Description
From famous frescos and family restaurants to meditative spots that soothe the soul, To Florence con Amore: 90 Ways to Love the City reveals a city full of unsung treasures and fascinating cultural gems. This collection of ‘must-sees’ that are rarely seen is an indispensable guide for those who know the city and those eager to meet her. Jane Fortune’s intimate and informative essays, many drawn from her cultural column, ‘Mosaics’, in The Florentine, the city’s English-language news magazine, are for anyone longing to spend quality time with this beloved city.
The guild-based history of Florence, the city’s role as the birthplace of opera, the perspective and innovation of its artists, the far-reaching vision of its leaders—all find space in To Florence con Amore. Jane Fortune’s warm but concise prose urges readers to discover a city where the fine arts reign sovereign and craftsmanship is key.
This ‘love-inspired’ guide offers day-trips and afternoon getaways appropriate for all of Florence’s admirers. Whether you love theatre, costume and the performing arts or are more apt to swoon before a fresco, painting or breath-taking view—there are options for everyone. This guide spotlights myriad itineraries including medieval palaces and Renaissance chapels, contemporary art gardens, natural oasis, libraries, and science museums, spanning centuries cultural wealth. This newly expanded second edition includes 13 new suggestions, such as the Oblate Library and Palazzo Davanzati, that were under extensive restoration when the book originally went to print.
Thanks to eye-catching, full-colour photographs, To Florence con Amore provides rich views of the city’s multi-faceted character. The bird’s egg blues of della Robbia ceramics, the luminous shades of handcrafted silk, a sun-drenched view from the Arno, the shadowy silence of Santa Croce, the luscious greens of traditionally Tuscan landscapes—urge both visitor and resident to rediscover the beauties of one of the world’s most renowned cities.
Publication date: Second edition, May 2011
Table of Contents
ONE unique city
TWO essential themes
THREE extraordinary schools of art
FOUR historic theatres
FIVE famed tours
SIX must-reads
SEVEN cultural gems
EIGHT places to see frescoes
NINE places that soothe the soul
TEN treasures
ELEVEN places worth the journey
TWELVE tastes of Tuscany
THIRTEEN ways to spend an afternoon
