Description
Navigating central Florence has become a sigh-filled activity as travellers stop in their tracks to take that umpteenth photo (and who can blame them, such is the beauty), golf carts clunk over the cobblestones and Tuscan teachers do their best to move along their students to experience Michelangelo’s David and Botticelli’s Primavera for the first (and perhaps the last) time. It would be nice to find some space for ourselves, hence Marco Badiani’s capture of a lone rower on the Arno, something to which we can all aspire.
Airspace will be reclaimed soon once the infamous Uffizi crane is removed from the cityscape this summer. In many ways, the gru has become part of Florence’s built landscape, having stood in its present location since 2006. Now, due to an agreement with a group of local entrepreneurs, the crane is set to be replaced by a non-intrusive hoist capable of carrying out the necessary ongoing works. Read more on page 4. Artisans are being given the chance to find room for themselves in a three-year zero-rent urban regeneration deal along via Palazzuolo (page 6), which might sound too good to be true until you realize that the money is coming from a charitable foundation with the deepest pockets, Fondazione CR Firenze, in an agreement with the Comune. While we recognize the issues of safety along the street near Santa Maria Novella station, we hope that the urban thoroughfare continues to maintain its identity and that the gentrification doesn’t go too far. If it’s green space you’re looking for, venture out to the Castello area to see the Villa La Quiete Medici gardens, which recently opened to the public for the first time in their 300 years of history. More on page 5. Alternatively, head for the highlights of Fiesole (page 18) as the hilltop town organizes an array of cultural events in its bid to win the Italian Capital of Culture 2028.
This month’s interviews include a candid conversation with Ginevra Moretti and Maximilian Fane after hitting the headlines about their successful bid to buy Sammezzano Castle (pages 8-9). From the eclectic House of Nine members’ club and hotel in via de’ Conti to the family’s industrial factories, the hardworking couple have promised to restore and reopen the 17th-century eclectic gem near Reggello. Once a desired wedding venue, it’s a piece of news that has been longed for among locals after scandalously standing derelict for more than 30 years. Another interesting chat is with cookbook writer and food journalist Emiko Davies after introducing Stanley Tucci to lampredotto for his new show and the implications that such a popular series may have on tourist flows in the Sant’Ambrogio neighbourhood (page 30).
Hopeful that the rainy season has now passed, we bring you some of Florence’s new and revised rooftops (page 36) as well as a first look at outdoor summer spots (page 34). It’s still very much exhibition season, so turn to our events section to find out what’s on and read our reviews of the best in town!
Free for subscribers (and available to all on www.theflorentine.net/shop for just 2 euro!), this month’s issue comes with the latest edition of The Curators’ Quaderno, a quarterly notebook-style publication created by the Calliope Arts Foundation with The Florentine Press. The Search for Violante focuses on the research and restoration project at the Certosa di Firenze monastery as conservators Marina Vincenti and Elizabeth Wicks reflect on the year they spent with three devotional artworks by 18th-century painter Violante Siriès.
