The Florentine navigator Amerigo Vespucci died 500 years ago. Today Italy (especially the city of Florence) and the US are celebrating him as one of the major historical figures who helped to discover America.
Category: Arts
The Uffizi Gallery opens a new path for the blind
The Uffizi has opened a dedicated path for the blind, with 16 sculptures “readable” with hands. The new path, called “Uffizi by touching”, is completely free for blind people or visually impaired.
A Florentine painting to the White House
A large painting of Florentine art and architecture through the ages will be donated to the presidency of the United States of America to remember 500 years since the death of the Florentine navigator, Amerigo Vespucci. The painting, created by Paolo Frosecchi, is a sort of “collage painting” of the most famous Florentine monuments.
Amerigo’s America opens Wednesday in NYC
The Florentines Around the World Association and the European School of Economics, in collaboration with the Assembly of Tuscans Around the World and St John’s University, is organising an exhibition entitled “Amerigo’s America – Florence and the Merchants of the New World” dedicated to Amerigo Vespucci on the anniversary of the fifth centenary of his death.
The Arnolfo Tower will re-open to the public
The Arnolfo Tower of Palazzo Vecchio is to re-open to the public on June 24, Florence mayor, Matteo Renzi, has announced. This historical site is where Savonarola spent his last hours before being hanged and burnt at the stake in the square. The Tower is a symbol of the city.
Isabella de’ Medici was not killed, a book reveals
Isabella de’ Medici (1542-1576), the beautiful daughter of Grand Duke Cosimo I and Eleonora of Toledo, did not die, killed by her husband, out of jealousy, in the villa of Cerreto Guidi (Florence). Instead, she sank to a disease of the urinary tract, according to the latest book of Elisabetta Mori.
Uffizi, two marble busts have been restored
A portrait of Flavian era (late First century AD) and a head dating from the Sixteenth century belonging to the classic collection of the Uffizi Gallery have been restored thanks to financial support of the association of tour guides Mercurio. The two works will soon be part of the exhibition gallery.
The last scion of the House of Medici
Saturday, February 18, 2012, the city of Florence will celebrate the anniversary of the death of the Electress Palatine, the last branch of the Grand Ducal de’ Medici family, who ruled Florence for about two centuries. It is also thanks to her that Florence now boasts a heritage of art with no equal.
St. Valentine’s Day at the museum
On 14 February, any two people visiting the State museums, monuments and archaeological sites will have to pay only one entrance ticket. In Florence, Italy, Florentines and tourists can visit Uffizi gallery, Accademia gallery, Bargello national museum, museum of Medici chapels, The Pitti Palace and many other museums and galleries.
Ciatti will head “Opificio delle pietre dure”
The Italian government in the coming days to formalize the nomination of Marco Ciatti as Superintendent at Opificio delle Pietre Dure. The Opificio is a public institute of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage based in Florence.