l veFlorence

L I V I N G
&
S T U D Y I N G
I N
F L O R E N C E
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N O V / D E C
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l veFlorence
THE MAGI CHAPEL
A CHRISTMAS IN FLORENCE
EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS
RESTAURANTS, NIGHTLIFE & WELLNESS
NOV/DEC
2011
WELCOME
A Christmas in Florence
ITINERARIES
The Magi Chapel
EXHIBITIONS
LOVEFLORENCE
Year #9 – Issue #6
November/December 2011
Free magazine for
international students also
published online at
www.loveflorence.it
Editorial office:
[email protected]
Advertising inquiries:
[email protected]
Tel. +39.055.412199
The Publisher is pleased to
acknowledge the authorship and author’s rights of
any photos whose source
it has not been possible to
trace. While every care
has been taken to ensure
accuracy, the publisher
cannot be held responsible
for any errors or changes in
the information provided.
Published by
MEGA REVIEW
Tel +39.055.412199
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Treasure Rooms
Money & Beauty
Rose c’est Paris
La Bella Italia
The Pushkin Museum Majesty
Macchiaioli Villa Bardini
Declining Democracy
EVENTS
Heidelberg Christmas Market
Florence Marathon 2011
Ponte Vecchio Golf Challenge
Classical & Pop Music
FOLKLORE
Thanksgiving
Silent Night
WELLNESS
Wellness Reviews
GOURMET
Tuscan Olive Oil
Christmas Delights
Gourmet Reviews
NIGHTLIFE
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8
12
16
18
19
20
21
22
24
26
27
30
34
36
40
44
48
52
Nightlife Reviews
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CITY MAP
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WELCOME
A CHRISTMAS IN FLORENCE
A Shopping Guide
W
hen it comes to shopping abroad, Italy is
a cut above the rest. From tailored leather
to some of the world’s greatest selection of
wines, you really cannot go wrong in the “boot.” The
only thing one might find difficult to bring back through
customs is the gelato.
International students arriving in Florence during the fall
semester often feel obliged to complete their Christmas
shopping for loved ones, and this guide is intended to
assist you in making those tough shopping decisions.
At the top of any dependent student’s Christmas list
should be something that represents the inseparable
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bond between parent and child. Good gift ideas include
DOCG wines, hand bags, or a new Italian-English dictionary
for obvious reasons. The most important question one should
ask themselves is: can you find it in America? And if not,
would your parents wear it ten years from now?
Grandparents are the easiest of the bunch – if you offend
them you won’t see them as often. Most grandmothers enjoy leather goods or jewelry. Ask them for their glove and
clothing sizes before you depart and then seek out stores
dotting the Arno River and the inner city. Make sure to smile
on Christmas Day when you explain to her that those gloves
are 100% Italian.
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ROMEO 1931
more at: < www.romeo1931.it >
S
No trip is complete without bring back a couple bottles of
wine. For those under 21, sneak your bottles through customs
at your discretion, for everyone else look DOCG labeled
wines. DOCG stands for “Denominazione Origine Controllata e Garantita,” the highest level of grape control in Italy.
– At max you will be able to bring back three bottles in your
suitcase due to tight restrictions on liquids.
Every girl loves a new pair of earrings. Like a purse, this can
be a tough purchase without some previous knowledge of
what the person on your list prefers; sterling silver, gold, etc.?
This is another case of do or die shopping that is best resolved
by a quick e-mail to your loved one asking them to send an
image of what they would like to add to their collection.
You have been taking thousands of pictures, right? Well, when
you return to the States one of the best ways to “debrief” your
family on your adventures and preserve your memories is a
scrapbook. Invite your family to add their comments and emails. Who knows maybe in the distant future your little ones
will pick it up and follow in your footsteps.
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ince 1931 Romeo is dedicated exclusively to the
sale of writing and drawing items. An historic stationery store in the heart of Florence that welcomes you between striking vaulted arches and large windows
overlooking the elegant palazzo vecchio. The manager Luigi Poli was a founding member of Visconti fountain pens
company. The offer of Romeo has grown to accompany
collectible fountain pens with highquality products from the
leading international brands such as Montblanc, Spalding
& Bros., Porsche Design, Faber-Castell, Piquadro and many
others. At Romeo you can also find leather bags of the most
important fashion designers, watches, clothing, desk items:
an ever changing world of accessories that defines our style
and our way of life.
ROMEO 1931
Via Condotta, 43r
055.210350
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ITINERARIES
THE MAGI CHAPEL
Face to Face with the Magi
in Palazzo Medici-Riccardi
D
efinitely one of the must-see sights in Florence: it’s
the famous Cappella dei Magi (Chapel of the
Three Kings) decorated by Benozzo Gozzoli in
1459-60 as a private place of worship for the Medici family in their newly built palazzo in via Larga (now via Cavour). The chapel is on the piano nobile of the palace, and
was one of the first decorations executed after the completion of the edifice by Michelozzo. Gozzoli painted his cycle
over three of the walls, the subject being the Journey of the
Magi to Bethlehem, a virtually never-ending train of followers
surrounds the Three Wise Men on their way to Bethlehem,
but the religious theme was a pretext to depict the procession
of important people who arrived in Florence in occasion of
the Council of Florence (1439). The Medici could boast to
have favoured the reconciliation between the Catholic and
the Byzantine churches. The luxury of the Byzantine dignitaries is manifest, and shows the impression they would have at
the time on the Florentine population.
Over a landscape depicted in incredible detail and probably influenced by Early Netherlandish artists (perhaps through tapestries), Gozzoli portrayed the members of the Medici
family riding in the foreground of the fresco on the wall at
the right of the altar. A young Lorenzo il Magnifico leads the
procession on a white horse, followed by his father Piero
the Gouty and the family founder, Cosimo. Then come Sigi8
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smondo Pandolfo Malatesta and Galeazzo Maria Sforza, respectively lord
of Rimini and Milan: they did not take
part in the Council, but were guests of
the Medici in Florence in the time the
frescoes were painted. After them is
a procession of illustrious Florentines,
such as the humanists Marsilio Ficino
and the Pulci brothers, the members of
the Art Guilds and Benozzo himself.
The painter can be recognized for he
is looking towards the observer and for
the scroll on his red hat, reading Opus
Benotii.
On the following wall, the bearded
character on a white horse is the Byzantine emperor John VIII Palaiologos;
the three girls next to him have been
identified as the three daughters of Piero de’ Medici, Nannina, Bianca and
Maria. Finally, on the wall to the left
of the altar are Pope Pius II, portrayed
as an old man on a mule, preceded
by Lorenzo’s elder brother, Giuliano,
carrying a leopard on his horse. In the
same scene can be seen theJoseph,
Patriarch of Constantinople and other
Byzantine dignitaries, surrounded by
exotic animals, such as a lynx and a
falcon.
Visitors can only enter the chapel in
tiny groups that can stay there for seven minutes, during which one cannot
help feeling daunted by the several
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hundred square feet of lavishly detailed frescos. But here’s the good news:
a unique multimedia system has just
been installed to complement the visit
by helping visitors learn and familiarize
with the hidden meanings of the scene
and characters before they proceed to
the chapel itself. users can interact in a
truly natural way with multimedia audio
and video contents: visitors can select
the language of their choice, navigate
information windows, scroll presentations and enter virtual environments all
without wearing or handling any kind
of device, but simply by pointing their
hand in the air towards buttons and
spots of interest on a large screen. .The
project is called Laboratorio di Lorenzo (Lorenzo’s workshop) because it is
located in the ground-floor room at the
NW corner of the palace inner courtyard which is supposed to have been
the splendid chamber of Lorenzo il Magnifico as recorded in the inventory of
the property that was compiled on his
death in 1492.
MAGI CHAPEL
PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI
Via Cavour, 3 - 055.2760340
Open 9-19 - Closed on Wednesdays
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EXHIBITIONS
TREASURE ROOMS
Collectors’ Wonders
in the Florentine Museums
more at: < www.stanzedeitesori.it >
T
he exhibition delves into the
theme of collecting bloomed
in Florence in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, proposing a route between the ‘treasures’
of some of the most interesting museums: Museo Stefano Bardini, Horne
Museum, Stibbert Museum, Fondazione Salvatore Romano, Bandini Museum, Museo di Palazzo Davanzati and
Museo Casa Rodolfo Siviero.
Stefano Bardini was one of the leading figures of the antiquarian market
in Florence in the late nineteenth century. Among his clients were included
the best-known collectors of the time.
Thanks to their influence the world was
able to develop the passion for the Renaissance and the “Florentine” taste.
Bardini was not alone in this diffusion
process but was helped by Elia Volpi,
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whom we owe the foundation of the Museum of Palazzo
Davanzati; Stibbert Frederick, who had restored a villa in the
hills of Florence, now Museo Stibbert, able to accommodate
objects of art applied, weapons, porcelain and costumes
that were received in thematic rooms specially furnished and
Herbert Percy Horne, who had placed his headquarters in
Via dei Benci Palace, now housing Museo Horne, Salvatore
Romano is instead the responsable for the collection in Santo
Spirito. These sites that at the time were the home collectros
or antique dealers showrooms are now
among the most interesting eclectic and
rich museums in Florence, these museums can now be visited with the Pass
of Treasures, a single ticket that allows
guided tours and free educational workshops, discounts at conventioned shops
and the entrance to the exhibitions that
have been designed on the occasion
in the individual museums, providing
an unmissable opportunity to visit these
places and come back again.
Until April 8th.
TREASURE ROOMS
COLLECTORS’ WONDERS
IN THE FLORENTINE MUSEUMS
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PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI
Via Cavour 3
MUSEO PALAZZO DAVANZATI
Via Porta Rossa 13
MUSEO HORNE
Via dei Benci 6
MUSEO STEFANO BARDINI
Via dei Renai 37
FONDAZIONE SALVATORE ROMANO
Piazza Santo Spirito 29
MUSEO STIBBERT
Via Stibbert 26
PALAZZO MEDICI RICCARDI
Via Cavour 3
MUSEO CASA RODOLFO SIVIERO
Lungarno Serristori 1-3
MUSEO BANDINI
Via G. Duprè 1 (Fiesole)
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MONEY & BEAUTY
More at: < www.palazzostrozzi.org >
M
asterpieces by Botticelli,
Beato Angelico, Piero del
Pollaiolo,the Della Robbia
family,and Lorenzo di Credi -the cream
of Renaissance artists- show how the
modern banking system developed in
parallel alongside the most important
artistic flowering in the history of the
Western world. The exhibition also
explores the links between that unique
interweave of high finance, economy
and art, and the religious and political upheavals of the time. Money and
Beauty. Bankers, Botticelli and the Bonfire of the Vanities recounts the birth of
our modern banking system and of
the economic boom that it triggered,
providing a reconstruction of European
life and the continent’s economy from
the Middle Ages to the Renaissance.
Visitors can delve into the daily life of
the families that controlled the banking
system and perceive the ongoing clash
between spiritual and economic values
that was such a feature of it. The saga
of the art patrons is closely linked to
that of the bankers who financed the
ventures of princes and nobles alike,
and indeed it was that very convergence that provided the humus in
which some of the leading artists of all
time were able to flourish. Crucial to
the illustration of this story are the masterpieces created for the great banking
families, while the trajectory of some
of Florence’s great families, rocked
by financial setbacks, drew to a close
with the political and religious storm
triggered by Savonarola. The exhibition also uses the detailed depiction
of episodes in bankers’ daily lives to
illustrate the era when Florence was the
financial capital of the world, and an
array of multimedia tools help the visitor
to get a clear perception of the ways
in which trade was conducted and
money travelled throughout the known
world at the time.
Until January 22nd
MONEY & BEAUTY
BANKERS, BOTTICELLI
AND THE BONFIRE OF THE VANITIES
PALAZZO STROZZI - Piazza Strozzi
055.2645155
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ROSE C’EST PARIS
LA BELLA ITALIA
More at: < www.mnaf.it >
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
A
n exhibition rich and complex as the city that inspired
it, a menage a trois between
the allegorical picture of Bettina Rheims,
the movie by Serge Bramly and the city
of Paris as muse. A set of scenes as a
series of tableaux vivant, constructed
and imagined dramas staged and then
photographed and filmed by this two
artists: a fictional story told through a
new and striking form of storytelling.
A location where the photograph and
the film are presented simultaneously,
moving images and still images clashing together. “Rose c’est Paris” is both a
photographic exhibition and a DVD, a
work of art in two different formats, both
interrelated and complementary. A captivating poem of the symbolism in which
the authors evoke the “city of light”: it is
a Paris full of surrealist visions.
1
861, at the eve of the unification of Italy, the historical
and cultural differences between the states of the Peninsula were
bigger than they were among the “nations” of the nascent America, though
Italy was the common homeland,
united by language, religion. A legacy
passed down from ancient Rome, to
the times of Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarca. On such a common
knowledge were grafted the stories of
the pre-unification capital cities: Milan,
Turin, Genoa and Bologna, Florence
and Venice, Naples, Rome, Palermo.
At least 350 works of art from several
museums in Italy and the world tell the
identity of the pre-unification Italian
capitals.
Until February 12th.
Until November17th.
ROSE C’EST PARIS
BETTINA RHEIMS
AND SERGE BRAMLY
MNAF - MUSEO NAZIONALE ALINARI
Piazza S. M. Novella 14ar - 055.216310
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LA BELLA ITALIA: ART & IDENTITY
OF THE CAPITAL CITIES
PALAZZO PITTI - Piazza Pitti, 1 - 055.23885
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THE PUSHKIN MUSEUM MAJESTY
More at: < www.uffizi.firenze.it >
T
he exhibition is the result of cultural exchange during the year celebrations of Italy - Russia 2011. The
Uffizi Gallery houses a large table from thirteenth
century depicting Mary and Child Enthroned from the Pushkin
Museum in Moscow. This is a very important Italian painting
of the thirteenth century, virtually unknown even to scholars of
early middleage painting. The work will be exposed to direct
comparison with the three great Majesties of Cimabue, Duccio
and Giotto. The work shows clear debt to the culture of Byzantine painting flourished in large parts of the Italian peninsula
during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
Until January 8th
MACCHIAIOLI
VILLA BARDINI
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
A
beautiful collection showcased in the halls of Villa
Bardini. Sunny and rural
landscapes, seascapes, portraits of
young women and children are the
subjects of the paintings by Giovanni
Fattori, Telemaco Signorini, Silvestro
Lega or the triumphs of color by Plinio
Nomellini. A dip in the waters of the
Arno painted by Borrani, walks along
the rows of poplars immortalized Fattori and Gelati, the clear air of “A
beautiful winter morning” by Cecconi, are not only masterpieces of painting technique, but true expressions of
the soul that invite you to share the
beauty of wonderful places such as
participating in good headline Villa
Bardini with its beautiful gardens and
its exciting views of Florence.
Until November 27th
THE PUSHKIN MUSEUM MAJESTY
GALLERIA DEGLI UFFIZI
Piazzale degli Uffizi, 1
055.2388651
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MACCHIAIOLI IN VILLA BARDINI
VILLA BARDINI
Costa S. Giorgio, 2
055.20066206
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DECLINING DEMOCRACY
More at: < www.palazzostrozzi.org >
C
ontemporary art as a
platform to explore contemporary social and political issues. Their works put together
through this exhibition create a reflection on the values, contradictions and
paradoxes that typify today’s society.
The show further addresses the possible declinations of the principles of
democracy, which recently is being
challenged more and more. The artworks on display will consider such
themes as the clash between the individual and the community, the growing gap between the average citizen
and the political classes, the power
and influence of economic lobbies
and mass media, the issues surrounding immigration and the refusal of
civic and political rights.
SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
ISPIRAZIONI E VISIONI
GUCCI 90TH ANNIVERSARY
THE GUCCI MUSEUM
MUSEO SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
Via Dei Tornabuoni 2 - 055.3360456
GUCCI MUSEUM
Palazzo della Mercanzia,
Piazza della Signoria, 10
Does an artist always have a source
of inspiration in developing a creative
idea? How is it elaborated, which is
the way it profiles, which are the results
it leads to? These are the questions we
faced as base of this exhibition. 255
works of art displayed, including 99
Salvatore Ferragamo shoes dating
back to the 1920’s through the end of
1950, along with 156 works of art
from public and private collections, not
only international but especially Italians
and Florentines.
The Gucci Museum is a permanent
exhibition from its rich and culturally
significant archive juxtaposed with
contemporary art installations. The
exhibition spaces is divided into different thematic rooms inspired by the
House’s iconic motifs and symbols.
An icon store, bookshop, gift shop
and Gucci caffè, at the ground floor,
complete the exhibition spaces. Visitors can use WI-FI network.
Permanent Exhibition.
Until March 12th 2012.
Until January 22nd.
DECLINING DEMOCRACY
CCCS STROZZINA
Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi
055.391711
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HEIDELBERG MARKET
THE WEIHNACHTSMARKT IN FLORENCE
H
eidelberg, one of Germany’s most charming
towns, is once again lending its 500-year-old
Heidelberger Weihnachtsmarkt or Christmas
market to Florence and, with it, the culture and traditions
of its people. This delightful German Christmas market is
composed of about forty small wooden huts that host the
stalls themselves and enlivened by merry-go-rounds that add
a special charm to the beautiful square of Santa Croce. The
stalls sell Christmas tree decorations, Nativity Scene figurines,
hand-made toys and Christmas pyramid merry-go-rounds,
traditional ceramics, typical food products such as spiced
wines, beers, wurst and strudel, as well as German Christmas confectionary like Pfefferkuchen, the special Heidelberg
honey biscuits and Dresdner Stollen. So... Happy Christmas,
or Frohe Weihnacht!
November 30th - December 18th.
COMMEMORATION
OF UGO DI TOSCANA
BADIA FIORENTINA
Via Dante Alighieri, 12
Hugh the Great or Ugo di Toscana
(c.950–December 21st 1001) was
Margrave of Tuscany. He is considered
the founder of Tuscany as we know it today and the story of his life is shrouded
in legends full of heroic deeds. A very
moral and pious prince, he endowed
many religious institutions. He died under rather mysterious circumstances in
Pistoia and was secretly brought to Florence to be buried in the Badia Fiorentina. A mass is held here in his memory
every year since his death.
FLORENCE NOEL
STAZIONE LEOPOLDA
Piazzale di Porta al Prato 055.8953651
A charming Christmas Market Show
with selected exhibitors hosted in a
suggestive Christmas atmosphere. An
unusual path, full of trees, mistletoe,
wreaths and lights. This trade show
provides the opportunity to shop for
Christmas decorations for the home, for
the tree and the crib, many gift ideas
for young and old, to gourmet lunches
and dinners laden for the Christmas
season. Visit the house of Santa Claus
or the Chocolate Village.
November 11th -13th.
December 21st.
CHRISTMAS
MARKET IN SANTA
CROCE
Piazza Santa Croce
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FLORENCE MARATHON 2011
GOLF CHALLENGE
more at: < www.firenzemarathon.it >
more at: < www.pontevecchiochallenge.it >
S
ign on for the 28th Florence Marathon on Sunday
November 27th. It is an international event that involves the entire city! Its fascination lies in its route
through the city centre, a route covering 42,195 km surrounded
by centuries of art, history and culture. A unique event for the
thousands of sportsmen who take part in it every year from all
over the world. The event has grown exponentially in recent
years, so much that on the past edition has hit a new record
of members, with 10,200 runners from 62 countries. Impressive numbers witnessing a growth that is also qualitative, making
the Florence Marathon the second Italian marathon, just behind
Rome. The race this year will start from Lungarno Pecori Giraldi,
goes towards the wide boulevards and soon move to the Cascine Park before crossing the center of the town to head for the
triumphant arrival in Piazza Santa Croce.
November 27th.
F
or the last ten years the most
famous golf approach championships have been staged,
during the week before Christmas, in the
extraordinary setting of the Ponte Vecchio
and its river in Florence. The event was
first held in 1997 but, since 2006, the
Approach Championship of the Ponte
Vecchio has effectively became an official sport, with fifteen professionals from
as many countries. This year the most
exclusive golf course in the world opens
again in Florence from December 16th
to 18th and its tees on the Ponte Vecchio
will be hosting world famous professionals who will all try to beat each other by
putting onto the four floating islands on
the Arno.
December 16th-18th.
28TH FLORENCE
MARATHON
Start at Lungarno
Pecori Giraldi
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PONTE VECCHIO GOLF CHALLENGE
Ponte Vecchio
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Bartolomeo Ammannati
TUSCANY DAY
More at: < www.regione.toscana.it >
T
he Feast of the Tuscany is a
recent festivity that has been
officially held on November
30th since the year 2000. It was introduced to celebrate the ideals of peace,
justice and liberty and marks the anniversary of the important Penal Reform
Bill or Leopoldine Code, created by Pietro Leopoldo of Lorraine, Grand Duke
of Tuscany between 1765 and 1790.
Among other things, the code, inspired
by the theories of Cesare Beccaria,
abolished the death penalty for the
very first time (November 30th 1786)
and ordered that all the gallows in Tuscany be immediately dismantled and
destroyed. It was soon copied elsewhere in Europe. Celebrations start in
the afternoon with the historic pageant
of the Florentine Republic from Palagio
di Parte Guelfa to the Tuscan Regional
Council in Via Cavour. Here it is joined
by the authorities before returning to
Piazza Signoria where a bonfire is lit
to symbolise death at the stake. Then,
at 5pm, all the church bells throughout Tuscany are rung and band music
played in the squares.
November 30th.
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CLASSICAL MUSIC
RYUCHI SAKAMOTO - TRIO TOUR
The Japanese artist Ryuichi Sakamoto,
eclectic composer, musician and actor,
will bring his new tour in Italy.The Trio will
perform electronic, ambient, bossa nova,
pop music, world and classical music.
10 November - 20.45 - Teatro Verdi
Via Ghibellina, 99 - Firenze
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
Opera in two acts, Music Giacomo Puccini, text Cesare Sterbini, Conductor Antonio Pirolli, Director Josè Carlos Plaza,
Scenes Sigfrido Martin-Begué.
29 November - 1-4-6 December 20.30 - Teatro Comunale - Corso Italia,
16 - Firenze
QUARTETTO DI CREMONA
The world of Quartet (XXI) - L. BOCCHERINI: Quartet op.1 n.6.; B. BARTOK:
Quartet n.4.; F. SCHUBERT: Quartet in G
major op. 161 D 887.
19 November - 21.00 - Teatro della Pergola - Via della Pergola, 18 - Firenze
ALEXANDER LONQUICH
Orchestra della Toscana and Alexander
Lonquich conductpor and pianist performing ARVO PÄRT Silouans Song; SCHUBERT Sinfonia n.6 D.589 ‘La piccola’;
FAURE’ Pavane op.50; FAURE’ Ballade
for piano and orchestra; R. STRAUSS Burleske for piano and orchestra
30 November - 20.45 - Teatro Verdi
Via Ghibellina, 99 - Firenze
LA BOHÈME
Opera in four acts, Music Giacomo Puccini, text Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica,
Conductor Carlo Montanaro, Director Mario Pontiggia, Scenes Francesco Zito.
25-30 November - 2-3 December 20.30 - Teatro Comunale - Corso Italia,
16 - Firenze
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JAMES CONLON
James Conlon directs the Orchestra e
Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
with Soprano Ekaterina Sadovnikova;
Claude Debussy: Trois Nocturnes; Francis
Poulenc: Gloria, for soprano, orchestra
and chorus; Modest Musorgskij: Pictures
at an Exhibition
10 December - 20.30 - Teatro Comunale - Corso Italia, 16 - Firenze
BALLETTO DI SOFIA
THE NUTCRACKER
Balletto di Sofia, the first Bulgarian classical ballet company will perform the nutcracker: Ballet in two acts inspired by a
story by ETA Hoffman, Music Pyotr Ilyich
Tchaikovsky, Marian Zahara and Marius
Petipa choreography, sets and costumes
Eslitsa Popova
21 December - 20.45 - Teatro Verdi
Via Ghibellina, 99 - Firenze
ENSEMBLE SAN FELICE
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
Ensemble San Felice, conductor Federico
Bardazzi with Orchestra da Camera
Fiorentina perforino Haendel: Messiah
Oratory for choir and orchestra
23 December - 21.00 - Auditorium
Santo Stefano al Ponte - Piazza di Santo
Stefano - Firenze
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
GOSPEL AND SPIRITUAL
A Christmas Concert devoted to Gospel
and Spiritual music with The Sue Conway
Victory Singers accompanied by the Orchestra della Toscana
24 December - 17.00 - Teatro Verdi
Via Ghibellina, 99 - Firenze
SLOVAK NATIONAL THEATRE
GISELLE
The Slovak National Theatre, founded in
1920 is one of the most important cultural
institutions of the country. Now includes
sections of opera, theater and ballet,
each one with its own permanent professional company. Since the ‘90s, the ensemble presents choreography by Ondrej
Soth, now at the helm of a company represented by a new generation of dancers.
Music by Adolphe-Charles Adam direction Ondrej Šoth and Juraj Kubánka
9 January - 20.45 - Teatro Verdi Via Ghibellina, 99 - Firenze
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POP MUSIC
BOB DYLAN + MARK KNOPFLER
One of the most important tour of 2011,
two giants of the international rock like
Bob Dylan and Mark Knopfler together
for the first time sharing the same stage.
The minstrel of Duluth and the former
Dire Straits leader have decided to run
together, each with their band, for about
thirty dates.
November 11th - 21.00
Mandela Forum - Viale Paoli
ZUCCHERO
CHOCABECK TOUR
The bluesman after the European tour that
saw him busy during the whole summer is
ready to return to Italy for an indoor tour
which will present the latest tracks of his
new album Chocabeck, triple platinum
in Italy (over 200 000 copies) , which is
enjoying success in Europe where it has
exceeded 300 000 copies sold.
November 20th-21st - 21.00
Mandela Forum - Viale Paoli
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BUD SPENCER BLUES EXPLOTION
The Bud Spencer Blues Explosion bring
their new album DO IT! on tour. The result
of an endless number of gigs around the
U.S. and Italy. The “power duo” has masterfully synthesized the twelve-bar blues,
the emotional impact and attitude of classic rock and avantguard.
November 26th - 21.00 - Viper Theatre
Via Pistoiese / Via Lombardia
BADLY DRAWN BOY
It was June 2000 when the Mercurywinning, seminal The Hour of the Bewilderbeast, announced the arrival of the
badly drawn genius of Damon Gough.
It’s been a curious, wonderful, inimitable,
unpredictable decade of major prizes
and minor incidents, all possibilities and
pissing in the wind, at the end of which
we find Gough starting the new decade
as he did the last… at a creative peak,
and back on his own label.
December 10th - 21.00 - Viper Theatre
Via Pistoiese / Via Lombardia
FOLKLORE
THANKSGIVING
Strange to Europeans
A
strange custom/holiday in the eyes of Europeans
is Thanksgiving of the United States. This holiday
first came into being when the Pilgrims, originally
known as the Plymouth settlers, first got to the new land in
hopes to make a new life. Little did they realize the drastic
changes they would have to face. In reality, the Whites had
managed to survive on their own in this different land thanks
to the help of a Native American named Squanto. He taught
them fishing, how to plant corn and other vegetables, how
to catch eel, and also served as their native interpreter. The
Pilgrims held a feast, an autumn celebration with tons of food
and praising the Lord, directly after their harvest, their first
successful harvest. It turned out to be not one day, not two
days, but a full three day event. All this started in the year of
1621 in the land now known as Massachusetts.
The meaning of Thanksgiving has obviously changed throughout these years past. These years of industry haven’t required
the average American to harvest their dinner, harvest being
their only way of making money. Nowadays we remember
the troubles that our ancestors went through but don’t truly
comprehend the said hardships. With our thriving electronic
society our worries have been changed from ones of freezing
during the winter to being the best we can possibly be.
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35
FOLKLORE
SILENT NIGHT
A Christmas in Florence
X
mas in Florence is unique for anyone who decides
to visit the city at this time of year. Certainly the
lights are nothing like as splendid as those in London or New York, but medieval and Renaissance Florence
doesn’t really need a huge amount of glitter, when every
street, every corner and every house reflects ancient festivities,
some long forgotten, some utterly transformed, while others
that have survived intact. Even so, hanging strings of glittering
lights, snow flakes and garlands illuminate the boulevards until
everything is adazzle with light, from the trees and the facades
of the great houses to the windows and the squares. The silent
candle-lit churches, the Nativity scenes, the deeply religious
services and concerts contrast with the bustling streets outside,
where every shop window offers tempting and captivating
wares that are impossible to resist.
PRESEPE VS XMAS TREE
You may find it hard to believe but Christmas trees are a
relatively recent introduction to Italy, a tradition that gradually crept in during the 20th century from Northern Europe.
Nativity scenes are instead a classical Italian institution and
range from very simple family-made arrangements to more
complex ones, usually to be found in churches. The tradition of
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37
setting up a Nativity Scene (presepe or
presepio in Italian) is thought to originate
from Christmas 1223 when St. Francis
of Assisi set up a representation of the
Nativity in the town of Greccio. Drop in
to admire the beautiful Nativity scenes
set up every year in the Churches of
Santa Maria de’ Ricci and of Santa
Margherita de’ Cerchi or of Dante (both
in Via Santa Margherita).
BEFANA VS SANTA CLAUS
Until recent times Italian children did
not receive their presents from Santa
Claus at Christmas, but from a benevolent witch called Befana on January
6th. Good children got sweets and
other goodies, while naughty children
received lumps of coal. Legend has it
that the Befana gave hospitality to the
Wise Men when they called on their
way to Bethlehem, but would not go
with them because she was too busy.
However on afterthoughts she repented
her decision and now spends her time
leaving presents at each house she visits, just in case one of the children living
there is baby Jesus...
38
A
WELLNESS
(1)
PALESTRA RICCIARDI (1)
GYMNASIUM FITNESS CENTER
Founded 50 years ago, Palestra Ricciardi is the biggest
gym in the Florence downtown, known as the coolest
gym in town, Palestra Ricciardi combines experienced
staff with the most modern equipment to offer the best fitness options. 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. Palestra Ricciardi also provides personalised fitness programmes under the supervision of
a fully qualified instructor. There are special membership
fees for students.
Gymnasium Fitness Center means fitness and relaxation in the heart of the city, close by Santa Maria
Novella. Highly convenient for people who study in
the city centre, Gymnasium Fitness Center expresses
a clear vocation for Wellness. The beauty structure offers sauna, solarium, massage and treatments. Gymnasium Fitness Center not only proposes courses but
also programs personalized trainings, events, stages
and lessons carried out by experts in various types of
sport. Many are disciplines carried out in the Gymnasium Fitness Center from Pilates to Yoga Stretch
tone to TBW, Aero Box to Capoeira and for those
who love dancing HipHop, Salsa and even belly
dancing. Gymnasium applies a special discount for
students with a first day free and no no sign up fee
added.
Borgo Pinti, 75 - 055.2478444
www.palestraricciardi.it
Via del Palazzuolo, 49r
320.1748812
(2)
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
our tips.
(2)
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41
WELLNESS
GABRIO STAFF OLIMPO
(1)
The very first HAIR SPA in Florence. A project based
on women’s typical need for complicated charm and
on the desire not only to offer beauty services, but
also sensorial experiences. Today clients at the GabrioStaff Olimpo are wrapped up in a soft bathrobe
and offered a comfortable chaise longue to stretch
out on, while expert hands give them a relaxing
head, neck, shoulders and arms massage. Here,
specialised treatment, is blended with well-being,
“People always say that women go to the hairdresser
not only do they go to improve their looks, but also
to relax” Gabrio Giunti explains. Four private VIP
booths designed in different styles: in Florentine style,
in walnut, and in art deco. Gabrio Staff conceived
the interior design and furnishing according to the
specific requirements of the stylist: open-view arches
with elements of minimal style furnishingy. The salon
offers complete hairstyle services and includes a wellness with Ayurveda and Indian massages.
(1)
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Via Tornabuoni, 5 - 055.214668
www.gabriostaff.it
Hours: Tue-Sat 9.30am-9pm
Mon 1pm-8pm
GOURMET
TUSCAN OLIVE OIL
Freshly milled
N
ovember marks the harvesting of the olives.
It is usually hard and backbreaking work
and not helped by the first winter rains and
cold north winds. You can volunteer to help if you
like...but it is really only enjoyable on sunny days!
What is fun is going to watch the oil being milled. This
is not as hard as it sounds as the frantoi or oil mills
are open to all during the harvest as people gradually
bring in varying quantities of olives for milling. Snacks
and even meals are often of offer to help clients pass
the time while waiting for their oil to be ready, so there
44
is no reason why you should not partake of the repast too!
Almost every farm in Tuscany boasts an olive grove (many
people have a tree or two in their garden for home consumption); some farms even have their own olive press, a
guarantee of good oil, as the olives should be milled immediately after picking. Others have to take their olives to the
nearest available press for immediate washing and milling.
The traditional method for milling olives is by placing them on
a large, circular block of granite, where they are crushed by
two turning granite wheels. 20 minutes later the olives have
been transformed into an oily pulp. This is spread out on round
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mats of woven hemp, each with a hole
in the middle, which are stacked on a
spindle and placed under an increasing pressure to extract the oil and juice
that collects at the base. The first oil is
considered superior to that extracted at
the end of the process. Waste water
and sediments are separated from the
oil, either by successive decanting or
centrifuge. Olive oil does not improve
with age, it simply mellows, and the
pungent aroma and the vivid taste of
the freshly pressed greenish oil gradually
turns golden yellow to acquire a velvety
texture. A good extra virgin oil should
stay fairly fresh for a year or more if
properly stored in cool place.
The deliciously tasting Tuscan oil is particularly low in acid content and therefore better for you, though the flavour
can vary according to where the olives
are grown, climate and so on. It can be
peppery, fruity, full-bodied, or mild with
underlying scents of grass, artichokes
or wild herbs, certainly it should be
flavoursome and not just oily. Watch
out for wine and oil fairs, especially in
the country (Reggello, Calenzano, Barberino Val d’Elsa), in early November.
You can taste some excellent and often
very reasonably priced oils (taste several
to decide which you like best). Dribble
it over a slice of Tuscan bread or, better
still, toast rubbed with garlic, add some
salt and go with the flavour...
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GOURMET
CHRISTMAS DELIGHTS
Panettone, Pandoro, Panforte & Ricciarelli
E
very Italian region cherishes its own traditions in
Christmas sweets, although advertising and the
large-scale production in the past few decades has
levelled out the national standard to but a few: panettone,
pandoro, panforte and ricciarelli. None of these recipes
originated in fact as Christmas specialities but, over the years
(and sometimes centuries), they have come to be associated
more or less closely with the Festive Season.
PANETTONE
The Italian “Panettone” is the typical Christmas cake that all
Italians buy (they rarely make it at home) to celebrate the
festivities. Although it originated in Milan, Christmas wouldn’t
be Christmas for any Italian without his panettone (we could
translate it as large loaf and it does in fact rather resemble a
loaf of bread). It comes in all shapes and sizes and today in
hundreds of variations. The traditional type, made with flour,
eggs, butter, vanilla and sugar, is stuffed with raisins and
candied fruit. The Florentine version also contains pine nuts
and aniseed. It should be well leavened and bulge out over
the edge of its paper container.
48
PANDORO
The plainer “Pandoro” (Golden bread), from Verona, was created to satisfy those who do not like raisins and candied fruit and
should be sprinkled with powered icing sugar so that it appears
to be dusted with snow. Now both variations can be found
stuffed with creams and flavourings, or covered in chocolate
or icing sugar, with new versions appearing in the Christmas
windows every year. The Panettone or Pandoro is also a very
popular Christmas present: It can make a handy gift for friends
and relations, is most appreciated by business acquaintances or
staff or just as a thank you present for some past favour. Christmas
gift baskets always contain a panettone of some sort.
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PANFORTE
Panforte is a heavenly mixture of honey,
spices, candied fruit and nuts and has
the added advantage of keeping for a
long time. Its origins go back to the Middle Ages, when, on his return from Arab
countries, Niccolò Salimbeni brought
some “honey and pepper” loaves back
to Siena. The formula has developed as
new ingredients became available over
the centuries. Today the most popular
variety is the panforte Margherita, light
in colour and more delicate in taste
than most other types, and dusted with
confectioner’s sugar. It was created by
Enrico Righi in 1879 in homage to
Queen Margherita, who visited Siena
with her husband King Umberto I for
the Palio.
RICCIARELLI
Ricciarelli are instead lozenge-shaped
biscuits made with whole, freshly crushed
almonds blended with sugar and honey.
They can be white - with a light coating
of confectioner’s sugar - or come frosted
with chocolate layer, a more modern version of the original recipe. Renaissance
documents describe Ricciarelli as being
served at the most sumptuous banquets
in Italy and France. Needless to say, if
you are flying home for Christmas, any
one of these Christmas specialities will
certainly make a most welcome present
for family and friends!
50
T
FLAVOURS OF TUSCANY
(1)
(2)
52
NATALINO (1)
BOCCANGERA
Situated in the former church of San Piero Maggiore,
which still shows traces of ancient capitals and decorations, in the quarter of Santa Croce, Restaurant Natalino
has been one of the city’s best known restaurants for
the last 130 years. A popular meeting place for Florentine artists, Restaurant Natalino is famous throughout the
world for its interpretation of the traditional local cooking,
from the delicious starters to the classical Florentine first
courses - ribollita or fresh pasta served with various sauces - or the grilled meats that include thick juicy steaks. The
menu and wine list offer a perfect food and wine experience, with simply prepared seasonal products cooked
in the knowledge of ancient traditions. The quality of the
cooking, the fascinating environs and welcoming family
atmosphere trasform dining at Natalino’s into a voyage
into the Italian way of life. Natalino now doubles with the
recently opened Wine Bar, ideal for lunchtime breaks,
offering typical platters, tasty snacks and sandwiches
and also selling bottles of excellent vintage wine.
Restaurant Boccanegra is situated in 16th century
Palazzo Salviati in the heart of Florence. Its very special
site also inspired its name; Simon Boccanegra, the first
Doge of Genoa, was also a Ghibelline, as well as being the subject of a famous opera by Giuseppe Verdi.
An antique wooden door set in a glass wall leads into
an attractive period styled interior, while the 19th century
furniture creates an eleg ant but also warmly welcoming
environment. The Restaurant offers a haute cuisine based
on meat and fish, cooked using ancient but revisited
local recipes, all spectacularly arranged.The Osteria,
another of the restaurant’s attractions, with an independent entrance in Via Verdi, is dedicated to the traditional
Tuscan cuisine. The cellars are situated in the foundations
of the building, built onto the lower parts of the ancient
walls of Florence. The new Cantinetta right next door to
the restaurant, offers wine tastings matched with various
delicacies from the kitchens.The restaurant is therefore
perfect for hosting important occasions and events.
Borgo degli Albizi, 17r - 055.289404
www.ristorantenatalino.com
Open for lunch & dinner: 12.00-14.30 ;19.00-22.30
Closed on Mondays
Restaurant - Via Ghibellina, 124r
Osteria - Via Verdi, 27r - 055.2001098
www.boccanegra.com
Open 12.00-14.30 & 19.00-24.00 - Closed on Sundays
(2)
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.
53
N
FRESH FLORENTINE FISH
(1)
(2)
54
FELLINI (1)
LA BARONDA FISH RESTAURANT (2)
Fellini is a new and innovative restaurant that aspires to
be one of the gourmet places in Florence. The name and
the choice of the location, opposite the old Teatro Verdi,
tells of the owner Pierluigi Di Pasquale’s passion for cinema…and good food. The ambience is very nice, with
well spaced tables, Murano glass lamps, shielded by
original drapery, which emits a soft light: an environment
ideal for a relaxing dinner. The seafood-based menu offers a large selection of shellfish and seafood appetizers
which give richness to the first course. The second course
is updated daily to make space for the fresh catch of the
day, the Catalan Fellini triumph with lobster, shrimp, and
red shrimp. Some meat dishes make Fellini the perfect
chance for a special dinner even if not all guests love
fish. Chef Claudio Nardello produces delicious dishes
with impeccable balance of intense but delicate flavor,
with his excellent technique. The result is a sober and
distinct cuisine that can satisfy the most demanding palates. The service is refined and punctual and the cellars
are well stocked with quality wines.
La Baraonda Fish Restaurant, located in the famous Santa
Croce Square neighborhood, offers an unique chance
to taste the real flavours of Naples and the Amalfi Coast
deep in the heart of Florence. La Baraonda will welcome
you in a friendly yet sophisticated athmosphere. The marble bench from the old Tuscan wine shop, the original
grit floor, the coffered ceiling with exposed beams in the
lobby make La Baraonda an evocative modern environment deeply sunk in the tradition. Make sure you try the
hand made “ravioloni” filled with seabass, Gragnano
pasta with tuna, eggplants, capers and tomato sauce,
the typical “Coppetiello” (fried fish & calamaro with
fried vegetables) and the “Catalana” (steamed lobster,
prawns, shrimps and other shellfishes). It will be an unforgettable experience! An excellent Raw Fish selection is
available daily. Great place both for a romantic dinner
and for a family sunday lunch or just a chilly glass of
wine or champagne, sitting at the tables on the outdoor
patio. Cooking classes can be requested with a minimum of 2 people.
Via Ghibellina, 134r - 055.2478898
www.ristorantefellini.it
Open for dinner only: 19.00-1.00
Via Ghibellina 67r - 055.2260038
www.labaraonda.it
Open daily 12.30-14.30 & 19.30-22.30
ow is the time
to be adventurous with fish!
Tuscan cooking offers
many enticing platters as
the basic ingredients come
fresh every day from the
nearby coast. Fish is good
for you as well as being
an ideal diet, it can be
cooked in countless ways
- roasted, grilled, fried,
baked in foil, boiled, in a
sauce or even raw - and
and Italian chefs invent
delicious new recipes every day! The most famous
Tuscan dishes are: Livorno’s Cacciucco (a corpulent spicy fish soup over
garlic flavoured grilled
bread) and Baccalà alla
Livornese (fried dried cod
in a tomato and garlic
sauce), Baccalà coi porri
(dried cod with leeks).
Octopus, clams, mussels,
shrimps, scampi, squid
and calamari in all their
glory are appreciated far
and wide. Florence has
two main fish recipes in its
tradition, baccalà (livornese style) and seppie in
zimino (cod or squid with
spinach or bietola).
55
P
PIZZA PIZZA PIZZA!
FRATELLI LA BUFALA (1)
(1)
(2)
56
Restaurant and Pizzeria Fratelli La Bufala can be found
in characteristic Via de’ Neri in the vicinity of Piazza
della Signoria; it offers typical Italian products that
allow you to rediscover all the flavours and sensations contained in organically-farmed Dop and Doc
products, like the meat and buffalo mozzarella from
Campania to the traditional Neapolitan pizzas and
other gratifying dishes. The authenticity and quality of
the Fratelli la Bufala products are guaranteed by a strict
control of all the raw materials. The restaurant is based
on the original idea of offering suggestions, flavours
and sensations related to buffalo pastures, nature and
rediscovered wellbeing. You must try the pizza, made
with 100% buffalo mozzarella, or the nourishing platters of buffalo meat, cheese, dressed meats, fresh
pasta and desserts based on buffalo ricotta. Baked
in a wood oven, the pizza menu includes the classic
traditional Italian-style pizzas, all made with naturally
leavened pastry and topped with Neapolitan buffalo
mozzarella, as well as a selection of wines and delicious homemade desserts.
Via de’Neri, 76r - 055.9063912
www.fratellilabufala.com
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.
izzas come
in thousands
of variations
and are certainly not
just round pieces of flat
dough with a little tomato and cheese slapped
on top! If you prefer your
pizza simple make sure
that the ingredients are
really fresh and that the
mozzarella cheese is of
the buffalo variety, by far
the best!
A good pizza should
also be baked in a
proper wood burning
oven to acquire just that
perfect aroma and flavour desired by the true
connoisseur! Pizzas can
come thick and puffy, or
thin and crunchy, and
should overflow with flavoursome toppings.
Easily digested, they are
a complete meal and a
popular excuse for a gettogether among friends
and, eaten in pleasant
surroundings they taste
even better.
Borgo SS. Apostoli, 66 - 055.2658156
www.leantichecarrozze.it
Open daily 11.00-23.00.
57
A
NIGHTLIFE
ONE EYED JACK
(1)
(2)
58
(1)
SALAMANCA
(2)
One eyed jack is a new venue born as a pub but
quickly evolved into something more, a welcoming
and friendly American rock bar, an informal environment where you can feel free to enjoy an evening out,
with cocktail, music and themed parties. The owners
have christened the place with the name of the smoky
pubs of Twin Peaks, this passion for cinema is found
in many themed party nights organized by the venue
(a truly unmissable Florentine nightlife events) all inspired by the world of movies, where rock music,
themed games and crazy costumes reign supreme.
Live music every Friday evening with international
and national bands, DJ sets Wednesday through
Saturday with indie rock, reggae dancehall or jazz
music. Free wi-fi for customers and maxi-screen where
you can be able to follow the main sporting events of
the season. Happy Hour starts at 14.00 and ends at
21.00 with pints at 3 euros and long drinks at 4.
With an entrance sunken in slightly from the street-front
windows and doors, Salamanca draws you in almost
seductively with its muted and rustic reds, cursive lettering
above the door and calm dim lighting. Upon entering,
a beautiful and engaging staff allows you to be guided
wherever you choose to enjoy this intriguing bar and
restaurant. You may enjoy a meal in one of the three
dining rooms, including a more intimately themed one
in the back. Or for a more casual evening, quaint two
seater tables off to the right, a variety of tables in the front
room to the left, a tapas bar in the back, or a traditional
bar in the very front. With a full menu from tapas to
meat meals, wonderful fish dishes to salads, amazingly
decadent desserts and delicious drinks, the food alone
entices any restaurant goer. With its atmosphere, its upbeat American and Spanish mix of music, wonderful
staff, entrancing ambience, leaving Salamanca seems
like not an option.
Piazza Nazario Sauro, 2
338.7941155
Open daily 14.00 - 2.00
Via Ghibellina, 80r
055.2345452
Open Daily 17.30 - 2.30
peritif comes
from the Latin
word “aperire”, to open. You should
remember that traditionally, Italians do not drink in
order to get drunk: rather,
alcohol fulfils a complementary role in the dining process. An aperitif
is meant to cleanse your
palate and whet your appetite for the upcoming
meal. The typically French
and Italian rite of aperitif
offers a taste of la bonne
vie for those who enjoy
nothing more than raising
a glass in the company
of friends. Many bars in
Florence now offer a sophisticated choice of finger foods and snacks to
accompany your aperitif.
Arrive between 7pm and
9pm, buy yourself a drink
and you can expect to
stock up for free on a
good spread of complimentary nibbles. Even the
music mix is also specially chosen with smooth,
soothing sounds providing a suitable backdrop
for a relaxed chat among
friends.
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THE FRIENDS’ PUB
Borgo San Jacopo, 51r - 055.294930
www.thefriendspub.com
Hours: Open 2pm-2am
Irish Pub, Aperitif with free buffet from
7pm. Free internet wireless connection. Friends’ pub welcomes you in a
cosy, friendly shelter.
TARTAN JOCK PUB
Corso Tintori, 41r - 055.2478315
www.scottishpub.it - Open 12pm-2am
Scottish pub, wide selection of beers and
Scotch whisky, weekly special offers, Lunch
for 9.90 Euros, appetizer buffet for the cost
of the drink from 6.30pm to 9pm. Maxiscreen for sports events, Wi-Fi facility.
COLLE BERETO CAFÈ
Piazza Strozzi 5r - 055.283156
www.collebereto.it
Always Open
Colle Bereto Cafè is the privileged access
to an extravagant and luxurious Florence,
where you just need to open your eyes
and start dreaming. Breakfast,
Lounge Restaurant, American Bar, Privè.
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Forno Sartoni
Fratelli La Bufala
Friends’ Pub
Le Antiche Carrozze
One Eyed p.zza
Jack
D’Azeglio
Salamanca
Tartan Jock Pub
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