“Soon there will be flowers,” commented Piero Bargellini, former mayor of Florence, in the aftermath of the 1966 flood. As we emerge from the health emergency to face the social and economic crises, we treasure Bargellini’s words and strive to seize the strange opportunity provided by the Covid-19 pandemic to reshape a citizen-centric, greener and more intelligent future for Florence. “Soon There Will Be Flowers” is the fitting title of the June Issue of The Florentine.
LONG READ / The Ponte Vecchio predicament.
Harry Cochrane speaks with the jewellery store owners on Florence’s famous bridge as the boutiques steadfastly refuse to reopen due to a dearth in sales after the Covid-19 lockdown. With photography by Francesco Spighi.
CULTURE / Boboli Gardens + Upper Botanical Gardens
Alexandra Lawrence entices us all to the Boboli Gardens with a light look at the Medici court’s pleasure park and our present-day place of solace after the lockdown.
INTERVIEW / Maria Manetti Shrem.
Florence-born international arts patron Maria Manetti Shrem chats about her devotion to giving back to culture through friendships with Andrea Bocelli, Prince Charles and Bona Frescobaldi.
EVENTS / What’s on in June.
Florence must be on the mend now that our Best Events column has returned. We’re not quite able to produce our events listings yet, but here’s a bare bones guide.
FESTIVAL / La Città dei Lettori.
Artistic director Gabriele Ametrano outlines plans for literary festival La Città dei Lettori, which will be held in the Villa Bardini gardens this August.
NATURE / Forest bathing in Tuscany.
Helen Farrell soaks up nature by forest bathing on the slopes of former volcano Monte Amiata in southern Tuscany. Highly recommended!
TREASURE / Geocaching in and around Florence.
Join the community of global wanderers, track down untold treasures and head into the wilderness for the glory of escape and the thrill of the unknown. Jane Farrell explains how.
PARKS / Where kids can run.
Jennifer L. Monti checks out Florence’s parks and their suitability for small children as a free option for families this summer.
NUMISMATICS / Renaissance portrait medals.
Art historian Paola Vojnovic discusses the meaning of medals in the Renaissance and the beautiful specimen that Leone Leoni crafted for Michelangelo’s 88th birthday.
PHILATELY / The Tuscan three lire stamp.
Columnist Deirdre Pirro explores the history of this valuable local postage stamp dating to the mid-nineteenth century.
ARCHITECTURE / Firmitas, Utilitas et Venustas.
Jane Zaloga walks readers through permanence, functionality and delight in Florence’s exemplary architecture.
TOWERS + PALACES / 500 years in 500 meters
Elaine Ruffolo takes us on a short stroll from piazza dei Davanzati to piazza Santa Trinita to reveal Florence emerging out of the Middle Ages to become the economic and cultural center of the Renaissance: 500 hundred years of history in 500 meters.
CROSSINGS / Other bridges are available.
Moving on from the Ponte Vecchio, Harry Cochrane strolls over the bridges he prefers in Florence for ergonomic or historical reasons. Marco Badiani continues the crossing theme, concentrating his Repost on Paper on the city’s ponti.
While we hope that you subscribe to our magazine to support our independent journalism at this time, as from Friday, June 5, the June issue of The Florentine will be available, for free, from the following pick-up points in Florence:
Paperback Exchange via delle Oche, 4R
Bottega Strozzi Bookshop piazza Strozzi, 1
Rosalia Salad Gourmet via de' Servi, 37
Eataly, via dei Martelli 22
Mercato Centrale S. Lorenzo
Mio Concept Store, via della Spada 34R
Münstermann piazza Goldoni 2R
Nails & Beauty, via Nazionale 120R
Vino al Vino Wineshop borgo Ognissanti, 70R
St. James Church, via Rucellai 9
Sit'n'Breakfast, via San Gallo 21R
Mercato S. Ambrogio, piazza Ghiberti
Acqua al 2 Restaurant, via della Vigna Vecchia 40r
Ditta Artigianale, via dei Neri 32R
Nails & Beauty, via dell'Agnolo 109r
Red Garter Restaurant, via dei Benci 33r
Ruth's Kosher, via Farini 2A
Vestri, Borgo Albizi 11r
Carduccio, sdrucciolo de' Pitti 10R
Conventino Caffè Letterario, via Giano della Bella 20
Ditta Artigianale, via dello Sprone 3
Giulia Materia, sdrucciolo de' Pitti 13R
Santa Rosa Bistrot, Lungarno di Santa Rosa
S.forno Bakery, via Santa Monaca 3R
Sweaty Betty Tatoo, via de' Vellutini 7R
St. Marks English Church, via Maggio 16/18
Volume, piazza Santo Spirito 5R
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