Leisure - Maddalena Delli

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living & studying in Tuscany
March
April
2004
distributed
free
Spring
great days out in Tuscany
Easter
why the fire cart explodes
Diet
MEGA
REVIEW
the benefits of
Mediterranean eating
Contents
Culture
4
FIRENZE
Botticelli at Palazzo Strozzi; plus the ongoing exhibitions at
Palazzo Medici Riccardi and other events you shouldn't miss
OutofTown
10
Make the best of the spring with some great days out among
art treasures and a glorious countryside
ItalianStyle
16
An insider's guide to the secrets of the Murano glassmaking tradition, plus all you need to know about Women's Day celebrations
Folklore
23
In Florence the year began in March. Also, the Fire Cart tradition
in Florence and the Via Crucis re-enactment at Grassina
Leisure
34
St. Patrick's celebrations in Florence; the history of Florence-born
Negroni cocktail; plus the art of matching pasta and sauce types
Wellness
48
The dietary benefits of Mediterranean style eating. Also, some
advice on how to rediscover the joy of an energetic body
Services
56
Selected services for students' needs and pleasure, including an exciting netgamers' meeting place
Maps
58
The main monuments in the city center and how to get there
with the Ataf network of ecological bus lines
vivifirenze
Year #2 – Issue #2 (March - April 2004)
free magazine for international students
also published online at www.vivifirenze.it
Editorial office: Maddalena Delli [email protected]
Advertising inquiries: [email protected]
Graphic Design: Pietro Salvadori [email protected]
Cover: Detail from Sandro Botticelli’s “Primavera” at the Uffizi Gallery
(courtesy of Archivio Fotografico Becocci)
The Publisher is available to acknowledge the authoriship 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 S.r.l. Tel +39.055.4288418
Via Roma 19/21r, tel. 055.217826/7/8 email:[email protected]
open everyday 10-19 Sunday 11-19
www.luisaviaroma.com
Culture
Culture
A major exibition on the best-loved Renaissance
painter
Botticelli
500
years after
by Maddalena Delli
fter being dispersed for five
centuries, some of the most
important works by Sandro
Botticelli are back in Florence for the
major exhibition held at Palazzo
Strozzi to honour one of the major
contenders for best-loved artist of the
Renaissance.
A
A monographic exhibition on
Botticelli (Florence, 1445 - 1510)
was held at the Musée du
Luxembourg in Paris from September
2003 until February 2004. It now
transfers to Florence, further enriched
with several more loans from all over
S. Botticelli - Mystic Nativity
S. Botticelli - Storia di Nastagio degli Onesti
Filippino Lippi
Allegory of love
the world. Unlike the Paris show, the
Palazzo Strozzi exhibition has a coprotagonist, since it also aims to
investigate the intricate relationship
between Botticelli himself and his
pupil Filippino Lippi (Prato, ca.
1457 – Florence, 1504), who was
also the son of Botticelli's own master, Filippo Lippi.
Important Botticelli paintings from
several collections in Florence are
Figure this!
Understandably, this is considered the exhibition of the year, not
just in Florence but on an international level. The numbers reveal
an astonishing organizational effort and prove an unprecedented international get<4>
together to make available as
many works as possible: over
60 pieces have been gathered,
including 25 paintings by Botticelli, 16 by Filippino and several important drawings. In fact the
figures paid to insure the paintings – notably the Mystic Nativity from the National Gallery in
London, Botticelli's only signed
and dated work – seem to confirm this: the total value of insurance for the works on display
nears the incredible amount of
500 million Euros, arguably
the highest figure ever reached
for an art exhibition. This is even
more astonishing if you consider that both the Primavera and the
Birth of Venus – Botticelli's most
famous works – are not included in the lot, since they will remain
in their natural setting, the Botticelli Room in the Uffizi Gallery.
exhibited at Palazzo Strozzi alongside
works which have been away for
centuries, or in some case only just
discovered, as in with the Botticelli
painting found in Edinburgh in
1998. Other works come from museums in London, Moscow, Madrid,
Paris, Ajaccio, Milan, Naples, New
York, Boston, Chicago and several
private collections.
Also significant to understand the cultural context in which Botticelli and
Filippino lived and operated is the
presence of works by artists close to
their cultural sphere, such as Piero di
Cosimo and Leonardo da Vinci.
The Filippino section also displays
several important loans including the
Pietà from Washington, the Portrait of a Musician from
In the light of the most
Dublin, the Noli me
recent studies on
tangere from the
the work of
Seminario PatriarBotticelli and the
cale of Venice
15th century in
and the Tondo
Florence, the
Corsini, from
exhibition
the Cassa di
presents the
Risparmio di
most sigFirenze colnificant
lection. The
themes of
exhibition
Botticelli's art
aims to conand retraces
vince the pubhis stylistic evolic of what exlution. In fact, the
perts have been
bringing together of
stating for some
so many works by this
time: although little
great master enables
known to the many, Filipdirect comparFilippino Lippi - Angelo annunciante pino is no lesser
isons which have
genious than his
never been possible until today. From
celebrated master. After all, Botticelli
the early works in the style of Filippo
himself was almost forgotten from his
Lippi, the the display leads us
death until the early 20th century:
through to the masterpieces of
could this be Filippino's big chance
Botticelli's maturity at the time of
for a major comeback?
Lorenzo il Magnifico and finally to
Botticelli e Filippino. L'inquietudine e
the later paintings, whose uneasiness
la grazia nella pittura fiorentina del
reflects the disturbance and lacera'400 is at Palazzo Strozzi (piazza
tions brought to Florence by the
Strozzi) from 11th March to 11th July.
preachings of Fra' Gerolamo
Daily opening 9am to 9pm (Fri to Sun
Savonarola. Hence the subtitle of
late closing at 11pm)
the exhibition, “Uneasiness and grace
in 15th century Florentine painting.”
Info and bookings 055.2660278 or
www.botticellipalazzostrozzi.it
To illustrate Botticelli's varied activity
there will also be the drawings he
more on
made for Dante's Divina Commedia.
< vivifirenze.it >
<5>
Culture
behind the scenes
at Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Secret
Rooms Part II
by Maddalena Delli
ike every blockbuster, last
year's much-appreciated
Stanze segrete (Secret
Rooms) exhibition at Palazzo Medici
Riccardi in Florence has a sequel.
The project aims to make the hidden treasures of the Medici family
mansion known to the Florentines
and visitors alike.
L
Built in 1444 by Michelozzo for
Cosimo the Elder in via Larga (now
via Cavour) in the immediate neighborhood of the family church of San
Lorenzo, Palazzo Medici soon became a prototype of Renaissance
secular architecture. After 1540 when Cosimo I became Grand
Duke and moved his residence to
Palazzo Vecchio first and to Palazzo
Pitti later - the palace continued to
be inhabited by lesser members of
the family until 1659, when Ferdinando II sold it to the Riccardi family, who had many alterations made
in Baroque style and joined the former Medici building to their nearby
property. When the Riccardi fortune
waned in the early 19th century,
they sold the palace to the State.
Since 1874 it belongs to the Provincia and houses several administrative offices including the Prefettura.
With such a long and varied history,
the palace's art collections inevitably
include an astonishing range of less-
Culture
er-known pieces. This
year's exhibition goes
under the title of
Raccolte per
caso (which
roughly translates as
'Randomly
assembled')
and is divided into two
sections.
Red is beautiful
The first one,
I Medici Santi draws inspiration from the
palace's own famous frescos in the
Magi chapel, where
Benozzo Gozzoli portrayed
several members of the Medici family
in the train following the three Wise
Men to Bethlehem. On display are
several examples of Medici portrays as saints, like the two paintings by Giorgio Vasari depicting Cosimo the Elder as San Cosma (opposite left) and Cosimo I as San Damiano (opposite right), or Giusto
Suttermans's paintings depicting the
Medici women as Sant'Agnese, Santa Margherita and Santa Maddalena.
The other exhibition section - which is
actually accessed through a long-forgotten 15t century secret door - is
called Arredi Celati and displays
some formerly unseen marble sculptures from the Riccardi collections (including both Roman originals and
some 18th century copies) alongside
a number of paintings of allegorical or
religius subject which once adorned
the palace's private quarters.
What would you buy yourself as a present on your eight-hundredth birthday?
The town of Montelupo Fiorentino,
which celebrated the 8th centenary of
its foundation in 2003, thought a while
about it and then decided that a bowl
was what it really wanted to have. Well,
not just any one bowl: a unique bowl,
a true masterpiece made in 1509 by
one of Montelupo's own leading maiolica workshops. Known as Rosso di
Montelupo, this water basin derives its
name from the mysterious red pigment
employed in its decoration. Formerly in
the famous collection of Gustave de
Rothschild in Paris, it then passed into
the hands of the French antiquarian
Alain Moatti, from whom a pool of benefactors - including the municipality of
Montelupo and some private and corporate sponsors - has recently acquired
it for the Museo Archeologico e
della Ceramica di Montelupo. This
unique, perfectly preserved, profusely
decorated specimen of Montelupo ceramic (pictured top left) is on temporary
display at Palazzo Medici Riccardi
in Florence until 21st March; it will then
be on permanent display in the Montelupo museum from 9th April. Info
0571.51352 or
www.museomontelupo.it
The 'Stanze segrete. Raccolte per caso'
exhibition opens on 25th March
and continues until 26th September
Hours: 9am to 7pm, closed Wed.
Infoline 055.2760340 or visit
www.palazzo-medici.it
RESTAURANT
CUCINA INTERNAZIONALE
INTERNATIONAL COOKING
Piazza dell’Olio, 10r
50123 Firenze
Tel. 055.211466
Open from 11am till 11pm
non-stop
<6>
Giglio Rosso
Home cooking
Typical Tuscan dishes
Air conditioning
Centrally located
Via Panzani, 35r - Via del Giglio, 11r 50123 Firenze
always open - tel 055.211795 - fax 055.283739
<7>
Culture
selected events you shouldn't miss
News flashes
more on < vivifirenze.it >
by Maddalena Delli
Tartan: the Romantic Tradition
continues at the Museo del Tessuto
of Prato until 18th April. Believed to
be the most extensive exhibition ever
produced on the subject of tartan fabric and its folklore, it is open from
10am to 6pm every day except Tuesdays. for further details.on
www.museodeltessuto.com.
n unusual prose adaptation
of Puccini's opera Turandot
(see picture above) staged
by Tedavi'98 can be seen until 14th
March every evening (except 1-6-8
March) at 9.15pm at the Teatro off
Lungobinario behind the Stazione
Leopolda . The program also includes
talks, concerts and visits to the Oriental collections of the Stibbert Museum. For info and bookings call
055.6120205
A
If you still haven't seen it, plan a visit
to Siena before 14th March: that's
your last chace of not missing the
wonderful exhibition about Duccio di
Boninsegna and the beginnings of
Sienese painting. The exhibition is
open daily from 9am to 7.30pm at
Santa Maria della Scala and the
Museo dell'Opera, both by the Cathedral. More info on
www.duccio.siena.it
<8>
The Teatro Verdi hosts on 20th April a
unique concert: the Canadian band Musical Box will perform Selling England
by the pound, a journey into the past
with a meticulous (and officially authorized) re-enactment of a concert from the
Genesis' 1973-1974 tour. Visit
www.themusicalbox.net for more.
Two permanent exhibitions of machines
built in compliance with Leonardo da
Vinci's projects are going to open in
april. The San Gimignano display (in via
Quercecchio 26) opens on 3rd April,
while the Florence exhibition (in via dei
Servi 66r) opens on 19th April. For details: [email protected]
The 67th Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino festival runs from 23rd
april to 23rd June with operas, concerts and ballets. The Maggio Musicale is Italy’s oldest and most prestigious music festival and one of the
greatest in the world. Check
www.maggiofiorentino.com
for program and tickets
A Grand
among art treasures
and a glorious countryside
Day Out
by APT Firenze
f, after visiting the interesting exhibition on Jacopo da Empoli (see box
opposite), you feel like having
a look at the surroundings of
the pleasant town it’s held
in, Empoli, and maybe also a little farther, there’s a
whole lot of things to see
and do in the so-called
Empolese Valselsa region, a central area of Tuscany, located to the southwest of Florence. The Empolese Valdelsa area is made
up of a district comprising
eleven municipalities, six of
them in the zone of Empoli (Capraia e
Limite, Cerreto Guidi, Empoli, Fucecchio, Montelupo Fiorentino and Vinci)
and five in the Valdelsa (Castelfiorentino, Certaldo, Gambassi Terme, Montaione and Montespertoli).
I
made their way along the
major pilgrimage road known
as the Via Francigena or
Romea.
Following the Arno from
Florence, the first town
we find is Montelupo
Fiorentino, famous
worldwide for its production of ceramics, as the
Museo Archeologico e
della Ceramica well documents. By the way,
should you miss the Rosso
di Montelupo exhibition at
Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence
(until March 21st, see page 5 for de-
The territory is characterised by two
rivers: the Arno to the north, running
east to west in broad bends, and the
Elsa to the south, one of the Arno's
main tributaries, winding amidst gentle
hills and a man groomed landscape
of breathtaking beauty, the result of
the patient work of man over many
centuries. This was historically a land
of passage, and it was here, entering
from the Fucecchio marshes, that
the great flow of pilgrims from Northern Europe on their way to Rome
tails), from April 9th the beautiful bowl
will be back on display at the Museo
Archeologico e della Ceramica where
it belongs.
On the right bank of the Arno we then
come to the municipality of Capraia
e Limite, whose Etruscan origins are
proven by interesting excavations in
the area of Montereggi. The slopes of
the Montalbano ridge lead us on to
Vinci, set amidst hills cloaked in vines
and olive groves. Vinci is famous
worldwide as birthplace of Leonardo,
to whom a museum is dedicated inside the Rocca, or fortress. Moving
back towards the Arno we come to
Cerreto Guidi, whose most notable
landmark is the Medici Villa built in
1564, which is superbly approached
by two flights of stairs traditionally attributed to Buontalenti (hoto below).
In an elevated position over the
marshy plain of its Padule, Fucecchio boasts a beautiful view over the
lower valley of the Arno. The town itself has several important monuments, such as Palazzo Montanelli
Della Volta and the Collegiata church,
while the towers of a medieval castle
are still standing. In a central position
Cerreto Guidi - the Medici Villa
OutofTown
Born in Florence on 30th April 1551 in
the parish of San Lorenzo, Jacopo di
Chimenti was one of the most important Florentine artists to support the
painting reform led by Santi di Tito,
which would eventually cause the displacement of Mannerism. Known as
Jacopo da Empoli after the place his
family came from, he is now the subject of a major exhibition housed in the
monumental Church of S. Stefano and
the spacious rooms of the adjoining
Convent, two of Empoli's most interesting historic buildings. Jacopo perfected his technique mainly by copying
the great masters of the early 15th Century including Pontormo, some of
whose masterpieces are also on display.
Starting with the famous self-portrait
from the Uffizi (above), the exhibition
layout is divided into five sections retracing Jacopo's career with almost
one hundred works ranging from religious subjects to portraits, gathered
at Empoli from many Italian and foreign
museums and private collections.
Jacopo da Empoli
OutofTown Jacopo da Empoli (1551-1640)
Empoli, Church of Santo Stefano
and Convento degli Agostiniani
21st March to 20th June 2004
open 10am to 7pm; closed Mondays
Info 0571.757729 or
visit www.jacopodaempoli.it
Piazza Madonna degli Aldobrandini, 11/12 r Firenze
Tel Fax 055.217700
www.il-porcospino.it - [email protected]
Trattoria
“Il Porcospino”
alle Cappelle Medicee
Wine Bar
< 10 >
< 11 >
OutofTown Empoli - La Collegiata
Romanesque parish church of Santa
Maria a Chianni.
on the banks of the Arno, the main
town of this vast area is Empoli, with
its romanesque Collegiata church and
adjacent Museum. Empoli too boasts
some important children including
Pontormo, the painter (editor’s note:
more about this to come in the
May/June issue of Vivifirenze!), and
Ferruccio Busoni, the famous 19th
century musician.
And these are only a few of the area's
attractions, to which you can always
add delicious food and fine wine at
the local trattorie and restaurants,
while friendly overnight accommodation can be found in many establishments including some beautifully located agriturismi. So, if you are looking for a grand destination for a day or
for the weekend, just pop in at Student Point, pick up our leaflets and
maps about this wonderful area, and
off you go!
Tel. 055.243140
[email protected]
www.studentpointfirenze.it
C
TU los
ES ed
D on
AY
S
Let's now change direction, moving
north to south along the course of the
river Elsa. The town of Castelfiorentino treasures beautiful frescoes by
Benozzo Gozzoli and the impressive
Baroque church of Santa Verdiana. To
the south-west of Castelfiorentino lies
Montaione, with the famous spiritual
site of San Vivaldo with its seventeen chapels decorated with polychrome terracottas, crafted from
1515 onwards, each of them dedicated to a different holy site in
Jerusalem. Not far from Montaione
is Gambassi Terme, a spot highly appreciated for its salty waters, very famous in the past for its glass production. Not far from Gambassi stands
one of the main stopping-places
along the Via Francigena of old, the
Returning towards the Elsa, we see
Certaldo soaring aloft, with its ancient
burgh well preserved within its intact
gates. In the centre we find brick houses, the Palazzo Pretorio and the famous house-museum of Giovanni
Boccaccio. Set on a watershed between the Elsa and Pesa valleys, overlooking the Chianti territory, is Montespertoli, giving its name to a famous
strada del vino (wine trail): in this area
two excellent wines are produced, the
Chianti Montespertoli DOCG and the
Chianti Colli Fiorentini DOCG. The original nucleus of the town grew up
around the famous parish church of
San Pietro in Mercato, whose Museum
contains, among other important artworks, a beautiful Madonna and Child
by Filippo Lippi. In the surroundings of
Montespertoli are various fascinating
castles such as Montegufoni, Poppiano and Lucardo.
Via San Gallo, 37/R
tel 055.47.50.90
FIRENZE
< 12 >
OutofTown OutofTown
The latest craze for cross-country outings
Quad
Vadis?
by Maddalena Delli
ith
events
being
run the length and
breadth of the world,
Quad riding is very
much a growing
sport for everyone:
to find ladies's
teams beating male
competitors at
events is not uncommon, and sports
champions in the
last few years have
ranged from 16 to
56 years of age.
Quads are four-wheel motor vehicles apt for any terrain and they are
great leisure machines, fostering coordination, control and the sense of
speed. They are also fun, exciting
and entertaining.
W
The Quad machine is a derivative of the
original A.T.V. (All Terrain Vehicle)
which was shod with three wheels, and
affectionately named the Trike. But those
who used to race trikes would know
them better as "the blooming thing that
keeps chucking me off!" and this was
one of the main reasons for the birth of
the Quad. Which, as many off roads
sports do, started in America, with
conversions on trikes into four-wheeled
Quads, by welding a subframe onto the
front of the trike one the forks and lone
< 14 >
front wheel was removed, and the hanging A-arms, steering
column, track rods,
hubs and a pair of
wheels on to the machine to create it.
Quad racing is done
in many disciplines: motocross,
desert and beach
racing (both oval and
endurace), speedway, grass track, super moto (a sort of
motocross/scrambling but not quite so challenging), ice
speedway, road racing, enduros, hill
climbs, drag/sprint. The list for these
versatile machines is endless as they
can literally conquer any terrain with very
few set-up changes. Top international
sports stars own and regularly ride their
Quads. World champion rally driver
Colin McRae for instance uses his
Quad to practise his rallying skills: he
says it's the closest thing to real rally
driving and keeps his reactions sharp.
Florence's own Jonathan Team
holds the world record of balanced
driving on two side wheels: Gionata
Spina, the team leader, drove 100 km
in 1 hour and 54 minutes completing
as many as 250 laps at the Tavarnelle
athletics track in December 2002. The
idea sprang from 5 friends who turned
their passion for this innovative means
of transport into a real profession. As a
result the team, which specializes in
acrobatic performances, is now famous worldwide.
But Quad racing is for anybody with a
bit of co-ordination. Quads are very stable at low speed, and once the driver's
confidence and ability develop, they are
quite stable even at high speed. Thanks
to the automatic shift even a beginner can take charge of these four-wheel
vehicles and taste the feeling of a motorbike with the safety of four wheels.
Quads have also become increasingly
popular with tourist for cross-country
excursions and tours over prohibitive
terrains such as sand dunes, deserts
and even snowy mountain tracks.
C’mon,
have a go!
For ATV lovers but also for those who
want to spend an unusual weekend,
the Jonathan Team organizes tours in the
glorious countryside around Florence
lasting anything from three hours to a few
days. Professional Quad pilots will guide
you through an unforgettable visit of the
Reggello area and let you admire the
awesome clay gullies. Or you will have
a chance to appreciate the white roads
of Chianti. The routes are along track
roads of particular scenic interest. Quads
can have one or two occupants. Training school days are also organised by the
Jonathan Team throughout the year, with
5 learning levels: beginners, advanced, cross-country, trial and free
style. The courses, lasting 2 days, comprise a theory session (Saturday afternoon) and practical on-road and
cross-country training (Sunday). So
if you wish to know more, or if you wold
like to sit aboard one of these machines
and give it a try, just give them a call and
they will arrange for more in depth information or set up an excursion for you.
Info: Tel. 055.7876168
or www.jonathanteam.com
< 15 >
ItalianStyle There’s more to glass
than meets the eye
Blow
A
That very same magic, in different
shapes, is all around us, even though
we may not notice: be it a vase, a
bowl, a glass, a necklace bead or
whatever else; with gold or silver
powder inside, or in vibrant colors; in
each case, it will be something absolutely unique because on the far
side of that blowpipe there is a man a craftsman, an artist or maybe even
a master - who, regardless of his skill
in the craft, will necessarily make
something maybe similar, but still different the next time he blows into that
pipe, for the very simple reason that
human beings cannot make identical
objects, just similar ones.
A thorough understanding of the material and excellent glassblowing techniques are required to fully exploit the
qualities of glass. Technical knowledge and skill were built up over
many generations of glassblowers,
and were developed in
conjunc-
tion with a sense of elegance and
style which was totally appropriate to
the material.
Some Murano manufacturers are
world-known for the beauty of the
shapes, the difficulty of their craft, the
constant quality of their product. But
even maller manufacturers very often
create remarkably fine products, and
indeed sometimes they can afford
more freely to experiment and try new
solutions both in the shapes and in
the color combinations, always in
compliance with the traditional manufacturing techniques.
Often the Murano glass – especially
the larger, more valuable pieces –
come accompanied with a guarantee
of some kind (the artist’s signature or
workshop’s trademark or a slip containing a certificate of authenticity), but
on the other hand it must be said that
the lack of origin marks does not necessarily mean that they are fake or
copies. But then - you may rightly ask
- how can I tell the real thing, how can I
be confident that I’m not being sold
“fake“ Murano glass? My advice is to
buy from a good, specialized shop.
Touch (with care!) the items which attract you most check the brightness of
the colors and the unblemishedness
of the glass. Above all, ask questions
to the sales assistant: the best Murano
glass dealers have an in-depth knowledge of their wares and will be all too
La Bottega dei Cristalli
This is the real appeal and magic of a
blown glass object: you can have
as many of them as you may afford to
buy, and they can be more or less
beautiful, but no two of them will ever
be the same if they are individually
blown, and this has been the same
since time immemorial, probably
since the 1st century b.C. when
someone in Syria understood how to
make a blown glass object.
In Italy this difficult and demanding art
has its major center at Murano a small
island in the Venetian lagoon,
where expert craftsmen have been
producing for many centuries blown
glass objects of rare beauty, as finely
worked as lace, feather-light and almost impalpable, full of glowing colors: vases, candy-shaped ornaments,
glasses, necklaces and other jewelry,
plates small and large, bottles of all
sizes and tableware, animals, figurines, paperweights, calligraphy
pens and much, much else.
< 16 >
happy to answer your questions and
help you reach the best choice.
I hope this was of some use to you,
but here’s one last piece of advice
I’d like to share with you: watch,
watch, and watch again. Never tire of
watching, because that’s always the
best way of learning and appreciating.
So, get up and get going, but first finish up your drink – which you’re probably sipping out of a glass after all!
Via dei Benci, 51R 50122 Firenze
Tel. 055.2344891
shop on line:
www.labottegadeicristalli.com
pply an iron blowpipe to a
blob of molten glass, and
blow into it after rolling the
aforesaid blob onto a marver and
heating it again: that’s how the magic
starts.
Glassblowers in Murano
di Anna Forconi
by Anna Forconi
In the Middle Ages, Venice was
the leading glassmaking centre of
the western world. Until the end of
the 13th century, most glassmaking
in Venice took place in the city itself.
However - the threat of fire looming
large in the wooden houses of early – in 1291 the city authorities ordered the transfer of the fiery ovens
of the glassblowing furnaces to
the lagoon island of Murano, where
fires could be more easily contained.
The measure also made it easier
for the city to safeguard one of its
main economic assets, ensuring
that no glassmaking skills or secrets were exported.
Why Murano?
A major
ItalianStyle
< 17 >
ItalianStyle San Martino Chiantigiano
The
Pink?
fairy-tale
No, Thanks of Impruneta
The flower of women
is yellow mimosa
more on < vivifirenze.it >
by Maddalena Delli
economic and political differences to
celebrate their legacy of struggles for
equality, justice, peace and development. In fact in many Italian cities including Florence, several women-related
events take place throughout March.
f you are an inquisitive visitor, on
March 8th don't be mystified by
the hundreds of itinerant vendors
selling mimosa. The reason for this is International Women's Day, called Festa
della Donna here. Italy makes quite a
fuss of it, and traditionally men give their
wives, mothers, daughters, colleagues
and other women friends sprigs of
yellow mimosa, while in the evening
restaurants and clubs (many of which
put on ladies' nights with male strip
shows) are full of girls out on the town,
and the mimosa cocktail and mimosa
cake are all the rage.
I
Put like this, the whole business may
well sound like some clever marketing
ploy devised by Interflora or by some inventive restaurant chain, but the feast is
indeed a very serious celebration supported by many international organizations including the UN, with women
from all continents coming together regardless of ethnic, linguistic, cultural,
Women's Day was first celebrated early
in the 20th century. It aroused international interest in March 1911, when almost 150 seamstresses - mostly Italian
and Jewish immigrants - were locked in
a New York City workshop after going
on strike and were tragically killed in a
fire. A few years later on the other side
of the world, Russian women started a
strike calling for "bread and peace" on
March 8th, 1917 (it was February 23rd
on the old Russian calendar but March
8th in the rest of the world).
Yellow mimosa - a plant of Australian
origin whose proper name is acacia
dealbata - was chosen as a symbol
for Women's Day in Italy in 1946. The
story goes that it was picked among
early blooming flowers because the
sweet scented fluffy clusters of yellow
pompoms are such pretty and delicate-looking little things, yet so cheerful. So you might like to join the custom and present someone you know
with one of those bright yellow
bouquets. And, needless to say,
there are even Internet sites through
which you can send "virtual mimosa"
to your lady friends!
An enchanted
world to discover
as reported by Lucy
2003
May 15th
Florence
,
w e l l . hI te
y
r
e
v
g
n
om, lorence is goi ending you t
D e a r tM
in F
am s
M y s ha ya g r e a t c i t y e! aIk i n g o f o n t hv ee r y t h i n g
is suc tale I was sp l, just like e
fairy :it is beautifu
phone ere.
else h
pale flame lit up their faces, coloring their skin in golden
and reddish hues.
Only the rustling of
the leaves broke the quiet of
the lukewarm and silent
night – a night that looked
promisingly long and full of
expectations: only a few
more minutes and it would
become the keeper of a big
secret….
A
verything had started the
day before, when little Leonardo, while playing
in his grandfather Ciccio’s attic, found a big
dusty book, thick, so thick, similar to the ones
that his grandfather kept in the showcase in his studio. And
that book was indeed the P-volume of that set, which his
grandfather thought had gone missing when he had moved
from Florence years back.
Leonardo started leafing through the pages of the big book:
it was full of painted and colored pictures!
E
< 18 >
San Martino Chiantigiano
uddenly the young
boy’s attention was
caught by the drawing of a well,
whose caption said: “The
Well of San Martino”. Yes, of
course, he knew that Well! It
was in the garden of the San
Martino restaurant, a place at
Impruneta just outside Florence,
along the ‘Chiantigiana’ road.
S
hat beautiful illustration was spoilt with blot: it
could be a wax stain or maybe the mark of a
teardrop. Under the picture was a note: “When
the full moon will be high up in the sky and a
little man with blue eyes will find the long lost pages again, the
picture will clear and two souls will see the light again.
T
Y
oung Leonardo rushed to inform his grandfather, who was immersed in thought by the fireplace. The old man stood up, kissed his
grandson, turned to
the window and
began to tell him
a fairy tale – his
own fairy tale. It
was on a winter
Sunday and he
was taking a
walk on the
grass next to
the Well.
There he met
two young
people: a
beautiful young woman
with big blue eyes and long dark hair and
a proud young man with broad shoulders and big hands.
They told him their sad love-story. Against her own will, the
girl had been promised as bride to a rich businessman from
Genoa. That was why they could only meet in secret by the
San Martino Well above Impruneta.
he grandfather was listening raptly to their
story when all of a sudden a chasm opened
in the ground and swallowed the girl. Her
lover’s search proved useless: the girl had
disappeared. The young man never stopped looking for his
beloved: he remained by the Well for months, hoping for the
young girl to reappear. He stayed there until his eyes closed
forever.
T
San Martino Chiantigiano
nd that was when, mysteriously, the writing in
the encyclopedia tome had appeared. Leonardo, who was a bright young boy, wondered
whatever that sentence scribbled in pencil
might mean, and why just him – a young man with blue eyes
– should have found the book on a full moon…
A
W
ith a small flame and the moon as their
sole companions, an old man and his
grandson set out into the night to rejoin a
broken love. Suddenly they saw shadows next to the Well: the two lovers were rejoined and were
flying hand in hand towards the moon.
... Isn’t th
A n d I h a d astua c h a r m i n g s t o r y , m o m ?
restaurant me ch a lovely meal at the
I am sending ntioned in the fairy tal
ful sunset I s you a picture of the won e!
aw from its te
d e rrrace.
Kisses,
Lucy
Folklore
San Martino Chiantigiano
The Restaurant
All the most typical dishes from the Chianti area
Cured lard from Greve
Garlic bread with extra-virgin olive oil from Chianti
Beans cooked in a flask
Florentine steaks from Panzano
Mushrooms from San Polo
Fresh salad from the vineyards
and much more.
seasonal treats for the sweet-toothed
Spring
Sweet Spring
by Rocco Barisci
Quaresimali (Lenten biscuits) are
nice brown cookies which you will only find in local bakeries and confectioners' shops during Lent (i.e. between Carnival to Easter). They are a
great favorite with children for their
chocolate flavor and alphabet
shapes.
V
ery close to Florence and overlooking the Chianti hills, the
San Martino restaurant is the
place to enjoy all the special
recipes from traditional Chianti cuisine.
After the fasting of Lent, in the past
the kitchens of country houses were
full of unused eggs, so eggs - with
the bonus of an intrinsic symbolism of
birth - naturally become the basis of
every Easter sweet. As in most tradditional festivities, every region (and
sometimes even every town) boasts
its particular Easter recipes.
In a peaceful, warm and welcoming setting you can relax
with your friends and enjoy the breathtaking view from our windows,
or make yourself comfortable in the shade of the trees in our big garden, and spend delightful moments of pleasant living and great food.
In order to always provide the best in quality and freshness, our menu
is constantly updated with new dishes, prepared with fresh seasonal
ingredients.
We organize lunch and dinner business meetings
Wine and oil cellars
150 wine brands
We arrange wine and oil tastings
Our kitchen is always open from 10am till late
Reservations welcome
Ristorante
San Martino
Chiantigiano
How to reach us:
Motorway exit: Firenze
Sud (South Florence)
Direction: Greve
Location: Impruneta
Via Chiantigiana 6/a, Impruneta (FI) - Phone: 055.2301095
[email protected] --- www.ristorantichianti.it
n 19th March, Italy celebrates
St. Joseph's as well as Father's Day, because of course
Joseph was the father of Jesus and
therefore a model of fatherhood. The
traditional sweet for this occasion are
frittelle di riso (sweet rice balls), a
kind of scrumptious fritters with raisins
and orange peel. Sagre delle frittelle are
popular all over Tuscany throughout
March, the most famous being held in
the picturesque walled burgh of Montefioralle above Greve in Chianti (over the
weekend of March 20th-21st); an ancient St. Joseph's fair is held in piazza
Santa Croce in Florence, and another
one in via Giovanni Duprè near piazza
del Campo in the heart of Siena.
O
Pasticceria
i dolci di Patrizio Cosi
Pandiramerini (rosemary buns) are
raisin-stuffed soft cakes, not too
sweet. They are an old Florentine
recipe, originaly meant to be blessed
and eaten in the Holy Week. They
were sold by street vendors outside
the churches, where people went to
visit the Easter Sepulchre and accomplish the Giro delle Sette Chiese
(a pilgrimage which involves touring
seven churches). Nowadays you can
buy them loose from most bakeries,
in most cases throughout the year.
Their ingredients are bread dough,
sugar, raisins, dried and ground rosemary and olive oil. Because of their
"holy" origin, you should be careful
not to waste even the tiniest crumb!
Pasticceria
i dolci di
Patrizio Cosi
Borgo degli Albizi 15R
Firenze
tel 055.2480367
Closed on Sundays
< 23 >
Folklore
In southern Tuscany, a still strong
Easter tradition is a big breakfast with
the typical schiaccia di Pasqua,
sometimes referred to as schiaccia
(or ciaccia) dolce or schiaccia con la
ricotta. This is a very soft bread, variously sweetened rather than salted
depending on the area and family
habit. Pasimata is another simple
sweet Easter bread, this time from
Lucca area. Rectangular in shape, it
is flavorored with aniseed and brought
to church on Easter morning to be
blessed together with the easter
eggs.
On a national level, the two Easter
sweets that are common to the whole
of Italy are colomba and chocolate
eggs. The former - a sweet, eggy
cake (think of panettone plus candied
orange peel, minus the raisins, and
topped with sugared and sliced almonds) - is called colomba because
it is dove-shaped. As a symbol of
peace, the dove is an appropriate finish to an Easter dinner. In recent years
industrial manufacturers have started
marketing several fancy varieties of
colomba (chocolate-covered, creamfilled etc.), but you should try the real
thing first, better still if fresh from the
oven of a good bakery.
Although Italians do not decorate
hard–boiled eggs nor have chocolate
< 24 >
bunnies or pastel marshmallow
chicks, the biggest Easter displays in
bars, pastry shops, supermarkets and
especially chocolatiers are brightly
wrapped uova di Pasqua (chocolate
Easter eggs). They come in sizes that
range from a few grams to several kilos and in several varities of milk, plain,
bitter and white chocolate to meet all
tastes. All except the tiniest eggs contain a surprise, and the very best
eggs are handmade by master
chocolatiers, who also offer the service of inserting a surprise supplied by
the purchaser. Sets of keys for a new
car, engagement rings and gold
watches are some of the high–end
gifts that have sometimes been
tucked into Italian chocolate eggs!
Folklore
Happy
the way it was
in Florence
new year!!!
by Maddalena Delli
o, I'm not teasing you: until
not so long ago, Florence did
celebrate the beginning of the
year on March 25th! This system was
called ab incarnatione, meaning
nine months before Christmas, on the
day when allegedly Gabriel the
Archangel visited the Virgin Mary announcing her holy maternity.
N
Mind you, nearby Pisa went one step
further and was one year ahead of the
rest, counting the time
from the March before
the birth of Christ instead
of from the first A.D. year
proper. Indeed, Pisa still
makes quite a fuss of it,
and proudly celebrated
the year 2000 nine
months in advance!
Elsewhere in Tuscany namely Arezzo, Massa
Carrara and Lucca - the
year started on Christmas day, while on a
grander scale, a similar
confusion applied throughout Europe,
from Spain to Russia. As you may
guess, this meant much trouble whenever an international document needed
to be dated and signed. By the late
16th century it had become apparent
that a common calendar was essential
for both religious and secular matters,
so Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 established that the year should commence
on January 1st for everyone. However
the new calendar - called Gregorian
after its promoter - encountered much
resistance in Florence, in spite of the
fact that it had originally been inspired
by the work of many Florentine intellectuals, both lay and religious.
The city obstinately refused to comply
to the papal order and continued to
use its traditional calendar for 168
more years, and then again in the
end it only adopted - with
much regret - the Gregorian calendar following
a decree issued by the
Grand Duke Francesco II
of Lorraine on November
20th 1749; but again, the
Grand Duke was a foreigner, and he could not
understand the Florentines' reasons...
RESTAURANT - PIZZERIA
Le Botteghe di Donatello
A
pleasant lunch or dinner awaits you in our
comfortable and historic
restaurant close to the
Dome of the Cathedral. We
cater for quick lunches as
well as complete and delicious meals.
Our menus include Florentine steaks, pizzas cooked in
wood ovens, as well as many Tuscan and fish specialities, all accompanied by an excellent selection of wines.
Our clients can taste the best Italian wines and the
many Chianti specialities on sale in our Flavours of the
Chianti shop.
So, on January 1st,
1750, Florence was
forced to celebrate its first
Gregorian new year's day. But the Florentines are proverbial die-hards, and
they still hold a day-long fair in the
beautiful Santissima Annunziata
square on March 25th, while a fascinating historic pageant parades from
the Palagio di Parte Guelfa to the
Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata
in the afternoon of the same day:
watch out for it!
AIR CONDITIONED
OUTDOOR TERRACE AND VERANDA
OPEN EVERY DAY
Piazza del Duomo (corner of Via dei Servi) - Firenze
Tel. 055 216678 - E-mail: [email protected]
< 26 >
10 % discount for ViviFirenze readers
Folklore
an impressive Holy Week tradition
Cross
roads
more on < vivifirenze.it >
by Maddalena Delli
he village of Grassina in the
municipality of Bagno a Ripoli
(just outside the city gates of
Florence south of the Arno) has been
holding an Easter procession since
1633, when Florence was hit by a terrible plague epidemic which miracolously spared the Bagno a Ripoli
district. Interrupted for World War II,
the procession was revived from
1950 until 1966, when a terrible flood
hit Florence and its surroundings.
Seventeen years later, a group of volunteers organized a new and improved procession, which has been
pulling larger and larger crowds
eversince.
T
The event is made up of two different
strands of action taking place at the
same time. While a historic pageant
of about 500 people in Roman costume
parade through the streets of Grassina,
100 more actors give life to several
scenes of the life and Passion of
Christ impressively set against the
backdrop of a nearby hill representing
the Calvary, with an evocative soundtrack
and special effects to highlight the dramatic events.
< 28 >
The Historic Pageant and reenactment of the Passion and Crucifixion of
Christ take place at Grassina on
Good Friday (April 9th this year) at
9.15pm; in case of bad weather the
event is postponed to Easter Monday
(April 12th). Tickets are available in
advance from all Box Office network
sales points or on the day of the
show from the kiosks located at the
entrance of the Grassina village.
In case you can't make it to Grassina
on Good Friday, in the past few years
the Grassina pageant has also been
enacting Christ's entrance in
Jerusalem at 5pm on Palm Sunday
(April 4th) in Piazza della Signoria in
the heart of Florence.
For further info 055.6390222 or
ww.rievstoricagrassina.firenze.net
a spectacular Easter show
Why the fire
cart explodes
by Maddalena Delli
erusalem, July 15th 1099. Apparenly the very first soldier to
climb the walls of the besieged
city and raise the Crusaders' standard
is a Florentine, Pazzino de' Pazzi.
As a token of appreciation for the
young hero, his commander Godfrey
of Bouillion gives him with three flints
of stone taken from the Holy Sepulchre. Two years later, on July 16th
1101, Pazzino is back in Florence
carrying his precious relics, and great
celebrations are held in his honour.
cart became increasingly elaborate.
This must have happened towards the
end of the 14th century: all along, the
Pazzis had preserved the duty and
honor to provide for the celebrations.
But in 1478 some members of the
Pazzi family conjured against the
rival Medicis,
At first the flints were kept in the family
palace, but they were soon entrusted
to a nearby church. Since 1785, they
have been kept in the Church of
Santi Apostoli. Since early times, on
Holy Saturday a fire was lit by rubbing
these stones and then brought to the
cathedral, and
from here it
was carried in
procession
throughout
the city in order to light
holy fires in
every household. Later a
cart came into use for the
procession,
and over the
years and
decades the
wounding Lorenzo (later the Magnificent) and killing his brother Giuliano.
As a consequence the Pazzis were
exiled, and the fire cart tradition suppressed. But the Florentines grumbled and complained so much, that
the Signoria reintroduced the cart,
asking the powerful Calimala guild
to manage the ceremony. When the
Pazzis were readmitted a few years
later, they decided to provide an even
more monumental and solid cart,
which is basically the one we still use
now. In the 16th century fireworks
were first attached to the cart, for the
wonder and merriment of the Florentines who flocked to see the unprecedented show.
So here we come to the present day.
The huge, three-storey wooden fire cart
- teasingly nicknamed Brindellone, a
vernacular word whose rough translation is tall and wobbly - is kept in a
warehouse in Via il Prato (you will easily
spot the exact building: look for an abnormally huge wooden door on the facade). Early on Easter morning, the
cart is drawn to Piazza del Duomo by
six white oxen of the Chianina breed,
and placed in front of the main door of
the Cathedral. Then a steel wire (fomerly
a greased rope) is stretched between
the cart and the high altar, and a doveshaped rocket is secured to the wire.
Meanwhile a solemn historic pageant in
Renaissance costume, carrying the city
standard alongside the Pazzi flag,
moves from Palazzo Vecchio to the
Church of Santi Apostoli where the holy
fire is lit, and from there to the Baptistry
where another much-awaited ceremony
takes place: four colored eggs are
placed in a bag and drawn in pairs. This
rite establishes which teams will play
against whom in the June matches of
the Calcio in Costume (traditional
Florentine football). The colors of the
eggs represent in fact the teams of the
four city quarters: white for the Bianchi
of Santo Spirito, red for the Rossi of
Santa Maria Novella, green for the Verdi
Folklore
of San Giovanni and blue for the Azzurri
of Santa Croce.
The fire is then brought into the cathedral,
where the solemn Easter mass is celebrated. At 11am sharp, when the Gloria
is sung, all the bells peal in unisone and
the archbishop sets the dove going by
lighting its fuse with the holy fire. Dashing
down the aisle at breakneck speed, the
dove exits the cathedral by the main
door, reaches the cart and sets off the
fireworks, then rushes back inside the
church while outside hundreds of onlookers gape up at the endless whirlpool
of bangers and colourful Catherine-wheels whizzing all over the place
and enveloping the cart in a thick cloud
of white smoke.
The successful outcome of the ceremony is considered to be a good
omen, meaning plentiful crops for
the whole year to come; yet, the modern mechanism is most unlikely to miss
its target, and in case it did, a fireman
would lit the fireworks for the benefit of
tourists. By the way, if you are still puzzled by the role of fireworks in the whole
business, they obviously represent the
holy fire being distributed across the city
as it originally was.
RISTORANTE NATALINO
A typical Florentine
dinner in one of the
oldest restaurants
in the city
BORGO ALBIZI, 17/R - FIRENZE - tel/fax 055 289404 - CLOSED MONDAY’
< 30 >
< 31 >
the “Brindellone”
Folklore
Leisure
Let out the
Leisure
Come join the Craich!
Leprechaun
in you
by Maddalena Delli
s Pete
McCarthy
cunningly
observed in his
bestselling McCarthy's Bar, “The
global hype about
all things Irish
shows no sign of
burning out yet.”
No wonder, he
goes on to explain,
since “the Irish are
perceived as
young, eloquent,
romantic, tuneful,
mystical, funny,
and expert haversof-a-good-time.”
The fever reaches
red-hot temperatures every year in
March, around St. Patrick's day.
A
Needless to say, Florence is no exception to the rule, and for nine years running it has been falling victim to its own
particular brand of uncurable Paddy's
fever. This year makes no exception,
with the usual Irlanda in Festa event
scheduled to take the Saschall by
storm between Monday 15th and Saturday 20th of March. So if you too
can't resist the call of fiddles, pipes
and bodhráns; if you can't keep your
feet from dancing when hearing a jig; if
you can't avoid joining in when some-
< 34 >
one strikes up
“Whiskey in the
Jar”; then you know
what's the place to
be. And rest assured, should you
feel thirsty after all
the singing and
dancing, there will
be streams of your
favorite stout beer
to quench your
thirst.
The daily program of
Irlanda in Festa offers five hours of live
music starting every
evening from
8.30pm with Amergin, the resident
band coming from
Kenmare (Co. Kerry). They will then be
joined by important guest artists: on the
first three nights (including St. Patrick’s)
you will have a chance to discover the
combat-folk music of the Italian band
Modena City Ramblers. Thursday 18th
will see onstage the Scottish band Waterboys and Massimo Bubola, a much
appreciated Italian musician and poet
whose hit songs aptly include Il cielo
d’Irlanda (Irish skies). Friday 19th will
see the concert of Albion Band from
England. On the closing night (Sat. 20th)
there will be two more outstanding performances, one by John Mc Sherry (the
undisputed master of uillean pipes) and
his band, and one by the local band
Whisky Trail, heralds for nearly thirty
years of celtic folk music in Italy.
But let’s go back to Pete McCarthy: his
book is an inspiring account of his travels in western Ireland, trying to sort out
his Anglo-Irish identity and obeying “The
Eight Rule of Travel (…): Never pass a
bar that has your name on it”. Well, in
Florence he wouldn’t have been successful: as far as I’m aware there are no
bars called McCarthy’s here. Still, there
are plenty of Irish pubs in town, and –
why not! - you can make up your own
ad-hoc rule for a good excuse not to
pass them by.
Let’s start with the Trip per Tre
Rock Guitar Pub in Borgognissanti
144r (tel. 055.292085). Ten years
ago, this was one of the first Irish
pubs to root in Florence, and the winning mix of rock music, Irish beer and
Tuscan dishes has attracted a varied
crowd of visitors and regulars
eversince. The typical Tuscan bread
from a wood-burning oven is at the
core of the delicious, freshly cut panini. Wash them down with a pint of
cold Guinness beer or with other
draught beers such as the Weizen
Kapuziner. The Trip per Tre also offers
a selection of excellent music including videos of the best rock concerts
from the Sixties to the present.
< 35 >
to beer or not to beer
Leisure
The Cluricane Irish Pub, located in
piazza dell'Olio 9r (tel. 055.284509)
just a few steps from the Duomo, was
established in December 2000. Both
its furniture and its manager come
from Ireland, and the bar boasts the
Guinness seal of origin. Tiny yet so full
of character, it provides an outside
seating area allowing customers to
sip their drinks in a picturesque corner
set in the heart of the pedestrian area.
The selection of Irish labels caters for
all tastes, from Guinness stout to
Kilkenny Cream ale or Harp lager.
If you are a beer connoisseur looking for some genuine, home-brewed
beer, Il Bovaro in Porta San Frediano (tel. 055.2207057) is the only independent microbrewery in
Florence. Il Bovaro’s own brand list
includes "Axel" (double malt), "Ricky"
(lager), "Ugo" (light pilsen) e "Titian"
(red). The beer comes straight from
the tanks in full view in one of the
14th century rooms with bare brick
vaults. The Venturi bros, Daniele
and Tiziano, produce their excellent
beers from barley malt in compliance
with the traditional brewing
process. They also make special
beers on different occasions
throughout the year, and keep them
in the natural cold store of the 12th
century cellar. Additionally, Il Bovaro offers a choice of food carefully
selected to enhance the taste of its
beers: pasta dishes and cured
meats, cheeses with mustard or
truffle-scented honey. No wonder Il
Bovaro has quickly made a name for
itself for the perfect mix of excellent
beers, fine cuisine, unique setting and discreet yet friendly service.
< 36 >
The Old Stove in via Pellicceria 2/4r
(tel. 055.284640) is open from 12
noon till 2.30am. Here you can
choose from a wide selection of Irish
beers and delicious Irish appetizers.
On fine evenings you can also enjoy
the outside seating. Its twin establishment, The Lion's Fountain, is located in Borgo ALbizi 34r (tel.
055.2344412) and is open daily from
6pm till 2.30am. It boasts an outdoor
patio and provides music, snacks,
dinner, sandwiches as well as international sports & video-sat circuit with
US sport events such as NBA, NFL,
MLB, NCAA. Both The Old Stove and
The Lion's Fountain organize their
own St.
Patrick’s
week between
10th and 17th
March with Irish
whiskey and
Irish Cream
tastings, special prices and
gifts. At midnight on 17th
March there will
be a slice of
traditional Irish
cake for
everyone!
Bars & Pubs
Leisure
Flex Caffè
P.zza Mercato Centrale, 28r
☎ 055.2382374
Il Bovaro
Via Pisana, 1/3/5r
☎ 055.2207057
Kikuya
Via dei Benci, 43r
☎ 055.2344879
Il Porcospino
Piazza Madonna degli
Aldobrandini, 11/12r
☎ 055.217700
Il Rifrullo
Via S. Niccolò 55r
☎ 055.2342621
Lochness Pub
Via dei Benci, 19r
Il Trip per Tre Pub
Borgognissanti, 144r
La Dolce Vita
Piazza del Carmine
☎ 055.284595
Salamanca
Via Ghibellina, 80r
☎ 055.2345452
Loonees Pub
Via Porta Rossa, 15
☎ 055.212249
Negroni
Via de’ Renai, 17r
☎ 055.243647
The Gate Irish Pub
Borgo San Frediano, 102
☎ 055.295181
Maracanà Disco
Via Faenza, 4
☎ 055.210298
Zoe
Via de’ Renai, 13r
☎ 055.243111
The Lion’s Fountain
Borgo Albizi, 34r
☎ 055.2344412
Nabucco Wine
Via XXVII Aprile, 20r
☎ 055.475087
OUTSIDE
the city center
The William Pub
Via Magliabechi, 7/9/11
☎ 055.2638357
Robin Hood’s Pub
Via Dell’ Oriuolo, 58r
☎ 055.240224
Around S.CROCE
Jazz Club
Via Nuova de’ Caccini, 3r
☎ 055.2479700
Around the DUOMO
and Train Station
Amadeus Pub
Via Dei Pescioni,5r
☎ 055. 2398229
Rose’s Cafè
Via del Parione, 26r
☎ 055.287090
The Fiddler’s Elbow
P.zza S.M.Novella, 7A
☎ 055.215056
Birreria Centrale
Piazza Cimatori, 1-2r
☎ 055.211915
The Old Stove Pub
Via Pellicceria,2/4 r
☎ 055.284640
BZF Bizzeffe
Via Panicale, 61r
☎ 055.2741009
S. SPIRITO
and Oltrarno
Caffè Caracol
Via Ginori, 10r
☎ 055. 211427
Caffé Pitti
Piazza Pitti, 9r
☎ 055.2399863
Chequers Pub
Via della Scala, 7/9r
☎ 055.287588
Caffé Notte
Via delle Caldaie 28r
☎ 055.223067
Cluricane Irish Pub
Piazza dell’Olio, 9r
☎ 055.284509
Du Monde
Via S. Niccolò, 103r
☎ 055.2344953
Colle Bereto
Piazza Strozzi, 5r
☎ 055.283156
Hemingway
Piazza Piattelina, 9
Braumeister
Via Madonna della
Tosse, 12r
☎ 055.5000822
Central Park
Via Fosso Macinante, 1
☎ 055.353505
Chalet Fontana
Via S. Leonardo, 8r
☎ 055.221187
Elliot Braun
Via Ponte Mosse, 117r
☎ 055.352352
Godò
Piazza Edison, 3/4r
☎ 055.583881
Rio Grande Disco
Via dell’Olmo, 1
☎ 055.352143
Tenax
Via Pratese, 77
☎ 055.308160
Universale
Via Pisana, 77
☎ 055.221122
BIRRERIA
CENTRALE
Tyrolean Tavern
Regional Cuisine
Brewery & Enoteca
Outdoor Tables
***
Closed on Sunday
Piazza Cimatori 2r (close to Palazzo Vecchio) - 055.212915
< 38 >
Leisure
Leisure
The Italian ritual
of a drink before dinner
Aperihour
by Maddalena Delli
he word aperitif comes from
the Latin "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.
T
But in fact, an early evening aperitif
has now come to mean so much
more than just that: it is a popular ritual, a way of passing from work to
leisure while sipping a mild beverage, enjoying a few savory snacks,
and sharing time with friends. 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. It's an inspiring process
and one that surely epitomises the
continentals' particular brand of effortless cool. What better way to
unwind at the end of a long day in
the office? Even the music mix is also
specially chosen with smooth, soothing sounds providing a suitable backdrop for a relaxed chat among
friends. Of course, the die-hard workholics still turn the aperitif hour into
yet another chance for a business
meeting; but that's another matter...
In the past few years the ritual has
become so popular that many bars in
< 40 >
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. The aperitif buffet often includes delicious,
usually freshly cooked food ranging
from appetizers to classic Tuscan
dishes like ribollita or pappa al
pomodoro, crostini and crostoni, fondue, salamis and hams, cold meats,
hot and cold pasta, focaccia
squares, mini pizzas, carpaccios,
sushi, crudités with olive oil dips,
fresh fruit salads and much more.
Mr. Negroni,
I presume?
You certainly know the Negroni cocktail, one of the favourite strong aperitif drinks worldwide. What you probably were not aware of is that Negroni
is a Florentine by birth. As with
most cocktails, it was not invented
by a barman, but by a drinker. In the
Twenties, the most fashionable drink
in Florence was the Americano -a residual of Europe’s pro-American
feelings after World War I. An Americano is half sweet vermouth and
Typical aperitif drinks can be wine,
champagne, cocktails, liqueurs or combinations of these. Some even say that
beer is even a natural aperitif. The market also caters for teetotallers, who can
choose from a wide range of non-alcoholic aperitif drinks like Crodino for
instance: this is a far cry from the classic "soft drink" alternatives to alcohol,
providing all the glamour and taste of a
true aperitif. Moreover, sugary drinks are
not the way to go: they cloy the palate
and also dull the appetite. The reason
why herbal bitters make the best
aperitifs is that common ingredients
such as thyme, cumin, nutmeg,
cloves, liquorice, fennel, citrus peel
and wormwood work their magic as
soon as they hit the tongue, activating the saliva glands, which in turn
get the digestive juices flowing. This
prepares the gall bladder, that releases bile from the liver, ready for food:in
short, bitters set up the whole
process of digestion and metabolism
so it works at its best.
half Campari
with a generous splash of
soda. Everyday the stylish Count
Camillo Negroni would
meet
his
friends at the Giacosa bar on the stillfashionable via Tornabuoni and order an Americano - but with a difference - with a splash of gin instead of the soda. Soon others started ordering their Americanos “the
Negroni way” and a star was born...
Not surprisingly then, aperitifs were
first developed by monks as medical elixirs. As cafe culture swept
Italy in the 19th century, the basic
recipes of the past were refined by
innovative barmen who would lure
patrons to their establishments with
their exclusive concoctions. Gustav
Campari perfected a sophisticated
blend of 68 herbs, spices and barks
in his bar located in Milan's fashionable Galleria and his eclectic recipe is
in such demand even today, that
there are still only two people who
know the combination of ingredients
that make up Campari - and even
then, they are only privy to 34 each.
< 41 >
Leisure
Lunch 12.30 - 14.30
Dinner 19.00 - 23.30
a couple of mouth-watering addresses
Editor's Picks
I Visacci
B.go Albizi 82r
☎ 055.2001956
I Visacci is a warm,
cozy venue open
from 10am till 3am,
with the added bonus of two internet
workstations. Freshly cut sandwiches,
panini and crostoni are available for
lunch alongside salads and main
courses like roast beef or veal in tuna
sauce. Wine and beer are served by
the glass at reasonable prices.
Barman Roby mixes almost 100
drinks for the aperitif, while the best
DJs play exciting music selections.
Happy Hour until 10pm with cocktails,
long drinks and wine.
La Bussola
Via Porta Rossa
58r
☎ 055.293376
In the heart of the
old city centre, La
Bussola is ronowned for its elegant
aand unusual decor. Established in
1960, La Bussola has been a favourite
with Italian and international jet-set
clientele as well as with several generations of Florentines who ensure its
continuing success. La Bussola offers
fine Tuscan cuisine, a wide choice of
fish dishes and a variety of pizzas from
the wood-burning oven. The homemade desserts and excellent wine list
are also worthy of mention.
LOBS RESTAURANT - Via Faenza, 75/77 - tel. 055.21.24.78
Breakfast
Baguettes
Carpaccio
Dessert
Lunch
Aperitif
Appetizer Buffet
Dinner
AfterDinner
Restaurant
GODO’
CAFE’ BRUNCH
P.zza Edison, 3/4 r
Tel 055.583.881
Mediterranean
Restaurant
Pizzeria
with wood oven
Osteria - Trattoria
FIRENZE - ITALY
OPEN EVERY NIGHT
1 Hour’s Complimentary Parking
Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40/R
50122 Firenze - Tel. 055 284170
SAN DIEGO - CALIFORNIA - USA
< 42 >
322, 5th Avenue - 92101 San Diego
Tel. (001) 619/230.0382
Via Maso Finiguerra, 10 -Tel. 055.21.21.06
www.acquaal2.it
every day, all day long
Leisure
Shapes
&Tastes
Leisure
La Schiacciata
the art of matching pasta and sauces
cold pasta salads, while jumbo
shells, cannelloni and manicotti – as
well as lasagne of course – are terrific
for baked pasta casseroles. If you are
cooking pasta for a bake, boil it for a
couple of minutes less than the recommended cooking time stated on the
packet, or it will become too soggy
once cooked in the oven as well.
more on < vivifirenze.it >
by Maddalena Delli
hen making delicious
pasta dishes, be sure to
choose a pasta shape
and sauce that complement each other. There are no shapes whose sole
purpose is to be pleasing to the eye each shape produces a particular sensation on the palate and is best suited to a particular type of sauce.
W
A good rule of thumb is whether the
ingredients of the sauce will cling to
the pasta when travelling on a fork
from plate to mouth. Also, ribbed pasta normally holds more sauce than
smooth shapes. On some occasions
you may also want to take into account that short pasta shapes are
easier to eat than long pasta, so
they're a good choice if you're serving
kids or crowds, and even more so at
a standing buffet or party.
Thin, long pasta shapes should be
served with light, thin sauces like olive
and tomato rather than sauces with
< 44 >
large chunks of meat or vegetables;
yet the ubiquitous spaghetti go perfectly well both with simple seasonings such as the more than basic
“aglio, olio e peperoncino" (garlic, oil
and chili) and with richer sauces such
as the “carbonara" (with eggs and
pancetta cubes) or “allo scoglio” with
shellfish. Broader long shapes like
fettuccine or pappardelle - also referred to as ribbon pasta - can handle
heavier cheese, meat or tomato
sauces. Long pasta is also more often sprinkled with grated parmeasan
cheese which acts as a binder with
the sauce.
Tubular pasta and other shapes with
holes or ridges (like penne, ruote or
fusilli) are perfect for chunkier sauces.
Their cavities, especially the larger
tubes, are ideal for trapping toothsome
bits like peas or shrimps or pancetta
cubes. Fusilli, penne, farfalle and other
similar varities are also excellent for
Stuffed pasta like ravioli or tortelli
make some of the most elegant and
delicious pasta dishes. It is important
that the quantity and type of stuffing
complement the shape of pasta: a
common mistake when making
home-made stuffed pasta is to overpower it with stuffing. On the other
hand, the risk when serving it is to
choose a sauce that doesn't match
(or even 'kills') the taste of the stuffing.
One last piece of advice: pasta producers big and small offer an ever-increasing range of colored pasta.
Bright red, dazzling yellow penne,
deep green, woodland brown and
then again orange, mauve, pink and
even black pasta: what is the secret
of this enigmatic rainbow? The green
reveals the presence of spinach or
basil, the red of tomatoes or red peppers, the blurred brown of mushrooms, and so on. If you want to try
this novelty varities, you are advised not to combine them with complicated sauces, or both the enjoyment of their hue and their often subtle taste will go lost: in this case, simple oil or butter or sometimes plain
cream are by far your best bets.
Try saying the magic word “Pugi” to any
Florentine: they will roll their eyes to
heaven and extatically sigh “... Oh,
la schiacciata del Pugi...”. It's no advertising claim, it's a fact: for several
decades already, Pugi has simply
been a synonym for schiacciata all'olio, the fragrant local flat bread seasoned with only the finest olive oil.
The many types of bread, the crispy
pizzas and the lavishly stuffed focaccias are just as popular with the
mixed crowds of students, housewives and office workers that fill the Pugi bakeries at all times of the day, and
one more Pugi shop has just opened
in Via San Gallo by popular demand.
No less enticing are their sweet specialities, based on traditional recipies: at this time of the year, try some
frittelle di riso (sweet rice fritters) or a
pandiramerino (rosemary bun). And
should you still be around in the Fall,
don't miss the delicious schiacciata
con l'uva (flat bread with grapes).
Focacceria Pugi can be found in:
Piazza San Marco 9/B
Via San Gallo 62r
Viale De Amicis 49r
Tel. 055.280981
www.focacceria-pugi.it
< 45 >
Acqua al 2 (0)
Via Vigna Vecchia,40r
☎ 055.284170
Giglio Rosso (7)
Via Panzani, 35r
☎ 055.211795
Angiolino (4)
Via Guelfa, 138r
☎ 055.475292
Golden View (0)
Via dei Bardi, 58r
☎ 055.214502
Antica
Cantina Capponi (2)
B.go S. Frediano, 26r
☎ 055.2381569
Grotta di Leo (0)
Via della Scala, 41r
☎ 055.219265
Antico Fattore (4)
Via Lambertesca, 1r
☎ 055.288975
Baldovino (3)
Via S.Giuseppe 22r
☎ 055.241773
Beccofino (1)
P.zza Scarlatti, 1r
☎ 055.290076
Buca dell’Orafo (7)
Volta de’ Girolami, 28r
☎ 055.21361
Cavolo Nero (7)
Via dell’Ardiglione, 22
☎ 055.294744
Celestino (7)
Via Guelfa, 138r
☎ 055.475292
Enoteca
Pinchiorri (1-7)
Via Ghibellina, 87
☎ 055.242777
Finisterrae (0)
Via dei Pepi, 5/7r
☎ 055.2347220
Funiculì (0)
Via il Prato, 8r
☎ 055.2646553
P.zza IV Novembre, 52
☎ 055.440106 Sesto Fi
Fuor d’Acqua (7)
Via Pisana, 37r
☎ 055.222299
LA BURRASCA
di Genzano Anna
Typical
Tuscan
Cuisine
Via Panicale, 6r
50123 FIRENZE
tel 055.215827
< 46 >
Mamma Gina (7)
Borgo S. Jacopo, 37r
☎ 055.2396009
I’Francescano (2)
Largo Bargellini, 16
☎ 055.241605
Il Cardellino (2)
Via S.Galllo, 37r
☎ 055.475090
Il Cibreo (1-7)
Via del Verrocchio, 8r
☎ 055.2341100
Il Gatto e la Volpe (0)
Via Ghibellina, 151r
☎ 055.289264
Il Porcospino (1)
P.zza madonna degli Aldobrandini, 11-12r
☎ 055.217700
I 4 Amici (7)
Via Orti Oricellari, 29
☎ 055.215413
La Burrasca(4)
Via Panicale, 6r
☎ 055.215827
Masò (0)
Via M. Finiguerra, 10
☎ 055.212106
Momoyama (0)
Borgo S. Frediano, 10r
☎ 055.291840
Natalino (1)
Borgo Albizi, 17r
☎ 055.289404
Osteria
Antica Mescita (7)
Via S. Niccolò, 60r
☎ 055.2342836
Sasso di Dante (0)
p.za Pallottole, 6r
☎ 055.282113
Sesame (0)
Via delle Conce, 20r
☎ 055.2001381
Viavai (1)
Via Pisana, 33r
☎ 055.2001381
Vinolio (7)
Via S. Zanobi,126r
☎ 055.489957
La Bussola (1)
Via Porta Rossa, 58
☎ 055.293376
La Posterula (0)
Piazza Davanzati, 3r
☎ 055.2381958
Aperto Tutte le SERE
Trattoria
Lobs (0)
Via Faenza, 75r
☎ 055.212478
Grotta Guelfa (0)
Via Pellicceria, 5r
☎ 055.210042
Il Portale (7)
Via Alamanni, 29r
☎ 055.212992
Le Botteghe
di Donatello (0)
P.zza Duomo, 28r
☎ 055.216678
Key to closing days
(1)=Monday; (7)=Sunday
(0)=always open
T YPICAL
G OURMAND
C UISINE
Via dell’Albero, 28/30 r.
50123 Firenze
tel-fax 055 211198
[email protected]
www.ristorantebelcore.it
Restaurants
Leisure
Wellness
For healthy eating,
go Mediterranean
Life on
the Med
by Maddalena Delli
id you know that there is a
type of diet that may help you
lose weight, lower the risk of
chronic and life-threatening illnesses,
and live longer? What's more, it's no
extreme diet, but rather a healthy approach to food in general, and a highly palatable one for that matter. And
- last but not least - you happen to be
in the right place, right now!
D
This diet is known as the Mediterranean diet and it consists mostly of
grains, fruits, beans and vegetables. In
the 1950s Professor Ancel Keys embarked on a comparative survey of the
dietary habits of seven countries: Finland, Japan, Greece, Italy, Holland, USA
and former Yugoslavia. The resulting
data clearly demonstrated that the populations living in Mediterranean countries
- whose diet consisted mainly of bread,
pasta, fruits, vegetables, fish and food
seasoned almost exclusively with olive
oil - enjoyed the lowest recorded rates
of chronic diseases and the highest
adult life expectancy.
and a pattern of lower incidence of
coronary heart disease, as well as other diseases. Therefore, the Mediterranean diet has also taken hold in
countries with very different eating behaviors because of its recognised
health value.
As a rule of thumb, the Mediterranean
diet should not be intended as a
weight loss diet, but rather as a
health plan. Let's keep in mind
that "diaita" was the ancient
Greek word for "lifestyle". The
Mediterranean Diet Pyramid
pictured here is meant to
give relative proportions
and a general sense
of frequency of
servings, as well
as an indication
of which foods
to favor in a
healthy
Mediter-
Today, many scientists worldwide actively endorse the benefits of the
Mediterranean menu and urge us to
pay more attention to the kinds of fat
in our diets, rather than simply the
amounts of fat. Meanwhile, studies
continue to show a distinct correlation
between the foods eaten by the people living in the Mediterranean region
ranean-style diet suitable for
most healthy adults. For
Americans, northern and
eastern Europeans and anyone wishing to improve their
diets, this model provides a
highly palatable, healthful
framework for change.
Defining and understanding
the Mediterranean diet is not
easy because the area consists of three continents and
at least 16 countries border the Mediterranean Sea.
Differences in culture, ethnic background, history, religion, economy and
agricultural production result in different
diets. In Italy alone there are major nuances in the different regional
cuisines. Roman, Tuscan, Ligurian,
Neapolitan and Sicilian cuisine - to
name but a few - are all variations on
the Italian version of the Mediterranean
Diet. Still, there are some common
characteristics.
Firstly, more than half the fat calories in a Mediterranean diet come
from olive oil, while animal fats in
the form of butter, cream, lard
etc. are hardly ever used.
The taste of olive oil permeates these cuisines
and is the elixir of
health that makes
them so healthy
because not only is olive oil a
beneficial
monounsaturat-
Wellness
ed fat, but it carries many important
anti-oxidants along with it. But perhaps
the most important characteristic is
simply that this oil makes vegetables
taste absolutely delicious, encouraging
their avid consumption. Italians in particular have a love affair with vegetables and specialize in making them irresistible.
But that’s not all. Even the lowly bean
is held in high esteem in the Mediterranean and when combined with olive
oil and the proper accompaniments is
a culinary delight as well as a staple
of good health. The same can be said
of nuts. In many countries, they are
considered a snack food; in the
Mediterranean, they hold a much
greater significance and have often
been used to thicken sauces and give
certain dishes texture. Oil has also
been extracted from nuts. In earlier
times, nuts were especially important
because of their long shelf life. Bread
is perhaps the most fundamental part
of the Mediterranean diet. Hundred of
different types of bread exist throughout the Mediterranean, ranging from pita bread to Italian crostini. Bread
dough is used to create a variety of
foodstuffs, including various types of
pasta and even cakes.
Althoiugh milk and butter are used
sparingly, cheese and yogurt are important components of the Mediterranean diet. In Italy cheese is used
Trattoria
Mamma
Gina
“The Typical Tuscan Tratttoria”
CLOSED ON SUNDAYS
Borgo S. Jacopo 37/r (Ponte Vecchio)
Tel. 055/2396009 - Fax: 055/213908
www.mammagina.it - email: [email protected]
< 48 >
< 49 >
Wellness
Is Pizza healthy?
There are all kinds of pizza. When it's
made with the right ingredients, and
when the topping you choose is not a
calorie bomb in itself, pizza is one of the
healthiest foods you can eat, essentially
a meal in itself - with plenty of protein,
vitamins and carbohydrates and only moderate quantities of sodium and cholesterol
- and poses no health risk for most people.
largely as a condiment to make other
foods such as pasta, tomato sauce and
vegetables even more delicious. Yogurt
is found throughout the Mediterranean
and experts suggest it may lower cholesterol, enhance immunity and have
anti-oxidant properties. Eating fish a
few times per week benefits the
Mediterraneans by increasing the
amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Eating
red meat and eggs sparingly also
seems to increase health by lowering
cholesterol.
Throughout the Mediterranean, a little
wine is often drunk with meals. Research shows that a glass a day may
keep the grim reaper
away: consumed in
moderation, red wine
has proven anti-cancer
and anti-heart disease
properties. For men
moderation means two
glasses per day; for
women one glass is the
norm. However even in
modest amounts alcohol may be associated
with increased risk of
other pathologies.
Therefore, wine consumption should be
considered optional.
Antica
CantinaCapponi
Typical Tuscan Cuisine
Fine selection of sea-dishes
Wide Choice of Wines
Closed on Tuesdays
Borgo S.Frediano 26r - 50124 Firenze
tel 055.2381569
< 50 >
The other part of the equation is
physical activity: the Mediterranean
diet exists in a cultural context where
people get more physical activity than
most Americans. Additionally, in those
parts of the world where the Mediterranean diet is traditional, people enjoy
strong social and family bonds
that are manifested around meals families and friends take as much
pleasure in eating together as they do
in the food itself.
A better understanding of Mediterranean food, cooking, and ingredients
can make our diets more flavorful, enjoyable, and healthy. The Mediterranean diet ease
away from the modern day tradition of
relying on manufactured foodstuffs and
junk food, for it reflects the ties between Man and his
environment, providing a pleasant diet,
rich in fibre and
low in saturated fatty
acids, which is balanced, suitable for
any age and with the
property of preventing many diseases.
Wellness
Two useful addresses
around Piazza Signoria
Editor's Tips
Dr. Stephen Kerr
is an Englishspeaking general
practicioner who
lives and practices
privately in
Florence. You can
find him in via
Porta Rossa 1 (just off piazza della
Signoria) and his telephone contacts
are 055.288055 (for the clinic) or
335.8361682 (mobile phone). For a
consultation in his surgery just drop in
from 3pm to 5pm from Monday to
Friday or otherwise call for an
appointment on week day mornings
between 9am and 1pm. Credit cards
are accepted.
< 52 >
Ottica Sbisà in piazza Signoria 10r
(tel. 055.211339) was established in
1869. Over the years the shop has
specialized in ophthalmology, topography, meteorology and microscopy.
Its central location in the city's main
square means Sbisà is a favorite with
both Florentine clients and visitors.
This has caused the management to
engage in a radical process of renovation in order to improve the display
of carefully selected fashion models
of spectacles and sunglasses alongside the traditional core business of
high quality optics and photography
instruments like binoculars, digital
cameras, microscopes and telescopes.
Wellness
Wellness
the Italian way of being beautiful
the Gyrotonic Expansion System unveiled
Slim & Toned
Ever heard
of GXS?
by Christine Stewart
by Maddalena Delli
hen spring arrives every
woman feels naturally attracted by light silk skirts,
tailored jeans and micro tops showing a
well toned tummy. And if your body is
still sleeping under your winter clothes
when the sun begins to shine, tt’s definitely time for some action! If you haven’t
done a sliver of exercise in ages, the
thought of a gym probably turns your
stomach faster than a stick of celery for
lunch. If you’re too lazy - and too attracted by Italian pasta – the good news is
that there’s still something you can do to
get fit right now.
W
Enter a world of comfort and relaxation to be pampered and treated by a
professional team of therapists, specially
trained in the Figurella Method. Figurella
is a unique escape place to lose weight
and inches while relaxing and learning
how to eat in a balanced way. You will discover how easy it is to savour all the taste
of Italian food without getting fat.
Figurella’s unique temperature controlled
workout bed and active oxygen spa
means body resculpturing and weight
loss. The Method combines moderate
physical activity in temperature controlled
surroundings to make you lose inches
where you want to. By maintaining and revitalising tissue elasticity and body tone
with full body oxygen therapy, Figurella’s
twice-a-week program is suitable for
everyone.
lose your eyes. Think of a gym.
If in your mind's eye you've pictured steel, leather, plastic and
mirrors, lycra, loud music and much
sweating, you're on the wrong track. Try
again. Think warm wood; think gently
curving shapes; think regular breathing;
think relaxation. Now you're closer to the
point. You may not know it, but what
you're picturing is called Club Il
Vortice, and it's the temple of an exclusive exercise method called Gyrotonic
Expansion System® - or GXS if you like.
C
Rather than dieting, Figurella will improve your body’s metabolism to ensure maximum metabolic efficiency by means of nutritional advice to fit
your new Italian lifestyle including pasta, cappuccino and other dainties
from the Mediterranean diet: you want
to look fabulous, not only slim…
Book a free meeting with a Figurella assistant for a program specifically tailored with
you as an individual in mind. You will be
able to discuss the parts of your body you
wish to focus on. You can reduce and
resculpture your tights, hips, stomach,
arms or any combination with true and
lasting results: easy, fast and effective! Is
time an issue? Visit the nearest Figurella
centre in Florence or Prato. Each treatment last 75 minutes and is strictly by appointment that you can arrange when it
best suits you. A professional trainer will
personally monitor your progress
throughout the program. Enjoy the Italian
lifestyle the way Italian girls do… and buy a
new bikini you will soon sport out!
Il Vortice was established in Florence in
1988 by Pino Carbone, a dancer and
choreographer. His dexterity in wood
working has enabled him to invent new,
custom built physiotherapy and fitness
devices, while the GXS experience has
made him develop a yoga method to
increase concentration and physical
awareness in dynamic conditions.
The GXS is an ideal program for every
sportsperson, since balance and coordination combined with a better control
of the posture in both static and dynamic
situations are a vital factor in any sport.
Athletes who have benefited from the
GXS include football, baseball, hockey
and tennis players, gymnasts, and cyclists as well as dancers, for whom the
GXS was devised in the first place.
But the benefits of GXS are by no
means limited to sportpeople: to start
with, it has proved effective both in the
prevention and rehabilitation of injuries. Secondly, it provides a gentle,
balanced way for anyone to fight off the
symptoms of modern living: joint pains,
headache, swollen legs, tiredness,
nervousness and even depression. In
fact this psychophysical discipline
teaches us to develop flexibility,
strength, dynamics and concentration
capacity, rediscovering the joy of an active and energetic body.
For more info visit
www.ilvorticeclub.com or drop in at
one of the Vortice clubs in via Lambertesca 16 or via Pisana 179: you will
discover that your body can be the best
place to spend your life in.
dal 1870
Farmacia
de’Serragli
Via de’ Serragli 94/r - 50124 Firenze - Tel. 055.292177
www.farmaciadeserragli.it
< 54 >
< 55 >
Services
Services
Multiplayer
Game Zone
by Maddalena Delli
any think
that computer
games are a solitary
activity isolating players from the rest of
the world, but that's
a gross misconception. On the contrary, so long as they don't become an
addiction, they offer endless opportunities of getting to know people, habits
and languages. There are several
kinds of online games, but top of
the list for both technology and fun are
undoubtedly the role playing games
(RPG). They all work with a host-client
architecture, where the client is the
user who wishes to take part in the
game and the host is the server where
all the digital players "meet”.
M
Since the earliest times of Information
Technology, MUDs (Multi-User
Dungeons) allowed user groups to
enter virtual environments and impersonate characters by means of textual
descriptions and typed commands.
Known as MMORPG (Massive
Multiplayer Online Role Play Game),
today's games trace their roots to
those non-graphical online games
such as Adventure and Zork, and to
pen-and-paper role-playing games like
Dungeons & Dragons.
dragons and hideous monsters, fair
princesses, ill-tempered goblins, mysterious elves and dexterous knights living their adventures in far-away worlds;
some others have science fiction
settings, with incredible machines and
futuristic metropolis endangered by
major conflicts. Thanks to the latest
video cards capable of processing
millions of polygons per second,
today's 3-D graphic interfaces are
highly realistic.
Contrary to common belief, netgamers
often feel the need of meeting each
other not just in a virtual but also in a
physical environment in order to
exchange tips and tricks, share experiences and make new friends. In
Florence the answer to that need is
Rocket Arena (via Lamarmora 23, tel.
055.576991), which - besides offering
the usual internet point services - was
established with the precise purpose of
creating a "Multiplayer Game Zone," a
physical meeting point for netgamers.
The most popular iconographic
sources are fantasy books, with
Open Mon. to Sat. from 9am till 7pm
Via de’ Ginori 21- Tel 055.284424
< 56 >
SHIPPING
Sbisà Foto Ottica
P.zza Signoria, 10r
☎ 055.211339
TRAVEL AGENTS
Belvedere Viaggi
Via dè Serragli 31r
☎ 055.290558
Central SITA
V.le Cadorna 105
☎ 055.4782262
Airlines Booking
Center
Borgognissanti 3r
☎ 055.288633
TRANSPORTATION
Alinari Rental
Via Guelfa 85r
☎ 055.280500
Europcar
Borgognissanti 57r
☎ 055.290437
Firenze by car
(electric vehicle rental)
☎335.8208535
Onda Blu
Via Degli Alfani 24r
Mail Boxes Etc.
Via San Gallo 26r
☎ 055.4630418
Corso Dei Tintori 39r
☎ 055.4630418
Via della Scala 13r
☎ 055.268173
L.no Guicciardini 11r
☎ 055.212002
HOME RENTALS
Florence & Abroad
Via San Zanobi 58
☎ 055.487004
Florence Accomodation
P.zza della Signoria 3
☎ 055.487379
Milligan & Milligan
Via degli Alfani 68
☎ 055.268256
LAUNDRY
Wash & Dry
Via Dei Servi 105r
HEALTH
Dr. Stephen Kerr
Via Porta Rossa1
☎ 055.288055
Farmacia de’ Serragli
Via de Serragli 94r
☎ 055.292177
Farmacia Ponte
Vecchio
Lungarno Acciaiuoli 4
☎ 055.287797
Farmacia Santa
Caterina
Viale Lavagnini 1r
☎ 055.483183
GYMS
Danz Forum Il Vortice
Via Pisana, 179
☎ 055.7130123
Il Vortice
Via Lambertesca16
☎ 055.213329
Ricciardi
Borgo Pinti 75
☎ 055.2478444
CULTURE
BM Bookshop
Borgognisanti 4r
☎ 055.294575
Dischi Alberti
Borgo S.Lorenzo 45/49r
☎ 055.294271
Via Dè Pucci 10/22r
☎055.284346
Librairie Francaise
de Florence
Piazza Ognissanti, 1r
☎ 055.212659
BEAUTY
Figurella
P.zza S. Maria Novella, 22
Viale dei Mille, 90
Via Finlandia, 22
☎ 800334400
International Studio
Chiasso Soldanieri 6/8r
☎ 055.293393
HairForce
Via Ghibellina 74r
☎ 055. 241736
Hito Centro Estetico
Via De’ Ginori 21
☎ 055.284424
Estetica Naturale - Centro Abbronzatura
Manicure - Pedicure Depilatory Wax - Massages Needle and Laser
Hair Removal
Foto Locchi
Via Del Corso 21r
☎ 055.213743
< 57 >
Servces
the meeting place for netgamers
INTERNET
Caironet
Via dè Ginori 59
☎ 055.217819
Creative Centre
The Netgate
Via S.Egidio 10r
☎ 055.2344761
Nomination
Internet Point
Via de Pepi 4/6
☎ 055.2007792
Rocket Arena
Via La Marmora 23
☎ 055.576991
Www.village.it
Via degli Alfani 11/13
☎ 055.243876
COPY STORES
Lory
P.zza Frescobaldi 4/9r
☎ 055.213246
X - Graphics
Via Della Pergola 47r
☎ 055.2466522
Happy Rent
Borgognissanti
☎ 055.2399696