Staying in Florence doesn’t mean you have to be right in the middle of all the hustle and bustle. Sarah Lindsay discovers some alternative comforts at Riva Lofts in Florence… Built in 1880 and set on the banks of the Arno river, this former old Florentine leather factory was acquired in 1999 by the renowned architect Claudio Nardi, who […]
ITALIA! presents a special, in-depth Past Italia! as Freya Middleton explores the long-lasting influence of the Medici family… The Medici family is one of the most extraordinary families in Italian history. They wielded economic and political power in Florence and in Europe for three hundred years. They were one of the wealthiest families in Europe in […]
Ghiberti’s doors are a splendid masterpiece of what would become the characteristic of Renaissance art – spatial realism with people and buildings shown proportionately. The bronze, gold-covered doors of the Florentine Baptistery opposite the entrance to the Cathedral are one of the masterpieces of the early Renaissance period. They were 25 years in the making […]
Rebecca Haywood, St Leonards on Sea “We visited Florence for the first time in March this year. The weather was overcast but the view of the Duomo through the stonework surrounding the terrace on the top of the Uffizi was still stunning!”
The use of stone as a medium for Western art dates back at least as far as Imperial Rome, yet it has not always found favour. Joe Gartman discovers, however, that it is alive and well in Florence… You might be tempted to pass by. It’s just a bright little storefront in the grey façades […]
For centuries the positive outcome of the “dove’s flight” from the central nave of the Duomo with the subsequent explosion of the fireworks mounted on the cart outside in the piazza, was a good omen for the farmers and the sign of plentiful harvests. Legend has it that Pazzino de’ Pazzi, a Florentine from a […]
As well as its touristic delights, Florence has more than its fair share of excellent dining options. Oliver Hunter shares with us some of his favourite haunts… Someone once told me that to live a happy life I should surround myself with beauty. Well, if I was to take up that advice seriously I would […]
Reg Murray, Dundee “On a very recent visit to Florence and having spent an afternoon looking at traditional art in the Uffizi Gallery I was surprised to come out, turn a corner and see this example of modern art adorn a building.”
Isobel Bevis, Haywards Heath “I took this photo of the Duomo in Florence from Giotto’s belltower. The steep steps were worth the climb to be rewarded with such fantastic views. We went in October last year. It was a great time to go. The summer crowds were long gone and the weather was sunny and […]
Italia! 119 is on sale now, with Artisan Florence, the Sound of the Dolomites, 48 Hours in Taormina, Puglia property, and the best Italian food and wine. We discover how Florence is maintaining an ancient artistic method of using stone as an art form; we visit an unusual music festival that takes place every year […]