Florence Local Customs

Sculptor and architect
Florence 1377 - 1446 (infos from the web)

He is famous for the daring and original ideas behind his projects (such as the Cupola of the Duomo in Florence) and for the way in which he harmoniously re-elaborated the forms of classical architecture according to the new spirit of his age.
He was trained as a sculptor and goldsmith in one of the typical Florentine workshops. In 1401 he made himself known by winning the competition for the second door of Baptistery "ex aequo" with Lorenzo Ghiberti, who was in fact commissioned to carry out the work. The panels of the Sacrifice of Isaac that the two artists carried out for the competition can be seen in the Bargello Museum. Brunelleschi probably spent the next three years in Rome studying sculpture and architecture with his friend Donatello. He joined the Guild of Goldsmiths in 1401 but his interest in mathematics (he was a friend of Paolo dal Pozzo Toscanelli) and the study of ancient monuments tended to turn his work more and more in the direction of architecture.
From 1409 onwards, he worked on the construction of Santa Maria del Fiore and was immediately attracted by the problem of the cupola. The main structure was finished by 1434 and then completed by the lantern in 1436 and the four tribunes in the apse in 1438. During this period Brunelleschi also worked on the Spedale degli Innocenti (1421-24), the Old Sacristy at San Lorenzo (1428), the reconstruction of San Lorenzo (1423 ca.), the Pazzi Chapel in the Cloisters of Santa Croce (1430), and on the design for Santo Spirito (1436), completely renewing the appearance of the medieval city. His architectural works include the Ponte a Mare at Pisa, Palazzo di Parte Guelfa (1425) and the unfinished Rotonda degli Angeli (1434) in Florence. Today there is some discussion as to whether Brunelleschi really carried out the original designs for the Pitti Palace.

Avoid the two-hour peak-season midday wait by making a telephone reservation. It's easy, slick, and costs only €3 (in addition to the €9.50 admission fee). Dial 055-294-883 during office hours (Mon-Fri 8:30-18:30, Sat 8:30-12:30, closed Sun) at least a day before your visit and ideally at least a few days in advance for a better selection. With the help of an English-speaking operator, you'll get an entry slot (15-min window) and a six-digit confirmation number. Off-season, it can be possible to get a same-day reservation. Using the same phone number, you can reserve in advance for the Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, and Pitti Palace; of these, the Accademia has the worst lines.

We don't often think about what kind of maintenance and upkeep are required for the great art and architecture we enjoy. We happened into the Church of San Miniato when this workman was in process of cleaning (I think) some of the stonework in this chapel. His tools reminded me of the kind my dentist uses. It is intricate and slow and I am sure requires a patient disposition. I appreciate the fact that so much effort is done to preserve the things from the past that we so much appreicate and enjoy.

Being the football crazy country, it wasn't an uncommon scene.

The day I arrived in Florence was a big day for them. All the italian people went on the street in the centre to celebrate their national team beating Bulgaria in the quarter-finals of Euro Championships 2004. They
moved their national flag, made the traffic jam, dancing, singing, painted their faces.......

FLORENCE has its antique market on the last Sunday of every month in Piazza dei Ciompi.

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FESTA DELLA RIFICOLONA, 7TH & 8TH Sept

The 'Festival of the Lanterns' is one of Florence's oldest festivals, and has its origins in the most important farmers market of the year, held in the Piazza of SS Annunziata. The farmers and families would get up very early, put on their Sunday-best and walk to Florence by the light of candles held in tissue-paper lanterns on the end of poles. The sophisticated Florentines would mock the dull yokels attempt at elegance and the children would make their own brightly coloured lanterns and follow along, jeering and whistling.
Today, the night of the 7th sees the children off Florence running through the streets with their rificolone, and there are street parties, theatre and a huge market in the square

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MUSHROOM TIME ( Sept )

If you see people in the woods and they're not looking furtive then they're collecting chestnuts - if they are looking furtive then they're after funghi, preferably porcini. If you know a good spot for them then you're a lucky man, and you won't be telling anyone about it until you are on your deathbed.
There are all sorts of mushrooms to collect, but the wonderfully rich and pungent porcini are the prize, and it is these that you'll see for sale by the side of the road, particularly in the Garfagnana region of northern Tuscany.

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Everywhere you go in Florence (and Italy) you will see very cute little cars!!

And not only are they cute, they are sensible too - particularly in a city like Florence that has narrow streets and limited parking - the smaller the car the easier your day to day motoring is.

Now, just make sure you don't do too much shopping though....

; ))

I only knew about the locks on Ponte vecchio from Virtual tourist. I had read about the lovers attaching the locks and throwing the key into the arno river to forever seal their love. So when I was there I specifically looked for them and I overheard an English speaking tour guide tell her group that it was not an Italian tradition at all but rather an American one. I don't know if that is true or not but I thought it was pretty funny.

I Fratellini ( the little bros), is a small, but very small wine bar where locals working in the city centre like to go for lunch. If you go there at that time you will find lots of peolple standing in a queu. You can there dring a glass of wine and a sandwich with pecorino cheese, or roasted pork, or vegetables in oil or many other combinations!