Bringing the latest news and trends from Florence, Tuscany, and Italy since 2011. Now powered by artificial intelligence
“For the first time in the history of Italian tourism” in August tourist reservations in hotels decreased 1.1%, with a -3% of Italians and +2.1% of foreigners, said Bernabo’ Bocca, the president of Federalberghi which groups Italian hoteliers, commenting monthly data released by the federation. July and August together recorded a -6% in Italians and +1.1% in foreigners.
The mayor of Florence launched a bid on Thursday to be Italy’s next prime minister, a challenge to the old generation struggling with political chaos less than eight months ahead of an election. Matteo Renzi, 37, seen as an arrogant upstart by the ageing political establishment, announced he would stand in primary elections to choose the prime ministerial candidate for the centre left, which is well ahead in the polls.
The latest remains uncovered at a former convent in central Florence don’t belong to the Mona Lisa, but she might be just underneath, a researcher says. The fourth skeleton found below the former Ursuline convent appears to belong to another noblewoman who may have sat as a model for Leonardo da Vinci when he was painting his famous work.
On 21 and 22 September, Florence will be the capital of wine. The Italian city internationally renowned as the Cradle of Renaissance hosts Wine Town Firenze, international event gathering together high quality wine producers and animating the city of art with music, theater performances and a range of other activities.
ACF Fiorentina says midfielder Alberto Aquilani will be out for two weeks with an Achilles injury. Aquilani was expected to make his first start for Fiorentina against Catania this weekend. Aquilani began his career at Roma and, after a brief loan spell at Triestina, returned to the Serie A club where he became a regular in the Roma side during the 2005–06 season.
From Friday to Sunday, 14-16 September 2012 at the Stazione Leopolda, Pitti Immagine will present Fragranze – the international fair event, featuring the best in artistic perfumery. The fair will showcase the most exclusive, high-quality craft fragrances, body-care and wellness products, cosmetics and sophisticated scented accessories by the best names on the world scene.
Strong thunderstorms are expected tomorrow (September 12, 2012) in Tuscany. In the early hours of morning thunderstorms will affect the northern part of the region – Lunigiana, Garfagnana, Versilia, Mugello – and the other part of Tuscany during the afternoon and the night.
From 22 to 24 September in Milan, Pitti Immagine will be presenting Touch! neoZone cloudnine, a special selection of the most refined and exclusive women’s collections for the spring-summer 2013 season. The sophisticated high level design areas of the NHOW Hotel at Via Tortona 35 together with the historic site of the Laboratorio della Scala at Via Tortona 58, will provide the exceptional setting for this event.
The Strade del Vino, or wine trails, were set up in accordance with Regional Law no. 69 (1996). Basically they are itineraries through those wine-producing areas of the region that are protected by the Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) and Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita (DOCG) appellations or the looser Indicazione Geografica Tipica (IGT) category.
Akiyoshi Ito is the oriental artist that the Alinari Museum of Photography (MNAF) proposes from September. Ito’s exhibition is a true declaration of love for the sea, its beauty and its richness. His photographs come from a passion for the sea and the underwater world, portraying the Sea of Japan, the Philippines, Hawaii, the Australian barrier reef, the sea of the Maldives, the Red Sea and, more.