Artisan Quarter: our dream to revive the Oltrarno in 2021
This historic district is slowly losing its culture – we must innovate to save it
Kris Garland
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The Oltrarno neighborhood has long been known to be a hub of artisanal workshops. Rich in culture and history, this artisan quarter is home to many talented professionals whose original creations range from leather goods to designer jewelry, finely tailored clothes, shoes and hats. There are also experts in metalsmithing, etching, and fine art and antique restoration. These craftspeople have dedicated their lives to perfecting their techniques, many of which are centuries old, and this devotion to quality and originality is truly a cultural treasure.
an ingenious timelapse of never-ending passersby, like the trudging circles in the
Inferno, in front of the nineteenth-century Carrara marble tribute by Paolo Emilio Demi. The half-hour of camera clicking has attracted the attention of the young army officers standing guard over the U-shaped corridor and its priceless possessions. “I wonder why Alighieri is spelled with two ‘l’s,” the soldier muses. “Maybe it’s a mistranslation from the Latin.” Any ideas?
This issue of
The Florentine celebrates Florence’s Supreme Poet ahead of Dantedì on March 25, the date when Dante is believed to have started writing his ‘Divine Comedy’ and the date that the Italian government has dedicated to the writer as a symbol of Italian culture worldwide. For Eugenio Giani, president of the Tuscany Region, Dante is the “cultural father of all of Tuscany” as well as a “friend… a familiar presence even to those who haven’t studied literature”, while for Mayor of
Delve deep into the Uffizi s masterpieces in the Waiting for Spring: A merry go-round at the Uffizi Galleries virtual series. The first themes include Love (for Valentine s Day) and Carnival. The online guided tours bring families and children from all over the world (virtually) together with each session lasting 30-40 minutes, exploring different paintings, subjects and themes, lead by an expert from the Department of Education. A cost of 40 euro covers the maximum number of participants which is 10 children. The conversations are available in Italian, English, French, Spanish and Italian sign language. Book by writing to [email protected] or see here for more information.
At Home gift guide: creature comforts from Tuscany
Help local businesses from across the miles
Editorial Staff
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Bring Tuscany to your home this winter with handcrafted items from the region we all love. From Prato-produced
mattresses to watercolours painted by an Australian in Florence and complete
kitchens made in Tuscany, here are a few suggestions for nesting in the colder months that will last in the future. Plus, it’s a valuable way of helping local businesses.
three little bird
candle bowls (18 euro) by
Little Acorns Pottery. Handmade in the Tuscan countryside by Scottish studio potter Kirstie Marie Mathieson, the cobalt blue bowls make a lasting gift for loved ones across the miles and for ourselves this winter and beyond. Sitting snuggly side by side, the little birds convey a feeling of togetherness, joy and positivity in these difficult times. Kirstie came to Italy in 2002 to teach English with a History of Art degree. She now lives in the Valdar
A gemstone set in the history of the Risorgimento can be found in a quiet corner of Tompkins Ave, in the Clifton section of Staten Island overlooking the Narrows. The setting is theatrical. If New York City is the stuff of fairytales, then Staten Island is the boisterous red-headed stepchild. Although the suburban residents have been connected to Brooklyn by the Verrazzano Bridge since 1964, Staten Islanders have a history of feeling politically ostracized and neglected by the rest of the city.
When Antonio Meucci and Giuseppe Garibaldi became housemates in 1850, this quiet, wooded island was a short ferry ride from a rapidly industrializing Manhattan, but a world away. Their home, now the