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The Florentine
Walking into the sumptuous surroundings of Palazzo della Gherardesca is always a soothing and pleasurable experience, but it is all the more so when one is about to meet the Four Seasons Florence’s Michelin-starred chef, Vito Mollica. Modest in his success and amiable with all, Basilicata-born
A few streets over from Michelangelo’s former home, William Kelley and his wife, Susan, have settled in a beautiful flat with panoramic views of Florence. Since 2004, the American-born artist has made Florence a permanent base, first renting a studio on the Ponte Vecchio. When the space
Birgitte Brøndsted fell in love with Italy when she visited for the first time at age 14. Later, she tried living in Paris and Madrid as well as her home city of Copenhagen, but Italy kept pulling her back for periods of both work and study. Eventually, it
Although you may not have heard of him, you might already have come across his art. Every Friday, Patrik Lundell distributes his artworks for free in Florence’s historic centre, leaving his pieces, which are made from cardboard left out for recycling, on streets and buildings for passersby to
Take a stroll along via de’ Mezzo, in the Sant’Ambrogio neighbourhood of Florence, and you’ll come across a glass-fronted studio. Welcome to Sara Amrhein’s creative space and boutique, lovingly ...
You know you’re about to meet somebody with creativity coursing through their veins when you encounter a dressmaker’s dummy perched on a pole and sporting a unique logo in a Florentine window space. Boston-born Emily Taranto-Kent has called Florence her home for the last
Nineteenth-century poets Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning are among the most renowned expatriates to have lived in Florence and their home, Casa Guidi, stands across from the Palazzo Pitti. Today, one of its most luxurious flats is occupied by Victor John Barrett Caulfield, a distant relative of Elizabeth,
A progressive Jew who moved from the United States to Florence to be with her husband, Susanna Myers found nowhere to practice her faith upon her arrival. Along with three other American expats, she founded Shir Hadash, a nonprofit congregation of Progressive Judaism, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
A Russian who was born in Poland and grew up in Germany and the United States, Swietlan Kraczyna was inspired to move to Florence by Masaccio’s murals. From humble beginnings, supporting a family on just 100 dollars a month in the Santo Spirito area, he has become an
Going to meet Kristina Grancaric in her office is an unusual experience: most days she sets up ‘office’ in a different restaurant or bar, where people drop in to see her and she reviews the place as part of her work with the website Yelp. Today she has
‘Why shouldn’t Mussolini have an empire? All the best people in Europe have empires.’ So affirms the imperious British expat Lady Hester Random (played by Maggie Smith) in Franco Zeffirelli’s ...
With its unparalleled and legendary wines, Italy is not the first place you’d think to enjoy a pint of Guinness or glass of Jameson Irish whiskey. However, right in piazza Santa Maria Novella, the eclectic cultural heritage of Ireland is only one step away. That’s exactly
Polite and pensive, William Blacker seems the last person you would imagine to leave a comfortable life in England and go on a whim to live for eight years in a remote Transylvanian village. But that’s exactly what he did. Now dividing his time between England, Italy and
Although there are many who dream of dropping everything and living through their art, few actually take the plunge. Dejan Bogdanovic, however, is the embodiment of that Florentine dream. Arriving in Florence from the former Yugoslavia on a SACI scholarship more than 20 years ago, he still hasn't left
Our events listing keeps you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly entertainment. This is a selection of the best of them. SURREAL/The Dalí Universe February 1-May 25, Palazzo Medici, via Camillo Cavour 3, Florence More than
When it comes to knowledge of the English language, Nicholas Brownlees is an expert, not only because it's his mother tongue, but also because he has taught English in Florence for 38 years. Starting his career as a teacher at the British Institute, Brownlees is now associate professor at
There is a thin red line that links a dark and minimal style code with the best Tuscan craftsmanship tradition. It is the Original Total Look of Erïk Bjerkesjö, a talented Swedish designer and this year's winner of the 2012 Who is On Next? Pitti Uomo
Kamin Mohammadi's family was forced to flee their home country of Iran during the 1979 revolution, when she was just nine years old. Now living between London and Tuscany, she has recently published her first book, The Cypress Tree, a ‘love letter to Iran' that brings to life
Like many expatriates, Bruce Edelstein came to study in Florence and stayed for love. But his is a personal and professional success story worth telling for the number of people he inspires, first in his role as a professor at New York University's (NYU) Villa La Pietra, and second,
Andrea Davis came to Florence in the mid-1980s, a bright, young lawyer from Boston who was looking to take a career break and live the dolce vita in Italy. It ...
It is probably fair to say that majority of expats come to live in Italy for work or romantic reasons. Robert Nordvall is quite a different case. Nordvall, known locally as Bob, was born in the Chicago area. The family of his mother, Carmella Craglione, was originally from Luccare, now
Think of fashion in the 1960s, and you are probably picturing Susan Nevelson's work. She pioneered the flower-power prints of the decade, working for her friend and designer Ken Scott. Her prints have been worn by celebrities like Jackie Kennedy, Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot. Aged 87, she
Think of the movie stereotype of the Protestant minister. Now picture Alison Walker, who is 36, female, married, drives a camper van and, yes, is a Methodist minister. Walker moved to Florence almost three years ago, speaking no Italian. But that had to quickly change. As pastor of the
Elaine Poggi has been living in Florence for almost 38 years, and for the past 10 years she has devoted her life to giving comfort and hope to patients and ...
