Enogastronomy and tastes of Tuscany : culinary vacation, cooking classes, wine & oil tours, special tastings

Llittle history

The Romans founded Florence in the first century B.C. In the 15th century, it came under the rule of the Medici family, who later became the Grand Dukes of Tuscany. In the 18th century (1860) Tuscany became part of the kingdom of Italy of which Florence was the capital from 1865 to 1871. In this century, this city has once more taken up its role as an important center for culture and the arts.

Florence has retained an extraordinary wealth of art treasure, a glorious witness to its centuries of civilization. Cimabue and Giotto, forefathers ofitalian painting, lived here; Arnolfo and Andrea Pisano, renovators of architecture and sculpture; Brunelleschi, Donatello and Masaccio, innovators of the Renaissance; Ghiberti and the Della Robbia; Filippo Lippi and Fra Angelico; Botticelli and Paolo Uccello and universal men like Leonardo and Michelangelo. Their work as well as that of many other generations of Artists up to the present time-are collected in the many museums of the city.

In Florence the city of Dante, the Italian language was born. With Petrach and Boccaccio the study of literature found its main center here. Macchiavelli inaugurated the new political science: Galileo and his school created and developed experimental science. As far back as Charlemagne, Florence has had a University, which today includes numerous faculties and a wide range of institutes with a specialized Center for foreigners. Academies and arts schools, scientific institutes such as the "Osservatorio Astrofisico" at Arcetri, the Institute of Research in Electromagnetic wanes, the Center for Nuclear Medicine, all contribute to the intense activity of the city and this particular field, so too the foreign universities and various centers of History of Art and popular cultures.

Events in Florence

Throughout the year a series of events are held in Florence, which are varied enough to suit most demands. Foremost among these, in the city were modern beginning with Florence "Musical May" and going on to Summer and Winter operatic organizes numerous trade events over the year. International exhibitions in the contemporary art and in the particular aspects of antique art are organized- Some of the typical traditional events are Football in Costume, the Burst of the Cart, the Feast of St. John etc. Florence is well known for its highly refined craftsmanship evolved over centuries of tradition, and for the elegance and good taste of its creation.

Florence hospitality has been praised as far back as the 13th century, travelers praised the pleasant and comfort Dozens of restaurants and typical "oratories", in the town center and the surrounding hills, offer the pleasures of gastronomy which is based on
simple and healthy fare: tasty soups, roast and grilled meat (the famous Bistecca and grilled chicken).

Tuscan wines produced in the Chianti and surrounding areas, deservedly famous, accompany the cuisine: the red wine which is full-boiledd and full-flavored; the white wine which is lighter; sweet wines and the "vin santo".

Monuments

Uffizzi

the most select picture gallery in the World; the Galleria Palatine, with its "golden age" paintings-Florence was the fountainhead of the Renaissance , the city of Dante and Boccaccio .

Galleria dell' Accademia
There is many paintings and sculptures: Michelangelo's colossal David is so overpowering in is majesty. The gallery also displays Michelangelo's statue of St Matthew, also same painting of minor importance

Palazzo Pitti and Giardini di Boboli
Palazzo Pitti is one the greatest artistic treasure troves , with painting gallery, works of Titian, Rubens, Raphael, and Andrea del Sarto. Palazzo Pitti was a privateresidence, was once the home of the Kings of Savoy, when they presided over a unified
Italy. Reopened in 1993 after restoration. The Boboli Gardens, behind the Pitti Palace, a great landscape artist : Triboli. The garden are filled with fountains and statues.

Bargello Museum
This is a 1255 fortress palace whose dark under-ground chambers resounded with the cries of the tortured when it served as the city's jail and town hall during the Renaissance. Today the Bargello is a vast repository of some of the most important Renaissance sculptures, including works by Michelangelo and Donatello .

St Mark's Museum
This state museum is a handsome Renaissance palace whose cells walls are decorated with frescoes by the mystical Fra Angelico, one of Europe's greatest 15-century painters.

The Duomo
graced by Filippo Bnmelleschi's red-tiled dome is the crewing glory of Florence and the star of the skyline. The Duomo is one of the world's largest churches in Gothic style: Volunteers offer free tours of the cathedral every day except Sunday, most of them speak English, if there many of you and want to confirm their availability, call 055V271-0757.

Giotto's Bell Tower
If we can believe the accounts of this contemporaries, Giotto was the ugliest man ever to walk die streets of Florence. It's irony, then, that he loft to posterity Europe's most beautiful campanile but he died before its completion witch was carried out by Andrea Pisano.

Baptistry
Named after is patron saint, Giovanni, it's the oldest structure in Florence , you can see the three sets of bronze doors by Lorenzo Ghierti.

Duomo Museum
The premier attraction is the restored panels of Ghiberti's " Gates of Paradise.

Piazza della Signoria
is one of Italy most beautiful squares, with the Fountain of Neptuno. The secular "Old Palace" is Florence's famous and imposing palazzo, is filled with frescoes and sculpture.

The Ponte Vecchio
was built in 1220, is closed to vehicular traffic. The little shops sell everything from the most expensive of Florentine gold to something simple.

Basilica di Santa Croce

located in Piazza Santa Croce 16. 055\244-619. Church free;
cloisters and church museum 8,OOOL. Church Mon-Sat 8am-6:30pm; Sun 3-6;30pnL Museum and cloisters Thurs- Tues 10 am-7pm. B: 13,23, 71. Thing of this as Tuscany's Westminster Abbey. This church shelters the tombs of everyone from Michelangelo to Macchiavelli, from Dante to Galileo.

Santa Maria Novella

in Piazza Santa Maria Novella. 055-282-187 church free, Spanish chapel and cloister (ire 5,000. Church mon-fri 7am-noon and 3pm-6pm- Spanish Chapel and Cloister Sat-thurs 8am-2pm BUS 6,9,11,36,37 or 68. Near the rail station, is one of Florence's most distinguished churches, began in 1278 for the Dominicans. It its geometric façade, with bands of white and green marble was designed in the late 15th century by Leon Battisti Arberti. The church borrows from, armonizes, the Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance styles.

Piazza della Signoria
is one of Italy's most beautiful squares, it was the center of secular lives in the days of the Medici, and is today a virtual sculpture gallery.

Shopping in Florence

Florence isn't a city for bargain shopping Most of the visitor interested in gold or silver jewelry head for Ponte Vecchio. The Street for antiques is in Via Maggio or Borgo Ognissanti. The better shops are many on Via Vigna Nuova, Via Porta Rossa Via degli Strozzi. Intrepid shoppers head for the Mercato Nuovo, two blocks south of Piazza della Repubblica. Mercato Centrale San Lorenzo near the rail station.