer flavor called Sharazade, inspired by the persian
rose-water flavored icecream Sharazade is a cold hug
of eggs, cream, milk, mascarpone and rose water. The
carapine boxes (with the cap) ensure optimal preservation of the product, infact ice cream is temperature sensitive and photosensitive too. Tantalize your palate tasting
the flavors of the season, fruit sorbets and infusions, an
experience that you will bring in your heart as a lasting
memory of Florence.
Piazza della Passera - Via Toscanella,15r - 055.291882
Open 12pm-12am - www.gelaterialapassera.wordpress.com
52
LA STREGA NOCCIOLA
Have you ever felt like Alice in Wonderland? That’s the
Strega Nocciola effect! Close to Ponte vecchio, Strega
Nocciola Artisan Gelateria it’s a kind of magic: let the
taste of Cremarancio-a traditional cream variegated with
orange jam-charm you, or let yourself be enchanted by
the luxurious scent of the Bergamot gelato. Not mentioning the organic Lavender gelato, a fresh, relaxing experience for all your five senses, or the classic and elegant
taste of the Pistachio gelato: it’s the taste of a new, recovered time from the everyday hurry, the fresh taste of a
renewed gelato tradition which Strega Nocciola brings
every day in to the City’s beating heart. Strega Nocciola
turns a premium selection of the finest seasonal ingredients into a unique, handmade ice cream. It’s all about the
proper time that delicious ingredients need and the attention to excellence that make a bewitching experience out
of a genuine ice cream. That’s the point: it always takes
some magic to create good things, especially when it’s
about gelato: Strega Nocciola’s gelato is a mix of artisan
wisdom and passion for excellence, which will bring you
back to the authentic,genuine taste of life’s pleasures.
Ponte Vecchio - Via De’ Bardi 51r - Tel. 055.2382150
Open Every Day 11.30am - 11.30pm
www.lastreganocciola.it
53
Flavours of Tuscany
osteria santo spiritO
(1)
(2)
54
(1)
In the heart of the Oltrarno District where you still
can breath the ancient Florence of the craftsmen and
the thousands workshop, the Florence of the common
people and the markets, you can find Osteria Santo
Spirito right at the corner of the most famous square
of Santo Spirito, a meeting place for all international
gourmands, for florentines in love with their city and
foreigners discovering the taste of Tuscany possibly in
a cosy atmospehere. Take a lunch or dine at the tables overlooking the enchanting Piazza Santo Spirito
(the Osteria has a wonderful dehors one of the most
fascinating in the city) or in the colourful rooms inside
the Osteria. The menu includes typical and traditional Tuscan platters accompanied by some interesting
new variations, you can start with land starters such
as wildboar sausages and dry tomatoes and go on
with rigatoni santo spirito with dry ricotta cheese
and maybe close with a mixed meat grill or you can
choose the fish menus with sea products always fresh
and tasty. The wines and desserts are excellent.
Piazza Santo Spirito 16r - 055.2382383
www.osteriasantospirito.it
Open daily 12-23.30
T
Le Antiche Carrozze (2)
Try tasting some of the traditional recipes from the Italian cuisine in this ancient trattoria just off Via Tornabuoni
and overlooking Piazza Santa Trinita. The warm and
welcoming atmosphere in the recently restructured dining
rooms still recall the mid 19th century when this venue
was a regular stopping place for carriage drivers.
It is the ideal place to discover the real “Florentine Steak”
of genuine Chianina meat and perfectly prepared and
cooked, as well as taste many other natural and healthy
products, like the olive oil, dressed meats, vegetables
and cheeses. The menu is based on the simple recipes
typical of the local cuisine, but the Chef makes use of
his wide experience to fully enhance the freshness and
quality of the ingredients. All these traditional flavours in
Tuscan cooking are accompanied by excellent pizzas
prepared with care and experience. The pizzas boast
a truly authentic flavour as they are cooked in a woodburning oven. The best wine to drink with your meal,
either selecting it from the important Tuscan labels or from
the excellent selection of the best Italian wines.
Piazza Santa Trinita corner with Borgo Santi Apostoli 055.2658156 - www.leantichecarrozze.it
Open daily 11.00-23.00.
he legendary
and extremely
simple food
of Tuscany is the result of
centuries of poverty and
therefore has been based
on salads, legumes, cereals and meat since the
Middle Ages. Olive oil is
almost always used rather
than lard, and vegetable
soups rather than pasta.
All the food is bread related and of course the main
drink is wine that lends
colour to every glass. Although the modern trends
in food have practically
swept away many regional culinary traditions, Tuscany can still boast of an
incredible historic continuity in traditional cooking
and therefore has managed to preserve dishes
that the present research
into genuine foods is once
more bringing back into
the limelight, to the joy
of all tastebuds, including
those of its foreign visitors.
We should remember that
most typical Tuscan dishes
are linked to particular areas or the various seasons
of the year.
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Pizza Pizza Pizza!
Mr. Pizza
MR. PIZZA in Florence is a universe of delicious appetizers and offers its customers a wide choice of
pizza cut, takeaway or home delivery. It ‘s open
from morning until late at night to enjoy at any time
of day the taste of true Neapolitan tradition. In the
true Neapolitan pizza the cheese is soft and pan is
thin but high-sided. The peculiarities of Neapolitan
pizza is due largely to its pulp to be produced with
a bread dough - that is completely devoid of fat - soft
and elastic, stretched by hand in the form of a disc
without touching the edges that will form in a typical
kitchen “ledge “of 1 or 2 cm while the dough at the
center will be high about 3 mm. A fast passage in
a very hot oven must leave the pizza moist and soft,
not overcooked. But at MR PIZZA, not only you can
eat pizza awaits but also a large variety of salads,
turnovers, croquettes, pretzels, washed down with a
good selection of craft beers and more. EVERYTHING
TO GO & DELIVERY
Via Pietrapiana 82r - 055.3860311
Piazza del Duomo 5r - 055.213682
www.pizzerianapoletanamrpizza-firenze.com
56
Nightlife
pitta m’ingolli
The colorful and lively scene of Piazza Santo Spirito
has just enriched with a new venue: a rustic style,
charming bistrot, reminiscent of some French Bar au
Vin. Freshly inaugurated, PITTA M’INGOLLI, which is
Lucchese dialect for “may devil swallow you”, is just
a few steps from the famous Osteria Santo Spirito,
also owned by Chiara Tassi.
Open from morning to late night, starts with the breakfast, but stands out for a wide variety of sandwiches
with cold cuts (ham, mortadella, finocchiona) cheese
(goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, gorgonzola,
honey and nuts) to fish specialities (butter and anchovies, salmon and arugula) combined with various sauces (tuna, tartare, mushroom sauce, walnuts,
truffle) focaccia, baguette, various drinks, milkshakes,
centrifugal fresh fruit, coffee for only 80 cents. and
appetizers for 5 euro. Interior is coated in warm
wood, with high stools and newspapers.
Piazza S. Spirito, 17r
055.264256
Open daily 6.30am - 2.00am
57
Wellness
contrasto aveda (1)
(1)
A stone’s throw from Piazza della Signoria, you will find
Contrasto AVEDA lifestyle salon & spa, an innovative
proposal where the “salon” becomes an oasis for a relaxing break in full harmony of body and spirit.
A cup of Aveda tea to welcome you, a soothing massage to head, neck and shoulders and eventually a
touch of make-up far a unique experience.
A team of highly skilled stylists at work to conceive a
definitive look able to fully reflect you.
But there is more to Contrasto AVEDA Lifestyle Salon &
Spa than meets the eye. Monthly after working hours,
the wonderful Salon becomes an ideal location for an
aperitif or a themed event.
Nearby, two other Contrasto AVEDA concept salon,
receive without an appointment, leaving freedom of
choice to the customer.
Lifestyle salon & spa on appointment only
Via de’ Neri 53-55/r - 055.2398553
(2)
58
concept salon
Via de’ Neri 49/r - 055 282841 Via dei Benci 5/r - 055 219227
www.salonecontrasto.it
A
palestra ricciardi (2)
Founded 50 years ago, Palestra Ricciardi is the biggest
gym in the Florence downtown, known as the coolest
gym in town combining experienced staff with the most
modern equipment. You can improve your physique in
a pleasant and dynamic environment spread over a
surface of 1600 sqm surrounding a lovely internal garden. The space devoted to your training is composed
of several areas which include: the cardio fitness area,
the free weights area, rooms for isotonic equipment, two
rooms for classes and the spinning room. After a hard
training session you can choose to relax in a sauna or
with a massage session. The gym offers 81 hours of
classes weekly: Total Body Workout, Step, Spinning,
Easy Dance, Corpo Libero, Yoga, Hip Hop, Power
Pump, Body Sculpt, Pilates, Fit Box, Stretching, Gag, Soft
Gymnastic, Capoeira. Personalised fitness programmes
and fully qualified instructors. Special membership fees
for students.
Borgo Pinti, 75 - 055.2478444
www.palestraricciardi.it
re you a step
machine addict or dreaming of perfect muscles?
Or have you just arrived
in town and need to find
a gym (possibly within
walking distance) in the
city centre?
There are an infinite
number of gymnasiums.
It is worth hunting up
one with the facilities
you require nearest to
your digs. Many also do
courses in yoga or the
martial arts pilates to FIt
box or Capoeria (a brazilian way between a
martial art and a dancing) or have a gymnasium attached. And obviously most of these gyms
offer special relaxing areas with sauna, massages or spa. Florence also
boasts many dance and
ballet schools, though of
course you have to select
the type of dance course
you prefer. Start looking
for your ideal gym from
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59
Shopping at I Gigli
more at: < www.igigli.it >
I
Gigli, with its 18,5 million
visitors a year, is definitely Tuscany’s most popular shopping
destination. I Gigli Shopping Centre is truly
a shopper’s paradise, featuring numerous
department stores, a host of familiar favourites and hundreds of unique stores exclusive
to I Gigli such as: Hollister, Apple Store,
C&A, H&m, Desigual, Zara, Coin, Foot Locker, Conte of Florence, and many others.
No place is better than I Gigli if you enjoy
shopping. With over 130 stores, a hypermarket, restaurants, you’re sure to find everything you’re looking for and more. I Gigli
offers over 18 restaurants, coffee bars,
pubs and bars where you can relax. I Gigli
is located in Campi Bisenzio near Florence, easily accessible from the A11 freeway
(exit at Prato est), or by bus (Lazzi company)
which departs directly from Florence Santa
Maria Novella railway station for I Gigli.
Exciting entertainment shows with special
events available on www.igigli.it and 16
cinemas at multiplex UCI CINEMA.

I Gigli Shopping Center
Via San Quirico, 165 - Campi Bisenzio (FI)
055.8974546
60
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