A few metres from the Bargello – to be precise, at Via del Proconsolo 16r – stands a fine building, once the home of the Guild of Judges and Notaries, and now the property of an art-loving enthusiast who is also a gastronomic entrepreneur. The result is that a number of priceless frescoes dating variously from the 13th and 15th centuries have now been revealed in much of their original splendour. There is a ceiling bearing a circular representation of mediaeval Florence, complete with walls, gates, and the shields of the 21 Guilds (7 major and 14 minor) that provided Florence with its system of government at that time. There is a delightful fresco showing two ladies who represent two of the oratorical disciplines for which the Guild of Judges and Notaries was renowned. Last but certainly not least, there is another fresco depicting the great Dante in a guise that, whether authentic or not, was accepted as accurate well into the 16th century. Also, for good measure, there is a fresco of that other famous Florentine writer, Boccaccio. All this you can see for no more than the cost of a phone call to 055-240618, for which you will not only be admitted to this treasure-house, but will also be equipped with an audio handset that will guide you amongst the items described above and several more besides.
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