Embed

Silver River sings the blues

Document Sample

Shared by: chenmeixiu

Tags

Stats

views:: 28
posted:: 11/24/2011
language:: Italian
pages:: 24

Public Domain

Anno 3 numero 49 - Firenze Thursday 8 February 2007

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Big Brother Media empire To whom we Making

gets bigger thwarted owe it all connections

through theater

20 additional anti-rape Anti-monopoly bill The legacy of Day of memory takes

surveillance cameras angers Berlusconi Lady de’ Medici center stage at FITC event

around centre

by Mary Ann Pinto by P.M. Louis

see pg.4 see pg. 6 see pg. 18 see pg. 21

Silver River sings the blues MOBILE

MISBEHAVIOUR

Below-average water levels threaten the Arno Cell phone abuse rampant

in local schools

W

ithout the Arno, Florence would be like Romolo without Remo. Yet once again, the

dangerously low water levels in Tuscany’s most legendary waterway has caused some

to become increasingly concerned about the fate of the city’s most distinctive trade-

mark. In fact, water levels are down in most of the region’s fresh-water basins, with both the

parched Mugnone and Lake Bilancino recording considerable decreases in water levels com-

pared to last year’s records.

While most environmental experts have been pointing their ﬁngers at the milder and drier-

than-usual temperatures experienced this winter, they do caution against declaring a water

shortage a ‘state of emergency’. In fact, the majority of experts are waiting until the summer

in order to reassess the bleak situation, while remaining hopeful that a rainy spring will bring

water levels back up to average. Others instead seem to blame the Arno’s excessive aridness

on the ‘crazed river’ itself. According to environmental councilor, Claudio Del Lungo, history has

shown that the Arno is capable of just about anything: ‘one day in 1985, the recorded water lev-

els were frighteningly low, while just 20 years prior Florence was almost completely drowned

by the ﬂood’. The river is prone to go from torrents to trickles, and back again, it seems. While

experts have unanimously refuted to declare a state of emergency, the rest of us are left remi-

niscing of Florence’s beloved silver river. A rmed with cellular phones,

teenage bullies have become

as terrifying as a pack of hungry

lions hunting for prey. In wake of

the recent string of indecent, vio-

lent episodes involving teens and

mobile phone use, many have

been questioning the degree to

which teens should be punished

for committing such harmful acts.

Questions abound. Are they too

young to be able to appreciate the

consequences of their actions?

Where do we draw the line regard-

ing cell phone use and ‘abuse’?

Should juvenile laws be amended

in order to address such misbe-

haviour by way of mobiles?

see pg. 2

VOLVO XC70.

DON’T STOP TO EXPLORE.

DEALER Peragnoli-Scar PETROL ENGINE 2.5 T 210 bhp (154KW).

FIRENZE (NORD) - Via F. Baracca 183 - Phone 055.43074 TURBODIESEL COMMON RAIL D5: 163 bhp (120KW), 185 bhp (136KW).

ALSO AVAILABLE WITH GEARTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

EMPOLI (FI) - Via Tosco Romagnola 120/122 - Phone 0571.592929

Fuel consumption, mixed cycle: 7.6 - 11.1 l/100 km.

AUTHORIZED REPAIRER SIENA (MONTERIGGIONI) - Via Cassia Nord 110 - Phone 0577.318505 www.peragnoliscar.com Carbon dioxide emissions: 201 - 266 g/Km.

2 News & Views

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

PICK-UP POINTS Florence NEWS

www.theﬂorentine.net continued from pg. 1

Want to know where to pick up your free copy?

MOBILE MISBEHAVIOUR

Visit our website to ﬁnd out speciﬁc addresses. Cell phone abuse rampant in local schools

Meanwhile, photos and video clips

Bookstores of beatings and violence toward

BM Bookshop, British Library, Edison, Feltrinelli International, Libreria del other classmates, sexually explicit

shots and even videos of sex in the

Porcellino, Mandragora Book and Art Stores, McRae Bookstore, Newsagent

classroom continue to send shock

Piazza della Repubblica, Newsagent Via Pellicceria, Paperback Exchange waves throughout Italian schools.

Last week, a middle school in the

Bars, cafes and restaurants province of Florence was added

Art Bar, Hemingway, Caﬀetteria Piansa, Colle Bereto, Danny Rock, Darvish to the long list of sites of incidents

Café, Eby’s, Eccoci!, La Sosta del Rossellino, Finnegan Irish Pub, Frescobaldi involving teenagers and mobile and enroll her in a private school in

restaurant and winebar, Galanti delicatessen, I Visacci art café, Il Santo phone misuse. order to save her daughter from the

A middle school in Calenzano is pain of being incessantly heckled in

Bevitore, J.J.Hill Pub. ,J.J.Cathedral, Maioli Bar, Moyo, Old Stove Irish Pub, Ora

still reeling after a photo of a girl’s the school corridor.

d’Aria, Prince Food Point, Sei Divino! Winebar, Snack Bar Anna, Tabaccheria backside was shot by bullying boys A verbal battle consequently

Ricchi, Teatro del Sale, The Lion’s Fountain Pub, Tijuana, Vestri, Zoe on a cell phone and then passed ensued between the girl’s mother,

around from one schoolmate to who accused the principal of not

Shops another until the entire school got punishing the boys enough for their

Baroni Cheese Shop, Ceri Vintage, Conti’s Vegetable Stand, Ethic, Jimmy’s wind of the photo. It all happened act; the school principal, who issued

Bakery, La Bottega D’Arte Lastrucci. Maison Dumitru, Monastica, Oil Shoppe, while in religion class, when a boy a memo advising all girls attending

pulled down the 13-year-old girl’s the school that they were not to come

Tamarino Stampe d’Arte

trousers in order to get a snapshot of to school wearing low-rise pants; and

her bare bottom. He and his friends the mother of the accused, who con-

Salons, health and sport clubs then mocked her into silence and the tends that even though her son made

Fonbliù, Hair Force, Klab Wellness Gym, Vivarium Gym, International Hair photo began circulating on cellular a mistake, ‘he didn’t even touch the

Studio, Circolo del Golf dell’Ugolino, Società Canottieri Firenze phones throughout the school for girl’. According to the boy’s mother,

several days until the intimidated girl the three-day suspension from school,

Travel & tourist ﬁnally told her parents about what which he did received from the princi-

happened. Needless to say, her pal, was punishment enough. Instead,

Tourist Information Oﬃces: Via Manzoni - Via Cavour - Florence airport - mother was outraged and appalled. the school principal remains strong in

Firenze SMN – Piazza Stazione - Borgo S.Croce - Fiesole After failing in several attempts to her conviction that she ‘did the right

speak with the school principal, thing’ in punishing the boy and issu-

Hotels the woman went to the police and ing the memo banning low-rise pants.

reported the crime to local Cara- Meanwhile the victim of the crime has

B&B Il Salotto di Firenze, Classic Hotel, Gallery Art Hotel, Grand Hotel, Grand

binieri. After days of humiliation and been forced to change schools in

Hotel Mediterraneo, Hotel Aprile - Palazzo dal Borgo, Hotel Brunelleschi, embarrassment, the girl’s mother order to overcome the trauma caused

Hotel Cestelli, Hotel Continental, Hotel Cosimo de’ Medici, Hotel David, Hotel decided to pull her from the school by such an experience.

Lungarno, Hotel JK Place, Residence Hilda, Savoy Hotel, Serristori Palace,

Soﬁtel, Westin Excelsior

Reversing the brain drain

Schools

ABC School, API Italy - Academic Program International, Accademia Euro-

pea, Accademia Italiana, Accent, Angel Academy of Art, Art Studio FUJI, The

British Institute of Florence, California State University. CAPA Study Center U.S. initiative aimed at encouraging Italian entrepreneurs

Abroad, CEA Cultural Experience Abroad, Centro Fiorenza, CET Academic

Programs, CLIDA Centro Linguistico Dante Alighieri, Eurocentre, Europass

Studi Europei, European University, Fashion Design Lab, Farﬁeld University

Florence Campus, Florence Dance Studio, GE Florence Learning Center,

Florence University of the Arts, Georgetown University, GIA Gemological

Institute of America, Gonzaga University, Harding University In Florence,

Institute of Fine & Liberal Arts, Institute of Italian Studies – Drake University,

International School - Upper & Lower, Istituto Americano, Istituto Europeo,

Istituto Michelangelo, Istituto per l’arte e il restauro “Palazzo Spinelli”, ITC Isti-

tuto Tecnico “A. Volta”, Live Institute, James Madison University, Jennifer Wil-

liams - Scuola Biblica, Kent State University, Koiné Center, Scuola del Cuoio

– Leather School, Lorenzo de’ Medici, Italian Language Center “Machiavelli”,

F

New York University - Villa La Pietra, New York University- Villa Ulivi, Perseo

ive of Italy’s best engineer- Spogli, has stated that ‘the BEST

Scuola per l’Arte della Gioielleria, Polimoda, Richmond University, SACI Stu- ing and science students have Program is designed to encourage

dio Art Centers International, Sarah Lawrence College, Scuola Art.e, Interna- kicked off the ﬁrst edition of entrepreneurship in Italy by allow-

tional School of Graphic Arts “Il Bisonte”, Leonardo da Vinci School, Scuola a novel work-study exchange pro- ing students, young managers and

Superiore per Mediatori Linguistici “Carlo Bo”, Scuola Toscana, SRISA Santa gram, called the Fulbright-BEST regional and municipal ofﬁcials

Reparata International School of Art, Stanford University, Syracuse Univer- (Business Exchange and Student to learn ﬁrst-hand how entrepre-

sity, The Florence Academy of Art, The International School of Florence, The Training) Silicon Valley Exchange neurship in the U.S. works.’ The

Learning Center of Tuscany, Tuscany Painting Studio Program, launched by the U.S. Fulbright BEST program is part

Embassy in Italy. The six-month of a larger initiative set up by the

Others pilot program will allow these stu- U.S. Embassy called ‘Partnership

dents to gain valuable knowledge for Growth’, aimed at enhancing

Agile Logica, Alma edizioni, British Consulate, Comune di Bagno a Ripoli, and experience in California’s own economic dynamism in Italy and

Dott. Nicola Paoleschi, Dr. Stephen Kerr, Florence for Fun, International Silicon Valley, where they will stimulating economic competition

Medical Service, Internet Service, Lory Copy Store, Nuovo Pignone, Odeon attend business classes at the Santa through new and innovative busi-

Theatre Cinehall, Regione Toscana Giunta Regionale, Regione Toscana URP, Clara University of California and ness ventures.

St. James Church, St. Marks English Church, The Wedding Planner in Tuscany, work as interns in one of Silicon For more information see

Unicef, United States of America Consulate, Walking Tours of Florence Valley’s fastest-growing companies. http://italy.usembassy.gov

U.S. Ambassador to Italy, Ronald

News 3

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Florence NEWS

��

Close encounters Table of CONTENTS

for culture

quindicinale/every other week

redazione

Florence News 1- 5

via Santa Maria 32r - 50125 Firenze Silver River sings the blues

tel/fax +39 055 2306616

info@theﬂorentine.net

Fondazione Strozzi presents Big Brother gets bigger

www.theﬂorentine.net far-reaching calendar Memory train

remembers Holocaust

direttore responsabile Silvia Bini

T

editor in chief Nita Tucker he much-anticipated three-year tant springboard for Tuscany’s young

managing editor Linda Falcone event schedule prepared by the and up-and-coming contemporary National News 6

news editor Brenda Dionisi Fondazione Strozzi was pre- artists. Bradbourne also added that

cultural editor Jane Fortune sented last week, marking the debut Fort Belvedere ‘will probably host Media empire thwarted

events Marco Badiani of Florence’s newest cultural alli- modern and contemporary sculp- Promises in progress

ance. The Fondazione Strozzi unites ture exhibitions as of 2008’, though

this issue’s contributors

the city’s public and private sectors, things are still up in the air regard-

James Douglas, Sabine Eiche, Mary Ann

Pinto, Deirdre Pirro, Samuel Jay Keyser, becoming the leading authority on ing this possible venue, while Pala- Sport News 7

Richard Keenan, P.M. Louis and Ellen Wert cultural events in the city. It is a zzo Strozzi’s main ﬂoor will host the

bona ﬁde cultural think tank alla classic ‘internationally recognized’

Time to draw the line

pubblicità/sales Giacomo Badiani ﬁorentina, aimed at promoting ‘cre- art exhibits, which will attract visi- Rossi pens new Yamaha deal

pubblicita@theﬂorentine.net ativity and innovation’ and thereby tors from around the globe.

classiﬁed & subscription Giovanni Giusti

ensuring the city’s centuries-long

dedication to maintaining its artis-

Fondazione Strozzi’s ﬁrst event

is the much-anticipated Cézanne

Movies Reviews 8

annunci@theﬂorentine.net

tic and cultural heritage. The three- a Firenze exhibition, running from The Holiday

subscription@theﬂorentine.net

year schedule is an ambitious one, March 1st to July 29th, which will An Inconvenient Truth

graphic design Leo Cardini - agilelogica.it offering not only seven world-class showcase the private art collections

layout Cathy Gale art exhibits, but also a wide array of of Egisto Paolo Fabbri and Charles Stranger Than Fiction

web Antonio Lo Iacono - agilelogica.it concerts, seminars, encounters and Alexander Loeser alongside several Breaking and Entering

multimedia events to be held in a of Cézanne’s impressionist master-

printer La Marina, Calenzano (Fi) transformed Palazzo Strozzi. The

renovated palazzo will boast a bar,

pieces. Next up is an exhibit cel-

ebrating female fashions from the

EVENTS 9 - 13

editore B’Gruppo s.r.l. bookshop and restaurant in hopes of 1980s and 1990s, with pieces by What’s happening in Florence

via Valentini 10 - 59100 Prato

welcoming over hundreds of thou- Issey Miyake, Vivian Westwood and

sands of visitors at a time. Thierry Mugler on display, running

Registrazione Trib. di Prato n.4 del 12/09/06

The 2007–2009 program is, in from October 2007 to January 2008 Up Close & 14-15

part, dedicated to the contemporary and in collaboration with Pitti Dis- Personal

art and culture world, an area which covery. In 2008, three mega-events An Interview with

has recently become a battleground are in store, starting in spring with

for debate due to the general lack an exposition on ancient Chinese Antonina Bargellini

of interest by public ofﬁcials in this art, Celeste Impero, after which it

speciﬁc realm of artistic expression. will travel to Rome. From July to Mosaics 16

Aside from the events scheduled, December, Palazzo Strozzi will host

which celebrate modern and con- Dipingere a luce which will show- The past in wax at ‘La Specola’

temporary art, general director of case circa 60 Impressionist master- Jane’s GEMS

the Fondazione, James Bradburne, pieces. Later in autumn, an event

announced that the 1,500-square-

metre Strozzina will become the ofﬁ-

called Donne al potere will be held

in celebration of two queens hail-

Italian Voices 17

cial home of contemporary art in the ing from the infamous Medici fam- ‘Mah’

city and will showcase photography, ily. The largest and most important

design and architecture and video

and digital art exhibitions celebrat-

event of 2009 will be an interactive

event dedicated to Galileo Gali-

Culture & Customs 18

ing the work of the world’s most lei, called Macrocosmo, beginning To whom we owe it all

highly acclaimed contemporary art- in spring. It will be followed in

ists, such as Bill Viola, James Turrell, autumn by exhibit which will jour-

Damien Hirst and Candida Hofer. ney through illusion and reality in Culture & Customs 19

The Strozzina will also be an impor- art, Dolci inganni. The night the bridges came

falling down

Travel & Leisure 20

Seeing in the rain

The Arts 21

Making connections

through theater

��

�� The Arts 22

��

Stark contrasts

��

Classiﬁed 23

4 News

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

Florence NEWS

News in BRIEF

News in BRIEF Big Brother gets bigger COAST

‘Giovanni’ from the block

Want to be on a ﬁrst name 20 additional anti-rape surveillance cameras around centre IS CLEAR

basis with the city of Florence?

■

Call out the name ‘Andrea’ and

Nine lives for two-wheelers Expert calms fears

The Florentine municipal police

3,201 men and boys will answer.

will be sending 96 abandoned

According to a recent city-wide

sexual aggressions and violence

toward women in 2006, as well as about Tuscany’s

name unreclaimed bikes to ﬁthe

and search, ‘Andrea’ takes rst

underprivileged people of Okolo

place as the most common ﬁrst

an increased number of robberies

and thefts in the centre. De Martino

disappearing coastline

name African Congo, asMunici-

in the throughout the part of asserted that the statistics revealing

a project called Una bici per il

pality of Florence. Marco slides a higher incidence of sexual assaults

Congo. Upon city councilor Gra-

into second place with more are essentially due to ‘an increased

than 3,000. Third placedonate

ziano Cioni’s motion to goes number of rape victims who are

these two-wheeled wonders to

to Alessandro at 2,700. And for now going to the police and report-

women? Africa’s most poverty-

one of Try Francesca—at least ing sex crimes’.

2,012 Florentine Florentine city

stricken areas, the girls go by Public Order ofﬁcials have also

that name. There areonce 1,794

administration has also again cited that most victims of rape in the

donne who its dedication and

conﬁrmed answer to ‘Laura’ past year tended to be younger for-

and 1,542 called ‘Silvia.’ to aid-

long-standing commitment eign women who have come to Flor-

ing the disadvantaged in Africa. ence on holiday or to study. More-

I

Tales from the nose n addition to the 96 surveil- over, alcohol consumption seems to

that grows

■ lance cameras in Florence, have played a considerable role in

A centuries-old giant oak fea-

Vandal slashes the city’s Safety Committee several sexual assaults reported in

Tournabuoni’s Collodi’s

tured in Carlo treasure The has announced that another 20 2006. Other crime statistics released

Last week, owners of the ail-

Adventures of Pinocchio is Flo- cameras will be installed through- by the Prefect have shown a general

ing, tree art gallery Tournabuoni

rentine experts said on Monday. out city streets in order to curb increase in the number of commer-

Arte, Roberto Casamonti are

Experts from all over Tuscany and the ever-increasing incidences of cial and residential thefts in the rest

Anna Ostellari, were astonished

being called to protect the 600- sexual assaults in the central core. of the province, more so than in the

to ﬁnd one of their included on

year-old oak that ismost valuable This decision was taken in light of city. As well, drug-related crimes and

pieces on World at Bologna’s

UNESCO’sdisplay Heritage List. recent statistics revealing that the homicides seem to have dropped

Arte Fiera Collodi, who by an

It inspired slashed to bits wrote number of sexual assaults in the slightly, while crimes related to

A

unknown vandal. in which art,

a ﬁnal episode The work of the city is up 10.9 percent from last prostitution and pornography have ccording to the University of

wooden Psico-foil by the 83-year-

entitled puppet was suspended year, and up 5.6 percent in the rest risen. Although the statistics show Florence’s leading physical

old the giant oak and left to

fromSicilian artist Carla Accardi, of the province. Several weeks ago, a general decrease in crime in the geography professor, Enzo Pran-

was valued originally wrote Pin-

die. Collodi at over 300 thousand Florence’s Prefect, Andrea De Mar- central core, De Martino asserts ‘the zini, there is no need to fret about

euro. in a serialised Ostellari

occhio Casamonti andform for a tino, released the city’s 2006 Pub- citizens of Florence feel less safe and Tuscan’s disappearing coastline

are bafﬂed by the vandalous act,

weekly children’s magazine. The lic Safety Report, which reported their sense of safety has signiﬁcantly due to erosion, which in the last

stating ‘we can’t believe why

grisly ending horriﬁed the story’s a signiﬁcant rise in the number of decreased in this past year’. 120 years has worn away hun-

someone would want to com-

young readers and the protests dreds of metres of beach, nor to

mit such the author there were

promptedan act when to resume the threat of rising sea levels.

other more valuable pieces left in

writing. Collodi penned a further

our kiosk, including a few pieces

19 episodes, wrapping up with

by Fontana and a Picasso’. The

a classic fairy-tale happy ending

Hard day’s night In the wake of the alarming data

and previsions that have contin-

ued to bombard the world regard-

police are currently investigating

in which the wooden Pinocchio

this peculiar act of vandalism.

ﬁnally becomes a real boy. Report exposes shaky employment stats ing the acute climate change in

course and the extent to which

the greenhouse effect has, and

■ will, negatively effect our environ-

Hop to the rescue ment, Pranzini contends that the

For over a month now, the World Tuscan Maremma is pretty much

Wildlife Fund of Florence has safe and sound, so to speak.

been fresh on the heels of frogs Although he denies a loom-

and their other long-legged fam- ing environmental catastrophe

ily members in an effort to rescue on the horizon, he does not disal-

them from being unknowingly ﬂat- low the possibility that there will

tened by passing cars. The WWF probably be signiﬁcant changes

has been recruiting several volun- to the already marshy land near

teers as part of an initiative called the coast. In fact, he admits that

Operazione Salvarospi which is the wettest areas, such as Lake

T

aimed at curbing the bloodshed he employment rate in Tus- salary in Tuscany in 2006 was just Massaciuccoli, as well as the wet

of frogs, toads and other amphib- cany rose in 2006 to almost around 1,000 euro net—yes, that is plains surrounding Pisa, San Ros-

ians living in and around the 65 percent, though statistics right—making it just over the pov- sore, Follonica and Castiglione,

WWF Focognano Oasis on the revealed that most workers were erty line. will eventually ﬂood, becoming

outskirts of Florence. Director of at an increased risk of ﬁnding This sorry state of affairs reﬂects marshland.

the oasis, Carlo Scoccianti, has contract, or precarious employ- the dynamics of the new labour mar- Apparently, the Tuscan coast-

stated that amphibians in the area ment, thus following the general ket in Tuscany, making the number line gets a good bill of health,

are most at risk at this time of year trend in the rest of Italy toward an of stable, regular employment work because through human inter-

because they are waking from increased use of unstable employ- contracts a thing of the past. This vention it is still possible to save

hibernation and are in search of ment contracts offered by both the tendency follows the same shift evi- disappearing beaches, especially

wet and humid environments. As public and private sectors. In fact, denced in the national labour mar- if one looks at the areas surround-

a result, WWF volunteers will be the regional newspaper La Nazione ket, albeit the skies seem clearer ing Marina di Massa and Ronchi,

patrolling the high-risk streets sur- recently reported that as many as over the former Grand Duchy terri- where sand and rock barriers

rounding the Focognano Oasis, 500 people at Florence’s city hall tory than in the rest of the country. were installed about 300 metres

as well as high-humidity areas are contract, or precarious, work- More precisely, Istat reported a 4.7 from the coastline in 2000 by

in and around Florence, such as ers. The 2006 Istat report, released percent decrease in unemployment the Tuscan Region. Since then,

Osmannoro and Figline Valdarno. a few weeks ago, reveals that there from 2006, and on a happier note, the coastline in these areas has

Those interested in giving a help- is work to be found in the Tuscan the number of female employees in ceased to erode. As a result, in

ing hand can call 055477876. region, but the pay stub still leaves the Tuscan workforce are almost 2003 the Tuscan Region ﬁnanced

much to be desired. In fact, the equal in number to their male coun- similar interventions throughout

report illustrated that an average terparts. the region.

News 5

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Florence NEWS

TIES THAT BIND

Most Tuscans say yes to

Memory train EMERGENCY

SUMMIT

common-law unions remembers Holocaust SAFEGUARDS

Tuscan students embark on a journey to Auschwitz COUNTRYSIDE

L

ast week, 500 Tus- as well as in the Rom

can high school language. Caffaz remem-

and university stu- bered the hundreds of

dents, alongside teach- Tuscans who, in the

ers and municipal ofﬁ- wrong place at the wrong

cials, travelled on the time, found themselves

Treno della Memoria to on a freight train head-

Auschwitz in order to ing towards their horriﬁc

commemorate Europe’s demise, ‘about 700 inno-

Holocaust victims. In a cent Tuscans also shed

moving display of soli- their blood there during

darity, students partici- the Holocaust, including

pated in a memorial cele- the many civilians, poli-

bration in one of Auschwitz’s lagers, ticians, workers and youth that were

and were accompanied by regional captured and shipped to evil places

councilor, Ugo Caffaz, where they such as Ebensee, Mautahausen and

prayed and sang songs in Hebrew, Martheim’.

A s one of the most ancient

cruxes of liberalist thought

Top spot for

in Europe, not many can deny

the fact that Tuscany is perhaps

the most progressive of Italian

taxpayers

regions. Well, Tuscan citizens

have once again conﬁrmed their

commitment to the socialist

cause in support of the very con-

T uscan residents, urban plan-

ners, government ofﬁcials and

concerned citizens have been

troversial Pacs legislation, which, Siena, Pisa and Florence unyielding in their ﬁght against the

if passed by parliament, will give

legal status to civil unions on the

are country’s costliest development of a large residential

project in Montichiello, located

national, regional and provincial in the characteristic Sienese Val

level. Recent debates have ﬂared

behind closed parliamentary Y es friends, the rumors are true:

Tuscany is ofﬁcially the most

costly region in Italy. Cgia of Mes-

yearly, or in Pisa where residents

must pay 1,180 euro each year to the

municipal administration.

d’Orchia.

An emergency summit, held in

doors as of late about whether or Siena on January 22nd involved

not to follow the general European tre, in the Veneto region, recently Florentine newspaper Il Firenze

regional, provincial and local

trend toward the legal recognition released a report which classiﬁes Ita- reports that the highest fees in Flor-

authorities, who opted to tempo-

of common-law couples. ly’s most expensive cities on basis of ence are for Ici property and garbage

rarily block the construction of a

And all while, the majority of the amount of money taxpayers hand disposal taxes. In light of these ﬁnd-

20-unit residential condominium

those Florentines in favour of the over to municipalities each year. The ings, city councilor Tea Albini, warns

in the heart of the Sienese Chianti,

cause are probably not aware report revealed that Florence takes that ‘this classiﬁcation does not give

an area which has been declared

that, just over ten years ago, Pisa ﬁfth spot in the list of Italy’s most a clear picture of the situation. Com-

the patrimony of all of humanity by

was the ﬁrst city in Italy to ofﬁcially expensive cities. More precisely, pared to other Italian cities, the vast

Unesco.

record the presence of common- each Florentine dishes out about array of services that the city offers

Authorities have enforced

law couples, registering over 40 1,150 euro a year in municipal tax in its citizens, stand apart in terms of

Article 45 of the Urban Planning

civil unions in the city and prov- exchange for the goods and services quality. Taxpayers do pay more in

Code, which allows for ‘an indi-

ince, including ﬁve gay couples. the city provides. If this seems a lot, Florence, but the living standards

rect safeguarding procedure’ in

Soon after, Florence, Scandicci, then consider living in Siena, where are higher than in other Italian

order to uphold the architectural,

Pistoia, Piombino and Empoli taxpayers shell out almost 1,500 euro urban centres’.

cultural and ecological integrity of

followed in Pisa’s footsteps by Tuscan cities and towns.

keeping ofﬁcial accounts of the As a result of such contro-

number of unwed couples in their versy, leftist federal minister,

jurisdictions. Without a national

law to address the issue, these

BETTER LIFE GONE BAD Francesco Rutelli, and president

of the Tuscan Region, Claudio

municipal efforts did not have

much success, with very few cou-

Foreigners reign in Florence’s Meucci Detention Centre Martini, met in Rome a few weeks

ago in order to draft an agreement

ples declaring their common-law between national and regional

status in city halls.

A lthough there are only 22 inmates in

Florence’s Meucci Juvenile Detention

Centre, located on Via degli Orti Oricel-

governments which would over-

see the establishment of a pro-

vincial ‘Urban Code’ speciﬁcally

lari, the vast majority of them are immi- intended to safeguard and ensure

VISIT OUR BLOG grants, mostly coming from Romania and

Morocco. These youth have come to Italy

the quality and distinctness of the

Tuscan countryside.

http://theflorentine. in search of a better life and a more prom-

ising future yet have sadly ended up on

blog.dada.net/ the wrong path. The inmates range from

14 to 21 years of age, and most are being

detained for crimes related to drugs, robbery or theft. In this correctional

institute for minors, detainees are required to attend morning educational

classes and afternoon artisan courses while serving their sentence, though ��

director of the centre, Aldo Nesticò, argues that Meucci ‘lacks the neces-

sary funds for things such as paper and pens, even toilet paper’. While such

classes are designed to help the youth gain the essential knowledge, skills

and experience needed upon release, the recidivism rate remains high. � � ��

6 News

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

National NEWS

PROMISES IN

■

News in BRIEF Media empire thwarted PROGRESS

New hope for Lou Gehrig Anti-monopoly bill angers Berlusconi Liberal reforms brought

victims

Italian researchers have increased

chances for treating Lou Gehrig’s

Gentiloni and has just begun its pas-

sage through parliament. Gentilo-

to parliament

disease, a fatal and incurable ni’s bill would force both Mediaset

nerve-wasting disease. A team and Rai to move one of their three

led by Sebastiano Cavallaro at a terrestial channels to digital within

National Research Council lab in 15 months of its approval, with the

Catania says it has found the 57 freed-up airwaves being sold to

genes responsible for the disease. competitors. It would introduce a

Cavallaro cautioned that a number 45 percent cap on any given broad-

O

pposition chief Silvio Berlus- caster’s share of the TV advertising

of genetic and environmental fac-

coni has accused the govern- market and reduce the amount of

tors are implicated in the disease,

A

ment of deliberately targeting advertising permitted per hour of fresh government drive to liber-

which affects over 350,000 of programming from 18 percent to 16

his media empire with a ‘criminal plan alise the Italian economy was

the world’s population and kills percent, with in-show advertising

of attack’ on his three-channel pri- hailed by consumer groups last

over 100,000 every year. But, he vate TV network Mediaset. ‘Mediaset included in the calculation.

said, the gene research, published week but also sparked protests,

will be forced to defend itself’, said the The Italian TV system is currently including one by fuel station opera-

in the international journal BMC billionaire media mogul, who threat- dominated by the three-channel tors, who called for a 14 days of

Genomics, ‘could pave the way ened to ‘lead ﬁve million people on to state broadcaster Rai and Media- ongoing strikes.

for early diagnosis and possible the streets’ in protest and use his TV set. Together they account for some The reforms approved by Pre-

treatment’. channels to mobilise public opinion 90 percent of audience share and mier Prodi’s cabinet will have imme-

against the reforms. Premier Romano almost 96 percent of money spent diate effect and include streamlining

■ Prodi, responded that ‘demonstra- on TV advertising, with 66.4 per- business start-up rules, liberalising

Fini in ﬁrst place tions are a sign of active democracy cent going to Mediaset and 28.8 the opening hours of small busi-

Silvio Berlusconi caused a stir and should always be respected but percent to Rai. This situation has nesses, abolishing certain mobile

in his centre-right alliance last protests in aid of personal interests been criticised by the Constitutional phone and bank charges and allow-

week, apparently anointing right- are less than praiseworthy’. Court, the Antitrust Authority, the ing supermarket chains to sell pet-

ist leader Gianfranco Fini as The media bill was drawn up by Communications Authority and the rol and newspapers. The measures

his likely successor. Speaking Communications Minister Paolo European Commission. follow a ﬁrst deregulation package,

to journalists, the 70-year-old approved in July, aimed at ending

former premier spoke about his anti-competitive practices in several

No show

hope of uniting the four key cen- post last February and cut off his pay protected ﬁelds. These measures

tre-right parties into a federation because of his ‘unjustiﬁable behav- affected lawyers, notaries, phar-

and possibly even a single party. iour’. The decision, which reignited macists, taxi drivers, banks and car

‘If we form a single party I think

that Fini’s candidacy is the most

prestigious and authoritative to

show-down debate on cruciﬁxes in public build-

ings, came after Tosti was convicted

by a criminal court a month before.

insurers. Prodi said the new decree

would further the government’s

goal of boosting competition and

lead it’, he said. Fini is currently Judge is defendant in The court gave Tosti a seven-month

suspended sentence for refusing to

bringing down prices to the beneﬁt

of the consumer.

leader of the rightist National

Alliance party, the second larg-

anti-cruciﬁx case perform his duties in the Marche Other measures in the decree

town of Camerino. include the abolition of extra bank

est in the opposition. He has

stood by Berlusconi since the

former media tycoon entered

A n Italian judge who refuses to

have crosses in his court room

refused to appear at his hearing on

Cruciﬁxes are customary rather

than mandatory in Italy’s public

buildings. Ofﬁcially, Catholicism

charges on overdrafts; more advan-

tageous terms for mortgage hold-

ers; the elimination of some of the

Italian politics in 1994. Berlus- whether he had broken the law. Pros- is not Italy’s state religion and the red tape for people opening up

coni, defeated by centre-left ecutors are seeking to convict Judge separation of Church and State is set small businesses, particularly hair-

chief Romano Prodi in last April’s Luigi Tosti on six counts of walking down by the postwar Constitution dressers, barbers, beauticians and

general election, has hinted sev- out of court rooms when he saw cru- and mandated by a 1984 Concor- driving instructors; greater trans-

eral times that he is unlikely to ciﬁxes hanging there. Tosti, who was dat that ended most of the Catholic parency in airfare advertising; a

run for premier next time if the suspended from his duties a year ago, Church’s privileges. In practice, with requirement for public services to

current legislature lasts the full did not show up in court. His law- Catholicism being such a part of accept payment using credit and

ﬁve years. yers said he intended ‘to keep up his Italy’s cultural identity, local bodies banking cards; and clearer expira-

protest against the presence of mono- decide whether they want crosses in tion dates on food products. The

■ religious symbols’. the courthouse. Similar arrangements decree will make it easier for motor-

Expecting in Egypt The Italian judiciary’s self-govern- are in place in other public build- ists to obtain car insurance or sell

Visitors to Milan can marvel at ing body, the Supreme Council of ings—most notably schools, where their vehicles and allows them to

the arts of ancient Egypt’s super- Magistrates, removed Tosti from his there have been a raft of polemics. use personalised number plates. It

women in a show which opened also provides tax-break incentives

there last week. The exhibition, for individuals, businesses and

which features 50 previously non-proﬁt organisations who give

unseen artifacts from Turin’s MILLIONS FOR MIDDLE EAST money to job-training institutes, and

it forces the post ofﬁce to compen-

famed Egyptology Museum,

shows why ancient Egypt’s Italy champions Lebanese peace-keeping operations sate customers if post is delivered

women were far ahead of their late or goes missing.

contemporaries. On show for

the ﬁrst time are papyri showing

I taly reconﬁrmed a promise of 120 million euro in aid last week as donor

countries met in Paris to help Lebanon recover from last year’s war

between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas. Italian Foreign Minister Massimo

Although the decree has already

come into effect, it must now be

advanced gynecological knowl- approved by parliament to prevent

D’Alema, deﬁning the donors’ conference a political and economic ‘boost’ it lapsing. Consumer groups said

edge and advice on all aspects for Beirut, said Italy would also offer to renegotiate commercial debt repay- they hoped it would not be watered

of childbearing—including some ments. French President Jacques Chirac, presiding over the work of the down during the parliamentary

of the world’s ﬁrst pregnancy Paris conference, publicly thanked Italy for its fresh display of ‘generosity’, process as protests gather pace.

tests. Nefer-Woman in Ancient noting that Rome had already sustained heavy expenses for Lebanon. ‘Bersani must hold out against the

Egypt, organised by the DNArt Italy is currently the biggest contributor of troops to UN peacekeeping lobby groups and corporations and

Foundation in collaboration with operations in Lebanon, supplying 2,500 of the 11,500 soldiers in the UNI- parliament must approve the decree

Palazzo Reale, runs until April 9. FIL force. The force will come under Italian command on February 17. as it is, without too many revisions’,

representatives said.

Sports 7

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Sports & Leisure NEWS

Time to draw the line Dangerous

Games

Italian football halted due to tragic death By Roseanne Wells

a Livorno supporter before a game In response to the disastrous

in Florence; Atalanta fans battled and disheartening football match

with police guarding coaches car- in Catania on February 2, Clau-

rying visiting Catania supporters; dio Lotito, President of Lazio,

and a match in the fourth division remarked that security was the

Serie D was suspended after a lines- major weakness during games.

man was hit by a drum thrown from The night match between Catania

the crowd. Raciti’s death could be a and Palermo sparked debate over

turning point in Italy. who is responsible for insuring

In Italy, the majority of stadiums safety measures. Since most sta-

are owned by city councils, who diums are currently owned by the

rent them out to football clubs. city then rented out, police, not a

As a result, clubs are unwilling to private security force, are respon-

invest large sums of money improv- sible for keeping exuberant fans in

ing security. Italian clubs are not check for little overtime compen-

directly responsible for maintain- sation. Lotito’s informal proposal,

ing order inside the stadiums. The broadcast during the Italian TV

police, who are paid a small over- program ‘Controcampo’, notes

Violent incidents during the Catania-Palermo match time rate to work at matches, con- that ‘the clubs should own their

centrate on keeping rival fans apart stadiums in order to cater better

F

ootball in Italy has been put reporters, ‘There shouldn’t be foot- rather than nipping violent behav- for the security system’.

on hold indeﬁnitely following ball in Catania anymore. A man died iour in the bud. Then there is the In addition to selling the stadi-

the death of a police ofﬁcer and it’s meaningless to talk about problem of Italy’s hard-core ‘ultra’ ums to the individual squads, the

during last week’s Sicilian derby football. This sport no longer suits fans, which has turned the most city would no longer be responsi-

between Catania and Palermo. The me’. volatile areas of stadiums into no- ble for the activities at the games.

38-year-old ofﬁcer suffered fatal Ironically, the game between go zones for the police. This would place the ﬁnancial

wounds as he attempted to break up Catania and Palermo began with In the face of these issues, the burden on the teams for the lack

ﬁghting between rival fans outside a minute’s silence in memory of decision of Italian Football Federa- of updated security to control the

the grounds. Ermanno Licursi, the club ofﬁ- tion chief Luca Pancalli to suspend huge numbers of rowdy spectators.

Italian Football Federation com- cial who died after being attacked all matches indeﬁnitely inspires But when fans sneak weapons,

missioner Luca Pancalli has called while trying to break up a ﬁght at an hope—signalling that the country’s ﬂares, ﬁrecrackers, and bombs

a halt to all football in the country amateur league match in the south- governing body is possibly ready into stadiums, can football still be

for the foreseeable future. ‘Enough ern town of Luzzi. The nationwide to take a hard line to sort out the considered game? Lotito remarks

is enough’, says Pancalli. ‘This is no soul-searching that followed that problem. Now it is up to the club that the security ‘must also serve

longer a sport. All football tourna- incident, however, seemed to have presidents to take action ensuring it as a ﬁlter to diminish the access of

ments will be suspended until we made no difference at all when Pal- doesn’t happen again. the thugs to the stadium zone’, but

solve the problem of violence during ermo took the lead and Catania the violence is not limited to the

matches. It’s unacceptable for such fans started to hurl ﬂares. Tear gas fans without tickets; the seating

incidents to happen in a country and a half-hour suspension failed for ‘ultra’ fans is unapproachable

like Italy. At this moment, I’m not to stop the trouble, which climaxed by the current police force. Even

thinking about the bid, but should when a home-made bomb exploded with a full-time security team,

we lose our 2012 bid for the Euro- in ofﬁcer Filippo Raciti’s face. will football matches become any

pean championships because of this Violence has reached epidemic safer? Let’s hope that something

situation, we’d only be getting what proportions in stadiums throughout changes, so the fans actually have

we deserve’. the country, from the professional a game to go to.

In response to the police ofﬁcer’s league down to amateur level.

tragic death, Catania president Anto- Brawls, ﬂares, ﬁre-crackers and

nio Pulvirenti has vowed to quit the explosives abound. During the last

club as quickly as possible. He told few weeks, Fiorentina fans stabbed

News in BRIEF

Funeral of the assasinated oﬃcer

■

Motor GP Manning guides

Colts to victory

ROSSI PENS NEW YAMAHA DEAL Indianapolis beat Chicago 29-

17 to win Super Bowl XLI in rain-

hit Miami. The Colts conceded

V alentino Rossi has conﬁrmed

that he will stay with Yamaha

until the end of the 2008 Moto GP

can just concentrate on racing this

season’, said Rossi.

Despite missing out on last

a touchdown from the opening

kick-off, but overcame a 14-6

ﬁrst-quarter deﬁcit to triumph

season. The 27-year-old Italian has year’s world title due to a mixture of against the Bears at Dolphin

been thinking of a possible switch mechanical failures and a crash at Stadium.

to four-wheeled motor sport at the the season ﬁnale in Valencia, Rossi

end of his current deal. Prior to the believes that Yamaha’s overall per- ■

team’s Sepang test in Malaysia, the formances were key in convincing Abu Dhabi gets Grand Prix

ﬁve-time world champion said that him to stay. ‘The past three years Formula One Management

re-signing with the Japanese manu- with Yamaha have been very positive has recently announced that

facturer was the ideal situation for and this is why I am pleased to stay. I

Abu Dhabi, the capital city of

him. ‘I’m very happy to have renewed have great faith in the team and I am

the United Arab Emirates, has

my contract with Yamaha until the very excited about my future and the

future of the 800cc bike’. secured the rights to host a For-

end of 2008. It means that now, I

mula One Grand Prix in 2009.

8

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

Movie REVIEWS

Movies in English showing in Florence

by James Douglas Weeks 8 February - 22 February 2007

Thursday February 8 Tuesday February 13 Monday February 19 Wednesday February 21

ODEON THEATRE ODEON THEATRE ODEON THEATRE BRITISH INSTITUTE

DREAMGIRLS AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH STRANGER THAN FICTION Femmes Fatales

BODY HEAT

Bill Condon’s adaptation of the 1981 ‘You owe it to yourself to see this ﬁlm.

Broadway show Dreamgirls is a big- If you do not, and you have grand- Sizzling neo-noir thriller with Kathleen

production musical given the lavish, children, you should explain to them Turner as the femme fatale treading in

big-screen treatment that visually at why you decided not to’. So says the footsteps of many predecessors as

least may make up for its alleged short- eminent ﬁlm reviewer Roger Ebert in she lures her lover into a plot to kill her

falls in the musical department. Sup- a dramatic departure from his mea- husband. With more than a hint of the

posed to be, but not conﬁrmed to be, sured, impartial style. And he under- classic Double Indemnity, Lawrence

the story of the rise to mainstream suc- lines the impending catastrophe now Kasdan’s Body Heat (1981) holds its

cess of The Supremes and manager more than ever in the news that global own as ‘great trash’—taut, convincing,

Berry Gordy Jr.’s Motown Records in warming represents. Al Gore’s envi- sexy, suspenseful and darkly satisfying.

the 1960s, the movie chronicles the ronmental campaign laid out the facts

on- and off-stage lives of the trio. Jen- and let the audience draw the obvious

nifer Hudson’s showstopper ‘And I Am conclusion. Davis Guggenheim’s ﬁlm

Telling You I Am Not Going’ has had of this campaign, An Inconvenient

the critics scurrying for superlatives. Truth, serves to reinforce the point. At last, a movie with a mind! Marc

An alarming and essential documen- Forster’s intriguing Stranger than

tary that reminds us of what it is to be Fiction is the story of Harold Crick

human. A global warning. (Will Ferrell) who hears the narrative

Monday February 12 of his life from a mysterious voice in

his head. This intelligent and funny

ODEON THEATRE examination of the intertwining of ﬁc-

Wednesday February 14 tion and reality has a particularly ﬁne

THE HOLIDAY performance from Emma Thompson

as the novelist whose ﬁction becomes

BRITISH INSTITUTE Crick’s reality. It may be the familiar ter-

ritory of interfaces opened up by the Thursday February 22

Femmes Fatales likes of Woody Allen and more recently

BAD TIMING Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation) but For-

ster’s movie is consistently inventive,

ODEON THEATRE

Nicolas Roeg’s 1980 neo-noir Bad thought-provoking and entertaining.

Timing has memorable perfor- BREAKING AND ENTERING

mances from his wife Theresa Rus-

sell as Milena Flaherty, troubled Tuesday February 20

femme fatale, and Art Garfunkel

as her hapless victim. Fragmented ODEON THEATRE

time lines, Viennese location, edgy

soundtrack and an array of unpleas-

ant characters, even a strangely BOBBY

subdued Harvey Keitel as the police Emilio Estevez’s

inspector, make this a challenging Bobby is the story

and disturbing exercise in obsession of the assassina-

and despair. The distributors tried to tion of Senator

pull the plug on it at release, calling it Robert Kennedy

‘sick’, ‘depraved’, etc. at the Ambas- Anthony Minghella’s Breaking and

sador Hotel, Los Entering takes the urban transition

Grisly romantic comedy from the Angeles in 1968. zone of London’s King’s Cross redevel-

queen of the chick ﬂick, Nancy Meyers’ Ladling 60s ideal- opment area for its locale. And it is in

The Holiday is an overstuffed turkey Thursday February 15 ism and liberal politics into his script this everyman’s land of contemporary

of a movie that bizarrely gets its Italian and direction, Estevez takes the inter- London that the parallel and intersect-

release way off season. However, even ODEON THEATRE linked stories of 22 hotel staff and ing lives of a representative cross-sec-

the most generous Christmas cheer guests who witnessed the event and tion of London life play out their sto-

would barely rescue this hopelessly STEP UP in the Altman-like ensemble mosaic ries: Jude Law as Will, the high-ﬂying

miscast (Jack Black as romantic hero!), pieces together the spirit of the age. architect; Miro, the Bosnian refugee

woefully misconceived transatlantic Clichéd crowd-pleasing dance movie With an extraordinarily high-powered and athletic cat burglar; Amira (Juliette

tryst tripe. Despite superior British for hip hop tweenies who didn’t get cast and a passionate appeal for peace Binoche), his mother; Oana, the Rus-

cast (Winslet, Law, Sewell) and given West Side Story, Footloose or Fame. and justice, the movie impacts mov- sian prostitute; and more. The charac-

the limitations of the incompetent Diaz, For them Step Up may be a step up. ingly in our time, and the presence of ters learn to live together and say ‘I’m

Meyers’ dull script and the movie’s idi- For others an unusually chaste and Kennedy himself in authentic newsreel sorry’ when circumstances demand

otic premise, the director’s talents are unchallenging urban fairy tale. footage rather than in the performance apology as the only way forward.

wasted on mindless frivolity so lame it of an actor adds resonance to the trag-

can barely move. For sad singles only. edy of lost promise.

What’s on & Where to Go 9

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

The Florentine cannot be responsible for changes in program details.

Events in FLORENCE FEB 9 TO FEB 22

mbership card necessary

n GUIDED TOURS

OUR TOP PICKS FRIDAY 9

Antica Farmacia di S.Maria Novella

t tt n DANCE

da Tango a Sirtaki

Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 15.00, info and

booking 335-5312904

VINOLIO 2007 – Food and wine trade expo – February 9–11 A tribute to Zorba, with Raffaele Paganini n MARKETS & FESTIVALS

Fortezza da Basso Teatro Verdi, via Ghibellina 99, tel.

055.212320, www.teatroverdiﬁrenze.it, Vinolio

With Vinolio in its ﬁrst year, the expo hopes to become an important national and international See Feb 9

20.45

reference point for the wine, olive oil and gastronomic sectors. More than 4,000 businesses and

accredited buyers will gather within the 50,000 square meters of the Fortress. The Florence trade n MARKETS & FESTIVALS n MUSIC & CONCERTS

expo will showcase the world’s most recent technological inventions, and support the biodiversity Vinolio Bonsoir Joli Monsieur

typical of agricultural traditions in Italian production. Not just a trade fair for buying and selling, Wine and oil, agricultural and food fair Pinocchio Jazz Club c/o Associazione Le Vie

Vinolio is a worldwide cultural event which uses the city of Florence as its stage. Fortezza da Basso tel. 05549721 - Nuove, v.le Giannotti 13, tel. 055.683388,

055496404 - www.ﬁrenze-expo.it, 9-20 www.pinocchiojazz.it, 22.00

Carmen Consoli

AREZZO WAVE BAND 2007– February 16, Prato n MUSIC & CONCERTS Nelson Mandela Forum (ex Palasport), via-

On February 16, the Arezzo Wave Foundation will present the winners of the live regional contest Alter*nite le Pasquale Paoli, tel. 055.678841, www.

Arezzo Wave Band 2007. This event aims to discover innovative musical talents that will perform rock, techno, goth, drum & bass mandelaforum.it, 21.00, € 21-35

in the Italia Wave event scheduled for July 2007. Regional contests began in January and will Ippodromo Le mulina, 22.00 Circuito 4 piste

continue until the middle of March. Each region will be able to present one winning band for the Jeffrey Tate Reggae-roots, rock-cartoons, goa-trance,

July ‘play-off’ ﬁnals. For more information call 0574-1836753 or visit www.arrezzowave.com. Pelle Carlberg house

Sintetika, Via Luigi Alamanni 4, info 333- Ippodromo Le mulina, 22.00

PRESIDENT’S DAY COMMEMORATION – February 19, 5:30pm 3591575, www.sintetikalive.it, 22.00, mem- Marc Andrè Hamelin, piano

Salone Brunelleschi, Palagio di Parte Guelfa bership only Teatro della Pergola, via della Pergola, 18,

Six Dixiers tel. 055.22641, www.pergola.ﬁrenze.it,

The monument dedicated to George Washington, located in Parco delle Cascine’s Piazzale Ken- 16.00

nedy, has received a much needed make-over. The restoration project, sponsored by the Tuscan Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel.

055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 Nobody’s Perfect: Pikaya Live + Alex

American Association, will be presented on February 19 at Palagio di Parte Guelfa in com- Neri

memoration of President’s Day and Washington’s 275th birthday celebration. Event speakers St. Thomas the Apostle Church Choir

(United States) Tenax, via Pratese 46, tel. 055.308160,

include International Relations Councilor Eugenio Giani, U.S. Consul General, Nora Dempsey 22.30

A. Vivaldi, W. A. Mozart, G. F. Händel mu-

and architect Claudio Cestelli. The Tuscan-American Association is an independent non-proﬁt sic Norge - Led Zeppelin Tribute Night

organization founded in 1996. Its mission is ‘to deepen and broaden ties and promote cultural Chiesa di San Marco, via Maggio 18, www. Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b

and economic exchange between the United States and Tuscany’. For more information visit: amicimusicasacra.com,18.00 tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30

segreteria@toscana-usa.org. Tony Levin & California Guitar trio Sound power funk

Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel.

STING IN CONCERT –February 21, Teatro Verdi tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30 055.2479700, 22.15, € 7

Sting, accompanied by renowned lute-player, Edin Karamazov, has announced a much-awaited

European tour to promote his latest album, ‘Songs from the Labyrinth’. A personal tribute to Eli-

n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Tricobalto

rock, psychedelic and funk music

zabethan composer John Dowland (1563–1626), the album has achieved enormous success wor- Laboratorio Zelig Sintetika, Via Luigi Alamanni 4, info 333-

Teatro 13, Via Nicolodi 2, 21.15, €10/7 3591575, www.sintetikalive.it, 22.00, mem-

ld-wide both from the critics and the general public, debuting at the top of the world’s charts.

Paolo Rossi in “Chiamatemi Kowalski bership only

SNEAK PREVIEW – Chianti Classico 2006 – February 21, Florence

- Evolution”

Saschall, Lungarno Aldo Moro 3, tel. n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted)

Join the 100-plus producers of Chianti classico at the Chianti Classico wine-tasting. Participants 055.6504112, www.saschall.it, 21.00 I barroccini di via dell’Ariento

Pep Bou: il mago delle bolle di sapo- see ongoing

can enjoy a sneak preview of 2005–2006 wines as well as those on the 2004 reserve list. Oil-

lovers can also enjoy samples of DOP oils from the 2006 harvest. For information and booking ne I’ ﬁgliolo di prete

call: 055/8228523 Teatro di Rifredi, via Vittorio Emanuele II in vernacular, see ongoing

303, tel. 055.4220361, www.toscanatea- La macellara

tro.it, 21.00 see ongoing

PEP BOU: the soap bubble magician – February 8-10

Teatro Rifredi –Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 303 Serata gasp! Pep Bou: il mago delle bolle di sapo-

cabaret, theatre and music ne

Pep Bou’s shows are based on the creation of soap bubbles. Each bubble takes on a life of its Scantinato - la casa del teatro, Via San Do- see Feb 8

own, becoming an actor of sorts as it ﬂoats over the stage. Pep Bou’s style of theatre alludes to the menico 51, info 055-573857, 21.15

Serata gasp!

transparent nature of the bubbles and the characters who blow and pop them. The inhabitants of Trappola per topi see Feb 9

his imaginary world illustrate the fragile nature of the human condition. His third time at Teatro Teatro Le Laudi, via L. da Vinci 2r, tel. THEATRE

di Rifredi, Pep Bou has always worked magic on enthralled audiences. 055.572831, www.caspi.it/teatri/defaul-

tLaudi.htm, 21.00, Sun 17.00 Trappola per topi

see Feb 9

WALKER EVANS EXHIBIT – Until March 11

Museo Nazionale Alinari della Fotograﬁa (MNAF

SATURDAY 10 SUNDAY 11

Piazza S.M.Novella 14/a rosso - Leopoldine

Photography lovers can line up at the Alinari National Museum of Photography, an offshoot of n DANCE n GUIDED TOURS

the historic Alinari Brothers’ company, to view the interesting retrospective by Walker Evans. Un- Au cafè

til March 11, the American photographer known for his visual documentation of rural America Teatro Verdi, via Ghibellina 99, tel. I crinali del Chianti: da Gaville alla Ba-

during the Great Depression will be on display for all eyes to enjoy. For more information call: 055.212320, www.teatroverdiﬁrenze.it, diaccia a Montemuro

20.45, on Sun 16.45 trekking, starting point Bagno A ripoli,

05523951 or visit: www.alinarifondazione.it 6.00

10 What’s on & Where to Go

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

Events in FLORENCE FEB 9 TO FEB 22

Gruppo Trekking di Bagno a Ripoli, www.

trekkingbagnoaripoli.it, info 335.8483345

see ongoing Fortezza Antiquaria - antique market

Piazza Indipendenza, info 055.3283550 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted)

Lina Sastri in “Corpo Celeste” Cochi e Renato in “Nuotando con le la-

or 055.633058 see ongoing n MUSIC & CONCERTS crime agli occhi”

n MARKETS & FESTIVALS All For Col Musical comedy

Santo Spirito Fair WEDNESDAY 14 Pinocchio Jazz Club c/o Associazione Le Vie Teatro Verdi, via Ghibellina 99, tel.

055.212320, www.teatroverdiﬁrenze.it,

Piazza S.Spirito, info 055.27051, all day Nuove, v.le Giannotti 13, tel. 055.683388,

20.45

Vinolio n LECTURES & CONFERENCES www.pinocchiojazz.it, 22.00

See Feb 9 Love, love, love: readings and music Circuito 4 piste

n MUSIC & CONCERTS for St Valentine’s day see Feb 10 TUESDAY 20

This programme will bring together readin- European Electronic Techno Festival

Carmen Consoli

see Feb 10

gs and music for St Valentine’s day Fortezza da Basso, v.le Strozzi 1, tel. n CINEMA

The British Institute of Florence, Library and 055.4455280, www.ﬁrenze-expo.it, from Bobby

Endless Medley Cultural Centre Lungarno Guicciardini 9, 22.30, all night (in English)

aperitivo and music 7€ info 055.26778270, 18.00, admission free Giardini di Mirò Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel.

Decamerone, viale Lavagnini 40r, 19.00

Il principio dell’errore

n MUSIC & CONCERTS Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b

tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30

055.214068, www.cinehall.it,

15.30 – 17.50 – 20.10 – 22.30

Shows

acoustic Italian rock Festa di San Valentino

Circolo Arci Faliero Pucci, via G. D’Annun- Candlelight dinner, reservations only. The elegant gypsy quartet

Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel.

n GUIDED TOURS

zio 182, Mensola, 22.00 Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel. Behind closed doors of the famous

055.2479700, 22.15, € 30 055.2479700, 22.15, € 7

Jeffrey Tate Teatro Comunale

Gli infradito Vadim Repin & Nikolai Lugansky Corso Italia 12, info and booking 055-

see feb 9 violin and piano

Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, tel. Tex-Mex and lounge blues 461428, 9.30

Rex Café, via Fiesolana, 25, 22.00, free Teatro della Pergola, via della Pergola, 18,

055.213535, www.maggioﬁorentino.com,

20.30, Sun 16.30

tel. 055.22641, www.pergola.ﬁrenze.it, n MARKETS & FESTIVALS

16.00 Mercato delle Cascine

L’incanto del corno THURSDAY 15 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) see Feb 13

horn and piano

Auditorium della Clinica Medica di Careg- n CINEMA La cena dei cretini n MUSIC & CONCERTS

gi, viale Morgagni, www.agimusﬁrenze.it, see Feb 16 Carnevale 2007, Gem Boy

10.30, free Step up

(in English) Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b

Nicola Benedetti & Alison Rhynd

violin and piano

Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel.

055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 16.00

SUNDAY 18 tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30, 8€

Concerto di Carnevale

Saloncino del Teatro della Pergola, via della

Pergola, 18, tel. 055.22641, www.pergola.

– 18.10 – 20.20 – 22.30 n GUIDED TOURS Teatro Verdi, via Ghibellina 99, tel.

ﬁrenze.it, 21.00 n GUIDED TOURS Il Museo Nazionale Alinari della Foto-

055.212320,

21.00

www.teatroverdiﬁrenze.it,

Quartetto di Fiesole & Giovanni Ric- The private passage of the Grand Du- graﬁa

chess into SS. Annunziata Piazza santa Maria Novella, 15.30, info and Grande festa di carnevale

cucci Prize awarded to most orignal mask

Auditorium Sinopoli, Villa La Torraccia, via Piazza SS Annunziata, info and booking booking 335-5312904

Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel.

delle Fontanelle 24, Fiesole, 11.00 055-461428, 10.00 n MARKETS & FESTIVALS 055.2479700, 22.15, € 7

n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES n MARKETS & FESTIVALS 5th edition “Carnevale Fiorentino nel Mia Cooper & Papa’s Gang

Fiorentina vs Udinese Flower market Mondo” Arena Il Girone, Località Il Girone, Fiesole,

National Championship Soccer serie A Via Pellicceria, 8-13 multi-ethnic carnival 21.30

Historical city center, info 055.2768030,

Stadio Comunale Artemio Franchi, 20.30

n MUSIC & CONCERTS from 14.00 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted)

n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Daniel Medeiros & Lanzoni-Spitilli-Ne- Commemorazione dell’Elettrice Pala- Gioie. Frammenti di vita di Anna Maria

Le cognate gri Trio tina Luisa de’ Medici, Elettrice Palatina

Teatro Augusto Novelli c/o Circolo La Rina- a mix of Brasilian music and jazz corteo storico see ongoing

scente, via Ponte a Jozzi 1, località Cascine Rex Café, via Fiesolana, 25, 22.00, free from piazzetta di Parte Guelfa to piazza Si- Giorgio Albertazzi in “Memorie di

del Riccio, 16.15 Marcello Colasurdo e Paranza gnoria, from 10.00 on Adriano”

Trappola per topi Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b Fierucolina Market see ongoing

see Feb 9 tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30 Piazza Santo Spirito, all day

Sunrise jazz orchestra

Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel.

Fortezza Antiquaria - antique market

see Feb 17

WEDNESDAY 21

MONDAY 12 055.2479700, 22.15, € 7

n MUSIC & CONCERTS n DANCE

n CINEMA n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Bianchini, Geroni & Laraia A tribute to Milloss: Estri

The Holiday In alto mare aperitivo and music 7€ Feb 21-March 3 (Feb 23, 26 and March 2

(in English) Teatro Cantiere Florida, via Pisana 111r, tel. Decamerone, viale Lavagnini 40r, 19.00 excluded), Teatro Goldoni, Via Santa Maria

Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 055.573857, www.elsinor.it, 21.00, €5/7 15, tel. 055.2335518, 20.30, Sun 15.30

Il ﬂauto all’Opera

055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 16.00

– 19.00 – 22.00

Quella del piano di sopra ﬂute and piano n LECTURES & CONFERENCES

see ongoing Auditorium della Clinica Medica di Careg- Siân Ede: Art and science: how con-

Quix. Un Don Quixote contemporaneo gi, viale Morgagni, www.agimusﬁrenze.it, temporary art is reﬂecting the obses-

10.30, free

TUESDAY 13 see ongoing sion with science

Stefan Anton Reck Siân Ede is Arts Director of the United Kin-

n CINEMA FRIDAY 16

see Feb 16 gdom branch of the Calouste Gulbenkian

Trio Altenberg Foundation, and author of Art and Scien-

An Inconvenient Truth ce.

Saloncino del Teatro della Pergola, via della

(in English)

Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel.

n MUSIC & CONCERTS Pergola, 18, tel. 055.22641, www.pergola. The British Institute of Florence, Library and

Alter*nite ﬁrenze.it, 21.00 cultural center, Lungarno Guicciardini 9,

055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 16.00 info 055.26778270, 18.00, admission free

see Feb 9

– 18.10 – 20.20 – 22.30

Festa di azione gay & lesbica

n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES n MARKETS & FESTIVALS

n GUIDED TOURS Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b Everlast Mabo Firenze - Hatria Basket

Atri Anteprima Vini Chianti Classico Gallo

The stained class windows of St. Ja- tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30 Nero 2006

mes Church basketball

Jazz & Friends Nelson Mandela Forum (ex Palasport), via- Stazione Leopolda, viale Fratelli Rosselli 5,

Via Rucellai 9, info and booking 055- Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel. tel. 055.212622, www.stazione-leopolda.it,

461428, 15.30 le Pasquale Paoli, tel. 055.678841, www.

055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 mandelaforum.it, 18.00 14-20

n MARKETS & FESTIVALS Stefan Anton Reck Everlast Mabo Firenze - Hatria Basket n MUSIC & CONCERTS

Mercato delle Cascine Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, tel. Atri

055.213535, www.maggioﬁorentino.com, Martino Fantasma (alive folk)

Clothing, leather, fruit, shoes, ﬂowers, hou- basketball Rex Café, via Fiesolana, 25, 22.00, free

sehold appliances 20.30, Sun 16.30 Nelson Mandela Forum (ex Palasport), via-

Parco delle Cascine, 8-13 Three In One Gentlemen Suit le Pasquale Paoli, tel. 055.678841, www. Masuk Chamber Choir (United States)

Sintetika, Via Luigi Alamanni 4, info 333- mandelaforum.it, at 18.00 Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Ricci, via del Cor-

n MUSIC & CONCERTS 3591575, www.sintetikalive.it, 22.00, mem- so, tel. 055.289367, 19.00

Jam session + House band bership only n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Sting

Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel. La cena dei cretini Teatro Verdi, via Ghibellina 99, tel.

055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) see Feb 16 055.212320, www.teatroverdiﬁrenze.it,

Jazz Engine In alto mare 20.45, 35-75€

Arena Il Girone, Località Il Girone, Fiesole, see Feb 15

21.30 La cena dei cretini

MONDAY 19 That’s all jazz

Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel.

Teatro Everest, via Volterrana 4 c/d , tel. 055.2479700, 22.15, € 7

Live music with Flamenco by Luis Car-

055.2321754, www.teatroeverest.it, 21.00 n CINEMA

dillano

O’ Munaciello, Via Mafﬁa 31r, 21,00 Stranger than ﬁction n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted)

(in English) Miserabili. Io e Margaret Thatcher

n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) SATURDAY 17 Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. Saschall, Lungarno Aldo Moro 3, tel.

Il Vangelo secondo Gesù Cristo 055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 3.30 055.6504112, www.saschall.it, 21.00

n MARKETS & FESTIVALS – 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30

What’s on & Where to Go 11

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Events in FLORENCE FEB 9 TO FEB 22

THURSDAY 22

Toxic “Respect or Die”

New Paintings

free, La Corte Arte Contemporanea, via de’

Coverelli 27r, tel. 055.284435, www.lacor- n NIGHTLIFE

Until Feb 16, 15-19, Sergio Tossi Arte Con- tearte.it Ambasciata di Marte

n CINEMA temporanea, Via Pindemonte 63, info 055 Opere 1950-2006 by Vasco Bendini See web for Music program and concerts

All year, Ambasciata di Marte, Via Mannel-

Breaking and Entering 2286163 Until March 31, 10-13, 14.30-19.30, Frittel-

Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, Elettrice li Arte Contemporanea, via Val di Marina 15, li 2 , Campo di Marte, info 055-6550786,

(in English) www.ambasciatadimarte.org, member only,

Odeon CineHall, piazza Strozzi, tel. Palatina info 055.410153

Until April 15, Palazzo Pitti, Galleria Palati- h 22.00

055.214068, www.cinehall.it, Shows 15X15. 15 galleries and 15 artists

15.30 – 17.50 – 20.10 – 22.30 na, info 055.2388614, www.polomuseale. Contemporary art exhibit Caruso Jazz Cafè

ﬁrenze.it Jazz nights

n GUIDED TOURS Egyptian Motifs in the ‘English’ Ceme-

From Feb 15 to April 16, 9.30.18.30, free,

Forte di Belvedere, info 055.2645356 Via Lambertesca 14/16r, info 055 281940,

Fondazione Giorgio La Pira tery. Hope of Life after Death www.carusojazzcafe.com

Via La Pira, info and booking 055-461428, Carnevale con gli artisti

Until May 27, Mon 14-19; Tue and Thu Works of painting and sculpture from va- Champagneria

15.00 8.30-19; Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun 8.30-14, Pizza, disco,pub, pop and rock music

rious Italian regions and abroad

Archaeological Museum, Via della Colonna Via Villamagna 71, Candeli (Bagno a Ripoli,

n MARKETS & FESTIVALS 36, www.beniculturali.it, info 055-23575

From Feb 20 to March 20, Caffè Decò,

Firenze) info 055 632815, www.champa-

Piazza della Libertà, info 335-7010657

Flower market Free entrance to the city museums for gneria.it, music on Fri and Sat, free entran-

see Feb 15 Desiderio da Settignano. La scoperta ce

residents della grazia nella scultura del Rinasci-

n MUSIC & CONCERTS In the afternoon on the last Saturday of the

month, Musei Comunali info 055.2768224

mento Golden View

Restaurant with music, every Sun, Mon and

“O la bossa o la vita!” From Feb 22 to June 3, Museo Naziona-

Fashion and style. Interpretations of le del Bargello, via del Proconsolo 4, tel. Wed live jazz music

Bossa Nova and Brasilian music Via dei bardi 58r, info 055 214502

Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, tel. fashion in history 055.294883, www.polomuseale.ﬁrenze.it

055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 Hidden wealth. An artistic collection of the Jazz Club

Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova n GUIDED TOURS jazz nights

Crowpath Until June 2008, 8.45-13.50, Palazzo Pitti, Planetarium: meetings with the public Jazz Club, via Nuova de’ Caccini 3, info

Ambasciata di Marte, via Mannelli 2, tel. Galleria del Costume, info 055.2388713 2006, from January to May and from Octo- 055.2479700, 22.15, € 7

055.6550786, www.ambasciatadimarte. ber to December ( on Thursdays and on

org., 23.00, free Young Stylists for Calcutta Maracanà

A selection of clothing from the pieces re- Sundays), Planetario, via G. Giusti 29, info Disco-risto-show

Slow Train Soul (Z Star & Pudddu Va- ceived in donation for vintage charity auc- 0552343723 www.fstﬁrenze.it Via Faenza, 4 - Firenze Info-line:

rano UK) tion Artisans of the Oltrarno, in search of 055.210298, www.maracana.it

Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b Until Feb 28, Palazzo Pitti, Palazzina della artistic craftsmanship

tel. 055.487145, www.ﬂog.it, 21.30, 8€ Pinocchio Jazz Club

Meridiana, piazza Pitti 1, tel. 055.294883 Genuine Florentine artisan traditions jazz nights

Tell Mama Walker Evans Info 055.3036108, www.ﬁrenze-oltrarno. Pinocchio Jazz Club c/o Associazione Le Vie

Janis Joplin tribute American PhotoJournalist net, all year Nuove, v.le Giannotti 13, tel. 055.683388,

Rex Café, via Fiesolana, 25, 22.00, free Until March 11, MNAF - Museo Nazionale Guided visits by Associazione Akropo- www.pinocchiojazz.it, 22.00

n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) Alinari della Fotograﬁa, Piazza S.M.Novella

14/a r, tel. 055.23951, www.alinarifonda-

lis

January 11, 16, 20, 23, 25, 27, 30, tel.

Tenax

Alessandro Preziosi in “Datemi tre ca- Disco

zione.it 055461428 - http://It.geocities.com/asso- Tenax, via Pratese 46, tel. 055.308160

ravelle!” ciazione_akropolis

see ongoing Un ponte sul Mediterraneo. Leonardo reggae-roots + rock-cartoons + goa-

Pisano, the science of Arabia and the Hortibus Collection & Garden tours trance + house

birth of Western mathematics Starting point: piazza S.Trinita, every Thur Le Mulina Race Course (trot racing) V..le del

ON GOING Until March 10, Locali del Museo di Sto- and Sat at 15.00, info 348.9100783, www. Pegaso, price: € 5,00, info 335-6070924

ria Naturale, Borgo degli Albizi 28, tel. hortibus.com, € 25, all year

n EXHIBITS 055.7879594, www.archimede.ms Itinerari e Incontri n PARKS

Sasha Sosno & Vladimir Kara “Presen- Lo specchio della memoria Guided visits, book presentations, and con- Boboli Garden

za - Assenza” Photo exhibition of polaroids by Andrei ferences Piazza Pitti, from nov to February h 8,15 to

Until Dec 31, 16-19.30, closed Mon. & Tarkovsky on the occasion of the 20th an- Associazione Akropolis, Info 055461428, 16,30 (17,30 during march), from april to

Hols, FYR Arte Contemporanea, Borgo de- niversary of death. http://it.geocites.com/associazione_akro- oct h 8,15 to 18,30, entrance 8€ info 055

gli Albizi 23, info 055.2343351, www.fyr.it Until Feb 18, Archivio Storico del Co- polis/ all year 2651838

mune di Firenze, via dell’Oriuolo 33, info Baluardo a San Giorgio Villa Peyron

Mostra on line “Die Flut” Alluvione 055.2345943, www.comune.ﬁ.it/archivio-

1966 Every last Sunday of the month, 9.30-12.30, via Vincigliata 2 Fiesole, info 055 454791

storico/main.ht info 055-2616051, free

Photo by Ivo Bazzichi

From now on’ by May Cornet n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES

Until March 31, Kunsthistorische Institut di

Firenze, info 055.27681 Untill Feb 28, 10-13, 14.30-19, Galleria n MARKETS & FESTIVALS Firenze Moms 4 Moms Network

Bagnai, Via Coluccio Salutati, www.galle- Ciompi Antique fair (in English) for many exciting events such

Marmo d’Arte a Firenze riabagnai.it Piazza de’ Ciompi, info 055.3283550, eve- as Playgroups, Mom’s Night Out, Couples

Until March 30, 9.30-12.30; 14.30-18.00, ry week day and last Sunday of the month Night Out and more

Parco d’Arte E. Pazzagli, Via Sant’Andrea a Femmes d’autrefois

paintings by Medea Mercato del Porcellino For English Speaking Moms in Florence

Rovezzano 5 and the surrounding areas: check out this

Until Feb 22, Maison Dumitru, B.go Pinti Florentine crafts with straw, hand-made em-

Furini - La Notte del Barocco 25R, info maisondumitru@libero.it broidery, leather, woodwork,and ﬂowers link http://www.ﬁrenzemoms4moms.net/ .

Until April 1, Museo degli Argenti di Palazzo Logge del Porcellino, every day, all day Form more information: infotiscali@ﬁrenzem

Pitti, piazza Pitti 1, info 055.294883 Il Rinascimento dei bambini oms4moms.net or call # 333-572-8945.

Until March 31, Istituto degli Innocenti - tel. Mercato San Lorenzo

Archeologia e restauro in Toscana 055203711 Florentine crafts, hand-made embroidery, Mudi Lab - workshops and daily play

Until Feb 28, Mon 14-19; Tue and Thur paper, leather etc courses

8.30-19; Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun 8.30-14, Il Re Bello e la sua Corte Every day 9am.-6pm., Istituto degli Inno-

Bozzetti, elementi scenici e costumi del- Streets around Basilica San Lorenzo, every

Museo Archeologico, Via della Colonna, 36 day, all day centi LA BOTTEGA DEI RAGAZZI, via dei

l’opera Il Re Bello. Fibbiai 2 - tel. 0552478386 - www.istituto-

C’era una volta... Pinocchio at Palazzo Until Feb 25, Teatro della Pergola, via della Christmas in the different area di-

Pitti. deglinnocenti.it

Pergola 18, tel. 055.22641, www.pergola. stricts

Drawings and book exhibition ﬁrenze.it Until February 17, 2007, Various locations - Trotting race

Until March 25, 8.15-18.50, Galleria d’Arte info Q.1-Q.2-Q.3-Q.4-Q.5 - www.comune. February 9, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21 Ippodromo

Moderna, Palazzo Pitti, info 055.2388720, Lo spirito delle cose by Roberta Cro- Le Mulina - info 0554226076 - www.ippo-

cioni ﬁ.it

www.polomuseale.ﬁrenze.it city.com

Back to Folk

Until Feb 22, 11-13, 15.30-19.30, Galleria

del Palazzo Palazzo Coveri, Lungarno Guic-

n MUSIC & CONCERTS Trotting race

Collective drawing exhibition (Raymond ciardini 19, info 055.281044, www.galleria- Jazz...do it! February 2, 4, 7 Ippodromo Le Mulina - info

Pettibon, Marcel Dzama, Vanni, Cuoghi, delpalazzo.com Jazz & contemporary 0554226076 - www.ippocity.com

Enrico Vezzi, Matteo Fato) organised by

Ivan Quaroni Non per caso by Daniel Spoerri

Caruso Jazz Café, via Lambertesca, 14/16r

, info 055-281940, www.dulcisinfundo.org, n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted)

Until Feb 17, Galleria Daniele ugolini Until April 29, Centro per l’Arte Contempo- www.carusojazzcafe.com, h 21.30 La macellara

Contemporary, via Montebello 22r, tel. ranea Luigi Pecci, v.le della Repubblica 277, Feb 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 21.00, Sun

Prato, tel. 0574.5317, www.centropecci.it Organ concerts

055.2654183, www.ugoliniart.com

Every day at 9.15 pm; on Saturdays at 6pm, 16.30, € 6/8, Teatro Il Palco, Piazza Elia

Creatività a colori Personale di puntesecche di Antonio Chiesa S.Maria de’ Ricci info 055215044 dalla Costa 26, tel. 055.6810496, www.

Until Feb 28, 9-13 e 14-18, Museo Sal- Manzi teatroilpalco.com

vatore Ferragamo, via Tornabuoni 2, tel. Until Feb 13, Archivio di Stato, viale Giovine Concerts at St. Mark’s English Church

The “Orpheus Ensemble” presents sacred I barroccini di via dell’Ariento

055.3360456, www.museoferragamo.it Italia 6, tel. 055.244422 Feb 10-11, 17-18, 21.15, Sun 16.15,

music, Italian opera arias and Neapolitan

Gli animali di Pinocchio Gianni Rodari nel mondo Songs with piano and voice €11, Teatro Nuovo, via Fanfani 16, tel.

works of Gaudenzio Nazario and the chil- Exhibition of foreign editions by Rodari St. Mark’s English Church, Via Maggio 16- 055.413067

dren’s publications from the ﬁrst half of the Until March 31, Museo Marino Marini, Piaz- 18, info 340.8119192, every day at 21.15, I’ ﬁgliolo di prete

19th century.. zo San Pancrazio, tel. 055.219432, www. €15, for The Florentine readers € 10 (Mon- in vernacular

Until Feb 28, 9-18.30; Sat 9-13.30, Biblio- museomarinomarini.it days free piano recital) Feb 10-11, 17-18, 21.00, Sun 16.30, Tea-

teca Marucelliana, via Cavour 43-47, tel. Pitture e Collage dell’artista ﬁorentino tro di Cestello, Piazza del Cestello, 4, tel.

055.2722200, www.maru.ﬁrenze.sbn.it Organ and instrumental concerts

Angelo Pontecorboli Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Ricci, via del 055.294609, www.teatrodicestello.tbo.it

Although it is not my profession. Drawings, collages, graphics and designs Corso, info 055.289367, all year, Mon-Sun Lina Sastri in “Corpo Celeste”

Michelangelo and the architectural Until Feb 27, 9-17, free, SACI Gallery Studio 21.15, Sat 18.00, €11 Feb 13-18, 20.45, Sun 15.45, Teatro

drawing Art Centers International, Palazzo dei Car- della Pergola, via della Pergola, 18, tel.

Until March 19, Casa Buonarroti, via Ghi- telloni, via S. Antonino 11, tel. 055.289948, Ascolti musica. Concerts

From January 25 to June 2m Scandicci Tea- 055.22641, www.pergola.ﬁrenze.it

bellina 70, info 055-241752, 9.30-14, www.saci-ﬂorence.org

tro Studio tel. 055757348 - www.scandic- Il Vangelo secondo Gesù Cristo

www.casabuonarroti.it, € 6,50 Anamnesi by Claudia Ballesio cicultura.org

Until March 5, 16-19, closed Sun and Mon,

12 What’s on & Where to Go

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

Events in FLORENCE FEB 9 TO FEB 22

Feb 13-18, 21.00, Sun 16.45, Teatro Puc- Festa di Carnevale Montegrappa 138, Prato Feb 11, 18, 20, Ruﬁna, tel. 055.8399014,

cini, via delle Cascine 41, tel. 055.362067, Masks and performances Artisti Amici dei Musei all day

www.teatropuccini.it Feb 17, 17.00, Teatro del Crc Antella, Via Until Feb 28, 10-13, 15-18, Tues closed, Carnevale mugellano

Quella del piano di sopra Pulicciano 53, Antella Cassero Medievale, viale Piave, Prato Feb 11, 18, 20, Borgo San Lorenzo, histori-

Feb 15-18, 20.45, Sun 16.45, Teatro Verdi, Le avventure di fagiolino Kashmir: The 5 senses cal center, from 15.00

via Ghibellina 99, tel. 055.212320, www. Feb 10, 17.00, Auditorium Gianni Rodari, Until March 5, €6, closed on Tues, Museo Carnevale nella Firenze dei Medici e

teatroverdiﬁrenze.it Via G. Lorca 1, La Villa, Campi Bisenzio del Tessuo, via Santa Chiara 24, Prato, dei Lorena

Quix. Un Don Quixote contemporaneo I musicanti di Brema 0574 611503, www.museodetessuto.it Light shows and dancing

Feb 15-19, Feb 25-26, 21.00, Teatro Puc- Feb 10, 16.00, Castello, via R. Giuliani 374, Scatti violenti Feb 11, Antico Spedale del Bigallo, Via

cini, via delle Cascine 41, tel. 055.362067, Rifredi Photograﬁc exhibition about violence throu- Bigallo e Apparita 14, Bagno a Ripoli, info

www.teatropuccini.it Notizie dal matrimonio di Cenerentola gh the movies from Pasolini to Tarantino. 334-2007438, www.bigallo.it, from 20.00,

Giorgio Albertazzi in “Memorie di Feb 10, 16.30, Teatro Cantiere Florida, via Until May 13, Foyer del teatro della Limo- prenotazione obbligatoria

Adriano” Pisana 111r, tel. 055.573857, www.elsinor. naia, via Gramsci 426, Sesto Fiorentino, tel. Fierucola delle bigonge

Feb 20-25, 20.45, Sun 15.45, Teatro it, €5/7 055.440852 - www.teatrodellalimonaia.it Feb 11, Piazza del Comune e Piazza Buona-

della Pergola, via della Pergola, 18, tel. Il gatto mammone Non per caso by Daniel Spoerri mici, Prato, 9-19

055.22641, www.pergola.ﬁrenze.it Feb 11, 17.00, Teatro Moderno ARCI, Via Until April 29, 10-19, Tues closed, Centro Fiera di Carnevale

Gioie. Frammenti di vita di Anna Maria Gramsci 5, Tavarnuzze per l’Arte Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, v.le Feb 11, 18, San Mauro a Signa city center,

Luisa de’ Medici, Elettrice Palatina Cappuccetto Rosso della Repubblica 277, Prato, tel. 0574.5317, all day

Feb 20-25, 21.15, Sun 17.00, Salone Do- Feb 11, 16.30, Teatro Cantiere Florida, via www.centropecci.it

natello, sotterranei di San Lorenzo, info Week-end of February 17-18

Pisana 111r, tel. 055.573857, www.elsinor. Tribute to Boccaccio. Painting exhibi-

055-6120205, €12 it, €5/7 tion Carnival festival

Alessandro Preziosi in “Datemi tre ca- from February 18 to March 31, Certaldo (Fi- Feb 10, 17, 20, Piazza Vittorio Veneto, Se-

Baracche e burattini sto Fiorentino, tel. 055.4496357, all day

ravelle!” 10th Annual Children’s Theatre Festival renze) Palazzo Pretorio tel. 0571661219

Feb 22-25, 20.45, Sun 16.45, Teatro Verdi, Feb. 10,17, 16.00, € 4,00, Castello, via R. - www.comune.certaldo.ﬁ.it Carnival parade

via Ghibellina 99, tel. 055.212320, www. Feb 11, 18, 20, Ruﬁna, tel. 055.8399014,

teatroverdiﬁrenze.it

Giuliani 374, info 055.2767045 n GUIDED TOURS all day

Pinocchio Visita dell’Abbazia

puppets show Carnevale mugellano

Every Wed and Friday 10-12, Sun 15.30-

UP COMING Feb 17, 16.30, €4, Castello, via R. Giuliani 18.00, Abbazia San Salvatore e San Loren-

Feb 11, 18, 20, Borgo San Lorenzo, histori-

cal center, from 15.00

374, Rifredi zo a Settimo, Scandicci, www.badiadisetti-

n EXHIBITS Il gatto con gli stivali mo.it, info 055-7310537 Fiera di Carnevale

Feb 11, 18, San Mauro a Signa city center,

Cezanne and Impressionism in Floren- Feb 18, 17.00, Teatro Regina Margherita, La foresta dell’Acquerino

via A. Mori 20 , Loc. Marcialla, Barberino all day

ce trekking

From March 2 to July 29, Palazzo Strozzi, Val d’Elsa Feb 11, 7.45, starting point Bar Moncelli, Little Carnival parade

info 055 2776461 www.cezanneﬁrenze.it L’orco con le penne loc. Santa Lucia, Prato, info 368-3873099 Feb 17, Piazza della Vittoria Vicchio, tel.

Feb 18, 17.00, Limonaia Villa Montalvo, via 055.844003, all day

n MUSIC & CONCERTS di Limite, Campi Bisenzio

A ‘Nature’ Itinerary in the hills of Cal-

vana Fair of crafts, antiques and second-

Sting in concert Buon compleanno papà Feb 13, 21.00, info 0574-22004, www.cai- hand goods

Feb 22, Auditorium Parco della Musica in Feb 18, 17.30, Teatro del Popolo di Castel- prato.it Feb 18, Dicomano, tel. 055.838541, all

Rome; Feb 23, Teatro degli Arcimboldi in nuovo d’Elsa day

Milan, info & booking www.boxol.it La valle del Rio Buti

Festa di Carnevale trekking Carnevale Dicomanese

Grand Performance: Stenterello Feb 18, info 368-3873099, www.polispor- Feb 18, 20, Dicomano city center, all day

CHILDREN Feb 18, 17.00, Teatro Le Laudi, via L. da tivaaurora.it Sagra of sweets and chestnuts

Vinci 2r, tel. 055.572831, www.caspi.it/tea- On the Scaffolding with Filippo Lippi Feb 18, Loc. Migliana, Cantagallo (Prato),

n CINEMA tri/defaultLaudi.htm Visits to the restoration of Filippo Lippi’s all day

Cinema Kids Quante storie!! Theatre for children fresco (max 12 persons) Mercatino di artigianato e antiquaria-

every Sunday at 17.00 Feb 22, 17.30, €4, Cinema Accade- Cattedrale di Santo Stefano, piazza del to

Istituto Stensen, v.le don Minzoni 25/c, tel. mia, via Montanelli 33, Pontassieve, tel. Duomo, Prato, info 0574.24112, www.re- Feb 18, Certaldo, 9-20

0558316437 - www.comune.pontassieve. stauroﬁlippolippi.it, by reservation only, eve-

055.576551, www.stensen.org

ﬁ.it ry Sat at 10, 11, 16, 17, Sun at 10, 11, €8 n MUSIC & CONCERTS

n GUIDED TOURS Pollicino e altre storie Abbey of San Salvatore and San Lo- La notte caraibica

Il Giardino di Archimede, Mathematics’ Feb 22, 17.30, Accademia Cinema, Via renzo a Settimo free caribean dance lessons

Sundays Montanelli 33 , Pontassieve Every Wed, Fri 10-12, Sun 15.30-18, clo- Feb 12, 14, 19, 21, only on Mon and Wed

Guided visits and surprise events at the sed July and Aug, Badia a Settimo, Scan- 22.15, Omi Music Club, via Tevere 100,

Museum dicci, info 055.7310537, www.badiadiset- Osmannoro

All year, Il Giardino di Archimede, Museo OUT OF TOWN timo.it Live music

per la Matematica, via S. Bartolo a Cintoia The Ceramics of Montelupo Feb 9, 16, 22.00, Fattoria del Bassetto,

19, info 055.7879594, www.archimede.ms, n COMPETITION Free guided visits of Archaeology and Certaldo

on the ﬁrst Sunday of every month Fare e disfare è tutto un lavorare Ceramics Museum and participation in European Saxofhone Quartet

n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES concorso fotograﬁco, premi in danaro

Until Feb 15, Camera di Commercio di Pra-

workshops

Every Thur from 10.00 to 14.00, Museo Ar-

Feb 9, 21.00, Conservatorio di San Nicco-

lò, p.za Cardinal S. Niccolò 6 , Prato

The amazing circus of Merlin the Wi- to info: www.po.camcom.it cheologico e della Ceramica, Moninfoupo

zard Almasfera

Italia Wave Fiorentino, info 0571.518993 Feb 9, 21.30, Ofﬁcina Giovani, piazza dei

Workshop to create circus equipment. For

children ages 4 to 11 Regional selections participating in the Wine and Fashion in the Florentine Macelli, Prato, info 05741836753

Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, info Arezzo Wave 2007 Mountains. Itineraries with guided vi- Maratona Beethoven

055.264471, every Thur, 17.00 Feb 16, 21.30, Ofﬁcina Giovani, piazza dei sits, shopping isonatas for violin and piano

Macelli, Prato, info 05741836753 Tours to discover the beauty of the Floren- Feb 10, 21.00, Teatro Shalom, via Busoni,

The little joiner’s shop tine Mountains. Visits to artisan workshops

Workshop to create wooden games. De- n EXHIBITS and local shopping centres

24 , Empoli, info 0571.711122

velops creativity and dexterity. For children Corrispondenze - Works from the col- All year Mon and Sat, Resco Travel, info Godamn Superstar

ages 4 to 10 lection of Centro Pecci and Civic Mu- 055.868009 Marilyn Manson tribute

Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, info seum of Prato Feb 10, 22.30, Siddharta, via Trav. Pistoie-

055.264471, every Wed, 17.00 Until April 7, 10-14, 15-19, Centro per l’Arte n MARKETS & FESTIVALS se 83, San Paolo, Prato

The world through the senses Contemporanea Luigi Pecci, v.le della Re- Festa de l’Unità Invernale Concerti-aperitivo

Experimenting with the senses (taste, sight, pubblica 277, Prato, tel. 0574.5317, www. Feb 13-18, Montespertoli city center, eve- Feb 11, 18, 10.00, Teatro Metastasio, via

hearing, touch, smell) through games and centropecci.it ning (Sat, Sun all day) Cairoli 59, Prato, tel. 0574.6084, www.me-

book-readings. For children ages 2 to 5 Opere pittoriche di Franco Ferraro Atmosphere and mystery, a night of tastasio.it

Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, info Until April 27, closed Sat and Sun, free, Carnevale

055.264471, every Fri, 17.00 Partiture

Confartigianato Sede di Maliseti, via Sac- Feb 15, Borgo san Lorenzo historical cen- Original concert by 4 young composers

Carnevalino dei ragazzi centi 19/21, Prato ter, 21.00 Feb 11, 17.00, Teatro Magnolﬁ, via Gobetti

piazza Vittoria, Vicchio, 14.30-18.30 Carlo Ginori’s album. Documents and Polentata delle ceneri 74, Prato

Il Carnevale di Paperino pathways of an illuminated man. Exhi- Feb 21, Borgo San Lorenzo city center, L’Elisir d’Amore di Donizetti

Feb 18, 20, Circolo Arci Paperino, Paperino bition and guided visits from 8 to 13 Feb 11, 15.00, Teatro Dante, piazza Dante

, Prato, info 0574.540192 Until April 30, Museo Richard Ginori Sesto 53, Campi Bisenzio

Fiorentino, tel. 055.4207767 Week-end of February 10-11

Il carnevale dei bambini Gaudeamus Omnes

Musica, balli e clownerie Kids Riot - Botto e Bruno Antique fair at Villa Corsini Dancing and singing of Carnasciale Rina-

Auditorium Gianni Rodari, Campi Bisenzio, Until May 20, 9-19, Centro per l’Arte Con- Feb 9, 10, 11, Villa Corsini a Mezzomonte, scimentale

16.00 temporanea Luigi Pecci, v.le della Repubbli- Impruneta (Firenze), www.mediag.it, from Feb 11, 16.30, Auditorium La Tinaia di Par-

ca 277, Prato, tel. 0574.5317, www.centro- 10 to 20, 7€ co Corsini, Fucecchio

n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted) pecci.it Mostra Mercato di Antiquariato “Villa Di 10 in 10

Saburan Chi guarda chi? Corsini” Dedicated to the 80’s

puppet show Portraits by Leo Cardini Feb 9 to 11, Villa Corsini, San Casciano, Feb 11, 21.30, Ofﬁcina Giovani, piazza dei

Every Sat at 17.00, Teatro del Crc Antella, Until Feb 28, Overspace, via Inghirami 19, info www.mediag.it, 10-20, 7€ Macelli, Prato, info 05741836753

Via Pulicciano 53, Antella Prato, info 0574.595645, www.overarredo- Antique market Diana Torto-John Taylor Duo

Puppet show design.it Feb 10, Incisa Valdarno, tel. 055.8333450, Feb 12, 21.15, Teatro Metastasio, via Cai-

Il Cappello di Merlino, via Mazzetta 14r, info Aldo Lurci paintings all day roli 59, Prato, tel. 0574.6084, www.meta-

055.264471, every Sat, 17.00 Until March 14, Confartigianato di Prato, via Carnival parade stasio.it

What’s on & Where to Go 13

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Events in FLORENCE FEB 9 TO FEB 22

Paolo Fresu & Uri Caine National Championship Soccer serie A

classic music revisited Stadio Castellani, V.le delle Olimpiadi , Em-

Feb 16, 21.15, Teatro Aurora, via S. Bartolo poli, 18.00

in Tuto 1, Scandicci Empoli vs Roma

Carnival Concert National Championship Soccer serie A

Offenbach, Strauss father and son, Lanner, Stadio Castellani, V.le delle Olimpiadi , Em-

Lehár, Fucik music, Peter Guth director poli, 18.00

Feb 17, 21.00, Teatro Comunale Garibaldi, Scandicci corre

piazza Serristori, Figline Valdarno half Marathon

Festa di Carnevale con I Cavalieri del info 055.7591273, www.podisticailponte.it

Re

dark and metal music n THEATRE (in Italian unless otherwise noted)

Feb 17, 21.30, Siddharta, via Trav. Pistoiese Macbeth

83, San Paolo, Prato Feb 7-11, 21.00, Sun 16.00, Teatro Meta-

Lanzoni, Tavolazzi, Paoli Trio stasio, via Cairoli 59, Prato, tel. 0574.6084,

classical music www.metastasio.it

Feb 17, 21.15, Teatro Regina Margherita via Il medico dei pazzi

A. Mori, 20 , Loc. Marcialla , Barberino Val Feb 9-11, 21.00, Sun 16.00, Teatro Excel-

d’Elsa sior, via Ridolﬁ 75, Empoli, tel. 0571.72023

Anthony Braxton Sextet Alessandro Benvenuti in “Addio Gori”

Feb 19, 21.00, Teatro Metastasio, via Cai- Feb 13, 21.00, Teatro Niccolini di San Ca-

roli 59, Prato, tel. 0574.6084, www.meta- sciano

stasio.it

Carnival Concert

Offenbach, Strauss father and son, Lanner, IN TUSCANY

Lehár, Fucik music, Peter Guth director

Feb 22, 21.00, Teatro Excelsior, via Ridolﬁ n EXHIBITS

75, Empoli La passione e l’arte

Camerata Strumentale “Città di Prato” Bransi and Magnani collections

Feb 22, 21.00, Teatro Politeama Pratese, via Dec 8 to March 11, Santa Maria della Scala

Garibaldi 33-35, Prato, tel. 0574.455210, Palazzo Squarcialupi, Siena, info www.ver-

www.politeamapratese.com niceprogetti.it

Concerto-recital Rosa Balistreri Joel Peter Witkin

Feb 17, 21.15, Teatro Manzoni di Calenzano American artists’ exhibition

Via Mascagni 18, Calenzano Jan 20 to April 8, Seravezza, Palazzo Medi-

ceo, info 392.9586574, 15- 20 closed on

n PARKS Mon, € 5

Sculptures in a woodland

In an untouched wood of ilex and oak trees

n MARKETS & FESTIVALS

in the heart of Sienese Chianti, many inter- Carnevale di Santa Croce 2007

nationally renowned artists from ﬁve conti- Carnival Parade

nents have created imposing contemporary Feb 11and 18, Santa Croce sull’Arno (Pisa),

sculptures info 0571.34473, 16.30

Parco sculture del Chianti, La For- Carnevale di Foiano della Chiana 2007

nace 48/49, Pievasciata, Siena, info Carnival Parade

0577.357151, www.chiantisculpturepark.it, Feb 11 and 18, Foiano della Chiana (Arez-

open all year zo), info 0575.642100, wwww.carnevaledi-

foiano.it, from 14 to 19

n SPORTS & ACTIVITIES Carnevale di Foiano di Viareggio

Il Triocco. Handicraft and collectors’ Carnival Parade

market Feb 11, 18, 20, Viareggio (Lucca), info

Figline Valdarno, info 055.951569, all day 0584.795520, wwww.carnevaledifoiano.it,

Empoli vs Palermo from 14 to 19

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

14

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

An Interview with The Florentine: Tell us about your father as ‘Flood Mayor’.

Antonina Bargellini Antonina Bargellini: When my father become mayor he said, ‘I’ve made so

many love declarations to Florence that in the end I had to marry her. I believe

in life-long marriage so I will always be married to this city. In the same way that

I’ve only had one wife throughout my life, I will only have one city’. And when the

by Elia Celestina Della Chiesa ﬂood came, we really got to witness how strong that marriage actually was.

My father’s biggest worry after the ﬂood was that Florence would be con-

sidered a dead city. He made huge, immediate efforts to help the city get back

on its feet by giving public money to the people who needed it. ‘This money is

burning in my hands’ he would say and then give it away without waiting for

‘How fortunate indeed is your Firenze, to have as Mayor a man bureaucratic approval. The city sued him several times for that. He used to tell

like you, so sensitive to her beauty.’ us, ‘The ﬂood left me with bronchitis and a whole lot of time in court’.

In the days after the ﬂood, people took to sending him money personally to

Jacqueline Kennedy distribute as he saw ﬁt. Clothes, too. There was a Swiss baron who sent us a

frightening amount of clothes—mostly tuxedos and evening gowns! And my

mother would wring her hands and say ‘How can I give these to people? They

will throw them back at me’. Santa Croce was a poor neighbourhood. These

people were ﬁghting to survive. You couldn’t give them fancy suits at times like

those! I remember my brother helping himself to some dinner jackets and I took

a camel-hair coat. My father was very severe, ‘If you take one thing, you have to

give back two of your own’.

We transformed our basement into a huge centre for the needy, and the door

was always open. I mean, half of it had been washed away by the ﬂood, but the

other half was always open. We couldn’t give food, though. We had no gas to

cook with. But people would bring us food and we’d host whoever came for a

meal. People would come here, eat, talk, cry and then get back to work again.

TF: What do you most remember about the ﬂood?

AB: Well, this house was ﬂooded under 6 meters of water and we lived on the

top ﬂoors. All the neighbours came to stay with us, because they felt safer here.

They talked that ﬁrst night saying ‘Well, at least we live on the mayor’s street;

surely it will be the ﬁrst one he’ll restore’. How wrong they were! My father

Mayor Piero Bargellini with daughter Antonina, 1966 never would have ﬁxed up his own street ﬁrst! He had a very different plan for

our house. He made it into the symbol of ﬂooded Florence. He’d take powerful

A ssessor of Education, Culture and the Environment under Giorgio La Pira in

the 1950s, Piero Bargellini became mayor of Florence in 1966. Fondly

remembered by Florentines as the ‘Flood Mayor’, Mr Bargellini distinguished

people on tours through the house to make them aware of how hard the city

had been hit by the tragedy. Santa Croce was one of the neighbourhoods that

suffered the most. The only time we saw him in the days of the ﬂood was when

himself for his dedication to Florence and his noteworthy organizational abilities. he came to tour people through. He had so many people to take care of. We

Bargellini used his home as the operation headquarters where politicians and weren’t his only family. The whole of Florence was his family.

The nights of the ﬂood, citizens would spread news through open windows

writers such as Aldo Moro, Ted Kennedy, Saragat and Montanelli were received

and from rooftops. ‘We have a sick woman here; send news of her to Palazzo

during the days following the Arno tragedy. Elected senator in 1968 and later Vecchio’. Messages would travel from rooftop to rooftop in the dark. People

appointed judge, he was a proliﬁc writer throughout his entire life, authoring no wanted the voices needed to reach City Hall because Bargellini was there. My

less than 120 books. He was also founding editor of Il Frontespizio, an important father was struck by the faith people had in Palazzo Vecchio.

cultural magazine which gathered together noteworthy Italian writers like Carlo

Bo, Mario Luzi and don Giuseppe De Sica. The sixth daughter of Piero Bargel- TF: How has this experience changed your life?

lini, Antonina ‘grew up’ in Palazzo Vecchio. She accompanied her father on

AB: Well, I do want to clarify one thing. I only want to talk about the ﬂood if my

many ofﬁcial visits including the Mayor’s 1966 trip to the United States to raise

stories can somehow have meaning in today’s world. To me, Florence is cur-

funds for victims of the ﬂood. Antonina has always shared her father’s vocation rently going through very hard times. Today’s tragedy is different from the one

for protecting and improving Florence. She has dedicated her life to volunteer caused by the ﬂood, and in a way, it’s almost worse. The degradation of the city

work in hopes of bettering her city on both the human and artistic level. and the indifference of its citizens pain me so much.

15

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

see tourists admiring this house and I go downstairs and ask them if they’d like to

see the inside of a real Tuscan palazzo. Most look at me like I’m crazy, but some

accept and leave my home immensely grateful. It takes so little to make a guest

feel welcome. Tell them a bit of history or give a smile. Florence has become a

vulgar city. We need to stop that and develop and protect our relationships with

foreigners. People now come to Florence for three minutes, wait in frighteningly

long lines and can’t wait to leave again. My utopia would be to make Florence in

2007 a welcoming city on various levels.

TF: How can Florence become a ‘welcoming’ city?

AB: There’s a lot of immigration today, we can’t negate that, and it’s right that

things should be this way. The city hosts people from all over the world, and

Florence needs to learn to welcome them. I am working to bring together a

group of Florentines and foreigners—people from Senegal, Ivory Coast, Togo,

Algeria and other places around the world. There are many immigrants who

have an incredibly high cultural level and they live as outcasts. Our group’s

objective is to work together against the degradation of Florence. The city’s

We must take the time to re-read the ﬂood and see why Florence sprang physical degradation comes from not having an authentic relationship with the

from her ruins even more beautiful than before. In 1966, we all worked together, city. It springs from feeling like you don’t belong to it. If people feel no spiritual

united by a real love for this city. People were desperate, but we all worked attachment to the place they’re living, then they automatically lack respect for

side-by-side without political or social barriers. All of those young people came it. I don’t accuse foreigners: I think the Florentines are the ﬁrst to show disre-

from all over the world to help. My father worried about their arrival, ‘My God, spect for their city. But with this international group, we are trying to educate

he said, ‘where in the world am I going to put them all? What am I going to feed ourselves about our rights and duties so that we can stop acting like subjects

them’? They were children in his eyes—many hadn’t turned 18 yet. There were and start acting like true citizens. A Senegalese writer said, ‘We want to stop

hundreds and they had nowhere to sleep. But they came with a certain spirit demanding things for our community. We want to start giving back to Florence.

and with an inner strength.A true sense of solidarity. We need to re-introduce Ultimately, we want to give our love’. It’s about offering concrete love—through

that feeling to this city. There are so many problems today. We have to ﬁnd a various forms of social activism. I’m not talking about forming an association.

way to recreate that welcoming, altruistic spirit. We are moving to become part of the solidarity networks that already exist in

This city has always demonstrated openness towards young people, and the Florentine neighbourhood councils. It’s about recognizing and responding

that’s why so many came to help when she was in trouble. Venice also ﬂooded to the needs of the people who live in our neighbourhoods. And it’s a move-

but didn’t receive the same response. Florence has always given a strong mes- ment where Florentines and foreigners work together. If you work together,

sage to young people—of hope and Humanism. After all, Humanism was born side by side, you become friends, and forging friendship is the ﬁrst step in

here. This is a special city. changing society.

TF: What problems do you feel are most prevalent in Florence today?

AB: My father considered Florence a beautiful woman who needs to be cared

about deeply and in even the smallest of ways. Otherwise, she’ll get worn down,

lose her charm and become vulgar. He passed that view onto me. He felt it really

important to protect her beauty, maintain her smaller alleys, city-wide lighting and

her forgotten gardens—he truly wanted Florence to be ‘the city of ﬂowers’. My

God, if he could see Florence now! His goal as a writer was to inspire love for

this city. It was the gift he wanted to give people, and it is a sentiment we are

really lacking.

I mean, if you look at history you can see that there has been a true change

in attitude. We’ve gone from being merchants to being mere shopkeepers. The

Florentines have always been merchants, in the highest sense of the word. The

Medici, the Strozzi knew how to get wealthy, but as they did, they made efforts

to make the city more beautiful. Their perspective was simple: the more beauti-

ful the city, the more wealth it will generate. People will come to it, and the more

relationships we form with visitors, the better off the city will be. The merchants

earned a lot, but they also built, restored and protected a lot. Our mentality today

is drastically different. We are out to take advantage of the city, not to enhance it.

In our search for economic proﬁt, we render it poorer than before.

No one can spare a moment of kindness for a tourist, for example. Sometimes I

FIRENZEITALY

Cesare Moncelli

Via S. Maria 16 r

50125 Firenze

www.segnidiseta.it

studio@segnidiseta.it

16 Life in Italy

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

MOSAICS BY

L ook to Jane Fortune’s column for news and views on Florence’s best cultural events, from art and music to

dance and theatre. Discover must-dine family restaurants and many of the area’s unsung treasures. Spotlight on FAMILY

women artists, outstanding artisans and unsung heroes of Florentine tradition. Don’t miss Jane’s Gems, places to

go and people to know—for the veteran city-dweller and the newly arrived. RESTAURANT

In this section, expect suggestions

regarding restaurants Bob and I par-

ticularly love—for their good food, and

The past in wax at ‘La Specola’ especially the friendship and kindness

each has extended to us over the 15

years we have been coming to Flor-

Section of the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence ence. Several restaurants will be well-

known, others may not be, but each

by Dottoressa Marta Poggesi, Direttrice has one thing in common—they have

shared their lives with us and that is a

gift we most treasure.

I n 1771, the Wax Model Workshop

was established in Florence by

Abbot Felice Fontana, who became

Via Romana 17

Entrance fee: 4 euro adults, To paraphrase, the cuisine of Florence

is like ‘Brunelleschi’s architectural lines,

2 euro for children ages 6–16, which need nothing added, and nothing

the museum’s ﬁrst director. For more Children under 6 enter free. Jane’s comments: ‘Specola’ means subtracted.’

than a century, this workshop pro- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, ‘observatory’. This collection is

duced anatomical wax models which Sunday 9-1; Saturdays 9-5; closed famous throughout the world for its

today constitute one of the most Wednesdays. incredible accuracy and the realism RESTAURANT: I’ che’ c’e c’e

prestigious collections of its kind in its details. Florence has a long tradi- Via Magalotti 11/r

Tel: 055-228-8251 (A side street off Borgo dei Greci

the world. Supported by Grand Duke tion of artistic wax modeling, intro-

Peter Leopold of Lorraine, the work- between Piazza Santa Croce and

duced by Ludovico Cigoli (1559–

Piazza della Signoria)

shop occupied the ground ﬂoor of a series of illustrations and related 1613). It was not until the second Closed: Mondays /Tel: 055-216589

Palazzo Torrigiani (adjacent to Pala- explanatory sheets. The preparation half of the 18th century, however,

method began with dissection of

L

zzo Pitti). In 1775, the Palazzo was that experts opened a school of cero- ocated in the oldest section of Flor-

ofﬁcially inaugurated and opened to the cadaver. The resulting anatomi- plastics (the art of modelling ana- ence, this is another wonderful fam-

the public as the Royal and Imperial cal pieces were used to create clay tomical specimens in wax). Clemente ily restaurant. Friendly, casual, it has

Museum of Physics and Natural His- models. The plaster moulds obtained Susini, for example, crafted models individual tables as well as communal

tory (the current ‘La Specola’ Zool- from the clay models were then ﬁlled for medical students between 1775 seating at long wooden tables and

ogy Museum). with wax. and 1814 and remained active until benches in the center of the room. Gino

Thus, the workshop began pro- In almost a century of work, an 1893. The museum’s most impor- Noci, owner and chef, serves traditional

duction even before the museum was enormous number of models were Tuscan food with a French ﬂair. Gino

tant pieces are a group of waxes by trained with Giorgio Pinchiorri at Buca

established, and its products are still produced, mostly depicting human Gaetano Zumbo (1656–1701) that Lapi before opening his own restaurant,

admired for their accuracy, original- anatomy but also illustrating com- have extraordinary artistic value. I’che’c’è c’è, which he runs together

ity and artistry. They were created parative anatomy and botany. Many They carry both philosophical and with his lovely wife, Mara. He also gives

for educational purposes, to teach of these models were commissioned religious meaning, besides being cooking classes in Fabbrica, a hamlet

anatomy through directly observing by buyers both in Italy and abroad. excellent anatomical models. These outside of Florence. He also annually

a cadaver. In fact, the collection was More than 1,400 pieces are cur- life-size pieces, which reproduce all holds classes in Tuscan cooking at a

conceived as a three-dimensional rently exhibited in the La Specola the details of the human body, are private club in Atlanta, Georgia. A com-

treatise, in that it not only consisted Museum, featured in 581 showcases sometimes very hard to look at, but plimentary glass of prosecco and coc-

of wax models but also included of located in 10 rooms. always fascinating. coli (salty, fried bread dough balls) are

offered after you’re seated. Many years

ago, at our ﬁrst meal here, Gino person-

ally introduced us to the sweet, ice-cold,

after-dinner lemon liqueur, limoncello!

JANE’S GEMS Menu suggestions: Grilled salmon

(salmone), which is ‘melt in your mouth

delicious’ with or without a rich mush-

I

n the October 19, 2006 issue, I In the words of restorer room sauce, and carcioﬁ alla Romana

wrote an article about Suor Plau- Rossella Lari: (these artichokes are better then the

tilla Nelli, the ﬁrst known woman ones you can get in Rome!)—all musts.

I’d like to express my deepest gratitude I’ che’c’e c’e has great desserts, but

painter of Florence and about the to the Florence Committee of the National if you crave ice-cream (gelato), Vivoli (via

restoration of her painting Lamenta- Museum of Women in the Arts, and in par- isola della Stinche7/r; closed Mondays)

tion with Saints, which was unveiled ticular to Jane Fortune and Magnolia Scud- is nearby. This well-known, family-owned

last October and can be seen in the ieri, for giving me the opportunity to restore gelateria has been open since 1930.

large refectory at the Museo di San Plautilla Nelli’s Lamentation. Often people Gelato ingredients are milk, eggs, sugar

Marco. The Florence Committee of and natural ﬂavors—and until you tasted

have asked me what I felt as I carried out chocolate (cioccolato), you’ve never

the National Museum of Women in this project, and only now, at the end, can

the Arts restored the painting and tasted anything so delicious! Some think

I express the different sensations that it Bernardo Buontalenti (the Italian Man-

produced a DVD on the project. I inspired in me. Let me begin, however, by nerist who created the famous grotto in

asked the renowned restorer, Ros- saying that in every project, a conservator the Boboli Gardens) created gelato for

sella Lari, to express how she felt as must have two different approaches to the Francesco de’ Medici in 1565.

she was restoring the painting, which work in question. First, you need to look at

is included as part of the DVD. I was it as a whole, exchanging impressions and

very moved by what she said and Jane Fortune fell in love with Florence

evaluations with the art historian who fol- when she spent her junior year abroad

would like to share it with our read- lows the project. Later, when you enter into

ers. As Jonathan Nelson (a Syracuse here ‘molti anni fa’. Returning again and

the operative stage, with brushes and scal- again over the years with her life partner,

University/ Florence professor and pels in hand, you can consider only the physical reality of the work, without Bob Hesse, they now live here part time.

editor of the book Suor Plautilla Nelli, allowing yourself any emotions about the image itself. You need this distance Jane, whose passion is art, serves as a

The First Woman Painter of Florence) in order to save the smallest paint ﬂake, independent of the value of the paint- trustee on several boards of museums in

expressed to me, ‘often a restorer ing or how much you like it. the United States. In Florence, she is the

works with a sense of detachment, At the end of the day, however, I often let myself be moved by the timid chairman and founder of the Florence

in order to be fair and accurate, but compassion that emanates from the faces of the crying women. As a woman,

Committee of the National Museum of

after work, feels the emotion of his Women in the Arts (NMWA), a member

I let myself be carried back in time, to imagine the life of Sister Plautilla and of American International League (AIL),

or her work’. We, who were deeply her companions within the conﬁnes of the convent. At this point, as I rock

connected to this restoration project, chairman of the board of trustees of Stu-

myself in this dreamy spirit, the emotions arrive: with pleasure and a touch dio Art Centers International (SACI) and is

have become very emotionally tied to of pain I try to identify with Plautilla’s emotions. From this restoration I have currently writing a guide to the works by

Suor Plautilla Nelli and for me, she will come away enriched as a restorer, and as a person. Thanks to all of you. women artists in the Florence museums.

forever be part of my soul. Thank you, Plautilla.

Contact:

j.fortune@theﬂorentine.net

Life in Italy 17

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

ITALIAN VOICES: A WINDOW ON LANGUAGE AND CUSTOMS IN ITALY

‘Mah...’ ‘Sometimes used to introduce discussion or resume debate, mah is the

net that captures stray thoughts. It’s the time you take before you jump

and your chance to consider how cold the water is.’

by Linda Falcone

might not make it through the test hand it to Italians. They have a

drive. ‘Mah! I don’t know if this knack for creating words with

will work, but I’m willing to give it ant-like strength that can carry 10

a shot’. times their body weight. Constantly

A breath-based extension of ma, pressed for space, Italians have

the Italian word for ‘but’, mah carries learned how to pack a whole lot of

many of the same undertones. To meaning into a single unassuming

the English speaker ‘but’ can be one syllable. So, while mah may not be

scary bugger. With a tip of its hat, it a word for the highly digniﬁed, it is

topples the tower you carefully built both a crutch and a walking stick

in the ﬁrst clause. ‘I appreciate your that can certainly prove useful for

efforts, but the answer is no.’ Mah the likes of you and me.

is ‘but’ without the padding, and it One day, perhaps, we shall be

can stand alone if accompanied by wiser. In the meantime, it can’t hurt

an exclamation point. The seed of to have a word for all the things

that are hard to get your heart in

doubt and the champion of incon-

or your head around. Carry mah

formity, mah means ‘I disagree’. The

with you at all times. We can never

reasons why are considered obvious

know when the hemming, hawing,

and often left unexplained.

stalling side of ourselves will turn

With mah, looters like uncer- up and demand dinner. We’ll never

tainty, skepticism, ignorance and

I

have never been on a speed- ‘Mah, non ho imparato niente, I know when our wild inner child

doubt become the crowded inmates will want to break out and make

date in my life, and I’m hop- haven’t learned anything’.

‘So, write about not learning any- of a cell that’s only three letters non-conformist angels in the snow.

ing to be able to say that until

thing’. wide. In this sense, you’ve got to

the day I die. Repeated introduc-

tions, timers and frantic checklists I refused the idea at ﬁrst, of

make me nervous. I’m just not good course. Partly because I couldn’t

at having to be interesting at high see the fun of it, and mostly because

speeds. Besides, when you live in a that’s what you do when you’re on

��

country where getting sized up is the an all-encompassing refusal ram-

order of the day, there’s no need to page. But then it hit me—the word

torture oneself voluntarily—at least for that strange sense of inconfor- ��

in public. mity I’d been carrying around with ��

I much prefer to have my ‘speed- me for days. It’s what Italians say,

date’ sessions in private—and most when they can’t think of anything to

��

of these are purely language related. say. It’s mah.

Finding a nice free phrase to spend Often heard and frequently ��

quality time with is quite a feat, misunderstood, mah is a complex

��

especially if you’re prone to weed- exclamation with a myriad of mean-

ing words out of your mind with ings. Useful in times of unveiled ��

the zeal of a gardener gone manic. mystery, mah is also known to Eng-

This week, for instance, I’ve had lish-speakers as ‘who knows’ or ‘I ��

several impressive close encounters haven’t got a clue’. It’s quite a bit

with numerous Italian expressions. stronger than boh, the other sylla-

ble Italians use to admit ignorance.

��

Alas, none of them made it past our

seven-minute round of ‘getting to Both words show that you have no ��

know you’. idea what the ﬁnal verdict will be, ��

��

Admittedly, I am picky. A single but mah, carries more skepticism.

writer seeking depth cannot just ‘Mah! That case will need a decade ��

go falling in love with every word- just to knock down the courtroom ��

suitor who offers her a plate at the door. And once it’s in, there’s no ��

telling what the judge’s gavel is

��

picnic. For me, language is a love ��

relationship, and if my heart isn’t in going to hit’.

��

it or I can’t get my head around it, Sometimes used to introduce

��

then there’s just no sense leading a discussion or resume debate, mah

poor word on. Aloneness is better can also be a net that captures stray ��

than bad company, and survival can thoughts. It’s the time you take ��

sometimes depend on a very good before you jump and your chance to ��

��

goodbye. consider how cold the water is. Like ��

When I am truly lonely for a the English word ‘well’, it gives you ��

good word to write about, I call my a chance to round up your run-wild ��

ideas. Mah, however, holds none of ��

mother. If you want to ﬁnd some

��

truth, you’ve got to go to someone well’s between-the-lines optimism. ��

you can’t lie to. Plus, she is a writer Think of it as a disclaimer disguised ��

too, who knows better than to pro- as an extra breath. As the prelude ��

to a thought you’ve never before

��

vide me with mere vocabulary. ��

‘Okay’, she told me over the phone formulated, mah is a buffer against

last night, ‘Tell me what you’ve false hopes. It serves to warn the ��

learned this week’. world that your speedy new theory ��

18 Life in Italy

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

Culture & CUSTOMS

To whom we owe it all

The legacy of Lady de’ Medici

by Mary Ann Pinto

A

nna Maria Luisa de’ Medici

(1667–1743) ought to be one

of the most famous and pop-

ular Florentines of all times, for it

was she who turned Florence into

a cultural mecca. With a stroke of

her pen, she bequeathed the Medi-

ci’s jewels, pictures, sculptures,

manuscripts and buildings to the

city of Florence. Yet she has been

overlooked and neglected for more

than three centuries.

Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici

Anna Maria’s father, Grand

Duke Cosimo III, was a weak

and indolent ruler. Educated by a had tried to induce a miscarriage reinforced himself for his rare pub- bicycles chained to the fence sur-

fanatic theologian, Cosimo became when pregnant with Anna Maria, lic appearances by drinking heav- rounding it or the trash-bags litter-

a gloomy, religious fanatic. He by riding horseback at breakneck ily and then often behaved in a ing the ground add to the attraction

married the frivolous Margherita speed. She returned to France in slovenly manner. Anna Maria per- of the site. Despite protests from

Luisa d’Orleans, who hated both 1675. suaded him to repent shortly before the sculptor’s widow and a petition

her husband and Tuscany. From As a child, Anna Maria spent he died in July 1737. He confessed, of 1,000 signatures gathered by the

this unhappy union, three children much time with her uncle, Cardinal was given communion and granted Association of Tourist Guides, the

were born: Ferdinando in 1663, Leopold de’ Medici, who taught absolution by the pope. statue has not been moved.

Anna Maria Luisa in 1667 and her to love literature, art and music. Three months later, Anna Maria An exhibition dedicated to Anna

Giangastone in 1671. Margherita By the age of 16 she had developed and the Duke of Lorraine signed a Maria runs from until April 15,

into a witty, attractive girl who pact by which the paintings, sculp- 2007 in the Palatine Gallery of the

drew and painted, loved music and tures, manuscripts, jewels and Pitti Palace, where she lived, and in

had mastered Latin and most of all other precious possessions of the Villa Quiete, where she stayed

The English Bookstore in Florence the modern European languages. the Medici were to be conserved during the hottest months of sum-

She was her father’s favorite child, as possessions of the State, never mer. Hopefully, after this exhibition

and he wanted to arrange a great to be taken from Tuscany. They Anna Maria will have won the rec-

marriage for her. But her parents’ were to be used for public enjoy- ognition she deserves.

reputations had spread through the ment and to attract foreigner visi-

courts of Europe, and because of tors. Most of the works of art in

this she was refused by the princes the Ufﬁzi, almost everything in the

of Spain and Portugal, and by Louis Pitti Palace, much of what is in the

XIV for the Dauphin of France. On Bargello, the Laurentian Library After spending ﬁve vacations as a

June 5, 1691 she married the wid- and the Medici Chapels in the guest at the Pensione Pitti Palace,

The Little Big Cook Book

pp. 976, €15 €12

Carla Bardi (Ed.)

ower Johann Wilhelm II, Elector church of San Lorenzo (including Mary Ann Pinto moved to Florence

Palatine, and went to live in Dues- Michelangelo’s statues) are only in l971 and married the manager.

seldorf. Anna Maria was a devoted part of Anna Maria’s legacy. She helped him run the hotel until

wife and mourned her husband they retired in October 1991.

For centuries most Florentines, Her recollections of those years is

when he died in 1716. A year later, historians and tourists have over-

she returned to Florence, bringing recorded in Diary of an Italian Inn-

looked the lady who is responsible keeper’s Wife, which she is preparing

back many paintings that she had for this city’s incredible artistic

acquired in Germany. She was wel- for publication.

patrimony. The only reminders of

comed joyously by Cosimo, who her existence were a few meters of

had not seen her for 27 years. street leading to the Ufﬁzi along

f

10%thof

Since none of his children had the Arno and a portrait on the

is produced an heir, Cosimo tried to ground ﬂoor of the Ufﬁzi. Then,

with n*

coupo resolve the problem of succession in 1945, the then mayor of Flor-

to the Tuscan domain before his ence Gaetano Pieraccini, a great

ANIMALS

ANIMALS

death in 1723, but without success. admirer of Anna Maria, launched

The Little Big Book of Animals

In 1731, the matter seemed to be set- a contest for a statue of her. Raffa-

tled to the satisfaction of the major ello Salimbeni won, but he did not

powers of Europe. Even Giangas-

The Little Big Book of

complete the statue until 1971. It

tone was pleased with the choice of was temporarily placed at the foot

Don Carlos, the second son of Eliz- of a back staircase in the Pitti Pal-

pp. 976, €15 €12

abeth Farnese and King Phillip V of ace, awaiting a decision about its

Spain. The situation then changed, permanent location. Finally the

Various Authors

and Don Carlos received the king- statue was placed at the base of the

dom of Naples and Two Sicilies to campanile of San Lorenzo (which

rule instead. The state of Lorraine Anna Maria had commissioned) ��

went to France, and the Duke of and unveiled on February 18, 1995,

Lorraine, to compensate him for the 252nd anniversary of her death. ��

Mon thru Sun: 9am–7.30pm his loss, was given Tuscany. While this sounds like a suitable

via de’ Neri, 32 r - Florence ��

(near the Uffizi Gallery) Giangastone’s conduct, which position, the truth of the matter is ��

tel. +39 055 238 24 56 had always been deplorable, con- that the market stalls in the street

literally hide the statue. Nor do the ��

tinued to degenerate rapidly. He

*DISCOUNT APPLIES TO ABOVE TITLES ONLY

Life in Italy 19

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Culture & CUSTOMS

The night the bridges came falling down

When World War II ravaged Florence

by Deirdre Pirro

R

umours were rife all over the

city. Many said the Anglo-

American troops had already

reached the outskirts of the city.

However, one thing was certain. On raised $100,000 abroad, by the Flo-

the afternoon of August 3, 1944, the rentines who contributed $30,000

German High Command in Flor- and by the Italian government,

ence had the following ordinance which added a ﬁnal $350,000.

displayed on the street corners: So the next time you cross Ponte

Beginning from this moment, it is Santa Trinità or wander along Por

prohibited for anyone to leave their Santa Maria, via dei Bardi, Borgo

homes and walk in the streets or San Jacopo, or via Guicciardini,

piazzas of the City of Florence. All look up at the mishmash of archi-

the windows, even those in cellars, tectural styles in the buildings there

together with the entrance and hall- and spare a thought for the night

ways of houses, shall remain closed they blew up the bridges.

day and night. The population is

advised to stay in their cellars, and

Porta Romana, and the battle to quarry in the Boboli Gardens that Deirdre Pirro is an international

where they do not have one, to go to lawyer who lives and works in

a church or other big building. The liberate Florence began and lasted Ammannati had used. The new

bridge took three years to complete Florence. Apart from the law, her

patrols of the German armed forces until the end of the month when the interests include modern Italian

have been ordered to shoot at any- city was ﬁnally freed. and was inaugurated in 1958. history and the history of gastronomy.

one who is found on the street or In his book and photographic The work was paid for by a citi- She can be contacted at:

who appears at the windows. record entitled 50 War-Damaged zens’ committee headed by the art ddpirro@gmail.com

By dusk, the city was com- Monuments of Italy (published in historian Bernard Berenson, which

pletely deserted. That night ﬁve of 1946), Emilio Lavagnini looks at

the then six bridges crossing the these events that ravaged Italy’s

Arno—Ponte Santa Trinità, Ponte artistic heritage. He maintains that

delle Grazie, Ponte della Vittoria, Ponte Santa Trinità was probably

Ponte della Carraia and the Ponte ‘the most important piece of archi-

di Ferro—were all blown up, effec- tecture, from the point of view of

tively cutting the city in two. art, that was destroyed by the war

Only Ponte Vecchio was spared. in Italy’.

Some say it was considered too The ﬁrst Ponte Santa Trinità had

fragile to support the weight of been constructed in 1252. The origi-

Allied tanks; others believed it was nal structure was replaced between

because Adolf Hitler had admired 1566 and 1569 by the bridge built

it so much on his visit to Florence by Bartolomeo Ammanati, based

in 1938. Nonetheless, to block the on a design by Michaelangelo, and

passage giving access to and from adorned, at its two ends, by marble

Ponte Vecchio, the two neighbour- statues representing the four seasons.

hoods leading up to it, on both sides After the war, it was rebuilt,

of the river, including Por Santa according to Lavagnini, by using

Maria, via dei Bardi, Borgo San every element of the original bridge

Jacopo, and via Guicciardini were that could be ‘ﬁshed out of the Arno’.

also mined and blown up. This was done by damming the river.

An old friend of mine, Pietro B. Several pieces were immediately

vividly remembers his mother tell- recuperated while others remained

ing him that the Germans had given in the river’s depths for years. The

residents in these areas four hours statue of the Primavera for example,

to leave their homes. At the time, remained headless until 1961, when

his family lived in an apartment in the head was ﬁnally found and

one of the famous antique towers restored to its rightful owner.

in Borgo San Jacopo. Believing this The reconstruction project was

measure to be merely a temporary entrusted to ﬂamboyant architect

one, his father created a make- Riccardo Gizdulich. He researched

shift safe which he cemented into photographs and the original draw-

the wall to hide what was left of ings left by Ammannati. Studying

the family jewels until they could the fragments dragged up from the

return. Little did they know that bottom of the river, Gizdulich con-

all that would be left the following cluded that the original masons

morning was rubble. must have used special chiselling

In fact, the explosion of the mines and cutting implements when build-

began at eight o’clock at night on ing the bridge. He designed similar

August 3 and lasted right through tools and had them made. A group

the night, the worst blast being of artisans then painstakingly ﬁtted

heard at four in the morning. The together the old pieces of the bridge

next day, the Allied troops reached with new stone taken from the same

20 Life in Italy

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

Travel & LEISURE

Seeing in the rain ‘Barga is a movie set of steep,

dark streets lined with houses

Bagni di Lucca and Barga played ‘Misty for Me’ whose earth-colored walls,

in quiet pinks, gentle browns

Barga Cathedral from afar and compliant grays, suggest

by Samuel Jay Keyser they haven’t been con-

structed so much as grown

from the hillside.’

T

he best thing about Bagni di Lucca, north-

east of Lucca, is not what it is but what it

recalls. Stare into the vapors rising from

the 120-degree hot springs and you’ll see images

of another epoch: Byron and Shelley taking the

Inside, a few euro in a coin box illuminated

waters and writing home to urge Tennyson to do

a 15-foot-high marble pulpit sitting on columns

likewise, German poet Heinrich Heine and Irish

supported by a pair of patient lions. Above

novelist Charles Lever feeding their muses and

the altar was an imposing 12th-century, multi-

perhaps their metabolisms. This spa town above

colored wood carving of St. Christopher, with

the rushing river Serchio is worth a walk around.

the Christ child portrayed as a miniature king,

Once you cross its Ponte a Serraglio, you’ll be on

crown and all, sitting up properly on his shoul-

the road up to another, slower, mistier, mossier

der. In the chapel to the right is a pair of Della

world of sulfur fumes and sleepy hollows. It was

Robbias worth the walk in the rain. In the cha-

November when my friends and I were there.

pel to the left are two ordinary paintings, one to

One of the springs was closed for the season.

the Glory of the Madonna by the school of Sim-

Hardly anyone was around. We had the road to

one Pignoni and one a grisly beheading scene

Bagni Caldi and the adjacent Stabilimento Jean

of St. John the Baptist by Baccio Ciarpi—and

Varraud all to ourselves—ourselves and a black

the walk-away best in show, a cruciﬁxion by an

cat that stalked us long enough to be bored by

unknown maestro of Barga hung inconspicu-

our company and seek excitement elsewhere in

ously on the chapel wall. (But then I’ve always

a bit of string.

been a pushover for unknown masters.)

Near the top of the hill is the early-20th-cen-

The walk back down the paved hillside was

tury Stabilimento Jean Varraud, a labyrinth of Fifteen kilometers away is the town the

slick. We stepped carefully to avoid losing our

steam baths, massage rooms, exfoliation cham- guidebooks say is the prettiest in the Garfag-

footing. Every now and then we would stop and

bers and swimming pools. We crept in fully nana. They’ll get no argument from me. Barga

stare upward at a corner of the town where the

clothed and unannounced and somehow man- is a movie set of steep, dark streets lined with

roofs cut into the sky to make a collage of tile

aged to explore the establishment thoroughly, houses whose earth-colored walls, in quiet

and gutter spouts. When a town begins to paint

ignored by chunky men in terrycloth robes and pinks, gentle browns and compliant grays, sug-

its own pictures, you know you’re in a special

ﬂip-ﬂops who passed by like wraiths before they gest they haven’t been constructed so much as

place. See Barga whatever the weather, but

disappeared behind unmarked doors, leaving in grown from the hillside. I say all this having

make a special effort to see it in the rain.

their wake a puff of sulfur. We felt like Dante seen Barga in a pouring rain.

exploring Purgatory. If ever a town had its head in the clouds, it’s

More evocative even than the Stabilimento’s Barga. The day was gray when we arrived, grayer

springs or its long history of ‘taking the waters’ when we stopped for lunch in a ﬁne little restau-

is its casino, now a preserved room ﬁlled with rant just inside the city walls and, after linguine

gaming tables, where clients came to relieve the al tartufo and a defensible local wine, pouring

tedium of sitting in the grotta a vapore and after- with rain. The 12th-century Duomo, perched at

wards lying face-down in a white sheet and an the very top of the town, is the jewel in Barga’s

uncomfortable blanket, breathing in. One table, crown. We marched Duomo-ward, never mind-

covered with images of cards, is monogrammed ing that the rain came harder with each step,

with the name Caribbean Spud—which sounds and wave after wave of water washed down the

more like a potato than a card game. The walls tilted streets under our feet. The piazza in front

of the casino have been scraped to reveal layers of the Duomo could have afforded a stunning

of yesterdays. It is a ghostly room, well suited to view of the Garfagnana landscape. But as we

the bath-robed spirits that ﬂit from bath to bed looked into a gray mist in tutti direzione, it was Bagni di Lucca

without so much as a buongiorno. as if the Duomo were ﬂoating in a cloudy sea.

EXHIBIT

Vincenzo Marino

January 1st - February 28th 2007

restaurant - pizzeria

CONTE UGOLINO

via senese, 17 d-e-f

Firenze ph. 055 22 21 27

Life in Italy 21

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

The ARTS

Making connections through theater

Day of memory takes center stage at FITC event

by P.M. Louis

tance of studying the Holocaust

Synagogue of Florence

today. In this way, the artistic direc-

tors of FITC hope that this event

will be a launching pad for creating

original plays throughout the years,

utilizing Cieri’s model, with the

children of Florence in order to tell

the stories that unfolded in Tuscany

during that historical period.

‘This use of theatre as a tool for Sala Sadun,

education helps it become a shared Synagogue of Florence

community event which examines via L.C. Farini, 4

the very human intricacies of choice 3pm – staged reading;

and action that occurred during 5pm – reception;

the Holocaust. It is an opportu- 5:30pm – panel discussion

nity for everyone—performers and

audience members alike—to con- Entry is free, but seating is ex-

front their own feelings, opinions tremely limited and reservations

and beliefs about this particular are strongly recommended. For

human tragedy not only as a his-

‘T

heatre is a powerful and truths to enhance the program of reservations and further informa-

tory but also as a continual cycle tion: info@ﬂorencetheatre.com or

unique art form because Holocaust Studies at Yavneh Acad- that occurs and reoccurs each day

its essential nature is based emy in New Jersey. Each year she 055 239 9949.

on this planet’.

on gathering people together to tell works with 13-year-old students

stories, hear them, see them and to adapt a non-ﬁction work into

feel them. The stories we feel most drama and present the play to the

deeply are the ones that explore our community. And each year, Cieri

collective history. They question begins the journey of reacquaint-

and expose the human condition ing herself with the horrors of

and often celebrate the connecting the Shoah, the power of faith and

points between us’, says the Flor- human beings’ capacity to become

ence International Theatre Compa- villains, survivors or heroes in the

ny’s co-artistic director Bari Hoch- face of unimaginable odds.

wald, in reference to FITC’s newest ‘There are many ways to learn’,

project. A unique mix of drama Cieri says. ‘I believe that Yavneh’s

and history, the project foresees Holocaust Studies program is one

an annual program that recognizes of the best available because it goes

theatre as a vital way to keep the beyond academia, enhancing learn-

conversation of Holocaust events ing through the arts. The Holocaust

alive for all members of the commu- play is a vital aspect of the syn-

nity and spark their participation in thesis of knowledge and a kinetic

Il Giorno della Memoria. experience which translates into a

FITC begins this journey in asso- performance by very real people.

ciation with the Jewish community Each year, my eighth grade class

of Florence and will be creating an steps into the shoes of men and

entire afternoon dedicated to cre- women like Krystyna Chiger, who

ativity, education and community as a child went into the sewers of

on February 11th. ‘We cannot forget L’vov with her family, where they

the Holocaust because it was both sought refuge for 14 months. This is

beyond imagination and within the unique and meaningful process

the depth of human capacity’, says of history coming to life through

Hochwald. ‘That is why my co- drama’.

artistic director, Aaron Craig, and I At 3pm on February 11, audi-

are committed to ﬁnding a way to ences can witness the experience

develop this project. We are looking of Krystyna Chiger in Sewers of

forward to Dominique Cieri’s assis- L’vov. The play was written by the

tance in creating the event in the students at Yavneh, under the guid-

most comprehensive way possible’. ance of Cieri and will be performed

Dominique Cieri, New Jersey by community members and FITC

Playwright Fellow and educational artists here in Florence. Involv-

consultant for FITC, has been a key ing over 40 people, 10–70 years of

player in making the company’s age, expatriate and Italian, as well

goals a reality. Co-author of the as international students, the play

book From the Attic, to the Class- will be performed in both English

room to the Stage—The Holocaust, and Italian. The drama with be fol-

Cieri has spent the last 10 years lowed by a reception, and the event

using her love of theatre and her will conclude with a panel of lead-

passion for telling deep human ing educators discussing the impor-

22 News & Views

Thursday 8 February 2007 www.theﬂorentine.net

The ARTS

Stark contrasts

Photo exhibit captures trials of Great Depression

by Richard Keenan

T

he current exhibit of the photographs by Walker Evans at the Museo smiling, unafraid of

Nazionale Alinari della Fotograﬁa offers a view of cultural history the future, these

largely forgotten by the current generation, for whom the United happy faces are in

States has always been a formidable world power. The Great Depression stark contrast with

of the 1930s, which lasted the better part of a decade and ended only with the faces of ten-

America’s entry into World War II, saw much of America’s rural popula- ant farmers and

tion struggling to subsist without adequate food, housing or jobs. These sharecroppers, who are clearly malnourished, poorly clothed and certainly

photographs ﬁrst came to public attention in Let Us Now Praise Famous unsmiling. Sharecropper Family (1936), taken in Hale Country, Alabama,

Men, the book Evans created thanks to a collaborative effort with James depicts a family of four—a man, two women and a child. Clearly worn down

Agee. Agee’s text juxtaposed with Evan’s stark, black and white photo- by the circumstances of barely subsistent living, they remain stoic and reso-

graphs offers eloquent testimony to those troubled times. lute nonetheless.

Most of the photographs in the current exhibit were taken between Perhaps the most poignant photograph in the exhibit is Child’s Grave

1935 and 1937, when Evans and Agee were traveling through the south- (1936), depicting a simple mound of sandy soil with a set of construction

ern United States, subsidized by the Farm Security Administration, one of stones at either end and a small dinner plate placed in the center. This

the many government agencies created by President Franklin Roosevelt to nameless child, otherwise forgotten by history, is effectively captured by

address the problems facing the American economy. One noteworthy work Evan’s photographic sensitivity and perception. The exhibit, rounded out by

is Penny Picture Display (1936), a collage of photographs taken by the various scenes from other parts of Depression-era America, includes several

machines commonly found at carnivals and amusement arcades. There are noteworthy photographs of the Brooklyn Bridge published in 1994.

some ﬁfty photographs in the collage of men, women and children. Well-fed,

Florence’s BUSINESS CARDS

colours of tuscany

�� LEASE or BUY your

�� Tuscan property

��

��

�� Judieanne Colusso

��

��

�� Email: coloursoftuscany@bigpond.com

Cell: 39-335-839-0712

��

�� www.coloursoftuscany.com

��

Periodontics, Esthetic Dentistry,

Oral Implants, Orthodontics,

Pediatric Dentistry, Hygiene,

Whitening.

viale Gramsci 12 FLORENCE

055 241208 - 2480082

cgale@fastwebnet.it EMERGENCY

24 hrs / 365 day

painting lessons 335 8366567

by Cathy Gale

338.1499 392 www.studipaoleschi.it

Classiﬁed Ads 23

www.theﬂorentine.net Thursday 8 February 2007

Classiﬁed ADS

Housing For Sale Business for Sale Help Wanted Leisure & Vacation

Immobili vendita Attività commerciali Offerte di lavoro Tempo libero e vacanze

Special apartment with roof ter- Total Liquidation Sale! We sold Concierge needed for high-end trav- Il Salotto di Firenze B&B located in

race. Overlooking the Arno and in the Dress Shop! 50%-70% off ﬁn- ellers to central and northern Tuscany. splendid Via Roma at the corner with

prestige location of Florence. 62sqm est French and Italian collections, all Looking for mature, highly motivated, the magniﬁcent Piazza Duomo, includes

seasons. Sola Moda 51/r Via dei Neri, professional person to be part of inter- 4 bedrooms and 2 welcoming single

plus terrace, mezzanine with double

Centro Florence. January 29-March national team. Must be ﬂuent in English rooms. Private, intimate and reserved

bed and skylight, One full bedroom

31. Present this ad, subtract 5%, one and Italian, have ﬂexible schedule and in a completely refurnished artistic

with large wardrobe and bathroom, building in the heart of Florence. For

to a customer. excellent interpersonal skills. Familiarity

lounge, kitchen and library. Rare information and reservations call: +39

with region essential - travel required.

opportunity. Ref: Palestro. Call Jud- 055.218347 or +39 348.1590197.

Children’s clothing manufacturer Please send letter of interest and

ieanne Colusso 335.839.0712 - resume to ItalyConcierge@hotmail. info@ilsalottodiﬁrenze.it

looking to sell business. Thirty-year-

info@coloursoftuscany.com com.

old establishment produces clothing

for children from ages 1 to 12 and is Panoramic colonial house in the hills

Loft For Sale in Prato. 2 lofts near equipped with the necessary equip- American University in Florence of Chianti, only 15 km from Florence.

historic centre, each 137 sqm, ideal ment for production. The company has Italy, is currently accepting applica- Surrounded by a large park and olive

for home ofﬁce. We can show layout a large client portfolio with buyers in tions for Italian language, studio art grove, swimming pool. 4-6 person ﬂats

and location. For information, e-mail Italy and abroad. For more information and fashion design instructors. CVs for rent for brief periods, completely

marco@agilelogica.it send an email to gio.giu@gmail.com should be submitted by email to furnished. Quiet, family-style atmos-

rolsen@santareparata.org phere. Landlords available on site for

House Hunting Jobs Wanted any needs. Tel. 333.2203265, e-mail

Cerco lavoro femanesc@tin.it

cerco casa

I am looking for a home-based Private Lessons

American professor and family is

seeking a 2 or 3 bedroom furnished

or internet job, or part time employ- Lezioni private Services

ment in Florence. I am Spanish, and I Italian individual lessons in Flor- Servizi

apartment in the Oltranrno from April ence. Sharpen your grammar to

am English speaking and have good Professional Computer Consultant

1 through mid-June. Must have ADSL enjoy conversation. Fluent English,

knowledge of Italian. Please contact: can ﬁx any PC related problems. Can

internet. Call Ken at 055/282176 or Japanese, French spoken. Call Alberto

maria_fernandezp@hotmail.com or work anywhere in Tuscany and Umbria.

email newﬁeld@hawaii.rr.com and his Japanese wife Fumiko, tel. English and Italian. Call TuscanyPc-

number : 3207262753.

055-475152, www.azlanguage.it - Clinic +39.334.1085438.

Housing for Rent Young Canadian female (24) seeks info@azlanguage.it

Immobili in afﬁtto employments. Fluent in Polish and Computer SOS will solve all compu-

Room for rent in city centre. Shar- English language, studying Italian. Ceramic classes. Paint your own ren- ter/Internet related problems, includ-

ing with male. Apartment with terrace. EU passport, degree in Business and aissance’s style pottery - Short and ing ADSL. Will come to your home.

Marketing. Strong organization skills, long-term courses for beginners and Speaks and reads English ﬂuently.

450 euro per month. Available mid

experience in ofﬁce work, teaching, advanced. Call Enzo +39 339 131 Corrado 320.0932811

February. 3403710786

PR. cell 334-105-2907. 2990. www.ﬂorenceartstudio.it

Charming one bedroom apart- Personals

British mother-tongue, CTEFL certi- Body Language Pilates/Yoga

ment. Modern kitchen, bathroom and Personali

small balcony. Recently renovated ﬁed, with 8 yrs experience in teaching, Studio 30+ level-speciﬁc Pilates

34-y-o Italian male is looking for a

and fully furnished including washing seeks employment from mid-February. groups/privates weekly: D.Clark

single room in apartment with non-

machine. Close to park and piazza Please contact Victoria 333.3673970 335.790.4029. YOGA Thu, Fri, Sun:

smoking English speaker(-s) to start

in tranquil area. Internet connection victoriainfantino@yahoo.it Lisa, 392.803.4271. American instruc-

February 1. Max euro 350/month.

available. Euro 650 pm. Ref: Clau- tors, near Centro.

Please call after 6 p.m. 339.131.0695,

dia. Call Judieanne 335.839.0712 - A woman for all seasons. Recep- Walter.

info@coloursoftuscany.com tionist, secretary, group chaperon, Private oil painting lessons in Eng-

English teacher, English to Italian lish near Teatro Goldoni. Still life

I’m Italian and want to improve

Quality one bedroom apartment translator. Excellent knowledge of vari- subject, canvas, paints and easel sup-

my English I am looking for an Eng-

with terrace. Lounge kitchen and ous PC programs. Seeking employ- plied. All levels welcome. For more

lish mother tongue for conversation

dining, plus one bathroom, bedroom ment also part time. Pls call Ernestina information please contact Cathy at

exchange. Call Pietro 3476485534 or

and cantina. Walk out and see the Giusti: phone 055-222020 or email 055.2207171 / 338.1499392

write piero_gatto@iol.it

Duomo. Internet connection avail- ernestinagiusti@yahoo.it.

able. Euro 1200 pm. Possible for New Year’s Resolution #2: Continue

I’m Italian and want to improve

long or short term. Ref: Alessandro. Part-qualiﬁed accountant, seeks Exercise Program! Yoga provides ﬁt-

my English I am looking for an Eng-

Call Judieanne 335.839.0712 - employment, with experience both ness beneﬁts. Feeling stressed? Fea-

lish/American mother tongue for

info@coloursoftuscany.com in practice and in private business. turing also “Ofﬁce Yoga”. Body Lan-

conversation exchange. Call Cristina

Native English speaker. Please con- guage. 392.803.4271

333.3891682

A large room with private bathroom tact vanessacmurphy@hotmail.com.

with use of kitchen & sitting room in a Expert craftsman offers individual

large & bright ﬂat equipped with every Young woman (32), German native or group classes in English or Ital- Household items for sale

comfort (also for very short period, speaker, excellent English and Italian, ian. Introduction to chiselling and Vendita oggetti personali

close to piazza Gavinana), write to elia. degree in English literature and art his- embossing-theory and practice. A selection of good books in Eng-

dellachiesa@dada.it tory, Italian permit of stay, seeks part- Introduction to technical design. lish - paperbacks and hard covers

time or full-time position, strong organ- Call Fabrizio 338.5060720 or write -contemporaries, classics, and chil-

Costa San Giorgio Apartments izational skills, experience in ofﬁce acquafresca69@hotmail.com dren’s--great book club selections--

offers for rent 8 quality apartments work and work with foreign students, 1 to 3 Euros each. Contact joseph.

in Florence, in front of Ponte Vec- cell: 3888496977 Leather Crafting Classes. Scuola del michael@alice.it or 338/6792271.

chio, renovated and furnished with Cuoio offers short-term (3 hours/1-

style. Small and large apartments are I am looking for a home-based and/ 2 days) & long-term (1 wk to 10 Bargain sales: Sangiorgio dishwasher

equipped with all comforts. Short or or internet job. Am English speaking mths) individual courses and classes almost unused (guarantee till 2010),

long term, minimum for 3 days. Call and have good knowledge of Italian. under a Master Leather Craftsman colonial style wicker sofa perfect con-

055.2344293 or 334.3744268 (sig. Please contact paula_genn@yahoo. inside the Monastery of Santa Croce, ditions, Samsung DVD reader, iron.

ra Maria) - costasangiorgioﬂorence com via San Giuseppe 5 (thru the gar- Contact: vstove@yahoo.it

@costasangiorgio.it -www.costasan- den). Enquiries: tel. 055.244.533 or

giorgio.it English-speaking female, having info@leatherschool.com. For more Bianchi women’s touring bicycle

good knowledge of Italian, looking for info. visit www.leatherschool.com (Spillo k 20), 7005 aluminium frame, 3

part-time employment in administra- for 7 Shimano gears, with tachometer,

tion. Kindly contact 340.1447898 Would you like to learn how to write helmet, tools, many extras. Euro 200.

short stories and novels? Experienced Brian Marble: 333.3738322

creative writing professor offers inspi-

rational private lessons. 329.2945876