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l veFlorence
benvenuti a firenze
pitti immagine
Events & exhibitions
Restaurants, Nightlife
& Wellness
jan/feb
2014
welcome
Benvenuti a Firenze
Fashion Events
Pitti
Pitti
Pitti
Pitti
Uomo
W
Bimbo
Filati
Itineraries
Uffizi Gallery
LoveFlorence
Year #12 – Issue #1
January/February 2014
Free magazine for
international students also
published online at
www.loveflorence.it
Editorial office:
info@megareview.it
Advertising inquiries:
commerciale@megareview.it
Tel. +39.055.412199
The Publisher is pleased to acknowledge the authorship and author’s rights of any photos whose
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taken to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible
for any errors or changes in the
information provided.
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2
Exhibitions & events
Hats, between Art & Eccentricity
Other Exhibitions
Events
Classical Music
Shopping
Shop ‘till You Drop
Wellness
Let’s go Skiing Wellness Reviews
gourmet
Arnold Coffee
Flavours of Tuscany
Gelaterie Reviews
Pizza Pizza Pizza!
nightlife
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Nightlife Reviews
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CIty MAP
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welcome
benvenuti a Firenze
A Florentine
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A
s I stepped out of the Florence Airport it
finally hit me. I was no longer in the United
States; I was in Italia.
I had known I was studying abroad in the fall semester
of 2009 eight months prior to my arrival, yet it only
hit me when I arrived at night in a country where I
knew no one and did not speak the native language.
I think I was terrified. However, the moment of panic
passed as I realized how lucky I was to be in such a
beautiful city; so I took a taxi to my apartment, met my
wonderful roommates, and began my amazing time
abroad in Florence.
Here is my personal Facebook on Florence with some
useful hints for just arrived students.
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5
Firenze a.k.a. Florence
Region: ..................... Tuscany
Population: . . Roughly 400.000
Patron Saint: .St. John the Baptist
Date of Settlement: ....... 59 BC
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Profile
Firends
Inbox
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Activities:Explore the birthplace of the Renaissance, Stare at
Michelangelo’s David, Gaze upon Botticelli’s masterpieces, See the Medici influence present throughout
the city, Be awed by the impressive Duomo, Wander
around the city and imagine its Medieval past.
Interests:The Renaissance, Providing amazing art and culture
to the world, Being beautiful.
Logout


music:Odoardo Spadaro, Riccardo Marasco, Caterina Bueno.
Movies:Amici Miei, Tea with Mussolini, Room with a View,
Hannibal, Benvenuti in Casa Gori.
Books: Dante’s Divine Comedy, Boccaccio’s Decameron, E.M.
Forster’s Room With A View, Vasco Pratolini’s Metello,
Carlo Lorenzini’s Pinocchio.
Quotes:
“A Tuscan peasant is born with an embodied sense of
beauty which enables him to unconsciously develop
from, and also preserve the untouched magnificence
surrounding him.” Roberto Benigni
FRIENDS:
Dante, Leon Battista Alberti, Brunelleschi, Michelangelo, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Donatello, Leonardo, Machiavelli, Florence Nightingale, Roberto Benigni,
Andrea Bocelli
Museums: Uffizi Gallery, Museo del Bargello, Academy Gallery




Piazzale Michelangelo, Piazza della Signoria, Piazza del Duomo, Piazza Santa Croce

Churches:Il Duomo (also called Santa Maria del Fiore), Santa Maria Novella, Santa Maria del Carmine, Santa Croce,
San Lorenzo, San Miniato

Piazzas:
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fashion EVENTS
PItti uomo
Pitti Immagine: Fashion in Florence
P
Pitti Uomo 85 interprets contemporary menswear
and with each edition it redraws the map of the
fair, focusing on the products and looks that are
leading today’s markets. From the excellence of Made in
Italy to the edgiest fashion research, from special projects
produced by the world’s leading designers to previews of
women’s collection, to support for young talents: fashions
find their most complete, innovative and market-oriented
showcase in Florence. And now, the Fortezza da Basso is
the outstanding stage for the women’s collections, showcased in the area of the fair and protagonist at Pitti W, in
the Arena Strozzi, that are shifting towards closer synergy
with the Pitti Uomo sections presenting the most cutting-edge
looks. All this in a setting that welcomes visitors with its unique atmosphere of business, culture, pleasure and entertainment and guides them through the myriad links that connect
fashion, art, sports, design and music. There will be over
1,030 brands at Pitti Uomo, plus the 70 women’s collections at Pitti W. With a determined focus on internationality
– confirmed by foreign participation – 40% of the exhibitors
at this edition come from over 30 countries – and by the buyers who make up the Pitti Uomo community – over 30,000
visitors representing the world’s major large and small retailers attended the last winter edition of the fair. Here are
just some of the main new events and previews that will be
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presented at Pitti Uomo 85. During Pitti
Uomo, the entire fair, from the pavilions
to the individual stands to the Forecourt
of the Fortezza da Basso will be enlivened by performances and installations,
images and cult objects related to the
world of music, as this year theme is
ROCK ME PITTI. The Special Guest will
be DIESEL BLACK GOLD designed by
Andreas Melbostad. The Norwegianborn Melbostad has recently attracted
the attention of the international fashion
community with his impeccable urban
style and rock-chic soul interpretation
of the brand’s DNA. The Guest Nation
will be Ukraine, a country that has recently distinguished itself as one of the
most interesting – and quickly growing
- places in fashion research today. It
is a country that is succeeding in combining a strong and capable industrial
organization with a true culture of contemporary design. Pitti W will showcase women’s collections Anna K, Anna
October, Ksenia Schnaider, Omelya
Atelier, Sasha Kanevski, Paskal and
Yasya Minochkina.
January 7th-10th

PITTI UOMO 85°
Fortezza da BAsso
Viale Strozzi, 1
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Pitti W
More at: < www.pittimmagine.it >
P
The 13th edition of PITTI W will unveil a new look
for the Pitti Immagine project dedicated to previews,
capsule collections and special concepts in women’s fashions. Since last June, Pitti W has been at the Fortezza
da Basso and now we are presenting a new breakdown
of our merchandize categories in a completely revamped
setting designed by Ilaria Marelli. The stars, as always, are
an exclusive selection of international labels that will present
preview showings of sophisticated, innovative collections for
the 2014/2015 fall-winter season. Pitti W offers a unique
interpretation of the wardrobe for today’s woman, blending
perfectly with the fashion district presentations at Pitti Uomo.
January 7th-10th

pitti W 13°
DOgana
Via Valfonda
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Pitti Bimbo
More at: < www.pittimmagine.it >
P
Pitti Bimbo is increasingly international in scope: out of
the 450 expected collections,
177 will be from abroad! Pitti Bimbo, the
only trade fair in the world that presents
a complete overview of children’s fashion is also an extraordinary platform for
presenting new lifestyle trends for kids:
scouting, research and selectivity are the
fair’s key concepts. And, at this edition,
with the aim of attracting ever more international buyers, the event will broaden its
focus to include the worlds of accessories
and design, reflecting the developments
in an industry that is undergoing massive
transformations. From the big names and
their collections in the Pitti Bimbo section to the creativity of the independent
brands in the New View and EcoEthic
sections, from the sportswear at Sport
Generation to the urban atmosphere of
SuperStreet all the way to accessories,
toys and furnishings for the littlest set.
January 16th-18th

PITTI BIMBO 78°
Fortezza da BAsso
Viale Strozzi, 1
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Pitti Filati
& Vintage Collection
More at: < www.pittimmagine.it >
P
itti Immagine Filati, the key
international event featuring
yarns for the knitting industry
will be held at the Fortezza da Basso in
Florence from 22 to 24 January 2014.
It is a research lab and an observatory
that looks onto lifestyle trends projected towards the future. Pitti Filati presents worldscale excellence in yarns to its audience
of international buyers and designers from
the biggest names in fashion who come
to Florence looking for new creative inspiration. This, the 74th edition, will feature
previews of yarns for the 2015 springsummer season.
Pitti Filati will also host Vintage Selection
the fair-event dedicated to vintage clothing, accessories and design objects. RETROGAMING, this edition’s theme, will be
a hymn to the passion for old videogames
hunting for things like the Commodore 64
or Atari 2600 consoles.
January 22nd-24th

PITTI FILATI 74°
Fortezza da BAsso Viale Strozzi, 1
VINTAGE COLLECTION 23°
STAZIONE LEOPOLDA Porta a Prato
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itineraries
Uffizi Gallery
Florence’s
premiere
Art Gallery
T

UFFIZI GALLERY
Loggiato
degli Uffizi
055.294883
Open 8,15-18.50
Closed on Mondays.
14
he Uffizi Gallery covers an area of about
8.000 square meters and contains one of
the most important collections of art of all
times, including classical sculpture and paintings on
canvas and wood by 13th to 18th century Italian and
foreign schools. The Gallery of the Uffizi was also the
first museum ever to be opened to the public: in fact the
Grand Duke granted permission to visit it on request from
the year 1591. Its four centuries of history make the Uffizi
Gallery the oldest museum in the world.
Cosimo I de’ Medici decided to build the Palace, whose
construction was started by Giorgio Vasari in 1560
and later completed by Buontalenti, who designed the famous
Tribune, to house the administrative offices (or “uffizi”) of the Government because Palazzo Vecchio, which also overlooks Piazza
della Signoria, had become too small to hold them all. However
it was his son Francesco I who was responsible for starting to
turn the palace into a museum in 1581, when he closed the
second floor Gallery with huge windows and arranged part of
the grand-ducal collection of classical statues, medals, jewellery,
weapons, paintings and scientific instruments here.
The Medici were untiring collectors and were forever adding to
the Gallery: some of the most important elements to be added to
the collection came from the inheritance left by Ferdinando
Above:
Sandro Botticelli,
The Birth of Venus
15
Above from the top:
Piero della Francesca, the Dukes of Urbino
Titian, the Venus of Urbino
Paolo Uccello, The Battle of San Romano
Next Page from the top:
Giotto, Madonna di Ognissanti
Caravaggio, Bacchus
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II’s mother, Vittoria della Rovere (1631),
together with the many acquisitions made
by Cardinal Leopoldo de’ Medici (16171675), which were to create the basis of
the Gallery of Prints and Drawings and
the collection of Self-portraits, exhibited
today in the Vasari Corridor linking the
Uffizi to the royal palace of Pitti.
When Gian Gastone, the last Medici
Grand Duke, died, his sister Anna Maria
Ludovica managed to prevent the artistic patrimony from being scattered with
the famous “Family Pact” (1737, and
reconfirmed in her will of 1743), which,
instead of bequeathing everything to the
successors of the House of HapsburgLorraines, left the collections to the city
of Florence itself “to be an ornament to
the Government, useful to the public and
to attract the curiosity of foreigners”. This
document proved to be vitally important
when the time came to retrieve the art
works that had been removed and taken
to Paris in Napoleonic times.
Altered and rearranged several times over
the centuries, according to the cultural
tastes of the various periods, the exhibition rooms are now composed of over
45 rooms containing about 1.700 paintings, 300 sculptures, 46 tapestries and
14 pieces of furniture and/or ceramics.
The main collection includes great works
by Giotto, Masaccio, Filippo Lippi,
Botticelli, da Vinci, Bellini, Giorgione,
Titian, Michelangelo, Raphael, and just
about every great Italian artist through the
18th century. The core of the collection
is from the Medici court. The collection
has remained remarkably intact with few
changes over the centuries.
In the early works, you can see the Byzantine influence in the use of line to suggest
drapery and the heavy use of gold leaf.
The artists of Siena soon begin to change
this style by suggesting three-dimensional
architecture even before the discovery of
formal perspective. Soon the revolutionary
Giotto appears on the scene depicting
rounded solid figures that seem almost like
Doric columns. The international Gothic
style soon exerts its influence. The spatial
depth is pushed back and the scenes
crowded with multitudes of figures in colorful costumes. In spite of this, the overall
trend in Italian art is towards the austere.
The artists give the human figure a more
sculptural appearance and the space is
simplified and made more logical.
Around 1424, the discovery of mathematical perspective causes yet another
revolution in style as artists for more and
more realistic representations of figures in
space. The 15th century ushers in the early
Renaissance. Artists have new theories and
improved materials. There is a great deal
of experimentation with various stylistic elements. Two of the masterpieces of the Uffizi
come from this period. The Birth of Venus
and the Primavera by Botticelli make us
marvel at the artistic mind that could con
17
Below:
Sandro Botticelli,
Detail from
Primavera
(Allegory of Spring)
18
ceive such fantastic compositions. The paintings are unbelievably
rich in detail and must be seen in person to be appreciated. There
are many examples of High Renaissance works in the collection.
Among them is the Annunciation by Leonardo da VincI and the
Holy Family by Michelangelo. These paintings are not only a
synthesis of the styles and techniques that came before; they glow
with the inspiration of a golden age. There are also excellent
examples of Venetian art from the period, including two important
paintings by Titian, The Venus of Urbino and Flora.
Soon there was a movement towards the elongated figures of
the Mannerist style as in the works of Tintoretto. And towards
the end of the 16th century Caravaggio had a profound impact
on the art world with his realism and intense use of shadow and
light. These changes ushered in the Baroque period. The Uffizi
collection includes many masters of this period from Northern
Europe, including Van Dyck, Rubens and Rembrandt. Finally, the
collection contains a number of 18th century works that show
the artistic trend towards genre scenes and courtly life.
The New Uffizi
In 2012 the Uffizi Gallery and its artistic itineraries have been
extended to offer its visitors 17 new rooms located on the first
floor and painted on either intense blue or red. This first step of the
“New Uffizi” project expanded the visible collections and gave
a better distribution of the museum’s spaces. The eight new Blue
rooms are dedicated to foreign painters from Flanders, Holland,
France and Spain from the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries.
The nine Red ones to Italian High Renaissance paintings by
masters such as del Sarto, Fiorentino, Pontormo and Bronzino.
In addition, the beautiful octagonal Tribune in the West wing was
finally reopened after two years of restoration and rearrangement. The Tribuna was built in 1581 by Bernardo Buontalenti,
as a place for Grand Duke Francesco I to display his treasures.
Octagonal in shape, it has a dome crowned with a lantern and
is lit by windows on the upper walls. Its chief glory is the precious mother-of-pearl decoration against a bright blue ground on
the drum of the dome, and the dome itself covered with 6000
shells against a crimson background, all of which have been
spectacularly restored on this occasion. The adjoining Stanzino
delle Matematiche has now been opened and renovated with
its emerald green walls and “grotteschi” on the ceiling.
Above:
The main corridor
of the Uffizi
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Exhibitions
Hats, between Art & Eccent
The first exhibition dedicated Hats
more at: < www.polomuseale.firenze.it >
T

Hats,
between Art
& Eccentricity
GALLERIA DEL
COSTUME
Palazzo Pitti
Piazza Pitti, 1
055.294883
20
he Costume Gallery opens the door to an accessory not intended to go unnoticed. This is the first
monographic exhibition dedicated to the hat, whose
collections, inherit by the museum amounted to more than a
thousand units, of which only a selection will be displayed at
the exhibition. Despite prevailing specimens of pretty well known
fashion houses such as Dior, Givenchy, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Prada, Ferrè and international famous milliners of the present
and the past days like Philip Treacy, Stephen Jones, Caroline
Reboux, Claude Saint-Cyr, Paulette, this is also the first time that
there are artifacts on display of Italian and Florentine millineries.
Here you will find the hat as a work of art, with its own aesthetic
harmony, its sculptural essence, the chromatic component and
refinement ornamental details. The exhibition includes important
loans from Cecilia Matteucci Lavarini, a private collector of
haute couture and an illustrious donor of the Costume Gallery,
whose hats are characterized for the value, taste and style. This
is also an opportunity to expose the extraordinary sketches made​​
specifically by Maestro Alberto Lattuada and to propose to the
public the specimens created by Clemente Cartoni, a famous
Roman milliner fifties and sixties.
Until May18th
tricity
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Rooms of the Muses
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
S
ince the fifties the orchestra
conductor
FRANCESCO
MOLINARI PRADELLI has cultivated a growing passion for art collecting paintings, driven by an original
attraction to baroque painting and the
genre of still life whose studies, then,
were at the beginning. As the exhibition documents through a selection
of one hundred paintings, the master
gave priority strictly to seventeenth and
eighteenth century paintings documenting the various Italian schools with a
specific attention to sketches. To give
the collection a very early international
reputation, however, were the many
still life by artists such as Jacopo da
Empoli, Luca Forte, Giuseppe Recco,
Cristoforo Munari, Arcangelo Resani,
Carlo Magini, a sign of an out of the
ordinary insight that made of Molinari
Pradelli a true connoisseur of Italian
baroque painting and the forerunner of
the modern still life studies.
From February 11th.

Galleria degli Uffizi
Piazzale degli Uffizi, 1
055.2388742
22
Michelangelo Re-Known
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
T
he exhibition presents the
work of sculptors, painters
and photographers who
have looked to the figure of Michelangelo and to his works as iconographic
reference for their achievements: from
representations in historicist key of Michelangelo and his personality, with
works by Delacroix, Rodin, Baldus or
Alinari, to the total visual independence achieved in the twentieth century as to create new points of view
around the work of art with works by
Medardo Rosso, Henri Matisse, Carlo
Mollino, Emmanuel Sougez, Herbert
List, Horst P., passing through thee
staged photography of Horst Frank
Horvat, Youssef Nabil, Kim Ki Duk to
end up in the ‘absence’ of images by
Thomas Struth and Candida Höfer.
From February 18th.

Galleria dell’Accademia
Via Ricasoli, 6
055.2388742
23
Robert Capa
Italy 1943-1944
More at: < www.mnaf.it >
T
he exhibition dedicated to
the great war photographer Robert Capa arrives
at MNAF in Florence, recounting with
78 images in black and white the
years of the Second World War in
Italy. Considered by some to be the
father of photojournalism, by others
to be the one who has given a new
look and a new direction to the discipline, Robert Capa (Budapest, 1913
- Thái Binh, Vietnam, 1954), although
not a soldier, lived most of his life on
the battlefield. In over twenty years of
activity he has followed the five major
world wars: the Spanish Civil War, the
Sino-Japanese War, the Second World
War, the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 and
the first Indochina War.
From January 10th.

mnaf
Piazza Santa Maria Novella 14r
055.216310
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Once in a lifetime
Treasures from
Florentine Archives
More at: < www.unannoadarte.it >
T
hree archival documents by
Michelangelo, a drawing by
Raphael, the baptismal certificate of Leonardo da Vinci and other
documents that bears his marginal notes,
a written lesson of Galileo on Dante’s
Hell; works by Andrea Mantegna, Alessandro Allori and Giovanni Stradano,
autographs of Girolamo Savonarola,
Poliziano, Cosimo I de ‘Medici, Joachim
Winckelmann, Ugo Foscolo, Giuseppe
Pelli Bencivenni, John Fabbroni, Eduardo
de Filippo, Dino Campana and Eugenio
Montale, here also with two watercolors. The objective of the exhibition is to
give everyone the “unique” opportunity
to admire some of the best kept paper
treasures of the city.
From January 28th.

Galleria Palatina
Palazzo Pitti
Piazza Pitti, 1
055.2469600
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A new homeland
of the spirit
More at: < www.polomuseale.firenze.it >
T
Dietrofront
More at: < www.polomuseale.firenze.it >
W
orks of Art shown on both
sides, discovering a whole
new history of assemblies,
identifications of authors, artists’
thoughts and notes. Paintings (David,
Dürer, Brueghel, Palma il Vecchio),
sculptures, pottery, even a trunk to be
transformed into an altar for the Court
trips, a ‘royal’ cabinet embellished with
Meissen porcelain, lyrics and dedications, old lists and sealing wax, from
the Roman times to contemporary art.
Until February 2nd.

Royal post
Galleria degli Uffizi
Piazzale degli Uffizi
055.2388742
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his exhibition investigates
the special attraction of the
city of Florence for many artists from Venice and the Friuli Venezia
Giulia region in the early decades of
the twentieth century, when the Tuscan
capital in many respects represented
the most complete, and not only literary and figurative, synthesis of Italian
culture.
Until February 9th.

Department of Prints and
Drawings of Uffizi
Piazzale degli Uffizi - 055.2388742
27
Machiavelli
Way of the Prince
More at: < www.polomuseale.firenze.it >
T
cortona: Dawn of
the Etruscan Princes
More at: < www.beniculturali.it >
T
he exhibition comes from the
excavations in the Archaeological Park of Cortona. They
are exposed the finds from funeral Circle
II of Sodo, consisting of over 15 intact
tombs dating from the late seventh century
and the beginning of the sixth century BC
and a series of objects never previously
seen and found in archaeological sites
in the area examined under the point of
view of restoration.
Until July 31st.

Museo Archeologico
Piazza SS. Annunziata, 9/b
055.2357720
28
o celebrate the fifth centenary of The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli will be exhibited manuscripts, books, documents
and iconographic works. Five hundred
years later, Florence, the birthplace of
Niccolo Machiavelli and especially the
city where he worked as second secretary of the chancellery of the Florentine
Republic, aims to celebrate the event.
Until February 18th.

Biblioteca Nazionale Centrale
di Firenze
Piazza Cavalleggeri, 1 - 055.24919201
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events
Malebolge
Slam Fighting Championship 6
In an atmosphere inspired by Dante’s
Inferno, the best semi-professional athletes in the Italian scene will compete in
a thrilling knockout tournament to earn a
contract for the Main Card Slam FC 7
Teatro Obihall, Lungarno Aldo Moro, 3
10/01/2014
World Skate Awards
25th and 26th of January Nelson Mandela Forum will once again host a major
rink event. The major athletes of figure
skating will perform in exciting both
technical and spectacular races.
Mandela Forum - Viale Paoli, 1
25-26/01/2014
Fiorita di San Zanobi
An historical procession reaches the
column of Saint Zenobius, at the side of
the Baptistery, laying a floral decoration
on the place where the miracle of the
elm happened.
Piazza San Giovanni
26/01/2014
30
Toscana Winter Park
more at: < www.obihall.it >
A
great park for winter sports.
Skiing, skating, sliding on the
snow. On the banks of the
Arno, for the second consecutive year
Florence has adopted a new and larger
facility in ice and snow.
The plant is located behind the Obihall
Theatre in Florence and unite all fans of
these activities accompanying the winter
days between Christmas and Carnival.
This year two new products: the ice rink
18x36 meters to please everyone, kids
to adults and even athletes who will be
able to perform the harder speciality of
the 36-meter jump.
Until March 2nd.

Teatro Obihall
Lungarno Aldo Moro, 3
055.6504112
Artisan Chocolate Fair
The 10th exhibition of handmade
chocolate will animate the city this year
with chocolate workshops for adults and
children, book presentations, an appointment for the care of the body and a
space dedicated to solidarity.
Piazza Santa Maria Novella
7-16/02/2014
We Love Bio
Inside We Love Bio Fair you will find
companies and associations operating in various sectors of the market
characterized by a stronger interest in
organic products and eco-sustainability.
There will be also organic and vegan
restaurants, spas, gyms, alternative
energy sources, organic clothing, and
much more.
Teatro Obihall, Lungarno Aldo Moro, 3
15-16/01/2014
Artistic Gymnastics
After the great success of the past years
the Artistic Gymnastics returns to the
Mandela Forum. The event will be attended by the best italian and international athletes who will perform from
10:00 am throughout the day.
Mandela Forum - Viale Paoli, 1
08/02/2014
classical Music
Daniel Kawka
& Gloria Campaner
Daniel Kawka will direct pianist Gloria
Campaner with Orchestra della Toscana
performing Schubert-Webern: Deutsche
Tänze vom Oktober (1824); Schumann:
Concert for piano and orchestra op.54;
Schubert Sinfonia n.5 D.485
January 7: 21.00 - Teatro Verdi - Via
Ghibellina, 99
The Nutcracker
Ballet in 2 acts, music by Petr Ilic Cajkowskij.
The ballet, is the last work of Marius Petipa,
the choreographer of the Russian Imperial
Theatres in the XIX cent., that adapted for
children ETA Hoffmann ‘The Nutcracker
and the Mouse King’, and transformed into
a ballet with dreamlike atmospheres typical of the story. The version of the Moscow
Ballet “La Classique” remains faithful to the
original ballet, the emblem of the Russian
ballet tradition. The choreography of Valery Kovtun retraces the steps of Petipa and
Ivanov with the aim of restoring the splendor
of the traditional dress of “The Nutcracker”.
32
The costumes and the sets of Elik Melikov
Evgeny Gurenko, completely renovated,
are rich in details, giving it a refined and
elegant staging.
January 8: 20.45 - Teatro Verdi - Via
Ghibellina, 9
Nabucco
An Opera by Giuseppe Verdi; Conductor Renato Palumbo; Director Leo Muscato with Orchestra e Coro del Maggio
Musicale Fiorentino. A new production
and staging by Teatro Lirico di Cagliari.
Nemorino, a poor peasant, is in love
with Adina, a beautiful landowner, who
torments him with her indifference. When
Nemorino hears Adina reading to her
workers the story of Tristan and Isolde he
is convinced that a magic potion will help
him to gain Adina’s love.
January 21, 24, 28, 30, 31: 20.30 Teatro Comunale - Corso Italia, 1
Daniele Rustioni
& Narek Hakhnazaryan
Daniele Rustioni will direct celloist Narek Hakhnazaryan with Orchestra della
Toscana performing Dallapiccola: Piccola
musica notturna; Schumann Concert for
cello and orchestra op.129; Martucci:
Notturno n.1 op.70; Mendelsshon: Sinfonia n.1 op.11
January 22: 21.00 - Teatro Verdi - Via
Ghibellina, 99
Holocaust Memory Day
Concert for the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of
the Holocaust. Program to define.
January 27: 20.30 - Piccolo Teatro Corso Italia, 12
Patricia Kopatchinskaja
Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja will perform and direct Orchestra della Toscana
performing Beethoven: Romanza n.1 for
violin and orchestra op.40; Mozart: Concert for violin and orchestra K.218; Mansurjan: Romance for violino and orchestra;
Beethoven: Sinfonia n.3 ‘Eroica’
January 30: 21.00 - Teatro Verdi - Via
Ghibellina, 99
Madama Butterfly
An Opera by Giacomo Puccini; Conductor
Juraj Valçuha; Director Fabio Ceresa with
Orchestra e Coro del Maggio Musicale
Fiorentino. A new production and staging
by Teatro Comunale di Bologna. In 1904,
a U.S. Naval officer named Pinkerton rents
a house on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan, for
him and his soon-to-be wife, “Butterfly”. Her
33
real name is Ciocio-san, She is a 15-yearold Japanese girl she had been so excited
to marry an American that she had earlier
secretly converted to Christianity. After the
wedding ceremony, her uninvited uncle, a
bonze, who has found out about her conversion, comes to the house, curses her and
orders all the guests to leave.
Februrary 6, 8, 11, 12, 13: 20.30 Piccolo Teatro - Corso Italia, 12
Momix Alchemy
The last extraordinary work of Moses
Pendleton, Momix bringing her to dance
on stage making a new prodigy. This
time, the theme, is the eternal pursuit of
the secret gold that lives in the depths of
our being, revealed only to men capable
of scanning the world with creative eyes.
February 11-15: 20.45; February 16:
16.45 - Teatro Verdi - Via Ghibellina, 99
34
Kazushi Ono
& Vitalij Kowalijow
Basso Vitalij Kowaljow with Orchestra e
Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino directed by Kazushi Ono will perform Felix
Mendelssohn: Ruy Blas, Ouverture op. 95;
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Sinfonia in D
major K.33; Dmitrij Šostakoviç: Sinfonia n.3
in B flat minor op. 113 “Babij Jar” for basso,
male choir and orchestra.
February 16, 18: 20.30 - Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia, 1
Roberto Abbado
& Renaud Capuçon
Roberto Abbado will direct violin Renaud
Capuçon with Orchestra e Coro del
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino performing Dmitrij Šostakoviç: Concerto n. 1 in
A minor op.77 for violin and orchestra;
Maurice Ravel: Daphnis et Chloé
February 28, March 1: 20.30 - Teatro
Comunale - Corso Italia, 1
shopping
Shop ‘till You Drop
Freshly milled
Sale Season in Italy

winter sale season
January 4th - March 4th
36
O
kay, you have arrived. You are now officially
a student abroad and you’re starting to settle
in and get a feel for the place. Finding your
way to school is no longer such a challenge and you’ve
stopped getting your fork out every time someone says
ciao. So it must be time to shop for souvenirs and presents
for family and friends. Yeah, we know you just got here
and aren’t planning to go back for a while anyway,
but consider this: Saldi. Sales. It is a now or never situation in Italy. Unlike in the States and elsewhere in the
world - where stores almost always have a promotion or
two going on - Italy has a set sale season when almost
everything goes on sale; but when the sale is over, it’s
over baby! No more bargains for six more months, till
the end of the next season. There are two sales a year,
one in January and the other in July. So you are here just
in time to take advantage of the winter offerings. This
year the winter sales will officially start on January 5th
and the season closes on March 5th although many
stores finish their sales earlier because they literally run
out of merchandise. Whether you want to buy some new
threads to try and look like a native or if you want to even
out the euro/dollar exchange rate a little, the sales are a
great opportunity to save some money. Almost all types of
stores have some items on sale and many clothing stores
have absolutely everything on sale. Most stores offer
37
between twenty and fifty percent off regular prices on a lot of their merchandise.
So whether you are looking for designer
fashion or simply need a new t-shirt for
the gym, now is the time to get it on sale.
Shopping here is a cultural experience in
and of itself. Yes, money still exchanges
hands but that is pretty much where the
resemblance wears off. If you have had
enough culture shock for the moment and
want “simple” shopping, then go to a big
department store and you will feel pretty
much at home. They are open all day
long and close around eight. Otherwise,
there are a few good rules of thumb to
remember if you are going shopping elsewhere. For instance, most smaller stores
close for lunch; generally they are open
from 9 or 10am to 1pm and then again
from 4pm to 7 or 7:30pm. And, no, shopkeepers are not happy to stay if they see
you rushing in at 12:59. In most cases
they are hungry and want to go home
to their pasta. So if they see you eying
out their window at 12:56 and you look
like an indecisive type they may very well
close just a few minutes early because
they figure that if you are serious about
buying something you’ll come back later,
and if not they still had their nice lunch for
good measure.The most important thing to
remember when you go shopping in Italy
is buyer beware. If it’s clothes and shoes
you’re looking at, be careful to try them on
because sizing can be tricky and
38
often varies from store to store. Also, most
stores won’t take sale items back under
any circumstances, so make sure that it’s
exactly what you want before you fork
over the cash. Read the tags carefully
because they are loaded with relevant
information and you can make sure that
you are really buying something on sale.
If the item is more than 30 percent off the
original marked price, you may want to
double check that it’s something the store
normally sells and not some merchandise
they have brought in just for the sale, or
else something left over from years past.
And while your grandmother may not realize that your brand new Gucci jacket is
from 1992, almost everyone else will.
Some stores even raise their prices right
before the sale so the reduction looks
larger than it actually is, so beware if the
original price is not clearly visible.The last
thing to remember is that most Italian stores
are smaller than their American counterparts and as a result they don’t keep as
much merchandise on hand. If you have
a common size or want the hottest pair
of shoes on the market it is probably a
good idea to shop early. If you have an
unusual size or you like taking risks you
may want to wait a little longer because
some stores lower their prices even further
as the sale goes on. But if you can’t live
without that pair of lime green shoes you
might want to snatch them up as soon as
you see them. Happy Hunting!
39
Shopping at I Gigli
more at: < www.igigli.it >
I
Gigli, with its 13 million visitors
a year, is definitely Tuscany’s
most popular shopping destination. I Gigli Shopping Centre is truly a
shopper’s paradise, featuring numerous department stores, a host of familiar favourites
and hundreds of unique stores exclusive to I
Gigli such as: Trussardi, Timberland, Zara,
Coin, Foot Locker, Conte of Florence, and
many others. No place is better than I Gigli
if you enjoy shopping. With over 130 stores, a hypermarket, restaurants, you’re sure
to find everything you’re looking for and
more. I Gigli offers over 18 restaurants,
coffee bars, pubs and bars where you can
relax. I Gigli is located in Campi Bisenzio
near Florence, easily accessible from the
A11 freeway (exit at Prato est), or by bus
(Lazzi company) which departs directly
from Florence Santa Maria Novella railway
station for I Gigli. Exciting entertainment
shows with special events available on
www.igigli.it and 16 cinemas at multiplex
UCI CINEMA.

I Gigli Shopping Center
Via San Quirico, 165 - Campi Bisenzio (FI)
055.8974546
40
wellness
Let’s go Skiing
Skiing in Tuscany for fun and exercise
W
hen we think about the winter, we can’t help conjuring up images of the bad season, when we get
cold and wet and windy weather and we are not
pleased even to just step out of our warm beds in the morning.
But there are places where the winter time is like a second
spring, where it triggers a second and different rush of life,
and these places are mountains. Here the “bad season” is
awaited like an old friend that year after year brings a beautiful, glowing gift: snow.
Living in Florence, the handiest skiing destinations are the
Appennine mountains in the province of Pistoia. The winter
resorts of the area include villages like Pian degli Ontani,
Pian di Novello, Doganaccia and Cutigliano, but the most
important is certainly Abetone, well-loved and visited by
tourists from all over the world. The location is renowned not
only for the beauty and variety of its ski-slopes but also for
its world-class champions like Zeno Colò, Celina Seghi and
Vittorio Chierroni.
Abetone is situated on the mountain pass of the same name
marking the border between Tuscany and Emilia, on the main
Abetone-Brennero road that climbs to an altitude of 1,388
metres on sea level surrounded by a large forest of fir trees.
42
43
Abetone is just 85 km from Florence and it is the Florentines’ favourite destination for skiing weekends or
even for day trips. Skiers first arrived in the village at
the beginning of the 20th century, but nowadays the
skiing area extends over four wonderful valleys - Val di
Luce, Valle della Scoltella, Sestaione and Lima valleys
- with a total 80 kilometres the ski-slopes that reach
altitudes of up to 1900 m. The skiing season opens
on December 8th, but the best period is between January and March, when the slopes can become very
crowded especially during the weekends. Abetone is
also popular for weekly packages called settimana
bianca (white week), when people take a week off
on the slopes. The wide runs are ideal for all skiers,
from beginners to experts. The most popular runs are
on Mount Gomito, which is reached by the Ovovia
lift: they are named Zeno One, Two and Three as a
tribute to the local Olympic gold winner Zeno Colò.
Another popular feature is the new Abetone terrain
park, a state-of-the-art facility boasting half-pipe and
10-foot jumps for the pleasure and thrill of daring
snowboarders. If you want to enjoy the fun and exercise of a few days out on the ski slopes, don’t be
put off by the fact that you didn’t carry your skiing
equipment to Florence with you: Abetone abounds
44
in ski rental stores that will provide all kinds of stuff:
skis and poles, boots and boards to match your size
and height. At lunch time, you have several options,
including eating in the village down at the pass or high
up on the slopes at the self-service near the Ovovia or
the Rifugi at La Selletta and Val di Luce. Like Italians
always do, you also have a great opportunity to take
an after-lunch nap on the outdoor chairs, which is an
excellent excuse for a suntanning session, great for a
little peaceful rest but also a favourite if you want to
save your energies for some nightlife, at the local pub
or disco on the main square.
Overnight accommodation offers a wide selection of
lodging including four-star hotels with swimming pool,
cheaper hotels, a youth hostel, rooms to let, tourist villages, mountain huts and villas. There are also several
Tuscan-style restaurants on all price ranges, pizzerias
and snack-bars. Typical food from this area includes
mushrooms, cheese, cured meats and frutti di bosco
(wild berries). Characteristic is the local pecorino
cheese and the excellent local honey.
Wellness
contrasto aveda (1)
(1)
A stone’s throw from Piazza della Signoria, you will find
Contrasto AVEDA lifestyle salon & spa, an innovative
proposal where the “salon” becomes an oasis for a relaxing break in full harmony of body and spirit.
A cup of Aveda tea to welcome you, a soothing massage to head, neck and shoulders and eventually a
touch of make-up far a unique experience.
A team of highly skilled stylists at work to conceive a
definitive look able to fully reflect you.
But there is more to Contrasto AVEDA Lifestyle Salon &
Spa than meets the eye. Monthly after working hours,
the wonderful Salon becomes an ideal location for an
aperitif or a themed event.
Nearby, two other Contrasto AVEDA concept salon,
receive without an appointment, leaving freedom of
choice to the customer.
Lifestyle salon & spa on appointment only
Via de’ Neri 53-55/r - 055.2398553
(2)
46
concept salon
Via de’ Neri 49/r - 055 282841 Via dei Benci 5/r - 055 219227
www.salonecontrasto.it
A
palestra ricciardi (2)
Founded 50 years ago, Palestra Ricciardi is the biggest
gym in the Florence downtown, known as the coolest
gym in town combining experienced staff with the most
modern equipment. You can improve your physique in
a pleasant and dynamic environment spread over a
surface of 1600 sqm surrounding a lovely internal garden. The space devoted to your training is composed
of several areas which include: the cardio fitness area,
the free weights area, rooms for isotonic equipment, two
rooms for classes and the spinning room. After a hard
training session you can choose to relax in a sauna or
with a massage session. The gym offers 81 hours of
classes weekly: Total Body Workout, Step, Spinning,
Easy Dance, Corpo Libero, Yoga, Hip Hop, Power
Pump, Body Sculpt, Pilates, Fit Box, Stretching, Gag, Soft
Gymnastic, Capoeira. Personalised fitness programmes
and fully qualified instructors. Special membership fees
for students.
Borgo Pinti, 75 - 055.2478444
www.palestraricciardi.it
re you a step
machine addict or dreaming of perfect muscles?
Or have you just arrived
in town and need to find
a gym (possibly within
walking distance) in the
city centre?
There are an infinite
number of gymnasiums.
It is worth hunting up
one with the facilities
you require nearest to
your digs. Many also do
courses in yoga or the
martial arts pilates to FIt
box or Capoeria (a brazilian way between a
martial art and a dancing) or have a gymnasium attached. And obviously most of these gyms
offer special relaxing areas with sauna, massages or spa. Florence also
boasts many dance and
ballet schools, though of
course you have to select
the type of dance course
you prefer. Start looking
for your ideal gym from
our tips.
47
folklore
let the fun begin
There’s more to Carnival
than meets the eye...
O
riginating from ancient pagan rites, the Carnival
tradition has acquired a whole different meaning
in Christian times, when it was associated with a
spell of marriment preceeding the restrictions and fasting of
Lent. Carnival varies in length and dates each year, however,
as a rule off thumb the celebrations usually start four Sundays
before the Martedì Grasso, and the last couple of weeks
are the “hottest”. Martedì Grasso this year is on February
21st. On Berlingaccio (the last carnival Thursday), the last
Carnival Sunday and Martedì Grasso many discos, bars
and restaurants will hold carnival parties, but if the weather
isn’t too bad there will also be much partying going on in
the streets. Of course you can dress up as almost anything
you fancy or invent your own costume, or even just put on
some fancy makeup. But you may also like to know that all
the main towns in Italy have their local traditional masks. Here
are just a few of the names you may want to get acquainted
with: Pulcinella is from Naples, Arlecchino and Colombina
are a couple of lovers from Venice, Dottor Balanzone is from
Bologna, Rugantino is from Rome, Gianduia is from Turin. In
Tuscany, Florence has Stenterello. In Florence children dress up
and parade with their parents in the squares, at the Cascine
park and along the Lungarno Vespucci, scattering colorful
confetti and wielding cans of squirty shaving foam.
48
49
gourmet
Arnold Coffee
The American Coffee Experience
T

arnold
coffee
Via degli Avelli, 8
055.9060399
www.arnoldcoffee.it
50
he coffeehouse chain Arnold Coffee
was born in 2009, and it is the first
real American coffee shop opened in
Italy, inspired by Starbucks.
The brand mission, The American Coffee Experience means the commitment to offering to everyone the opportunity to taste top quality products in
a welcoming and comfortable environment where
everyone can relax, chat and surf the Internet,
away from the bustle of daily life. Everything is improved by a
constant and careful attention to detail and to the guests. Here
you will find a wide range of pastries and snacks suitable for
every moment of your day, from breakfast, to lunch, or any light
meal. You will not resist the temptation of Arnold Coffee’s cup
cakes, muffins, donuts and apple pies, a unique taste from the
best American tradition; and do not forget the organic beverages or the 100% pure fruit smoothies, or the great choice of
tasty, delicious and special drinks with or without coffee, all in
large cups starting from 12oz. Arnold opened its first store in
Milan in the University area, with the specific aim of offering to
young students the possibility to study with their laptops in front
of a hot mug. The company has now reached cities such as
Genoa, Verona and Florence, Via degli Avelli, while expanding
its target from University students to a wider group that daily
rewards the coffee shops with the same - if not greater - appreciation and presence. And the firm is still developing...
Flavours of Tuscany
osteria santo spiritO
(1)
(2)
52
(1)
In the heart of the Oltrarno District where you still
can breath the ancient Florence of the craftsmen and
the thousands workshop, the Florence of the common
people and the markets, you can find Osteria Santo
Spirito right at the corner of the most famous square
of Santo Spirito, a meeting place for all international
gourmands, for florentines in love with their city and
foreigners discovering the taste of Tuscany possibly in
a cosy atmospehere. Take a lunch or dine at the tables overlooking the enchanting Piazza Santo Spirito
(the Osteria has a wonderful dehors one of the most
fascinating in the city) or in the colourful rooms inside
the Osteria. The menu includes typical and traditional Tuscan platters accompanied by some interesting
new variations, you can start with land starters such
as wildboar sausages and dry tomatoes and go on
with rigatoni santo spirito with dry ricotta cheese
and maybe close with a mixed meat grill or you can
choose the fish menus with sea products always fresh
and tasty. The wines and desserts are excellent.
Piazza Santo Spirito 16r - 055.2382383
www.osteriasantospirito.it
Open daily 12-23.30
T
Le Antiche Carrozze (2)
Try tasting some of the traditional recipes from the Italian cuisine in this ancient trattoria just off Via Tornabuoni
and overlooking Piazza Santa Trinita. The warm and
welcoming atmosphere in the recently restructured dining
rooms still recall the mid 19th century when this venue
was a regular stopping place for carriage drivers.
It is the ideal place to discover the real “Florentine Steak”
of genuine Chianina meat and perfectly prepared and
cooked, as well as taste many other natural and healthy
products, like the olive oil, dressed meats, vegetables
and cheeses. The menu is based on the simple recipes
typical of the local cuisine, but the Chef makes use of
his wide experience to fully enhance the freshness and
quality of the ingredients. All these traditional flavours in
Tuscan cooking are accompanied by excellent pizzas
prepared with care and experience. The pizzas boast
a truly authentic flavour as they are cooked in a woodburning oven. The best wine to drink with your meal,
either selecting it from the important Tuscan labels or from
the excellent selection of the best Italian wines.
Piazza Santa Trinita corner with Borgo Santi Apostoli 055.2658156 - www.leantichecarrozze.it
Open daily 11.00-23.00.
he legendary
and extremely
simple food
of Tuscany is the result of
centuries of poverty and
therefore has been based
on salads, legumes, cereals and meat since the
Middle Ages. Olive oil is
almost always used rather
than lard, and vegetable
soups rather than pasta.
All the food is bread related and of course the main
drink is wine that lends
colour to every glass. Although the modern trends
in food have practically
swept away many regional culinary traditions, Tuscany can still boast of an
incredible historic continuity in traditional cooking
and therefore has managed to preserve dishes
that the present research
into genuine foods is once
more bringing back into
the limelight, to the joy
of all tastebuds, including
those of its foreign visitors.
We should remember that
most typical Tuscan dishes
are linked to particular areas or the various seasons
of the year.
53
gelaterie
gelateria della passera
Gelateria della Passera is located in the heart of Florence just a few steps from Ponte Vecchio and Piazza
Pitti. A small shop that produces high quality ice creams
and sorbets with or without milk. The ingredients are
chosen with care and with a special attention to local
products, such as milk, eggs, fruit and Tuscan honey.
You can choose between 20 flavors, in addition to the
classic ones we suggest Fior di latte and mint, Monnalisa, Messer Brunelleschi and many others. Secret recipes and experimentations to create the magical sorbets,
made ​​with infusions and decoctions of seasonal fruits,
in this period of the year you can taste pomegranate,
persimmon, chestnut, pear and tangerine or the classic
winter specials with orange, mint or whiskey flavored
chocolate. The carapine boxes (with the cap) ensure
optimal preservation of the product, infact ice cream is
temperature sensitive and photosensitive too. Tantalize
your palate tasting the flavors of the season, fruit sorbets
and infusions, an experience that you will bring in your
heart as a lasting memory of Florence.
Piazza della Passera - Via Toscanella,15r - 055.291882
Open 12pm-12am
54
55
gelaterie
LA STREGA NOCCIOLA
Have you ever felt like Alice in Wonderland? That’s the
Strega Nocciola effect! Close to Ponte vecchio, Strega
Nocciola Artisan Gelateria it’s a kind of magic: let the
taste of Cremarancio-a traditional cream variegated with
orange jam-charm you, or let yourself be enchanted by
the luxurious scent of the Bergamot gelato. Not mentioning the organic Lavender gelato, a fresh, relaxing experience for all your five senses, or the classic and elegant
taste of the Pistachio gelato: it’s the taste of a new, recovered time from the everyday hurry, the fresh taste of a
renewed gelato tradition which Strega Nocciola brings
every day in to the City’s beating heart. Strega Nocciola
turns a premium selection of the finest seasonal ingredients into a unique, handmade ice cream. It’s all about the
proper time that delicious ingredients need and the attention to excellence that make a bewitching experience out
of a genuine ice cream. That’s the point: it always takes
some magic to create good things, especially when it’s
about gelato: Strega Nocciola’s gelato is a mix of artisan
wisdom and passion for excellence, which will bring you
back to the authentic,genuine taste of life’s pleasures.
Ponte Vecchio - Via De’ Bardi 51r - Tel. 055.2382150
Open Every Day 11.30am - 11.30pm
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57
Pizza Pizza Pizza!
Mr. Pizza
(1)
MR. PIZZA in Florence is a universe of delicious appetizers and offers its customers a wide choice of
pizza cut, takeaway or home delivery. It ‘s open
from morning until late at night to enjoy at any time
of day the taste of true Neapolitan tradition. In the
true Neapolitan pizza the cheese is soft and pan is
thin but high-sided. The peculiarities of Neapolitan
pizza is due largely to its pulp to be produced with
a bread dough - that is completely devoid of fat - soft
and elastic, stretched by hand in the form of a disc
without touching the edges that will form in a typical
kitchen “ledge “of 1 or 2 cm while the dough at the
center will be high about 3 mm. A fast passage in
a very hot oven must leave the pizza moist and soft,
not overcooked. But at MR PIZZA, not only you can
eat pizza awaits but also a large variety of salads,
turnovers, croquettes, pretzels, washed down with a
good selection of craft beers and more. EVERYTHING
TO GO & DELIVERY
Via Pietrapiana 82r - 055.3860311
Piazza del Duomo 5r - 055.213682
www.pizzerianapoletanamrpizza-firenze.com
(1)
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Nightlife
pitta m’ingolli
(1)
(1)
The colorful and lively scene of Piazza Santo Spirito
has just enriched with a new venue: a rustic style,
charming bistrot, reminiscent of some French Bar au
Vin. Freshly inaugurated, PITTA M’INGOLLI, which is
Lucchese dialect for “may devil swallow you”, is just
a few steps from the famous Osteria Santo Spirito,
also owned by Chiara Tassi.
Open from morning to late night, starts with the breakfast, but stands out for a wide variety of sandwiches
with cold cuts (ham, mortadella, finocchiona) cheese
(goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, gorgonzola,
honey and nuts) to fish specialities (butter and anchovies, salmon and arugula) combined with various sauces (tuna, tartare, mushroom sauce, walnuts,
truffle) focaccia, baguette, various drinks, milkshakes,
centrifugal fresh fruit, coffee for only 80 cents. and
appetizers for 5 euro. Interior is coated in warm
wood, with high stools and newspapers.
Piazza S. Spirito, 17r
055.264256
Open daily 6.30am - 2.00am
(2)
60
A
salamanca
(2)
With an entrance sunken in slightly from the street-front
windows and doors, Salamanca draws you in almost
seductively with its muted and rustic reds, cursive lettering
above the door and calm dim lighting. Upon entering,
a beautiful and engaging staff allows you to be guided
wherever you choose to enjoy this intriguing bar and
restaurant. You may enjoy a meal in one of the three
dining rooms, including a more intimately themed one
in the back. Or for a more casual evening, quaint two
seater tables off to the right, a variety of tables in the front
room to the left, a tapas bar in the back, or a traditional
bar in the very front. With a full menu from tapas to
meat meals, wonderful fish dishes to salads, amazingly
decadent desserts and delicious drinks, the food alone
entices any restaurant goer. With its atmosphere, its upbeat American and Spanish mix of music, wonderful
staff, entrancing ambience, leaving Salamanca seems
like not an option.
Via Ghibellina, 80r
055.2345452 - www.salamanca.it
Open Daily 5.30pm - 2.30am
peritif comes
from the Latin
word “aperire”, to open. You should
remember that traditionally, Italians do not drink in
order to get drunk: rather,
alcohol fulfils a complementary role in the dining process. An aperitif
is meant to cleanse your
palate and whet your appetite for the upcoming
meal. The typically French
and Italian rite of aperitif
offers a taste of la bonne
vie for those who enjoy
nothing more than raising
a glass in the company
of friends. Many bars in
Florence now offer a sophisticated choice of finger foods and snacks to
accompany your aperitif.
Arrive between 7pm and
9pm, buy yourself a drink
and you can expect to
stock up for free on a
good spread of complimentary nibbles. Even the
music mix is also specially chosen with smooth,
soothing sounds providing a suitable backdrop
for a relaxed chat among
friends.
61
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