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ONLY BE FLORENTINE
Only-Be Florentine
Route of the Selfie in Florence
Would you like a special souvenir from Florence? These are the best spots for a selfie.
The Best of Florence in 5 Steps
It’s not just the cradle of the Renaissance. Florence is a lot more. It’s the best-known city in the Italian Tuscany, and most of all, its works of art tend to be found in the privileged parts of art history books. Florence is much more than a giant museum but its art pieces have earned it international renown. Rome has nothing on Florence. And anyone who disagrees doesn’t really know the city. I propose discovering Florence in just 5 steps.
Florence Music Festival
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino or the Florence Music Festival is one of Europe’s longest festivals, running from April 27th through to June 28th this year. Two intense months filled with performing arts; opera, ballet, and concerts. And all this complemented with conferences, screenings, and various types of shows. Its new home is the Florence Opera, which adopted the same name as the festival. The opening of this exciting 78th season will see Fidelio, the Singspiel in two acts that is Ludwig van Beethoven’s only opera; based on Jean-Nicolas Bouilly’s Léonore ou l’amour conjugal that premiered in 1798. Proudly conducted by Zubin Mehta, it will also count with the presence of over 4,000 children in the audience. An opening packed with communicative power for this edition of the Maggio Musicale. Dates: Mon April 27, 7:30 pm Thu April 30, 8:30 pm Tue May 5, 8:30 pm Sun May 3, 3:30 pm Below, three operas: The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Brutten, a lyric opera in a prologue and two acts, based on the tale by Henry James, and composed for the Biennale di Venezia of 1954. Conducted by Jonathan Webb, this opera is a progression of questions and ponderings. Dates: Sun May 24, 3:30 pm Sat May 30, 3:30 pm Fri May 22, 8:30 pm Sun June 7, 8:30 pm Thu May 28, 8:30 pm Fri June 5, 8:30 pm Candide by Leonard Bernstein- comic opera in two acts, based on Voltaire’s novella of the same name, and conducted by John Axelrod. It premiered at the Boston Colonial Theatre in October 1956. Social satire steals the show in this pandemonium of death and resurrection....
Sardine Day in Florence
April 1st is the favorite date of all pranksters across many countries like the UK, France, Italy, Finland, Austria, Germany, and more. It is a tradition loved by all that never fails to leave a smile in the faces of its hapless victims. It is known as April Fools’ Day in the UK; as Día das Mentiras (day of lies) in Portugal and Brazil; and as April Fish in Italy, France, Wallonia, and Switzerland. But what is the real story behind this practice? Where did the tradition of April 1st originate? Well, the theories are many. One of the most popular ones states that it has its origins in France, after the Edict of Roussillon changed the date of New Year’s Day (but “fools” continued to celebrate the new year from March 25th through to April 1st). But there’s a different theory that states it started in Italy… If you are well-acquainted with Italy, you’ll know that Tuscany is also renowned for its special sense of humor. And according to this theory, this charming tradition finds its origins in Florence, precisely. From a young age, Italians spend hours devising pranks to play on their friends and family. And Italy’s April Fish (Pesce d’aprile in Italian) gives one the chance to have a laugh at anyone’s expense, always ending in a resounding “April Fish!” And so we wonder about the history of its name… Why April Fish? As the story goes, there seems to have been a tradition in Florence to send fools every first of April to buy fish at a marketplace where there was nothing but an effigy...
“Verso Est” a Travel Photography Exhibition by Exploremore
If you are in Florence on the 14th of December and you have a passion for travel, you can’t miss the “Verso Est” (Toward East), a photography exhibition by Exploremore. A collection of a hundred images which tell a story of a five year long journey started in New Zeland and ending in Europe, passing through Asia, from one side to the other. The author, a 24 year old Italian blogger Angelo Zinna, managed to capture a thought-provoking series of photographs while experiencing that well-known feeling of “taking your bag and going away, thoughtless and planless, knowing that experience is the only souvenir you will bring back home”. Faces, smiles and landscapes: a Western and interesting point of view on the Asian culture. “Verso Est” is a story that can be divided in three chapters: the exit from the Pacific Ocean, the Sub-Continent and the Silk Road. Under each photograph, you will also find a QR code that will allow you to further discuss the piece as well as to deepen the understanding of the whole exhibition. The exhibition will run from the 14th of December until the 6th of January at La Cité, a beautiful literary café that can be found at Borgo San Frediano 20 (close to Ponte Vecchio). During the opening, you may also view the presentation of “Back to the Wild”, a project by No Borders Magazine and originated by the translatations of Chris McCandless’ diary (protagonist of the famous movie “Into the...
The rebirth of sacred art
When we think of religious art, images of Christ, the virgin, the apostles and other biblical scenes, pop up in our minds. The most of the art we relate with sacred art are paintings and sculptures done many centuries ago; works that surely you’ve seen in Italy, especially in the artistic city of Florence, by artists such as Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini or other famous Renaissance artists. The ones, who thought that sacred art was something from the past, are simply wrong. In fact, religious art is in demand today, in the XXI century. Located on the banks of the Arno River in Florence, there is a school of sacred art, which is trying to stoke the fires of this tradition, which has made the city one of the most important historical and artistic centers worldwide. Although Michelangelo and his colleagues passed away many years ago, their spirit is still there. In an article published in the Huffington Post, the director of this school, Giorgio Fozzati, declared that “the sacred art market is a booming market”, adding the fact that, only in Italy, more than 540 churches have been built in the past two decades. Photo: madprime Another factor influencing that the sacred art is in constant development is the fact that the Catholic Church sanctifies people, such as the former Pope John Paul II, among many others. These new saints need paintings, sculptures and other works of art to represent them and that is why religious artists are in constant demand. Fozzati indicates, “The challenge is not to copy the old masterpieces but to educate artists to be able...
Eating in Bologna, a whirl of sensations
Have you ever been to Italy? It´s one of the most popular tourist destinations in the whole world. Rome, Florence, Naples, Venice or Pisa are unique monumental cities, witnesses of the Roman Empire´s legacy and the greatest universal artists. However, there are other great attractions that you can find in Italy, such as its wonderful cuisine. You are entering the historical city of Bologna to show everything it has to offer when it comes to food. Bologna is located in northern Italy, flanked by the rivers Reno and Savena, close to the Apennines. It´s a medium-sized city with 400,000 inhabitants, and its historical legacy is one of the best preserved ones in the world, despite having an Old Town that is only overcome in terms of size by the one in Venice. The cradle of pasta Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna and it´s precisely this region that has been labelled the ´cradle of pasta´, for many the best Italian cuisine that you can eat in the country. The tortellini, cappelletti or tortelloni are especially popular in this part of Italy. In Italy they have breakfast continental style: a coffee and some chocolate or cream pastries. In the many cafes that you can find in Bologna you can enjoy a fantastic Italian coffee and, of course, a nice chat. Le Petit Cafe or Fashion Cafe are good places to start the day in Bologna. Healthy food in Bologna However, you can enjoy the food best during lunchtime. Some of the products that Bologna stands out for are its vegetables (golden onion, potato, Altedo asparagus…), its cured meats (mortadella,...
Cheap and chic cocktail bars in Florence
Enjoying the nightlife in a city like Florence is something not exactly cheap. This article is aimed at giving information about the cheapest, yet elegant bars in the city. These are places that you can visit with a tight budget, but also where you can still enjoy an elegant atmosphere as the more fancy ones. Eco-conscious cafes or nightclubs with live music and great dance floors. The important thing is to have fun. So here are some useful tips. “Chic” and “cheap” Bars in Florence: Pub Angie Pub Angie is very popular among young creative guys and I say creative, because it is frequented by art students. In fact the walls are full of indie art, old Polaroid photos and antiques. This is a meeting place for potential artists seeking a way out in this magnificent city. There, they exchange views while enjoying the live music. Drinks and cocktails come very cheap. This place is definitively recommended. PopCafé Vegetarians will feel at home at PopCafé. This is a very bohemian bar located downtown Florence, specifically in the Piazza Santo Spirito. There you’ll be able to eat and drink at very accessible prices, something impossible in other vegetarian restaurants. PopCafé is very committed to the environment and sustainability. For example, they use energy saving light bulbs. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner. The night owls should try one of the natural fruit cocktails in the menu. The minimalist decor of the room matches the simple spirit of its kitchen. It is Simple, but very tasty at the same time. The Red Garter The Red Garter serves a wide range of...
Discovering the typical Italian festivals
August in Italy is synonymous for festivals. I´m not talking about rock or alternative pop festivals but festivals that have been taking place for many centuries… well, maybe that was an exaggeration but what´s sure is that they reminisce about and maintain Italian culture alive. They´re the sacred and profane festivals, annual events where the whole community participates and which trespass the purely religious, making it one of the best examples of culture from each of the Italian regions. This is a real cultural mix where profane and sacred imaginaries get tangled with each other along with typical consumptions, art and gastronomy, as well as a whole particular world of beliefs and social imaginaries that give shape and life to these authentic and typical events that become the clearest examples of cultural change, formed by traditions and current elements that bring unique wealth to these regional festivals. These are parties that have been taking place for many years and that have incorporated new elements with time that have settled as part of the tradition. There are so many festivals in each region that I recommend that you visit the link that I´ve attached further down if you´re interested in partaking in these types of tourist activities that are, undoubtedly, much more interesting and enriching because they involve real knowledge of the society that you´re visiting, in this case the cultural and religious traditions of each Italian region. Even so, there are some that you cannot miss and that I will recommend you right now: in Florence, Cena Medicea, the Tortello and meat festival and the Duck and Boar Festival;...KOKO in Florence
KOKO is a Japanese restaurant that offers exquisite takeaway food in the centre of Florence. If you like that type of cuisine and you don´t want to spend a lot of
