Notorious Vandal Strikes Again - The Florentine

Anno 1 numero 18 - Firenze 

Thursday 20 October 2005 

FREE COPY 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trenitalia 

Infested 

Police Investigate 

Unsanitary Conditions 

of Railway Cars 

The Fiorentina 

Stops in Rome 

Art Communes 

with Nature 

by Brenda 

Moore-McCann 

The Spa 

Experience 

by Niki Swallow 

see pg. 6 see pg. 7 see pg. 19 

see pg. 20 

Notorious Vandal Strikes Again 

Officials Stumped on how to Protect the Treasures of the Signoria 

SIT, STUDY, 

STRIKE! 

Students and Faculty 

Find New Ways to 

Resist Reform 

L. Moratti 

Last week, serial vandal Piero 

Cannata damaged the red 

granite headstone with bronze 

letters that commemorates the spot 

where Friar Girolamo Savonarola 

was burned at the stake in Piazza 

della Signoria. Cannata has been 

infamous since 1991, when he 

visited the Accademia and took a 

hammer to the David’s left foot. 

Michelangelo’s masterpiece was 

only the first in a series of vandalism 

acts committed by Cannata, who 

has also been charged for damaging 

Filippino Lippi’s painting “Santo 

Stefano” and “L’Adorazione” by 

Bronzino. He has also confessed to 

vandalising Pollock’s masterpiece 

in Rome’s Gallery of Modern Art, 

as well as the Angel Warrior statue, 

which guards the veteran’s memorial 

Monumento ai Caduti in Piazza 

Santa Maria delle Carceri in Prato. 

In February 2000, Cannata was 

charged with damaging a sculpture 

in Museo Marino Marini. These 

inexplicable acts earned him treatment 

in the OPG Judiciary Psychiatric 

Hospital of Montelupo. 

He says he spray-painted a big 

black X over the circular epigraph 

simply because “what was written 

Tourists on a visit to Piazza del 

Duomo last week came away 

with more than they bargained 

for. In protest of the educational 

photo by L.Cardini 

reform proposed by Minister 

Moratti, researchers created an 

there is nonsense.” Cannata confesses 

that he carried out two area 

open-air university by holding lessons 

in the piazza. Students occupied 

their university buildings in 

surveillances before vandalising the 

headstone under Palazzo Vecchio. 

Viale Morgagni and invited authorities 

to aperitifs at student dorms. 

As on other occasions, Cannata 

confessed to the crime by calling the 

Students also called for new 

editors of the La Nazione newspaper 

assembly meetings and marched 

in Prato. “I’ve struck again,” he said. 

in protest from Piazza San Marco 

“I crossed Savonarola’s epigraph 

to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, 

out, because they shouldn’t have 

armed with slogans and banners - 

killed him. That’s why I painted 

“Do Away with Moratti” - in hopes 

over the red marble, exactly in the 

of creating a school system with 

place where the monk was hung. In 

“Fewer priests, less entrepreneurial 

spirit, more freedom, and more 

the place where his lifeless body was 

burned!” 

professors.” 

see pg., 3 see pg. 3 

VOLVO XC90. 

TUSCANY FEELI NG. 

PETROL ENGINE: 2.5T 210 bhp (154KW), 

T6 272 bhp (200KW), V8 315 bhp (232KW). 

TURBODIESEL COMMON RAIL D5: 

163 bhp (120KW), 185 bhp (136KW). 

GEARTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 

Fuel consumption, mixed cycle: 8.2 - 13.5 l/100 km. 

Carbon dioxide emissions: 217 - 322 g/Km. 

DEALER 

Peragnoli-Scar 

FIRENZE (NORD) - Via F. Baracca 183 - Phone 055.430741 

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

AUTHORIZED REPAIRER SIENA (MONTERIGGIONI) - Via Cassia Nord 110 

Phone 0577.318505 www.peragnoliscar.com

2 


www.theflorentine.net 

WHERE CAN I FIND THE FLORENTINE? 

FIRENZE 

Bars, cafes, restaurants 

Ari’s Diner, Art Bar, Bar Anna Bagel Point, Bar on the River, Bar Torini, Cibreo, 

Danny Rock Restaurant, Darvish Café, EBY’S segui la rana, Finnegan Irish Pub, 

I Visacci art caffè, J.J. Cathedral, Maioli Bar, Oil Shoppe, Old Stove, Osteria del 

cinghiale bianco, Prince Food Point, Il Santo Bevitore, Ottorino Jazz Bistrò, 

Tabaccheria Ricchi Enzo, Teatro del Sale 

Bookstores 

BM Bookshop, British Library, Edison, Feltrinelli International, Libreria Arke, 

Mandragora Book and Art Stores, McRae Bookstore, Paperback Exchange 

Hotels 

Albergo JK Place, B & Breakfast De’ Benci Suite, Casa Howard, Classic Hotel, 

Excelsior and Grand Hotels, Gallery Hotel Art, Holiday Inn, Hotel Adler Cavalieri, 

Hotel Benivieni, Hotel Byron, Hotel Cimabue, Hotel Continental, Hotel David, 

Hotel Fenice, Hotel Giglio , Hotel La Residenza, Hotel Loggiato Dei Serviti, Hotel 

Lungarno, Hotel Nuova Italia, Hotel Orafi , Hotel Pitti Palace, Hotel Privilege, Hotel 

Ritz, Hotel River, Hotel Rivoli, Hotel Tornabuoni Beacci, La casa del garbo, Luna 

Rosa-Ostello, Martin Dago B&B, Morandi della Crocetta, Palazzo Magnani Feroni, 

Plaza Hotel Lucchesi, Relais Santa Croce, Savoy Hotel, Soggiorno Battistero, Villa 

La Vedetta, Viva Hotel Capitol 

Salons & health clubs 

Fonbliù, Hair Force, Hair Massimo & Alessio, Palestra Klab Wellness, Palestra 

Vivarium 

Schools 

ABC scuola di italiano, Academic Program International API Italy, Accademia 

Italiana, Accent Florence, AIFS Study Abroad, Angel Academy, Art Under One 

Roof, Arte Orafe Jewelry School, British Institute, California St. University, CAPA 

Study Center Adad. Abroad, Centro Fiorenzo, Centro Linguistico, Centro Linguistico 

Dante Alighieri, Cultural Experience Abroad, Eurocentre, Europass Studi Europei, 

Farfi eld University Florence Campus, Fashion Design Lab, Florence Dance Studio, 

Florence Design Academy, Fondazione Studio Marangoni, GE Florence Learning 

Center, Gemological Institute of America GIA, Gonzaga University, Institute of Fine 

& Liberal Arts, Institute of Italian Studies, Instituto Gould, Instituto Michelangelo, 

Instituto per L’arte Restauro, International School, Istituto Americano, Istituto europeo, 

Istituto il David, ITC Istituto Tecnico Alessandro Volta, James Madison University, 

Kent State University, Koine Center, Lorenzo de’ Medici school, Macchiavelli scuola 

di lingua, New York University, Perseo Scuola per L’arte e la gioielleria, Polimoda, 

Richmond University, Santa Reparata Art School, Sarah Lawrence College, Scuola 

del cuoio, Scuola Leonardo da Vinci, Scuola Superiori Mediatori Linguistici, 

Scuola toscana, Stanford University, Studio Art Centers International SACI, Suola 

Internazionale per la grafi ca d’arte Il Bisonte, Syracuse University, The Florence 

Academy of Art, Tuscany Painting Studio, Wall Street School 

Shops 

Baroni Cheese Shop, Calvani Calzature, Ceri Vintage, Conti’s Vegetable Stand, Dado 

Vago, Gucci Outlet, Ippogrifo Stampe d’arte, Jimmy’s Bakery, La Bottega d’Arte, Lisa 

Corti Home textile emporium, Lory Copy Store, Tamarino Stampe d’Arte, Volvo 

Nord 

Travel & tourist 

Florence Airport, American Express, APT Florence Tourist Offi ce, CIS, Walking 

Tours of Florence 

Other 

Agile Logica, Chianti Estates, Comune di Bagno a Ripoli, Consolato Stati Uniti 

d’America, Dr. Stephen Kerr, GE - Nuovo Pignone, Internet Pitti, Internet Station 

Service, Mailbox Etc, Odeon Theatre Cinema, Pitcher & Flacomio, St. James Church, 

St. Marks Church, Unicef 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KFFL r 13734 18/4/05 17:51 Page 1 

Did you know that Knight Frank has 

five offices in Tuscany and Umbria? 

FIESOLE 

Albergo Villa il Sorriso, APT Fiesole Tourist Offi ce, B & B Le cannelle, B & B Le 

scalette, Caffè al N°5, Caffè Aurora, Enoteca La Sosta del Rossellino, European 

University, Georgetown University, Hotel Villa Bonelli, J.J. Hill Pub, Ostello della 

Gioventù, Villa le Balze 

PRATO 

Accademia Britannica di Prato, APT Prato, Art Hotel, Badiani Studio, Comune di 

Vaiano, Fotoclub Il Bacchino, Hotel Datini, Hotel Flora, Hotel San Marco, Libreria 

Marzocco, Monash University, Polimoda Prato, Punto Giovani Europa, Studio BGS 

& Partners, Università Popolare, URP di Prato, International English Academy, 

Residence Manassei, Wallart 

Whether you are buying, selling, restoring or in need of estate 

management advice, you will always find a local Knight Frank agent 

close at hand. 

For further information contact in complete confidence: 

Rima Stubbs, Italian Head Office, 0577 731 120 

London: Edward Rees, + (0) 44 20 7629 8171 

Offices: London Florence Milan Rome Venice 

www.knightfrank.com


 

News 

3 


Florence NEWS 


via santa maria 32r - 50125 Firenze 

tel. fax 0552306616 

info@theflorentine.net 

editore 

Azimuth s.r.l. 

direzione: via dei Fossi 14c. 59100 Prato 

direttore responsabile 

Fabiana Ceccarelli 

managing editors 

Nita Tucker, Linda Falcone 

contributing editors 

Marco Badiani, Elia Della Chiesa, 

Giovanni Giusti, Antonio Lo Iacono, 

Carla Rossi, Tova Piha, Tony Tucker 

graphics and layout 

agilelogica.it 

Leo Cardini - Cathy Gale 

printer 

La Marina, Calenzano (Fi) 

iscrizione al ROC 

(reg. degli operatori di comunicazione) 

n. 9927 reg. trib. di Prato 

trasmessa il 19/04/05 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

continued from pg. 1 

Notorious Vandal Strikes Again 

Officials Stumped on How to Protect the 

Treasures of the Signoria 

Cannata is not the only one attacking Italy’s patrimony, however: 

graffiti is scrawled over the façades of historic palaces, chewing gum 

is stuck to statues, and Doric columns are encrusted with years of city 

smog. Italy, a small country that boasts more than half of the world’s 

artistic wealth, is nothing short of an open-air museum. Thousands flock 

to her art cities each year, and many are shocked to see the state of decay 

of hundreds of Italian treasures. Why? You don’t have to go far to prove 

that vandalism, pollution, and atmospheric conditions rank as the main 

causes of deterioration of artwork. The real question becomes just how 

to protect Italy’s cultural heritage, especially when many Italian towns 

are open-air museums whose needs don’t easily lend themselves to the 

necessities of modern living. 

The fight against vandalism is indeed becoming an urgent issue in the 

centre of Florence, as city officials continue to search for new ways to 

protect the treasures of the Signoria. The most commonly targeted work 

of art in Florence remains the Fountain of Neptune, which has been 

vandalised six times since 1981. Regardless of how many sworn guards, 

hidden cameras, and custodians are placed in the piazza, officials seem 

unable to keep the city’s artistic wealth safe, especially outdoors. 

continued from pg. 1 

SIT, STUDY, STRIKE! 

Students and Faculty Find New Ways to Resist Reform 

The Region of Tuscany supported the protests, declaring itself against “a 

university system that has been paralysed by haphazard reform.” Researchers 

in the Piazza del Duomo in Siena also protested with an unusual type 

of sit-in: “The Lesson Marathon,” 48 consecutive hours of lectures at the 

University of Siena. This atypical intellectual protest was heartily approved 

by the Sienese Academic Senate and was called “a well-organised protest 

against policies currently being discussed in Parliament.” More than 

250 students in over 30 Italian cities from Milan to Naples, from Bologna 

to Palermo, took part in some form of protest over the past two weeks in 

response to the controversial reform. 

Opponents of the Moratti Reform argue against the vagueness of the 

new law, which depends on legislative decrees to establish age limits for 

compulsory education. Enrico Panini, the General Secretary of Cgil Scuola, 

called the reform “disastrous,” and commented that “it will produce a step 

backwards in the education level in our country.” The education sector committees 

(Comitati di base, Cobas) are against the reform and “refuse the 

idea of treating schools as fi rms and of privatising the educational system.” 

By contrast, the National Independent School Workers’ Union gave “its 

full commitment to the implementation of the law.” Giorgio Rembado of 

the School Deans’ Association also regards the reform positive, despite 

fi nancial concerns. Confi ndustria Employers’ Confederation are in favour 

of the reform as well: “we needed a reform able to face the problems of 

the schools sector in order to make it more competitive and of a higher 

quality.” 

Table of CONTENTS 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

9 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

22 

23 

FLORENCE NEWS 

Notorious Vandal 

Strikes Again 

Sit, Study, Strike! 

Fewer Traffi c Accidents But 

Mortality Still High 

Undercover Agents Planted in 

Stadium 

More Expensive to be 

a Poor Student 

The Show Must Not Go On 

NATIONAL NEWS 

Fiat Family Nightmare 

Following in Daddy’s 

Footsteps 

SPORT NEWS 

The Fiorentina Stops in Rome 

Violent Fans, The Battle 

Continues 

TOP PICKS & 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

Events Highlights 

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL 

Interview with: 

Barbara Deimling 

CULTURE & CUSTOMS 

ITALIAN VOICES: 

A Window on Language 

and Customs in Italy 

Married to an Italian 

Fame & Fashion: The Future 

is in the Stars? 

HOW DO YOU.....? 

Buy, Drive & Ship a Volvo 

THE ARTS 

Art Communes with Nature 

TRAVEL & LEISURE 

The Spa Experience: 

Tuscany’s Alternative 

Answer to Good Health 

Back to the Future: 

Agriturismo: Getting Back 

to the Good Life 

USEFUL NUMBERS 

CLASSIFIED ADS

4 


Florence NEWS 

News in BRIEF 

Bargello Casts First Stone 

A piece of a pietra serena recently 

fell from the main façade of the 

Bargello Museum. The stone fell 

from a height of 30 metres, breaking 

on the sidewalk near the main 

entrance of the museum on Via 

della Vigna Vecchia). No one was 

struck by the falling stone, and 

Bargello technicians, fi re-fi ghters, 

and restoration workers, who restored 

the museum seven years 

ago, were called to the scene. 

Museum directors have often 

complained of the vibrations the 

tower must sustain due to passing 

buses on Via del Proconsolo. 

Authorities deny any correlation 

between the traffi c and the condition 

of the tower. 

Bribes For Better Health Care 

Eighteen obstetricians and a 

department head at the Careggi 

Hospital have been accused of 

abuse of offi ce. All are currently 

under investigation for having 

taken payments in exchange for 

better assistance to patients in 

the maternity ward. The department 

head is also currently under 

investigation for assigning forpay 

rooms only to those patients 

who were willing to adhere to the 

“special service” fee. According 

to sources, guaranteed service 

could cost anywhere from 500 to 

800 euros. Upon paying the sum, 

mothers-to-be would be guaranteed 

assistance during delivery 

from the obstetrician of their 

choice, regardless of established 

hospital shifts. This practice is 

said to have been ongoing at 

Careggi for more than four years. 

News 

Fewer Traffic Accidents 

But Mortality Still High 

Safety Campaign Doesn’t Reach Bottom Line 

The road to safe traffic conditions 

continues to be a long 

one. Florence is in third place, 

after Rimini and Milan, as the city 

with the highest level of risk factors, 

and it ranked fourth with regards to 

number of traffic victims wounded 

annually. One of the city’s first steps 

to reduce risk factors has been to 

increase the number of fines and 

tickets issued to violators. According 

to a recent estimate, the number 

of traffic violations spotted by hidden 

cameras will reach over 800 

thousand by the end of 2005. Other 

safety measures include an increase 

in urban police officers, far-reaching 

awareness-raising campaigns against 

drunk driving, and an increasing 

number of mandatory alcohol tests 

at local clubs (where 41 percent of 

dancers are said to leave under the 

influence of alcohol). 

According to statistics initially 

published in Quattroruote magazine, 

the safety verdict is clear: 

there are currently 1000 fewer 

accidents in Florence compared 

to two years ago. According to the 

Municipal Police website, Florentine 

traffic accidents equal 3,704, 

and include 24 deaths. These statistics 

were recently confirmed by 

the Florentine City Police during 

their 151st anniversary celebration 

of the Force’s founding. While statistics 

do indicate fewer accidents, 

the news is not all good. The same 

statistics also show an increase in 

traffic mortality rates. According 

to Alessandro Bartolini, head of 

Florence’s Municipal Police Force, 

the reason is simple. “The increase 

is due to the fast and progressive 

substitution of four-wheeled automobiles 

for two-wheeled vehicles. 

The latter are notoriously more 

dangerous in the event of traffic 

accidents,” Bartolini explains. 

Alcohol Blamed for American’s 

Fall From Balcony 

Tragedy Increases Support for New Policies in Florentine Bars 

Fanatic Fans Fight In Peruzzi 

A brawl broke out Sunday night 

in Piazza Peruzzi, just a few metres 

from Piazza Santa Croce, between 

fans of Fiorentina, Verona, 

he Florentine police force investigates another American tragedy connected 

Twith alcohol abuse. A twenty-four old woman fell from the balcony of the 

and presumed supporters of A.C. 

Milan. Eighty young fans were involved, 

fi fty of whom wore scarves 

Hotel Concorde last week. She suffered head trauma, fractured ribs, and a fractured 

pelvis. She was not found below her own window, and investigators believe that she 

of their favourite team over their may have been pushed from another guest’s room. The hospital’s blood tests revealed 

faces. Bottles and glasses, as that the victim was under the influence of alcohol. 

well as side-mirrors broken off of 

This marks the third in a series of incidents in Florence connecting American 

nearby cars became makeshift students, alcohol abuse, and violent crime. In efforts to raise student awareness and 

weapons. 10 police agents were guarantee their safety, the American Consulate in Florence has organised meetings 

hospitalised before military police with public authorities and other related institutions, including bar and club owners 

and American colleges. Policies, designed to protect students, include the refusal 

were able to disperse the aggressors. 

Three Florentines and to serve alcohol to inebriated customers, and the regulation of promotions such as 

one person from Foggia were arrested 

for brawling, violence, and 

“It’s proven that many of the problems our students have had with criminality are 

offering “12 drinks for 12 euro.” 

resisting a public offi cer. 

related to alcohol abuse. Here, cuisine and good wine are aspects we can appreciate 

GIA_AD_Florentine_pearls 17-10-2005 about this 17:39 culture. Pagina But young 1 people just have to be more responsible,” states Michael 

Ma from the American Embassy in Florence. 


UNDERCOVER 

AGENTS PLANTED 

IN STADIUM 

Police Fans Make Florentine 

Football a Safer Sport 

e’ve heard of 

Wclown-doc- 

tors, but we had never 

heard of policefans 

until the last 

championships at 

Franchi stadium. Florence 

has a new idea 

for ensuring stadium 

safety. The plan is 

simple: one thousand agents will gather 

together to watch the purple team 

play. The initiative called “Violaclub” will 

consist not only of state police, but of 

military and fi scal police as well. It will 

also include other branches such as 

traffi c police and forest rangers. The 

proposal was presented last week by 

Carlo Papini, Regional Director of SAP 

(Autonomous Police Worker’s Union) 

to the head of Florence’s police administration. 

In Papini’s proposal, the police 

force will no longer be positioned inside 

the stadium. Instead they will crowd the 

space between Franchi’s two sides, 

between the Railway and Marathon 

curves, an area originally left empty for 

ventilation purposes and to discourage 

direct contact between fans from 

opposing sides. Violaclub’s new idea is 

to fi ll the seats with public offi cers. 

Although these “fans” will be both 

off-duty and out of uniform, they will be 

useful should an emergency or threat to 

public order arise. The idea has already 

been presented to the City of Florence 

and Mayor Leonardo Domenici and 

Councillor Eugenio Gianni, in a recent 

meeting regarding stadium safety, 

where they expressed interest in the 

initiative and are currently evaluating 

the proposal. 

The idea is hard to refuse on all 

levels. The police-fans will pay for their 

tickets according to Pisanu’s decree, 

but part of the proceeds earned from 

these special ticket sales will go to 

charities such as Meyer’s Children’s 

Hospital or be used to further scientifi c 

research. The quota allotted to humanitarian 

organisations will depend partly 

on the Fiorentina Club’s generosity. 

“It is a way to unify police and football 

fans, in something other than matters of 

public order,” says Indolfi . 

Carlsbad | Los Angeles | New York | Florence | Japan | Korea | Thailand | London | Hong Kong | Mumbai | Taiwan | Moscow | China 

One-Day Pearl Grading Seminar 

Gain practical, hands-on experience in grading pearls 

using the GIA’s 7 Pearl Value Factors and learn how to evaluate 

cultured pearls and determine the quality of Akoya, freshwater, 

South Sea and Tahitian pearls. 

This one day seminar is a great way to discover the exciting 

world of gems and gemology and is also a sure way of updating 

professional skills for sales associates, buyers and appraisers. 

in English Sunday, October 23 rd 

in Italian Sunday, October 30 th 

The World's Foremost Authority in Gemology TM - GIA 

GIA Florence ı Via del Castello d'Altafronte, 11 ı 50122 Firenze - Italy ı T: 055-215964 ı F: 055-2655522 ı E: info@giaflorence.com ı I: www.giaflorence.com


More Expensive to be 

a Poor Student 

Housing Emergency for Students in Florence 

Want to live in one 

of the world’s most 

beautiful cities? Try 

and put your money where 

your mouth is, which may 

prove a tough task in the 

world’s favourite university 

town. As transitory housing 

becomes more and more in 

demand, studies show that 

rental prices are starting to 

raise the roof. In fact, the lack 

of affordable housing for both 

students and families is one of 

the issues weighing heavily on the 

minds of many of Florence’s inhabitants. 

“The issue’s importance in this 

city should be considered equal to 

that of commercial fraud and environmental 

pollution,” said Mayor 

Leonardo Domenici in a recent 

speech. He went on to say that one 

of the best ways to face the housing 

emergency is to crack down on 

landlords who rent flats without 

providing official contracts to renters. 

According to Leacoop and the 

Housing Coop “Unica,” rentals to 

students with irregular or illegal contracts 

contribute significantly to the 

distortion of the market. 

Recent university-provided data 

shows that 38 percent of students 

registered at the Ateneo live within 

the province of Florence (with their 

own families). 36 percent reside in 

Tuscany, many of whom are later 

forced to find a house in Florence. 

23 percent of students come from 

outside Tuscany, and 3 percent come 

from other nations. Illegal transitory 

housing contracts in Florence are 

said to generate an estimated revenue 

of 24 million euros. It is also 

estimated that the economic turnover 

generated by the presence of 

students in Florence reaches 150 

thousand euros per year, not counting 

tuition fees, if you include all living 

expenses sustained. The average 

cost per capita per bed is 330 euros 

a month. 

A bit of good news for tight 

pocketbooks will come into play 

on October 29. Adolfo Moni, the 

president of the Association Cooperativa 

Abitazione is scheduled to 

inaugurate the new structure in Via 

Maragliano, hosting 350 rooms at a 

third of the market price. A similar 

building with 180 beds is also being 

built in Sesto. 

Orange Buses Have Green Heart 

City’s Public Transportation Service Turns Ecological 

ATAF is taking steps 

to drive better 

buses. In a dynamic yet 

fragile city like Florence 

“better” means more 

environmentally conscious. 

A series of new 

Euro 4 buses, which run 

on methane rather than 

petrol, are currently 

being added to the slew 

of electronic mini-buses 

that already serve Florence’s historical 

centre. ATAF’s new generation 

of investments make 50 percent 

of the kilometres they drive completely 

ecological, in full respect of 

the environment. 

“In the last four years, we’ve made 

efforts to substitute old vehicles for 

new ones, increasing the number of 

Euro 4 buses that run on methane,” 

says ATAF president Elisabetta Tesi. 

In doing so, ATAF has achieved its 

goal of reducing the amount of polluting 

agents released 

into the environment. 

These ecologicallyminded 

efforts translate 

into a million kilograms 

less of toxic substances 

released into the air 

annually, according to 

research presented at a 

recent conference held 

in Palazzo Vecchio by 

ATAF, the environmental 

association Legambiente, and 

the City of Florence. 

The next step involves the substitution 

of 28 old petrol-guzzling 

buses for those that run entirely 

on methane. ATAF is planning 

to increase its number of “green 

machines” by investing in 22 more 

Euro 4 buses. The city’s service provider 

is also evaluating the possibility 

of purchasing vehicles that run 

on mixed hydrogen-methane and 

bio-diesel petrol. 

News 

5 


Florence NEWS 

THE SHOW MUST NOT GO ON 

Shut Down is Entertainment Industry’s 

Answer to Budget Cuts 

For A Day So We 

Don’t Close Forever” 

“Closed 

was the slogan of the 

Italian entertainment industry’s 

nation-wide strike, held on Friday, 

October 14 to protest the drastic 

cuts outlined in the national government’s 

2006 budget plan. October 

14 was also the much anticipated 

release date of Roberto Benigni’s 

new film, “La tigre e la neve.” 

Benigni, as well as other Tuscan 

actors such as Carlo Verdone, 

strongly supported the strike that 

had movie theatres, concert halls, 

and live performance theatres 

closed for the day throughout 

Italy. 

The budget cuts are seen as 

a severe detriment to one of the 

peninsula’s most fl ourishing industries, 

and the 40 percent decrease 

in government culture spending 

has forced the FUS, Fondo Unico 

per lo Spettacolo, to interpret the 

2006 plan as “a death sentence for 

Mariella Zoppi 

Max Biaggi 

culture.” The 164 million euro cut 

translates into fewer public cultural 

events, fewer productions, fewer 

shows, and fewer jobs within a sector 

that in the Tuscan region alone 

provides jobs for more than 20 thousand 

people. Funds for culture represent 

just 1 percent of the regional 

budget, and thus Cultural Councillor 

of the Tuscan Region Mariella Zoppi 

voices her concerns about the issue. 

“We will do all we can to reduce the 

catastrophic effects of this choice 

but the national government is also 

intent on cutting regional budgets 

and our power to intervene has 

been further reduced,” says Zoppi, 

summarising the fears of the Tuscan 

Musical and Theatre Association.

6 


National NEWS 

News in BRIEF 

Security Measures Threaten 

Businesses 

According to Italy’s anti-terrorism policies, 

companies offering public communications 

services are obligated to 

make photocopies of the passports 

of customers who use the Internet, 

phone, or fax. Although recent legislation 

also included measures to increase 

transportation security, permit 

DNA collection, and facilitate the detention 

and deportation of suspects, 

the average citizen is mainly feeling 

the law’s effect in Internet cafes. The 

owners of these cafes around Italy are 

blaming a 10 percent loss in business 

on these new “passport laws.” But, Italy 

claims that its new policies have led 

to the arrest of Hussein Osman, one of 

the men behind the failed bombing of 

the London Underground in July. 

Finding Where Your Fowl is From 

Starting this week consumers will be 

able to know exactly where their drumstick 

has been. In compliance with 

a new decree issued by the Italian 

Ministry of Health, all foodstuffs containing 

fowl (chicken, turkey, pigeon, 

pheasant, quail or wild birds) must 

be specifi cally labelled. This new law, 

valid until December 31 st 2007, was 

issued in response to the outbreak of 

the chicken virus throughout the world. 

Shoppers will be able to know where 

their fowl was born and raised, as well 

as the date and place of butchering 

and sectioning. Large fi nes will be issued 

to producers who fail to comply. 

Counterfeit Concerns 

Counterfeit goods continue to pervade 

Europe. Each year over a 100 million 

products are sequestered by customs 

offi cers. Along with DVDs, and 

faux brand name clothes and bags, 

sequestered goods include anything 

from pharmaceutical products, face 

cream, mineral water with false labels, 

toothpaste, and spare car parts. Studies 

show a 1000 percent increase 

in imported counterfeit goods since 

1998. At least 60 percent of these illegal 

wares come from China. The European 

Commission is currently evaluating 

strategies on how to respond to 

the growing infl ux of these items. New 

policies seek to increase protection 

of member countries, make customs 

relations more effective, and increase 

international co-operation. Italy, whose 

economy is largely affected by the 

importation of counterfeit goods, supports 

the new initiative. 

Prodi Takes Primaries 

Centre-left supporters turned out en 

masse on Sunday for unprecedented 

‘primary’ elections organised by the 

centre-left opposition to choose the 

coalition’s leader for next spring’s 

general elections. Former European 

Commission Chief Romano Prodi 

emerged as winner against six other 

centre-left candidates. Well over 

three million people cast their ballots 

at 9,731 voting booths set up across 

the country. Voters were asked to 

sign a form saying they support the 

opposition’s agenda and offer one euro 

as a contribution to the costs of the 

ballot. Prodi hailed the massive turnout, 

saying it went “beyond expectations. 

It’s beautiful, incredible. This is a great 

celebration of democracy at work.” 

News 

Fiat Family Nightmare 

Heir to Automobile Dynasty 

Hospitalised for Drug Overdose 

The heir to the Lapo Elkan 

Agnelli business 

dynasty and a 

vice-president of Fiat 

Auto SpA, Lapo Elkann, 

was hospitalised in Turin 

recently for a drug overdose. 

Doctors affirm 

that the Fiat manager 

has suffered no brain 

damage. Elkann, 28, 

the grandson of the 

late Fiat patriarch 

Gianni Agnelli, heads Fiat’s Brand 

Promotion division. Three Fiat security 

guards stood watch on Tuesday 

outside the hospital building where 

Elkann is being treated. Police said 

he was suffering from the effects of a 

cocaine overdose. 

Later newspaper reports claimed 

he had taken a potentially lethal 

cocktail of heroin and cocaine, 

washed down by alcohol. In its only 

statement on the case, Fiat said the 

manager had “respiratory problems 

caused by medication.” Possession 

of small amounts of cocaine for personal 

use is not illegal in Italy . 

Lapo has successfully 

launched new 

sportswear and leather 

lines with the Fiat 

logo to enhance the 

car maker’s image. 

He often attends soccer 

matches of family 

club Juventus with 

other members of the 

Agnelli clan. Italy’s 

leading engineering 

union, Fiom, stressed 

on Tuesday that the case would not 

affect the company . 

The Agnelli’s social and personal 

lives have fascinated Italians for 

decades, much the way the British 

royalty’s doings fill the pages of 

British tabloids. Agnelli family tragedies 

have elicited comparisons to 

those of the Kennedy dynasty in the 

United States. Lapo Elkann’s uncle, 

Edoardo, the son of Gianni Agnelli, 

died in 2000 in an apparent suicide. 

An elder cousin, Giovannino, who 

had been prepared to take over Fiat, 

died of cancer at age 33 in 1997. 

Following in Daddy’s Footsteps 

Premier’s Daughter Named Italy’s 

Most Powerful Woman 

Marina Berlusconi, Italian 

Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s 

eldest daughter, continues 

to draw international press attention 

nearly a week after she was named 

president of the family’s media 

empire. A feature in French daily 

Le Monde followed similar articles 

by The Financial Times Deutschland 

and AFP, the latter of which 

set the tone with a piece entitled: 

“The Most Powerful Woman In 

Italy.” Marina Berlusconi, 39, was 

appointed to head the family’s holding 

company Fininvest on October 

4, following the death of the group’s 

former president Aldo Bonomo. 

“Already considered one of the most 

powerful women in the world, Maria 

Elvira Berlusconi, known as Marina, 

is set to move farther up the annual 

classification of Forbes and Fortune 

magazines,” wrote the French daily . 

“A determined manager, she is 

both feared and respected. Even 

a close family friend, (journalist) 

Emilio Fede [...] recently confessed: 

‘I would never go to her to ask her 

for a raise.’” Berlusconi’s appointment 

came as no surprise. She 

served as Bonomo’s deputy for more 

than nine years and had been tipped 

as his replacement by inside sources 

following his death on August 31. 

Marina Berlusconi 

Her new position puts her in 

charge of a vast business empire, 

encompassing advertising, movie 

distribution, television, books, magazines, 

directory enquiries, insurance 

and pensions. Fininvest, which also 

owns the AC Milan soccer club, is 

one of Italy’s largest enterprises, valued 

at around 17 billion euros and 

generating some five billion euros 

annually . 

Fininvest’s new president entered 

the group at the age of 25. Although 

she had spent summers interning at 

its various subsidiaries since the age 

of 15, she was only introduced to 

the daily running of the business in 

her late 20s, after dropping out of a 

degree in politics and international 

relations. 

She has chaired Fininvest’s publishing 

company Mondadori, Italy’s 

largest publisher, since 2003 . Last 

year, the premier’s eldest offspring 

was ranked at number 9 on Fortune 

magazine’s list of the 50 most influential 

women executives. 


TRENITALIA 

INFESTED 

Police Investigate 

Unsanitary Conditions 

of Railway Cars 

desperate passenger feels 

A forced to set his coat on 

fi re, throwing it onto the tracks 

to exterminate train bedbugs. In 

a recent journey of the Euronight 

Train from Nizza to Naples, 150 

angry passengers complained 

about the thousands of bedbugs 

infesting several of the train’s 

coaches. In order to prove their 

point several passengers collected 

the bugs (originally thought to 

be ticks) in water bottles to show 

to train personnel. The train was 

stopped at the Genova station 

where several coaches were later 

isolated on one of the station’s 

dead tracks. Two other cars were 

simply closed-off and continued 

empty for the remainder of the 

journey. 

Fifteen passengers, under 

shock, refused to continue their 

trip on the same Intercity train. 

According to Trenitalia, the 

bedbugs originated in France. 

In addition to the hypothesis of 

low standards of cleanliness, 

investigators are also considering 

the possibility of sabotage. 

Police are investigating whether 

tension amongst employees over 

Trenitalia’s refusal to renew contracts 

may have provoked violent 

reactions from employees. 

With regards to cleanliness, 

the railways have declared that 

2,800 cars used for long and 

medium runs have recently 

received a clean bill from hygiene 

specialists. Although Trenitalia 

confi rms that fi ve thousand 

coaches were disinfected from 

September 1 to 23, this is the 

fourth case of passenger protests 

against insect infestation, 

particularly during long-distance 

runs. The CUB train workers 

union claimed the infestations 

were the result of cutbacks in 

cleaning crews — from seven to 

three people. In response to the 

latest protest Trenitalia states, 

“Trains won’t be allowed to leave 

stations if they don’t reach a certain 

standard of cleanliness.”


The Fiorentina Stops in Rome 

Lazio Team Wins, 

Peruzzi Makes 

Toni’s miracle 

LAZIO - FIORENTINA 1-0 

scores: Zauli (L) 

The Fiorentina loses stamina 

at Rome’s Olympic Stadium 

against the best Lazio match 

of the season. Zauli’s goal, eight 

minutes to the end of the match, 

meant three points for the Roman 

team, after a match where the two 

goalies were absolute protagonists. 

The violet team didn’t achieve the 

same standards reached in its latest 

matches, even despite the two 

incredible stops by Roman goalie 

Peruzzi which guaranteed the 

Roman victory. Several violet players 

weren’t up to par, Sunday proved 

a tough night especially for team 

leader Fiore in his match against 

the team he played with for many 

years. Fiorentina’s next match will 

be played on Saturday, October 22 

at 20.30 in Florence, against Parma 

and victory will prove indispensable 

if the Violets want to keep their 

place among top ranking teams. 

Cardinsky 

Inter Triumphs Without Adriano 

Milan Moves Up in Cagliari, Samp Defeated 

Now more than ever 

Inter is set on following 

on Juventus 

heels. Without Adriano, 

the unrecognisable 

Livorno team comes out 

with broken bones: score 

five to zero. During the 

evening in Cagliari, Milan 

wins, thanks to goals by 

Gilardino and Shevchenko, 

qualifying itself as Juve’s 

only real contender (1- 

0 against Messina: Siena 

falls behind Udine 2-3) The Fiorentina 

falls flat at the Olympic Stadium 

1-0 against a tough-playing Lazio 

(and an incredible Peruzzi). Sampdoria 

also slows down and suffers 

defeat in Ascoli 2-1. 

The Chievo company attempts to 

beat ex Guru Del Neri’s Palermo, 2-2 

Cycling – Giro di Lombardia 

BETTINI’S KING OF 

LOMBARDY 

Paolo Bettini, the 31-year-old 

cyclist from Livorno of Quick 

Step-Innergetic, won the 99th edition 

of the Giro di Lombardia, after 

the last leg of ProTour stretching 

over 246 km from Mendrisio to 

Como. In a three way race, Bettini 

beat Gilberto Simoni (Lampre-Caffi 

ta) and the cyclist Frank Schleck 

(CSC) from Luxemburg. Giampaolo 

Caruso (Liberty) came in fourth by 

just a few seconds. David Rebellin 

(Gerolsteiner), balanced out the 

group, taking fi fth place. Bettini succeeds 

Damiano Cunego in champi- 

A. Shevchenko 

for La Barbera with the final goal of 

the pink-black tie. The Rome team 

defeated by Empoli 1-0 which has 

pushed ahead of the former when 

it comes to ranking. Reggina wins 

against Lecce 2-0 bringing Reggina 

into second to last place. Parma 

and Treviso settle for a 1-1 tie. 

Moto GP Turkey 

Battle for Second 

Heats Up 

The race for second place in the 

MotoGP Championships intensified 

on Sunday when Max Biaggi 

crashed out of the Australian GP 

and handed the race to teammate 

Nicky Hayden. The American’s 

second place win boosted 

him to a 170 point score, equal 

to that of Marco Melandri, with 

Colin Edwards 9 points behind. 

Biaggi strutted back to the Respol 

Honda garage where he watched 

team-mate Hayden cause Valen- 

Sports 

VIOLENT FANS, THE 

BATTLE CONTINUES 

Fan Wounded By Flare in 

Ascoli, Culprit Confesses 

Sunday saw yet another violent 

episode in Ascoli where 

a 57-year old woman risked her 

life because of a fl are thrown 

by a 16-year-old celebrating his 

team’s victory. The two young 

fans responsible confessed to 

launching the fl are at the end of 

Sampdoria’s match. The 16 and 

18-year-old boys entered the 

stadium fi ve minutes to the end 

of the match, and took advantage 

of the confusion caused by fans 

leaving the stadium. The younger 

boy is currently at home being 

monitored by judicial authorities 

for minors whereas F.S. is confi 

ned to house arrest. Charges 

against them include misuse of a 

fl are launcher and infl icting serious 

injuries. 

Tennis – Madrid Masters 

What A Difference 

A Year Makes 

The search for a home-grown 

Madrid Masters champion initially 

left many puzzled commentators 

scratching their heads, but 

now 12 months later, Rafael Nadal 

is the bookmakers’ favourite for 

the indoor tournament, with Roger 

Federer, Lleyton Hewitt, Marat 

Safin and Andre Agassi relaxing at 

home with their feet up. Can Nadal, 

the French Open champion, who’s 

rocketed from 53rd to second place 

in the ATP Entry Ranking this season, 

put the icing on the cake of a 

memorable breakthrough season? 

“El Niño” has threatened to make 

life for the big boys difficult ever 

since his tour debut in 2002, but he 

really came out in last year’s Davis 

Cup final when Nadal overwhelmed 

Andy Roddick, leaving Spanish fans 

dreaming of a player capable of conquering 

all-comers. 

Max Biaggi 

tino Rossi all sorts of difficulties 

before finishing second, earning 

the driver from Kentucky second 

place in the championship. Yamaha’s 

Colin Edwards is nine points 

behind Hayden and Melandri but 

like Biaggi, the American is struggling 

with the set-up of his M1 and 

will do well if he finishes the season 

in second place. 

7 


Sports NEWS 

SERIE A Results 16 / 10 round 7 

sat 

sat 

sun 

sun 

sun 

sun 

sun 

sun 

sun 

sun 

SERIE A Standings 

team points team points 

Juventus 

Milan 

Inter 

Fiorentina 

Lazio 

Palermo 

Sampdoria 

Udinese 

Chievo 

Livorno 

date hrs 

sat 18.00 

sat 20.30 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 20.30 

home team 

opponent 

Next week 26 / 10 2005 round 9 

Top 5 scorers 

player 

Siena 

Juventus 

Ascoli 

Cagliari 

Empoli 

Inter 

Lazio 

Palermo 

Parma 

Reggina 

1. Bonazzoli 

2. Toni 

3. Chiesa 

4. Shevchenko 

5. Tavano 

21 

16 

15 

13 

13 

12 

12 

12 

11 

11 

Udinese 

Messina 

Sampdoria 

Milan 

Roma 

Livorno 

Fiorentina 

Chievo 

Treviso 

Lecce 

Empoli 

Siena 

Ascoli 

Roma 

Reggina 

Parma 

Lecce 

Cagliari 

Messina 

Treviso 

Messina 

Fiorentina 

Chievo 

Lecce 

Livorno 

Milan 

Sampdoria 

Treviso 

Udinese 

Roma 

team 

Sampdoria 

Fiorentina 

Siena 

Milan 

Empoli 

2-3 

1-0 

2-1 

0-2 

1-0 

5-0 

1-0 

2-2 

1-1 

2-0 

This week 22-23 / 10 2005 round 8 

date hrs 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 15.00 

sun 20.30 

home team 

Ascoli 

Cagliari 

Empoli 

Inter 

Juventus 

Lazio 

Palermo 

Parma 

Reggina 

Siena 

10 

10 

9 

8 

6 

5 

4 

3 

3 

2 

Ascoli 

Parma 

Cagliari 

Juventus 

Reggina 

Palermo 

Siena 

Empoli 

Inter 

Lazio 

opponent 

Udinese 

Livorno 

Milan 

Roma 

Sampdoria 

Chievo 

Lecce 

Messina 

Treviso 

Fiorentina 

goals 

7 

6 

6 

5 

5

8 


Movies Review 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author: Elizabeth Harvey title: “Campo di Marte Bridge”


What’s on & Where to Go 

9 


Events in FLORENCE OCT 21 TO NOV 3 

OUR TOP PICKS 

t t t 

MAY MUSIC FESTIVAL OF FLORENCE 

October 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 30 - November 2, 3 

The Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is a world renowned classical music and dance festival held 

every year in Florence. Events ranging from opera to symphony and ballet are performed by 

some of the top musicians and dancers. 

NOTRE DAME DE PARIS 

October 21-23 

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, this musical tells the story of Quasimodo the humpback 

bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, and his impossible and tragic love for the gipsy 

Esmeralda. The author Riccardo Cocciante is one of the most important Italian song-writer 

and the show has had a huge success from its fi rst representation in 2002. 

40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION FOR SISTER CITIES KYOTO–FLORENCE 

October 29-30 

To celebrate their 40th anniversary as sister cities, these celebrated cities of the arts will be 

offering to the City of Florence numerous unforgettable performances. Saturday morning 

the event will start with a welcoming speech by Councillor Eugenio Giani, then peace 

prayers will be offered by the monks of the Buddhist order Nichirenshu with Prior Miyatake 

Gencho. For their fi rst time in Italy will be the very special guests, maiko Toshihana and 

geiko Fumimari, geishas from Kyoto. A group of young drummers from Kyoto University 

of Art and Design Zokei Geijutsu will present an exciting show full of vibrancy and energy. 

On Sunday morning a tea ceremony will be conducted by Master Taikoh Amanohara. A 

brief dance by Master Asahi Mai will precede the Japanese opera “Fujito” by M° Kazuhiko 

Onoe, with baritone Yasutoshi Hosokawa in the leading role. During the two-day event, the 

Conference Centre will host the photographic exhibit “Maiko in Kyoto” by Hisashi Itoh, 

who will inaugurate another exhibit at Palazzo Strozzi on Saturday October 29th entitled 

“Edo Yuugi”. 

TUTTO SPOSI – ALL ABOUT BRIDES AND GROOMS 

October 30-November 6 

The thirteenth edition of “All About Brides and Grooms” is a fair showcasing everything 

future brides and grooms need for their big day, with over 200 stands offering various goods 

and services connected to wedding planning, such as caterers, travel agents, photographers, 

hotels, wedding gowns, tuxedos, home appliances, interior design, beauty centres, hair 

dressers, real estate agents, musicians. Of course wedding favours and gifts for bridal 

registries won’t be forgotten. In addition, there will be much entertainment presented during 

the fair, including bride and groom fashion shows and other live performances. 

FERRARI CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS 

Until October 23 

Tickets are now on sale for the sporting event of the year, “The Ferrari Championship Finals” 

from October 12th to 23rd on the Mugello track. These five days of races will include the last 

competitions of the Italian, European, and American series of Ferrari 360 Challenge Trofeo 

Pirelli, with the additional decisive race which will see the crowning of a new world champion. 

It will be a chance to experience the new F430 Challenge, which will debut with the Ferrari 

brand next year. Last but not least, the Tuscan Circuit will host, for this grand finale of 2005, the 

Shell Ferrari Macerati Historic Challenge, which is also open to antique cars of the Trident. 

COW PARADE 

Until January 20, 2006 

Not just cows, a whole herd of calves continue to contribute to Florence’s artistic wealth, in the 

biggest public art exhibit in the world. Don’t miss the fibreglass cows which continue to “graze” 

in the streets and squares of Florence. 

mbership card necessary 

FRIDAY 21 

• EXHIBITS 

Domenico Lo Russo- xeroradiografie 

1976-1987 

Galleria Immaginaria Arti Visive, via Guelfa 22r 

Vinar 

Wine, art, architecture 

Stazione Leopolda p.le di Porta al Prato, 

tel. 055.3693407 

• MUSIC & CONCERTS 

Ernest Dawkins Trio 

Jazz 

Sala Vanni, p.za del Carmine 19, tel. 

055.210804, www.musicusconcentus.com, 

€ 12 

Made Djimat & Gamelan Panti Pusaka 

Budaya 

Indonesian music 

Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b 

tel. 055.487145, www.fl og.it 

Steve Grossman Quintet 

Caruso Jazz Café, via Lambertesca, 

14/16r, tel. 055.281940, 

www.carusojazzcafe.com, 21.00 

The Sultans of Swing 

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

055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

Deus ex machina 

Associazione Culturale Ambasciata di 

Marte, via Mannelli 2, tel. 055.6550786, 

www.ambasciatadimarte.org, aperitivo at 

19.00, concert at 22.00 

Francesco Maccianti Trio 

Ottorino Jazz Bistrò, via delle Oche 12/16r, 

tel. 055.215151, 21.30, free admittance 

Tuscan Concert: Words and Music 

C.R.C. via di Brozzi 312, tel. 055.2767020, 

21.30, free admittance 

Tancredi 

Opera by Gioachino Rossini 

Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, tel. 

055.213535, www.maggiofi orentino.com, 

20.30, by reservation 

• THEATRE 

Fedra (In Italian) 

Teatro della Pergola, via della Pergola, 18, 

tel. 055.22641, www.pergola.fi renze.it, 

20.45 

Gianburrasca (In Italian) 

Teatro Verdi, via Ghibellina 99, tel. 

055.212320, www.teatroverdifi renze.it, 

21.00 

Notre-Dame de Paris (In Italian) 

Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, 

a great musical by Italian songwriter 

Riccardo Cocciante 

Nelson Mandela Forum (ex Palasport), viale 

Pasquale Paoli, tel. 055.678841, www. 

mandelaforum.it, 21.00, Sat. 16.00 and 

21.00, Sun. 18.00 

La bisbetica domata-The Taming 

of the Shrew (In Italian) La Casa 

del Teatro, via San Domenico 51, tel. 

055.573857, www.ilgeniodellalampada. 

it, 21.00 

From hell. Attempts to protect myself 

from what I want 

Cantiere Goldonetta CanGo, via Santa 

Maria 25, tel. 055.2335518, 21.15 

Oggi Sposi (Just married) (In Italian) 

Comedy 

Teatro del Sale, Via dei Macci 111r, tel. 

055.2001492, www.teatrodelsale.com, 

19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 

year membership mandatory), € 24 buffet 

& show 

& show 

SATURDAY 22 

• EXHIBITS 

Domenico Lo Russo- xeroradiografie 

1976-1987 

Galleria Immaginaria Arti Visive, via Guelfa 

22r 

Mushrooms and Wild Fruit Exhibition 

Parterre, p.za della Libertà, tel. 

055.2767831, 10-22, free admittance 

Vinar 



tel. 055.3693407 

• GUIDED TOURS 

L’oratorio dei Vanchetoni 

Oratorio dei Vanchetoni, via Palazzuolo 17, 

tel. 055.461428, 15.30 

Museo di Storia Naturale 

Museo di Antropologia ed Etnologia 

via del Proconsolo 12, 15-17 

• MARKETS & FESTIVALS 

European Solidarity Fundraiser Sale 

Second hand clothes and objects from 

Emmaus 

Saschall, Lungarno Aldo Moro 3, tel. 

055.6504112, www.saschall.it, from 10.00 on 


Made Djimat & Gamelan Panti Pusaka 

Budaya 

Indonesian music 



Jin Jiu 



16.00 

Six Dixiers 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

Lorchestra 

Electric Bossa, soul – funk 



www.ambasciatadimarte.org, aperitivo at

10 





Stefano “Cocco” Cantini Quartet 



• THEATRE 




20.45 




21.00 


Based on the novel by Victor Hugo a great musical 

by Italian songwriter Riccardo Cocciante 

Nelson Mandela Forum, viale Pasquale Paoli, 

tel. 055.678841, www.mandelaforum.it, 

21.00, Sat. 16.00 and 21.00, Sun. 18.00 

La bisbetica domata - The Taming of 

the Shrew (In Italian) 

La casa del teatro, via San Domenico 51, 

tel. 055.573857, www.ilgeniodellalampada. 

it, 21.00 

Oggi Sposi (Just married) (In Italian) 

Comedy 



19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 


& show 

I burattini 

Puppet Theatre for Children 

Teatro Il Palco, Piazza Elia dalla Costa 26, 

tel. 055.6810496, www.teatroilpalco.com, 

21.00 

La purga di bebé/Gli attori in buona 

fede 

In Florentine vernacular 

Teatro Nuovo, via P. Fanfani 16, tel. 

055.413067, www.compagniailgrillo.com, 

21.00 

Tutti a veglia a casa di Beppe 


Teatro di Cestello, Piazza del Cestello, 4, 

tel. 055.294609, www.teatrodicestello.tbo. 

it, 21.00 

& show 

SUNDAY 23 

• EXHIBITS 

Mushrooms and Wild Fruit Exhibition 

Parterre, p.za della Libertà, 10-20, tel. 


Suiseki Exhibition 

Teatro 13, via Nicolodi 2, 055-2767831, 

9-13, 14-19, free admittance 

Vinar 



tel. 055.3693407 


Guided visits to the Montececeri Park 

and to the Sotterra Source 

Parco di Montececeri e Fonte Sotterra, 

Fiesole, tel. 800.414240, www.comune. 

fi esole.fi .it, by reservation only 

Museo di Storia Naturale 

Museo di Antropologia ed Etnologia, via 

del Proconsolo 12, 10-12 


Mercato del Porcellino 

Fiorentine crafts with straw, hand-made 

embroidery, leather and woodwork, 

fl owers 

Logge del Porcellino, all day 

Portobello Market 

Flea Market 

Piazza Acciaiuoli, 8-19 


Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem: 

Santa Croce di Pace con Musica e 

Archeologia 

Concert by Coro e Orchestra Desiderio 

da Settignano in memory of conductor and 

humanist Giuseppe Sinopoli 

Chiesa di S. Croce, piazza Santa Croce, 

tel. 055.697562, October 23, 21.00 

Tancredi 





Chris leo 




19.00, concert at 22.00 

Grande Orchestra “Taarab” di 

Zanzibar (Tanzania) 



Trio Di Roma 

Classical music 

Auditorium della Clinica Medica Ospedale 

di Careggi, v.le Morgagni, 055-580996, 

10.30, free admission 

• SPORTS & ACTIVITIES 

Fiorentina-Parma 

Professional Soccer Match 

Stadio Comunale Artemio Franchi, v.le M. 

Fanti, 4/6, 15.00, by reservation only 

Cus Firenze Giunti - Marchiol San 

Marco R. (rugby) 

Campo Padovani, viale Pasquale Paoli 21, 

15.30 

• THEATRE 




20.45 




21.00 


Based on the novel by Victor Hugo a great 

musical by Italian songwriter Riccardo 

Cocciante 



mandela forum.it, 21.00, Sat. 16.00 and 

21.00, Sun. 18.00 

La purga di bebé/Gli attori in buona 

fede 


Teatro Nuovo, via P. Fanfani 16, tel. 

055.413067, www.compagniailgrillo.com, 

16.00 

Tutti a veglia a casa di Beppe 




it, 16.30 

& show 

MONDAY 24 

• CINEMA 

Monster in Law (English) 

Odeon Cine Hall, piazza Strozzi, tel. 

055.214068, www.cinehall.it, 15.30, 

17.50, 20.10, 22.45; € 7.30 


Museo di storia della scienza 

Meeting point: 15.00 piazza dei Giudici in 

front of the Museum 



Florentine crafts in straw, hand made 

embroidery, leather, woodwork and 

fl owers 

Logge del Porcellino, 8-12 


Jovanotti “Live 2005” 

Pop 



mandelaforum.it, 21.00, by reservation 

only 

Ilaria Santini and Massimiliano 

Pinzauti 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

TUESDAY 25 

• CINEMA 

Fantastic Four 

Introducing “Apericinema”: on 5 selected 

Tuesday nights, cinema-goers will be 

offered an aperitivo and a free buffet 

supper from 19.45, followed by the 

scheduled movie screening at 21.30. This 

will provide an opportunity for socialising 

and chatting about movies in the elegant 

surroundings of the Odeon’s ‘cocktail bar’ 


055.214068, www.cinehall.it, 15.30, 

17.50, 21.30, apericinema from 19.45; € 

11 cinema and free buffet supper 

• LECTURES & CONFERENCES 

Learn to cook: home made pasta: 

gnocchi e ravioli 

3 hour cooking class with dinner (in 

English) 

Eurasia Association, via dell’Ardiglione 39 

(on the corner of via dei Serragli) info and 

booking 055.217672, www.eurasia-net. 

org, 18.00, €20 


I Mercati di Firenze 

Guided tours and sampling of 

typical foods in the San Lorenzo and 

Sant’Ambrogio markets. 

San Lorenzo e Sant’Ambrogio markets, in 

the morning, Info 055.3036108 

Mercato delle Cascine 

Clothing, leather, fruit, shoes, fl owers, 

household appliances. 

Parco delle Cascine, 8-13 


Jam Session + House Band 

Jazz 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

Tancredi 





Amiata Record Music 



19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 


& show 

• THEATRE 

Grease (in Italian) 

Musical 



21.00 

Troppi santi in paradiso (in Italian) 



20.45 

& show 

WEDNESDAY 26 

• CINEMA 

Giant 

On the 50 th anniversary of his death the 

British Institute takes a critical look at the 

legacy of James Dean with screenings of 

his feature fi lms 

British Institute of Florence, Library & 

Cultural Centre, Lungarno Guicciardini, 

tel.055.26778270, www.britishinstitute.it, 

20.30, € 5 


La casa di Dante 

Meeting point: 15.20 via Santa Margherita 

corner via del Corso 


Joy De Vito Quartet 

Jazz 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

The Sheldon Singers- My Spirit sang 

all day 

Accompanied and unaccompanied part 

songs, with texts taken from English poets. 


Cultural Centre, Lungarno Guicciardini 9, 

tel. 055.26778270, 18.00 




19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 


& show 

Alessandro Fabbri Trio 



• THEATRE 




20.45 


Musical 


055.212320, www.teatroverdifirenze.it, 21.00 

& show 

THURSDAY 27 



Guided tours and sampling of typical foods 

in the San Lorenzo and Sant’Ambrogio 

markets. 

San Lorenzo and Sant’Ambrogio markets, 

in the morning, info 055.3036108 

Flowers’ market 

Via Pellicceria, 8-13 


Learn to cook: pizza and focaccia 


English) 




org, 18.00, €20 


Perfidia Quartet 

Cuban music 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

William Tatge Trio 

Caruso Jazz Café, via Lambertesca 16r, tel. 

055.281940, www.carusojazzcafe.com, 

21.00 

Dj set Leverkhün 

Electro-experimental 




19.00, concert at 22.00 

Tancredi 








19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 


& show 

Italstandards Trio 



• THEATRE 


Musical 



21.00 


Teatro della Pergola, via della Pergola, 18, tel. 

055.22641, www.pergola.firenze.it, 20.45 

Il Conte di Montecristo (in Italian) 

Teatro dell’Istituto Francese, p.za 

Ognissanti 2, tel. 055. 2718801, www. 

istitutofrancese.it, 21.00



11 



& show 

FRIDAY 28 


Museo di Sant’Apollonia 

Meeting point: 10.00 via XXVI Aprile 1 


Performance: top students from 

School of Music and Sound 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

Sheila Jordan + E.S.P. Trio 

Caruso Jazz Café, via Lambertesca 16r, tel. 

055.281940, www.carusojazzcafe.com, 

21.00 

Workshop: Sheet-steel 

Percussion workshop with sheet-steels 



www.ambasciatadimarte.org, 

17-21, reservation mandatory 




19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 


& show 

Mangiare la Luna 




19.00, concert at 22.00 

Italian voice Trio 



• THEATRE 

Il Fantasma di lady Vittoria (in Italian) 

Teatro Il Palco Piazza Elia dalla Costa 26, 

tel. 055.6810496, 21.00 




La bisbetica domata-The Taming of 

the Shrew (in Italian) 



it, 21.00 

& show 

SATURDAY 29 


Paintings of Beato Angelico in the 

convent of San Marco 

Phone Associazione Akropolis for info and 

booking 055-461428 


Learn to cook for kids: home made 

pasta, gnocchi & ravioli 


English) for children 9 and older 




org, 18.00, €20 


Kyoto sull’Arno 

40 th anniversary celebration of the sister 

cities of Kyoto-Firenze 

Palazzo Vecchio, Salone dei Cinquecento, 

www.lailac.it, 10-13 


Chota Divana (India) 



Tancredi 





Et-Chu Trio 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

Music and Culture 

Istituto degli Innocenti, piazza Santissima 

Annunziata 12, tel. 055.20371, www. 

istitutodeglinnocenti.it, 21.00 




19.00-21.15 buffet, 21.30 show, € 10 (1 


& show 

Pierre-Laurent Aimard 




16.00 

Workshop: Sheet-steel 





17.00 – 21.00, reservation mandatory 

Impronight 

Music improvisation 




19.00, concert at 22.00 

Claudia Tellini Trio 



• THEATRE 

Il Fantasma di lady Vittoria (in Italian) 


tel. 055.6810496, 21.00 




20.45 

La Serenata al Vento (in Italian) 

Teatro Nuovo via P. Fanfani, 16 Rifredi, tel. 

055.413067, 21.15 

La bisbetica domata-The Taming of 

the Shrew (in Italian) 



it, 21.00 

La zona tranquilla (in Italian) 



it, 21.00 

& show 

SUNDAY 30 


Guided visits to the Montececeri Park 

and to the Sotterra Source 

Parco di Montececeri e Fonte Sotterra, 

Fiesole, tel. 800.414240, www.comune. 

fi esole.fi .it 


Kyoto sull’Arno 

40 th anniversary celebration of the sister 

cities of Kyoto-Firenze 

Palazzo Vecchio, Salone dei Cinquecento, 

www.lailac.it, 10-13 


Fiorentine crafts with straw, hand-made 

embroidery, leather and woodwork, flowers 

Logge del Porcellino, all day 

Mercato delle pulci 

Piazza dei Ciompi, all day 


Juilliard Quartet 




Tancredi 





Piano concert 

Auditorium della Clinica Medica Ospedale 

di Careggi, v.le Morgagni, 055-580996, 

10.30, free admission 

Workshop: Sheet-steel. Final Concert 





17.00 – 21.00, reservation mandatory, 

concert at 22.00 


Fiorentina-Cagliari 

Professional soccer match 

Stadio Comunale Artemio Franchi, v.le M. 

Fanti 4/6, 15.00, by reservation only 

• THEATRE 

Il fantasma di lady Vittoria (in Italian) 


tel. 055.6810496, 21.00 




15.45 

La serenata al vento (in Italian) 

Teatro Nuovo via P. Fanfani, 16 Rifredi, tel. 

055.413067, 16.15 

La zona tranquilla (in Italian) 



it, 16.15 

La storia di Prezzemolina (in Italian) 

Teatro Cantiere Florida, via Pisana 111r, 

tel. 055.573857, www.elsinor.it, 16.30 

& show 

MONDAY 31 

• CINEMA 

Odeon Cinehall closed for holiday 


Learn to cook: sweet and salted 

crepes 

3 hour cooking class with dinner (in English) 




org, 18.00, €20 


Halloween party “Rocky Horror Show” 

Fortezza da Basso, v.le Strozzi 1, tel. 

055.49721, www.tea4one.com, 21.00, €15 

Halloween Party 

Auditorium Flog, via Mercati Michele 24b, 



Florentine straw crafts, hand-made 

embroidery, leather, woodwork, fl owers. 

Logge del Porcellino, 8-12 


5ª Stagione di concerti “I nostri tempi” 

Classical Music 

Badia Fiesolana, via dei Roccettini, 9, 

Fiesole tel. 055.59155, 21.00 

Biagio Antonacci “Tour 2005” (pop) 



mandela forum.it, 21.00, € 25.30 

Halloween party – “Dr. Trio” 


055.2479700, 22.15, € 7 

& show 

TUESDAY 1 

• CINEMA 

Odeon Cinehall closed for national 

holiday “All Saints Day” 


Italian national holiday “All Saints Day” 

most stores and offices are closed 

• THEATRE 

The Massage Ceremony (In Italian) 



& show 

WEDNESDAY 2 

• CINEMA 

Come back to the 5 & dime Jimmy 

Dean, Jimmy Dean 



tel. 055.26778270, 18.00 


Museo Storico Topografico 

Meeting point: 10.00 via dell’Oriuolo 26 


The fairy stories of Lady Wilde 

“Speranza” by Candida Cave (in 

English) 

This lecture sets the scene for Candida 

Cave’s latest play which takes as its 

subject Lady Speranza, mother of Oscar 

and teller of tales. 



tel. 055.26778270, 18.00 


Tancredi 





• THEATRE 

Massage Ceremony (in Italian) 



& show 

THURSDAY 3 

• CINEMA 

Wedding crashers (in English) 


055.214068, www.cinehall.it, check 

theatre for time 


Learn to cook: le lasagne 


English) 




org, 18.00, €20 






San Lorenzo and Sant’Ambrogio markets, 

in the morning, Info 055.3036108 

Flower market 

Via Pellicceria, 8-13 


Jonathan Webb - Michel Dalberto 




20.30 

Flamingo Road 



• THEATRE 

Massage Ceremony (in Italian) 



Il Signor Rossi contro l’impero del 

male (in Italian) 


055.6504112, www.saschall.it, 21.00 

& show 

ONGOING 

• EXHIBITS 

Food and Flavours in the Ancient 

World 

Museo Archeologico, via della Colonna 

36, tel. 055.294883 /23575, until January 

15 2006, Mon 14-19, Tues, Thur 8.30- 

19, Wed, Fri, Sun 8.30-14, € 4, www. 

fi renzemusei.it/archeologica 

Luca Alinari - Psiche Pathos Logos 

Contemporary art 

Museo Archeologico, via della Colonna 

36, tel. 055.294883 /23575, until January

12 





The Island of Treasures 

Archaeological exhibition of ancient and 

modern ceramics for the table 

Museo Archeologico, via della Colonna, 

36, tel. 055. 294883, www.fi renzemusei. 

it/archeologica, until 15 January 2006, 

Mon 14-19, Tues, Thurs 8.30-19, Wed, Fri- 

Sun 8.30-14 

Ideas, Models, Inventions. The Patents 

of Ferragamo 1929-1964 

Museo Salvatore Ferragamo, via 

Tornabuoni 2, tel. 055.3360456, www. 

museoferragamo.it, until December 31, 

Mon-Fri 9-13, 14-18, free admittance 

Eternal Seed of Mythology 

Renzo Maggi sculptures 

Museo Archeologico Nazionale, via della 

Colonna 36, tel. 055.294883, www. 

firenzemusei.it/archeologica, until October 30 

Anthological Exhibition by Jean- 

Michel Folon 

Forte Belvedere e Sala d’Arme di Palazzo 

Vecchio, tel. 055.2625939, until October 

31, 10.00-19.00, Wed and Fri 10.00- 

22.00, Tues closed, € 5/8 

Giuseppe Mazzini: thought and 

myth in the artistic collections of G. 

Spadolini 

Fondazione Spadolini, Nuova Antologia, 

Via Pian dei Giullari 36/a, until October 31, 

Mon-Thur 9.30-17.00 

Splendors of Chianti: the Madonnas 

of Chianti and Casale 

Galleria degli Uffi zi, until December 8, 10- 

13, 15-18 

Scorie e icone by Ute Rakob 

Museo Marino Marini, piazza San Pancrazio, 

tel. 055.219432, www.museomarinomarini. 

it, until November 5, 10-17 

Slovakia, crossroads of European 

civilisations 

Museo Archeologico Nazionale, via 

della Colonna 36, tel. 055.294883, 

www.fi renzemusei.it/archeologica, until 

November 15 

Wherever you are, wherever you go by 

Pedro Cabrita Reis 

Base Progetti per l’Arte, via San Niccolò 

18r, tel. 055.679378, until November 30 

Restoration of Donatello’s Amore-Attis 

Museo Nazionale del Bargello, via del 

Proconsolo 4, tel. 055-2654321, www. 

polomuseale.fi renze.it, until January 8, 

2006 

Mythologica et Erotica 

Art and Culture from antiquity to the XVIII 

century 

Museo degli Argenti, Palazzo Pitti, October 

2-May 15, 8.15-18.30 (Oct, April, May), 

8.15-16.30 (Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb), 8.15- 

17.30 (March) 

Photographs 1967-1974 by Amalie R. 

Rothschild 

The American photographer and director 

Amalie R. Rothschild is presenting a 

selection of photographs 

Galleria Saci, Palazzo dei Cartelloni, via 

Sant’Antonino 11, tel. 055.289948, until 

November 6, 18-20 

The Gesture. A Visual Library in 

Progress 

Quarter, Centro Produzione Arte, viale 

Donato Giannotti 81, www.quarterfi renze. 

com, until November 13, 15-20 

Ininterrotta 

Multimedia Exhibition 

Daniele Ugolini Contemporary, via XXVII 

Aprile 49 r, tel. 055.473375, www. 

ugoliniart.com, until Novembre 26, free 

admission 

Donna. Donne 

Exhibition dedicated to the theme of the 

“feminine” in contemporary art 

Palazzo Strozzi, piazza Strozzi, tel. 

055.2776461, www.palazzostrozzi.info, 

until January 8, 10-19 

Invisible Cities by Pedro Cano 

Paintings inspired by Italo Calvino’s 

masterpiece “Invisible Cities” 

Sala d’Arme di Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo 

Vecchio, piazza della Signoria, tel. 

055.6120467, www.falteri.it/calvino, until 

Novembre 22 

Leon Battista Alberti: a Humanist’s 

Library 

Biblioteca Laurenziana p.za S. Lorenzo 9, 

055-210760, www.bml.fi renze.sbn.it, until 

January 7, 9.30 – 13, € 3 /5, guided tours 

in English available 

Photographs by Virgilio Giurcin 

Accademia dei Georgofi li, Logge degli 

Uffi zi Corti, tel. 055.213360, www. 

georgofi li.it, until October 25, closed on 

week-ends, 15-18, free admission 

Bâbords/Jean-François Boclé 

An art exibit about slavery mixing art and 

politics 

Institut Français de Florence, Piazza 

Ognissanti 2 , tel. 055. 2718801, www. 

istitutofrancese.it, until December 23 

Leonardo da Vinci: The True Image. 

Testimonies and documents on his life 

and work. 

Archivio di Stato, viale Giovine Italia 6, tel. 

055.244422, until January 28, 9.30-12.30 

and 15-18, free admission 

Tapestries of Faith and War 

Palazzo Pazzi Ammannati, Borgo Albizi 28, 

tel. 055-240277, until December 4, 10-13, 

15-19, € 4 

Cow parade 

All around the town, info 055.203971, 

www.cowparade.it, until January 20, 2006 

Ceramics by Marcello Fantoni 

Saletta Costantini del Museo 

Archeologico, tel. 055.5978373, www. 

comune.fi esole.fi .it, until October 31, € 

6.50/4.50 

The Garden of Light 

Paintings by Adriano Buldrini 

Palazzo Enrico Coveri, Lungarno 

Giccardini 19,10-13 and 15.30-19.30, free 

admittance, until October 30 

Perugino a Firenze 

Painting exhibition 

Cenacolo di Fuligno, via Faenza, 40, tel. 

055.2337702, until January 8, Tues-Sun, 

10-18, free admittance 

Collettiva “Autunno” 

Modern art 

Ken’s Art Gallery, via Lambertesca, 15 e 

17/r, 055-2396587, 9.00-13.00/15.30- 

19.30, until October 31, free admission 

Andy Warhol. His Slovakian origins 

Sala delle Reali Poste Loggiato degli Uffizi 

6, 055-2388651, www.polomuseale.firenze. 

it, 10.00 - 13,00, 14,00 - 17,00, closed on 

Monday, free admission, until Oct 31 

Accattone 

Photography Exhibit on the 30th 

anniversary of the death of Pier Paolo 

Palazzo Pitti, Galleria del Gabbiano, p.za 

Pitti, October 25- January 9, 055-288342, 

closed on Monday, € 6,50 

Patriarchi della natura. Un patrimonio 

da salvare 

Photography Exhibit 

Accademia dei Georgofi li, Logge degli 

Uffi zi Corti, 055.212114, www.georgofi li.it, 

until November 18, free admission 

Alberto Bryk (engravings) 

Gruppo Donatello, via degli Artisti 2r, 055- 

579207, Novembre 2- 14 

Lisa Nocentini “Neither in Heaven nor 

on the earth” 

Sculptures 

Showroom Poli, via Guelfa, 45r, www. 

lisanocentini.com, Monday through 

Saturday,16.30-19.00, Oct 28-Nov 9 

Kenya 2003 

Photos by Beatrice Larco 

Caffè chiaro scuro, via del Corso 36r, 

October 29-December 1, 8-21 


Hortibus Collection & Garden tours 

Starting point: piazza S.Trinita, 15.00, 

every Thur and Sat, info 348.9100783, 

www.hortibus.com, € 25 

Artisans of the Oltrarno, in search of 

artistic craftsmanship 

Until December 24, Info 055.3036108, 

www.fi renze-oltrarno.net 

Città Nascosta 

Discover the best-kept secrets of 

Florence and Tuscany through exclusive, 

individually planned guided tours 

Associazione culturale Città Nascosta, 

lungarno Cellini 25, tel. 055.6802590, 

until December 





Until December 21, every Tues and Wed 

morning, Info 055.3036108 


Magic Fair 


055.6504112, www.saschall.it, October 

28-November 1 

BTC International - Borsa Turismo 

Congressuale 

International meetings conventions and 

incentive fair. Reserved to operators 


055.4455280, www.fi renze-expo.it, 

October 25-27 

Tutto sposi – All about brides and 

grooms 

Articles and services for wedding, 

christening, communions, confi rmation 


055.4455280, www.tuttosposifi renze.it, 

October 30-November 6 


Organ and instrumental concert 

Chiesa di Santa Maria dei Ricci, via del 

Corso, tel. 055.289367, until December 

31, Mon-Sun 21.15, Sat 18.00, € 11 

Concerts at English Church of St. Mark’s 

every day, Chiesa Anglicana di St. Mark’s, 

via Maggio 16-18, tel. 340.8119192, 

21.15, € 15/10 for The Florentine readers 

• PARKS 

Renai Park 

A bike path follows the Arno River 

from the end of the Cascine park to the 

entrance of the Renai park. Activities: 

swimming, free climbing walls, nature 

walks, cycling, sailing, etc. 

Parco dei Renai, Signa, Mon-Fri 12-20, Sat 

and Sun 9-20, until October 31 


Le Mulina Horse track 

Ippodromo Le Mulina, Parco delle Cascine, 

viale Pegaso 1, tel. 055.411130, from June 

to December, afternoon races at 14.30 

• THEATRE 

Theatre improvisation (in Italian) 

SMS San Quirico Via Baccio da Montelupo, 

35, tel. 347.6495902, www.lifeonline.it, until 

Dec 23, every Friday, 21.15 

L’ultimo Harem (in Italian) 

Teatro di Rifredi, via Vittorio Emanuele 

II 303, tel. 055.4220361, www. 

toscanateatro.it, 21.00, on Sunday 16.30, 

October 22- November 13 

& show 

CHILDREN 

• CINEMA 

Cinema kids 2005 ( in Italian) 

Film and cartoons for children 

Istituto Stensen, viale don Minzoni 25 a 

/c, tel. 055.576551, www.stensen.org, 

October 23 and 30, 16.00, € 6 


Bravi, anzi bravissimi! 

Marathon concert by child prodigies 

Antico Spedale di S. Antonio, via Dante 

Alighieri, Lastra a Signa, October 23, from 



Children play with the elements of 

nature: air, earth, fire, water 

Ludoteca “La Prua”, via della Sala 2/I, tel. 

055.315173. Until December 22 

Witches’ Night 

Casa della Fonte di Albiano, Info: Gruppo 

Trekking Storia Camminata, Montemurlo, 

tel. 0574.650918/ 0574.36741, 

gruppotrekking@infi nito.it, Oct 31, 20.00 

Learn to cook: home made pasta, 

gnocchi and ravioli 

3 hour cooking class with lunch (in 

English), children 9 and older 




org, October 29, 11.00, €20 

• THEATRE 

I burattini (in Italian) 

Puppet theatre for children 


tel. 055.6810496, October 22 

L’isola che non c’era (in Italian) 

Theatre for children 

Teatro Moderno ARCI, Via Gramsci 5, 

Tavarnuzze, tel. 333.7128510, www. 

vieniteloracconto.it, Oct 16-Feb 2, 2006 

& show 

OUT OF TOWN 

• DANCE 

Performance by Sara Nesti 

Modern dance 

Offi cina Giovani, Cantieri Culturali Ex 

Macelli, piazza Macelli, tel. 0574.616753, 

www.offi cinagiovani.it, October 25, 21.30 

Bugula 

Teatro Studio via Doninzetti 58, Scandicci, 

tel. 055.757348, October 24-25, 21.15 

Appuntamenti in nero 

Teatro Studio via Doninzetti 58, Scandicci, 

tel. 055.757348, October 27-28, 21.15 

• EXHIBITS 

Reflections of a Gallery. Paintings of 

the Bardini family 

Villa Medicea, piazza Umberto I, Cerreto 

Guidi, tel. 0571.55707, www.comune. 

cerreto-guidi.fi .it, until December 

Leonardo After Five Centuries. 1505 

– 2005, Work in Progress 

Museo Ideale Leonardo Da Vinci, Vinci, tel. 

0571.56296, www.museoleonardo.it, until 

October 31 


Archaeological exhibition of ancient and 

modern ceramics for the table 

Museo della Manifattura Chini, Borgo San 

Lorenzo, tel. 055.8456230, until October 

30 


Archaeological exhibition 

Raccolta Comunale d’arte, 

Castelfi orentino, tel. 0571.686341, until 

November 30, Tue, Thur, Sat 16-19, Sun 

10-12, 16-19 



Antiquarium S. Appiano, Barberino Val 

d’Elsa, tel. 055.8075622, until April 30, 

2006 


Archaeological exhibition the Summer of 

S. Francesco 

Museo d’Arte Sacra di San Francesco, 

Greve in Chianti, tel. 055.8545215, until 

January 2006, Thur-Fri 10-13, Sat-Sun 

15.30-18.30 



Museo Civico, Montaione, tel. 

055.699252, until November 15, 9.30- 

12.30 

Seven: Everything Goes to Hell 

Lyrics inspired by Tom Waits, 36 artists 

reinterpret the 7 capital sins of man: 

avarice/greed, gluttony, envy, lust, pride, 

sloth, and wrath/anger. Each vice has its 

own room in the medieval Pretorio Palace 

Palazzo Pretorio, via Giovanni Boccaccio, 

Certaldo, tel. 0571.661219, until October 

30, 10-19, € 3



13 



Reflections of a Gallery. Paintings of 

the Bardini family 

Villa Medicea, piazza Umberto I, Cerreto 

Guidi, tel. 0571.55707, www.comune. 

cerreto-guidi.fi .it, until December 

Treasures of Ancient Art at Cerreto 

Guidi 

Villa Medicea, Cerreto Guidi, tel. 

0571.55707, www.comune.cerreto-guidi. 

fi .it, until December 

Aliart: anteprima di Giuliano Fazzari 

Galleria d’arte di Alliart, via Morrocchesi 

13/15, San Casciano Val di Pesa, until July 

26 2006, Tues-Fri 15.30-19, Sat-San 10- 

12 and 15.30-19, Mon closed 

Jeans! 

The origins, the American legend and 

made in Italy 

Museo del Tessuto, via Santa Chiara 

24, Prato, tel. 0574.611503, www. 

museodeltessuto.it, until November 30, 10- 

18, Sat 10-14, Sun 16-19, Tues closed 

History of Coccio. Archeological 

Emergencies in Castelfiorentino 

Raccolta Comunale d’arte, Castel 

Fiorentino, tel. 0571.64019, until 

November 30 

The Madonnas of Chianti: journeys of 

art, history and devotion 

Museo di arte sacra, Greve in Chianti, tel. 

055.8545215, www.comune.greve-inchianti.fi 

.it, until December 8 



Museo della Basilica di S. Maria, 

Impruneta, tel. 055.2036426, www. 

comune.impruneta.fi .it, until December 8 



Museo di arte sacra, Tavernelle Val di 

Pesa, tel. 055.8050833, www.comune. 

tavarnelle-val-di-pesa.fi .it, until December 8 

Art exhibition by Lanfranco Raparo 

Centro Studi Dino Campana, Marradi, tel. 

055.8045943, www.comune.marradi.fi .it, 

until December 

Verso I Monti dei Profumi 

Contemporary Art 

Villa di Poggio Reale, Rufi na, tel. 

0558360254, www.silere.it, until October 

23 

Atelier d’Artista 

International Week of Art 

Gambassi Terme, tel. 0571678046 , www. 

toscana-in.com, until October 23 

Fausto De Nisco 

Art exhibition 

Galleria Estrarte, piazza Duomo, 40, Prato, 

tel. 0574.38281, Tues.– Sund. 16-19, 

www. estrarte.it, October 15-November 9 

Scenes of Prato 

Photographs by Ottavio Celestino 



www.offi cinagiovani.it, October 21- 

November 26 

Immagini delle “Passeggiate” 2005 

Photographies by Gianni Marongiu 

Circoscrizione Prato Est, spazio “Don 

Milani”, viale De Gasperi, 67, Info: tel. 

0574.52701, October 28, 21.00 

Magie by Man Ray 

Castello di Cafaggiolo, Barberino di 

Mugello, www.korearte.it, until October 30, 

Wed and Fri 14.30-18.30, Sat-Sun 10- 

12.30, 14.30-18.30 


Wine and Fashion in the Florentine 

Mountains. Itineraries with guided 

visits, shopping 

Tours to discover the beauties of the 

Florentine Mountains: the art, culture, 

nature together with food, visits to artisan 

workshops and local commecial centres. 

(Dicomano, Londa, Pelago, Pontassieve, 

Reggello, Rufi na, San Godenzo, starting at 

8.45, lasting 7 hours) 

from January to December on Mon and 

Sat, Resco Travel tel. 055.868009. 

On the Scaffolding With Filippo Lippi 

Visits to the restoration of Filippo Lippi’s 

fresco in the Cathedral of Santo Stefano, 

Prato. (max 12 persons) 

Cattedrale di Santo Stefano, piazza del 

Duomo, Prato, tel. 0574.24112, www. 

restaurofi lippolippi.it, by reservation only, 

until December 31, Sat 10, 11, 16, 17, Sun 

10, 11, € 8 

Castello Mediceo di Cafaggiolo 

Cafaggiolo, San Piero a Sieve, until 

October 31, Wed, Fri 14.30-18.30, Sat- 

Sun 10-12.30 

Abbey of San Salvatore and San 

Lorenzo a Settimo 

Scandicci, until December 30, Wed 10-12, 

Sun 15.30-18 

The Ceramics of Montelupo 

Free guided visits to the Archaeology and 

Ceramics Museum and participation in the 

workshops 

Museo archeologico e della ceramica, 

Montelupo Fiorentino, tel. 0571.518993, 

on Thursday mornings 10-14 

Voices and Colors of Fall 

Guided visit to Monferrato Park 

Centro di Scienze Naturali, via di Galceti 

74, by reservation, tel. 0574.460503, 

16.00, € 3, October 24 and 25 

Walking through the chestnuts of 

Pistoia 

6 hour easy walk 

October 24, Stazione Santa Maria 

Novella, in front of ticket offi ce, 8.00, tel. 

055.2767816 or 055.2341040 

Jeans! - The origins, the American 

Legend and Made in Italy 

Free guided visit of the exibit 

Museo del Tessuto, via Santa Chiara 24, 

Prato, tel. 0574.611503, October 23, 

16.30 


Chianti’s Fall 

Cooking workshop 

Tavarnelle Val di Pesa - Bottega 

dell’Osteria a Passignano, tel. 

0577741392, www.chiantidautunno.it, 

November 3 

Chianti’s fall 

Wine tasting 

Barberino val d’Elsa - Fattorie Isole 

e Olena, tel. 0577741392, www. 

chiantidautunno.it, November 3 


Week-end of October 22-23 

Truffle and other typical products fair 

Montaione, tel. 0571.699254, www. 

comune.montaione.fi .it, Unitl Oct 30 

Chestnut Fair 

Marradi, tel 055.8045005, www.comune. 

marradi.fi .it, Oct 23 and 30 

Chestnut Fair 

Greve in Chianti, Greve in Chianti, 

Lucolena, tel. 05585451, 

www.comune.greve-in-chianti.fi .it, Oct 23 

Chestnut Fair 

Circolo Arci Demidoff, via Fiorentina 488, 

Vaglia, Oct 23 

Chestnut Fair 

Vicchio, tel. 055-8439220, Oct 23 and 

30, all day 

Chestnut Fair 

Palazzolo, Incisa Valdarno, Oct 23 and 30 

Chestnut Fair 

Castagno d’Andrea San Godenzo, 

October 23 and 30 

Chestnut Fair and local products 

Palazzuolo sul Senio, tel. 055-8046685, 

Oct 23 and 30, all day 

The Fragrance of Bread 

Discovering typical cuisine made with 

Mugello Bread, cooked with stone round 

fl our, natural rising agents, and baked in a 

wood burning oven. 

Mugello in different restaurants, phone 

for info and booking 055.845271 and 

0577.281069, Oct 21, 28 and Nov 4, 11 

only for dinner 

5th World Wide Butcher’s Celebration 

Fundraiser to benefi t the Meyer Hospital 

Foundation 

Panzano in Chianti city center, Oct23, from 

11.00 

Sagra delle frattaglie 

Typical Tuscan cuisine: trippa, lampredotto, 

chicken “cipolline”, grilled 

Circolo Arci, via Mazzini, Strada in Chianti, 

Oct 22 dinner and Oct 23 lunch and 

dinner 

Organic market 

P.za IV Novembre, Sesto Fiorentino, Oct 

22 and 29 

Organic market in Greve 

Piazza Matteotti, Greve in Chianti, Oct 23 

San Luca fair 

Impruneta, tel. 055-2036428, until Oct 23 

Di piazza in piazza 

Handy crafts and local products 

Prato city center, Oct 23, all day 

Week-end of October 29-30 

Vintage market 

Via S. Chiara, 38/1, tel. 393.9716628, Oct 

30, 10.00-19.00 

Truffle and other typical products fair 

Montaione, tel. 0571.699254, www. 

comune.montaione.fi .it, Unitl Oct 30 

Chestnut Fair 

Marradi, tel 055.8045005, www.comune. 

marradi.fi .it, Oct 23 and 30 

Chestnut Fair 

Vicchio, tel. 055-8439220, Oct 23 and 

30, all day 

Chestnut Fair 

Palazzolo, Incisa Valdarno, Oct 23 and 30 

Chestnut Fair 

Castagno d’Andrea San Godenzo, Oct 23 

and 30 

Chestnut Fair and local products 

Palazzuolo sul Senio, tel. 055-8046685, 

Oct 23 and 30, all day 

The Fragrance of Bread 

Discovering typical cuisine made with 

Mugello Bread, cooked with stone round 

fl our, natural rising agents, and baked in a 

wood burning oven. 

Mugello in different restaurants, phone 

for info and booking 055.845271 and 

0577.281069, Oct 21, 28 and Nov 4, 11 

only for dinner 

9ª Autumn festival 

Piazza IV Novembre, Reggello, Oct 30-Nov 

1, from 15.00 

Pumpkin festival 

Certaldo city center, Oct 31 

Organic market 

P.za IV Novembre, Sesto Fiorentino, Oct 

22 and 29 

12ª Exchange Exhibit for Radio and 

Electronic Device Lovers 

Palazzetto dello Sport, Via Rialdoli, 

Scandicci, Oct 29 

Antique market 

Piazza Matteotti, Scandicci, Oct 29-30 

Second hand and Vintage Market 

Ass.Poid Pois, via S.Chiara 38/1, Prato, 

Oct 30, from 10.00 

Used Goods Market. Antiques, Crafts, 

Collectables 

Piazza Umberto I, Londa, Oct 30 

Fucecchio’s fair 

Fucecchio city center, tel. 0571-268206, 

Nov1-13 


Concerti di musica da camera in San 

Lorenzo a Vicchio di Rimaggio 

Chiesa di San Lorenzo a Vicchio 

di Rimaggio, Bagno a Ripoli, tel. 

055.630631,www.comune.bagno-a-ripoli. 

fi .it, October 21 

Opera Concert 

Circolo Degl’Innocenti (Galciana), via 

Costa, 62, tel. 335.477332, 21.00, 

October 28 

Sklerati Cronici 

Hip Hop 



www.offi cinagiovani.it, October 28, 21.30 

Garbo 

Anomalia Club, Via Dino Campana 58, S. 

Lucia Prato, www.anomaliaclub.it, October 

22 

An Cat Dubh - U2 Cover Band 



28 

Terry Evans Blues Box 



29 

• PARKS 

Renai Park 

A bike path follows the Arno River from 

the end of the Cascine park all the way to 

the entrance of the Renai park. Activities: 

swimming, free climbing walls, nature 

walks, cycling, sailing, etc. 

Parco dei Renai, Signa, until October 30, 

12-20, Sat, Sun 9-20 


Guided Trekking excursions 

Palazzuolo sul Senio, tel. 055.8046008, 

www.palazzuolo.it, 

October 22 and 23 

Empoli-Milan 

Professional soccer match 

Stadio Castellani, V.le delle Olimpiadi, 

Empoli, October 26, 20.30, by reservation 

only 

Fundraiser for Meyer Children’s 

Hospital- Fencing competition 

The proceeds will be allocated to Meyer 

Hospital 

Palaprato, info: Uffi cio Sport Comune di 

Prato, tel. 0574.616484, 15.00, October 

22 

Chestnut picking 

Trekking Excursion 

Info: Polisportiva Aurora tel. 0574.467669, 

October 23 

Ferrari Championship Finals 

Autodromo del Mugello via Senni, 15 

Scarperia, tel. 055.8499111, www. 

mugellocircuit.it, October 19-23, by 

reservation only 

Aciton Bike 

Scarperia, Autodromo del Mugello, tel. 

0558499111 

October 21, 22, 23, www.mugellocircuit.it 

Fall ralley for Vintage cars 

Calenzano – Settimello, tel. 055882041, 

October 23 

Bicycling in Prato 

Prato city center, tel. 339-3477139, www. 

associazioni.prato.it/tandem, October 23 

• THEATRE 

Il ponte del gattopardo (in Italian) 

Teatro La Baracca, via Virginia Frosini 8, 

Casale Prato, www.teatrolabaracca.com, 

October 22, 21.00 

Noio vulevòn savuàr...ancor (in Italian) 

With the famous Italian actor Enrico 

Montesano 

Teatro Politeama Pratese, via Garibaldi 

33-35, Prato, tel. 0574-603758, www. 

politeamapratese.com, October 28-30, 

21.00, Sun 16.00 

Tuesday, November 

1st is All Saints Day, 

an Italian National 

Holiday. 

Most businesses will 

be closed.

14 


UP CLOSE & PERSONAL 


“Florence 

is like a 

Sixty-Two 

Year Old 

Contessa” 

Interview with: 

Barbara Deimling 

B arbara Deimling is the Director 

of Syracuse University 

in Florence. Barbara, who 

is originally from Germany, has 

always loved Florence and came 

here in 1997 to join the faculty and 

then became director. She lives in 

Florence with her husband and 3 

young children. 

The Florentine: What do you love 

about Florence? 

Barbara Deimling: The people, 

the human aspect of people. I 

have dealt with many professional 

people here, and they give more 

of themselves personally beyond 

their professional expertise. I love 

the urban fabric, the beauty of the 

architecture, the food, the light, 

the air, the wine. We have a word 

for this in German, “Gesamtkunstwerk,” 

which means a complete 

work of art. 

TF: What don’t you like, or what is 

the hardest for you? 

BD: The ineffi ciency of some public 

institutions, too much bureaucracy 

that seems to make things 

unnecessarily cumbersome. 

TF: When you leave Florence for 

a period of time, what do you 

miss? 

BD: People, street contact. To 

have someone say buongiorno to 

me and mean it. 

TF: Where is your favourite place 

to get an aperitivo? 

BD: Cibreo Cafe 

TF: A cappuccino in the morning? 

BD: Bar Elia (our coffee bar at 

Syracuse) 

TF: Go for a run? 

BD: Via della Corno toward Marignolle 

TF: Go for Sunday meal? 

BD: Pane Vino in Piazza Cestello 

TF: Go out with your family? 

BD: Go to the park at Villa Strozzi 

TF: Go for dinner? 

BD: Pane Vino 

TF: What’s your favourite Italian 

dish? And where do you get it? 

BD: Spaghetti alle vongole (but I 

like it best in Rome) 

TF: What’s your favourite romantic 

thing to do? 

BD: Dinner at Pane Vino 

TF: When you have guests where 

do you like to take them? Museum, 

church, street, store? 

BD: The Oltrarno. I love Via San 

Niccolò, Santa Maria del Carmine. 

TF: What’s your preferred out of 

town excursion? 

BD: Rome 

TF: If you had only one day in 

Florence, how would you spend 

the day? 

BD: I would go to San Miniato al 

Monte and get the overall view of 

the city, then just go from there. 

TF: What advice do you have 

about living here and how to 

appreciate it the most? 

BD: Be courageous to accept the 

differences that you are presented 

with. 

TF: What is the most common 

misunderstanding Americans 

(English speakers) have about 

Florence? 

BD: They feel it is a Disneyland, 

not a real place where people work 

and live. 

TF: What is the most common 

misunderstanding Italians have 

about Americans (English speakers)? 

BD: That they are superfi cial and 

not cultured. They think that Americans 

have nothing to offer culturally. 

TF: Who has been the most, or 

one of the most interesting people 

you have met here? 

BD: There are two people. One 

is Maestro Tangucci, the director 

of Teatro Maggio Musicale. I was 

moved by his openness to engage 

himself and do something that was 

so different than what is expected. 

The other person is the former 

Consul General, Bill McIlhenny. He 

explained to me, so concisely, how 

the American community can give 

back to the community of Florence. 

And he didn’t just talk about it, he 

inspired me through his actions. 

TF: If you were going to describe 

Florence as a person or personality, 

how would you do it? 

BD: A 62 year old contessa. 

TF: What do you think the ‘gift’ 

is of living in Florence...what has 

it been for you? How have you 

changed by being in Florence? 

BD: It has made me more human in 

every aspect of my life. In Florence I 

don’t feel I need to compartmentalise 

who I am. I feel more fully integrated 

as a professional, a mother, 

a family member, a friend.


Culture & CUSTOMS 

15 


All of the articles found in the following pages are written by independent collaborators. The Florentine seeks to publish 

stories that are interesting, entertaining, and useful to all of our readers. If and when a writer expresses opinions within his 

or her work those opinions should be considered to be those of the writer and not necessarily those of the publishers of this 

newspaper. If you wish to submit articles for consideration please contact us at redazione@theflorentine.net. 

ITALIAN VOICES: A Window on Language and 

Customs in Italy...“La politica è cosa sporca” by Linda Falcone 

Sitting on the terrace 

in Chianti, happy as 

a clam, I was enjoying 

my first meal al fresco 

in eight months. It was my 

friend Edoardo’s birthday, 

and the spring air 

was crisp and the company 

warm. Then suddenly 

the winds changed. 

“So, the government 

has fallen at last,” Edoardo 

announced between 

slices of pear and parmigiano. He 

said it with as much indifference 

as an Italian can muster, and it was 

received with as much apathy as his 

dinner guests could feign. 

“Finally!” his wife mused, without 

looking away from the fruit cups 

she was serving. 

“They made you a good birthday 

gift, amico mio,” our friend Ruggero 

joked. “This year you don’t have 

to wish Berlusconi away with your 

birthday candles. It seems that he 

will be going away himself!” 

There was laughter everywhere. 

Italians face political turnover 

with unnerving nonchalance. Most 

are convinced that taxes and bureaucracy 

will stand strong whether the 

government falls, rolls over, plays 

dead, or gets back up when no one 

is looking to pour itself a cup of coffee. 

I, of course, was the only one 

who was concerned. I come from a 

country where governments don’t 

just fall between the second and 

third course of a meal. And although 

I could appreciate the unfailing 

Italian ability to good-naturedly 

adapt to new situations, I found my 

friends’ reaction a bit worrisome. 

Like it or not, hadn’t Berlusconi 

been elected by the people? In a 

respectable democracy shouldn’t 

the prime minister be able to fulfil 

the five-year term guaranteed him 

by the Constitution? What would 

the failure of his government mean 

to Italian politics? What would it 

mean to me as a citizen? 

While I silently wrestled with 

democratic principles and the modern 

world, the topic of conversation 

moved to football. Mamma mia! 

Being served our first strawberries 

of the season had kept the group’s 

attention for longer than the governmental 

crisis. And there was no 

doubt that La Fiorentina’s match 

 

 

“Over the past fi fty 

years, we’ve had 

forty governments 

and no change. It’s 

like choosing the 

kind of gelato you 

want, except all the 

fl avours taste the 

same.” 

 

 

 

Juventus the night 

before was weighing 

more on people’s minds. 

Apparently the violet 

team’s loss was more 

essential to Florentine 

well-being than the loss 

of a prime minister. And 

al fresco or not, I found 

the situation a bit infuriating. 

Edoardo’s wife, Silvia, 

who is good at reading 

people’s minds, saw something in 

my expression that invited her to 

explain. “Over the past fifty years, 

we’ve had forty governments and no 

change. It’s like choosing the kind of 

gelato you want, except all the flavours 

taste the same. When il Parlamento 

feels the Prime Minister’s not 

doing an acceptable job, they give 

him a voto di mancanza di fiducia, 

lack of faith vote, which often means 

he’s forced to step down. It’s a loophole 

in the system created to protect 

Italy from another Mussolini. It’s 

foreseen in our system. Most times 

they just piece things back together 

like in that rhyme of the egg that had 

a great fall.” 

“But doesn’t it matter to you?” I 

asked. “If the government fell like 

that in the U.S., citizens would suddenly 

feel very vulnerable and lost. 

Half the population would end up 

having to go to Tahiti to find themselves.” 

“Well,” Silvia laughed, “then they 

are likely to find our politicians 

there. Several fled to tropical islands 

after the Tangentopoli corruption 

scandals in ‘92. Those were hard 

times for Italy. Many politicians 

ended their careers that year, either 

in jail or by suicide. Quite a few 

left the country and became beach 

bums. But most of the real bums are 

still running the country. In Italy, la 

politica è cosa sporca. Politics is a 

dirty thing.” 

Silvia’s statement got the rest of 

the group talking government again 

– mostly because Italians never 

miss an opportunity to express their 

inborn cynicism. Yes, that’s right, 

cynicism. Despite the happy-golucky 

image they often project to the 

world, never let their faux optimism 

fool you. Deep down Italians are 

invariably fatalists. It might not seem 

so at first glance, but in the end, for 

Italians, it is about the inevitability 

of death and taxes. 

After most of the guests had gone, 

my host slung a lazy arm around my 

shoulders, “Still thinking politica?” 

I nodded. “Sorry to beat a dead 

horse, but I just don’t understand 

what will happen now that the government 

has fallen.” 

 

 

Try Sam’s for a bit of America !! 

Over 250 products imported by Sam’s from the USA: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and a lot more ! 

SAM’S HAS IT ! 

Edoardo stifled a smile. “Unfortunately, 

nothing. But if it worries you, 

have faith. Berlusconi will be back 

again tomorrow.” 

And indeed he was. It took a little 

over a week and then all the king’s 

horses 

And all the king’s men properly 

patched up poor Humpty. 

Sam’s is located in the center of Florence near the Bargello Museum 

Via Ghibellina 117r. - Tel. 055-7189020 

Store hours: Mon-Fri 11.00 am – 7.30 pm 

Saturday: 11.00 am – 3.00 pm 

www.sams-market.com

16 


Culture & CUSTOMS 

Life in Italy 


Married to an Italian 

The First Fight: Stepping Lightly into Italy’s “Inside” World 

by Fred Birkhimer 

When my Italian then-girlfriend, 

now-wife, and I 

moved in together, our First 

Big Fight wasn’t about money—we 

didn’t have enough to fight about. It 

wasn’t about any of the sources of 

conflict you might guess would plague 

a cross-cultural relationship (nosey 

in-laws, insensitive friends) or, for 

that matter, any relationship (washing 

the dishes, putting the cap back on 

the toothpaste). Surprisingly, it wasn’t 

even about the well-known Italian tradition 

of insane jealousy (that would 

cause the Second Big Fight). 

The First Big Fight was about slippers. 

Italians, it turns out, have very precise 

ideas about the domestic sphere. 

All the chaos and disorganisation 

plainly visible here every minute of the day—when 

you shop, work, drive, take the bus, or even just 

get a coffee—is strangely absent when you come 

home at night after a hard day at work. When 

you shut the door behind you, you are subject 

to an iron-clad series of rules, regulations, and 

laws that are as merciless in their conception 

as they are draconian in their implementation. 

Exceptions will not be made; prisoners will not 

be taken. One such law concerns inside clothes 

and outside clothes. Italians, in spite of (or, perhaps, 

because of) the chaos that surrounds them, 

are obsessive about compartmentalising. 

Slippers are the most essential item of inside 

clothes and, as such, form a mutually exclusive 

set with the outside world. That is to say, not only 

can you put slippers on when you get home, but 

you must. Don’t think twice. The opposite is true 

as well: when you leave the house, putting on 

your shoes must be the very last thing you do. 

I should mention that similarly rigid rules 

apply to the seasons. In the world of fashion 

and clothing you’d expect this here; consider the 

favourite Italian pastime, “changing the closet,” 

a phrase I’ve learned to dread even more than 

“let’s go to Ikea.” It means spending an entire 

day—in the company of your mother-in-law (we’ll 

talk about Italian mothers-in-law another day), 

since such delicate affairs are best decided in the 

family council—deciding which clothes you can 

safely put away for the winter/summer, only to 

endure the opposite process the following spring/ 

fall. Why does it hurt the Italian sensibility to 

have both long- and short-sleeved shirts sharing 

the same closet, when they are perfectly content 

to walk around in wool scarves and micro-fibre 

parkas suitable for arctic excursions in late September, 

practically the minute they get back from 

a month at the beach? 

But, let’s get back to the slippers. 

The problem was, I didn’t even have slippers. 

(In my defence, I should mention that moving 

to another continent while staying within airline 

baggage weight limits is a bit tricky, especially if 

35 of your 40 kilos are books and CDs; even had 

I been an assiduous slipper-wearer in the States, 

I confess they might not have made the cut….) 

From the horrified gaze of my then-girlfriend, 

“Consider the favourite 

Italian pastime, “changing 

the closet,” deciding 

which clothes you can 

safely put away for the 

winter/summer, only 

to endure the opposite 

process the following 

spring/fall.” 

though, I could see that this was 

not a good excuse. Not owning slippers 

is simply inconceivable for the 

average Italian, and so I unwittingly 

became a member of a club I guarantee 

you don’t want to be a member 

of: those who live like students. Italians, 

it turns out, occasionally compensate 

for the chaos that they cleverly disguise 

as “daily life” with somewhat extreme categorisations. 

This one involves being a bit too bohemian 

in lifestyle. 

Let the record show that I had lived in Florida 

for five years when in graduate school, so I was 

no stranger to flip-flops. Unfortunately, slippers 

and flip-flops for Italians are distant relatives, 

barely on speaking terms; the former are dignified 

inside clothes, while the latter are scruffy outside 

clothes and as such are appropriate only for the 

beach. My new Italian family gleefully illustrated 

this point for me when my flip-flops left footprints 

all over the freshly mopped floors, something 

that suitably domesticated slippers would never 

have done. (Triple parking and tax evasion? No 

problem. Leaving footprints on freshly mopped 

floors?! Now that is what they call a problem.) 

So, when you contemplate a life-changing decision 

like moving in with an Italian, along with 

patience, a sense of humour, and a patriotic vein 

you never would have suspected you possessed, 

be sure to pack a pair of slippers. And make sure 

they’re appropriate for the season.


Life in Italy 

17 


Style & FASHION 

Fame & Fashion: The Future is in the Stars? 

By Justina Blakeney 

Florence is full of fashion 

schools: Polimoda, L’Accademia 

Italiana, Fashion Design Lab, 

Universita’ di Firenze (Architettura, 

progettazione Moda), to 

only name a few, and Lorenzo de 

Medici school’s fashion department 

has merged with the Atelier 

school to enlarge their fashion program. 

Thousands of students from 

all over the world come to Florence 

to study fashion every year- 

-they come with the aspiration of 

becoming the next Christopher 

Bailey (Head designer of England’s 

largest luxury brand Burberry) or 

the next Zac Posen (considered 

to be the youngest designer with 

a successful women’s wear label). 

But where do they all go once they 

have that semi-precious certificate 

after three years of designing, pattern 

making, sewing, stitching and 

schmoozing? 

Back in the day, the fashion 

demigods were Chanel, Gucci and 

Vuitton: simple folk with style and 

serious rags to riches’ stories. Gabrielle 

Chanel was an orphan, Guccio 

Gucci was a family rebel who was a 

maitre d’hotel at the Savoy in London, 

and Louis Vuitton was the son 

of a carpenter. Their work, their success, 

and their longevity as designers 

was based upon their formal and 

informal training as artists and artisans. 

Today, the typical profile of the 

world’s big designers is changing 

drastically. There are skilled designers 

who have talent and eye, but 

who were undoubtedly helped in 

their careers by celebrity parents, 

like Stella McCartney, or by simply 

inheriting a fashion house, like in 

the case of Donatella Versace and 

Angela Missoni. And some of the 

most talked about designers are not 

designers at all. They are musicians 

and actors, or singers that act, or 

actors that sing... and maybe they are 

celebrities just because they happen 

to be filthy rich. The Gwen Stefanis, 

Jennifer Lopezes, L’il Kims, Beyoncés, 

Eves, and Nikki Hiltons of the 

world are changing the way that the 

industry works and it is affecting 

one of Italy’s biggest industries. 

Rapper, producer, and now 

“designer” Sean Puffy Combs’ clothing 

line Sean John was rated one of 

the fastest growing, highest grossing 

ready-to-wear companies last year. 

Where does that leave today’s 

trained designers? (I mean those 

designers without the fortune of 

being a superstar, a Hilton, or best 

friends with Madonna and Gwyneth 

Paltrow?) 

Once they graduate from fashion 

school do they go to a Florentine 

ready-to-wear or high fashion 

brand like Patrizia Pepe or Roberto 

Cavalli only to do a three-monthlong 

unpaid internship, and then 

maybe be hired for 800 euros a 

month? 

Workshop, Show Rooms and classes 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do they go the bold route and 

start their own fashion line only to 

discover that production costs in 

Italy can be so high that the college 

loan you are still paying off 

seems like peanuts? Or do they fall 

into the offshore production route, 

where both quality and morals may 

be compromised? Few alternatives 

are left for the emerging designer. 

What seemed like a creative, high 

energy, glamour-filled occupation 

to the hopeful freshman-may easily 

deteriorate into a monotonous 

desk-job of phone-calls for sourcing 

and production haggling. 

As a designer, I like to think 

of fashion as art. An art than can, 

if you’re lucky, be a very lucrative 

business. But when quality is 

always compromised by cost, when 

up and coming designers are being 

paid less than the cost of living to 

design for some of the largest, and 

most admired luxury brands, and 

Puff Daddy receives the “Designer 

of the Year” awards, one begins to 

question what tomorrow’s fashion 

designers will need in order to make 

it in the industry. 

It seems that new ideas, good 

taste, skill, experience, research, 

schooling and perseverance have 

less and less to do with the success 

of a designer. 

Maybe designers should start 

taking acting lessons – seems like 

nowadays, the odds of becoming 

the next Tom Ford are even slimmer 

than those of becoming the 

next Tom Cruise. Now all aspiringdesigners 

can do is sit around and 

wait for the day that Donna Karan 

gets cast over Meryl Streep in a 

feature film--at least then the odds 

would be even.

18 


How DO YOU...? 

Life in Italy 

Buy, Drive & Ship a Volvo 

Memoirs of a Four-Wheel Foreign Driver 

By Jocelyn Morse 


My daughter’s battle 

against culture shock 

was won with the purchase 

of a used red bicycle. It cost 

her thirty euros and she’s assured 

me that the brakes work. She said 

that a bike is a permanent thing 

that has helped her feel grounded. 

“If you own something you can’t 

fit into a suitcase, it makes you 

feel like you’re really living somewhere, 

and not just floating. 

That’s why you want a car, isn’t 

it?” she asked me a few weeks 

ago. “Maybe,” I answered. At that 

point, what I wanted seemed irrelevant. 

To buy a car in Italy, and to have an Italian 

license plate on your car, you have to be an Italian 

resident with a valid permesso di soggiorno. 

Or else there’s the tax-free option of buying in 

Switzerland or Germany and then taking a road 

trip back to Italy. It means, however, that you 

have a license plate from one of those countries, 

even if you can drive in Italy with no problems 

until the expiration of your plates. I was feeling 

daunted about the decision because, after all, a 

car is not a 30-euro bike, and I needed a little 

encouragement before braving the purchase. 

I found it while at a friend’s dinner party as I 

“mingled” with a group of other expatriates sitting 

cross-legged at the coffee table filled with 

Tuscan cheeses. In reality we are all completely 

satisfied with being foreign, bohemian, and lucky 

enough to share the wealth of one of the world’s 

most beautiful cities. But soon enough the jokes 

started and the gripes began, as we treated ourselves 

to a little community commiseration, forgetting 

temporarily that things are not, in reality, 

as perfect and easy as we remember them to be in 

our respective home countries. 

The conversation turned to bureaucracy, 

bus strikes, getting ripped off and the requited 

“trauma-sharing” of “sticker-shock” experiences 

in Italy. That’s how we got on the subject of car 

rentals and leases. Two of my friends were paying 

the same amount for a six-month lease that 

I had spent to buy a new car in the states. Peter, 

my “veteran” friend, (he’s been here a year longer 

than the rest of us), then told us about how he 

had bought a new Volvo and was getting to drive 

it “for free” while he was here. 

“Well, why didn’t you say something sooner?” 

I found myself saying. Having felt repeatedly 

thwarted by Italian restrictions and taxes and 

shocked at comparatively outrageous rental 

costs, I couldn’t wait to hear what he had to say. 

What did Peter mean by “driving for free”? We 

all know nothing is for free, especially any ex-pat 

in Italy living on US dollars. So I am writing this 

article in hopes that maybe others will benefit 

from this information. I swear I am not getting 

paid by Volvo, or anyone else to share what I 

have learned. I am not, however, 

agajnst taking gifts from anyone 

who would like to thank me if 

they benefit! 

I called the Volvo executive in 

Rome, Anthony Beasley (a Brit 

who runs the ex-pat and diplomat 

program), and this is how 

the program works. (Certainly 

other car manufacturers have a 

similar program, but I started and 

stopped with Volvo.) You buy the 

Volvo of your choice, here in Italy. 

Because you are buying it directly 

from Volvo you get the invoice 

price (not the phoney “sticker 

price”) that you see on the car windows at dealers 

in the US. The invoice price is the same price 

that the dealer pays. (And all of the prices are in 

US dollars.) Then you drive the car while you are 

in Italy, you are given a license plate, insurance, 

and whatever else you need to drive here. After 

a year, you take the car to one of several “dropoff” 

points in Europe, and other than a nominal 

prep charge (around 200 euros - depending on 

where you drop it off), your car is shipped – at no 

cost – to the Volvo dealer near you in the US or 

Canada. If you want to keep it here more than a 

year, there’s a fee, but still a small percentage of 

what shipping would cost. 

Maybe, just this once, I can have my cake and 

eat it too. 

For more info regarding Volvo’s Expatriate Program 

contact Anthony Beasley: 

Tel: 39.06.33235481 

abeasley@autostarspa.com


Life in Italy 

Art Communes with Nature 

The Chianti Sculpture Park 

Brenda Moore-McCann 

Historically, Tuscany is a region that has 

always been attractive to artists because 

of its rich cultural heritage, luminous 

light, and landscape. The sculpture gardens created 

during the 1980s and 1990s at the Villa 

Gori near Pistoia, the Giardino dei Tarrocchi 

at Pescia Fiorentina, or the Giardino di Spoerri 

at Seggiano, Grossetto, testify to the continuity 

of this tradition. The Chianti Sculpture Park, 

which opened last year, is the most recent artistic 

encounter between the natural Tuscan environment 

and a broad range of artistic sensibilities. 

Located just 10 kilometres north of Siena and 

approximately an hour from Florence, the 35 

acres of woodland is home to an international 

collection of sculptures, the majority of which 

were specifically made for a site chosen by the 

artist. Owned by Piero and Rosalba Giadrossi, 

the park was initially inspired by a visit to Kirstenbosch 

Park near Cape Town, where a large 

number of Shona sculptures are on permanent 

display under the majestic Table Mountain. The 

Giadrossis have been involved with contemporary 

art for many years, running the La Fornace 

Gallery opposite the park, a beautifully 

restored old pottery in which 

they have lived for over twenty 

years. 

The underlying theme of the park, 

the harmony between art and nature, 

is obvious as soon as one arrives at 

the entrance gates made of wrought 

iron in the shape of linden leaves. 

Even at this early stage in its evolution 

the Chianti Sculpture Park 

has established an impressive range 

of international sculptures that 

expresses the enormous changes 

that have occurred in art since the 

second half of the twentieth century. 

A distinctive feature of the collection 

is that almost 50 percent of the works are by 

female artists and that the twenty-four sculptures 

are drawn from the continents of Africa, Asia, 

North and South America, and Europe. Each artist 

has brought to the Tuscan region his/her own 

cultural background and artistic vision to create 

a wide range of works with different themes, 

aims, and materials. Thus there are sculptures 

made from traditional marble and bronze side 

Varotsos 

(Grecia) 

“Energy” 

“A distinctive feature of the 

collection is that almost 50 

percent of the works are 

by female artists and that 

the twenty-four sculptures 

are drawn from the continents 

of Africa, Asia, North 

and South America, and 

Europe.” 

by side with those that have employed newer 

art materials like neon, glass, found objects, and 

stainless steel. 

Bill Furlong’s Off the Beaten Track is one 

of the latter consisting of sixteen stainless steel 

cubic boxes placed in pairs along a thirty metre 

track to the side of the main trail through the 

wood. While the stainless steel reflects the 

changing patterns of the surrounding nature, it 

is not until the visitor walks between the boxes 

that the artist’s purpose is revealed. 

Each box emits different sounds 

which have been pre-recorded and 

edited by the artist and relate to the 

nearby city of Siena, whose towers 

are visible from the entrance to 

the park. The juxtaposing and mixing 

of the sounds prevents a linear 

listening experience and induces a 

strange sense of bilocation in which 

the bustling city noises intrude into 

the quietness of the countryside. 

A more private experience can be 

had by entering Pilar Aldana Mendez’s 

The Time Trap or by resting on 

Anita Glesta’s ‘couches,’ Dialogue, 

made of travertine in colours evocative 

of Siena’s Cathedral. Kei Nakamura’s architectural 

sculpture, La Casa Nel Bosco (House in 

the Wood), with its repeated leaf motif, alludes 

to surrounding nature as well as to pre-historic 

building processes. Monumental sculptures like 

The Blue Bridge, Island, Energy, Harmonic 

Divergence, Balance, La Pietra Sospesa (Suspended 

Stone), The Keel, Edificio Incompiuto 

(Incomplete Building), Rainbow Crash, Xaris, 

19 


The ARTS 

Marangoni (Italia) ”Rainbow Crash” 

HaeWon (Corea del Sud) “Island” 

and Homage to Brancusi, stand alongside more 

discrete sculptures like Limes, Chianti, The Purifier, 

and Coin de Bois Blanc (White Wood Corner). 

Some sculptures have an overtly political 

theme: Faith and Illusion, The Milk Factory, Por 

La Libertad de Prensa (Freedom of the Press,), 

while Dominic Benhura’s children play the 

international game of leapfrog (Leapfrog) and 

Neal Barab’s playful marble figures dance to the 

Beatles’ old song, Twist and Shout. This park, 

as well as the others above, demonstrates that 

contemporary sculpture is thriving in an area 

already famous throughout the world for its treasure 

chest of Renaissance art. 

address: La Fornace 48/49 

53010 Pievasciata (Siena) 

phone: (0039) 0577 357151 

fax: (0039) 0577 357149 

www.chiantisculpturepark.it 

email: info@chiantisculpturepark.it

20 


Travel & LEISURE 

Life in Italy 


The Spa Experience: 

Tuscany’s Alternative Answer to Good Health 

By Niki Swallow 

Tuscany is full of natural hot springs or 

‘terme,’ many of which date from Roman 

or even Etruscan times and whose waters, 

originating from deep within the earth’s crust, 

have long been associated with curative properties. 

Each individual spring has a different make 

up in terms of its combination of minerals and 

gases (gathered as the water courses towards 

the surface), so different ‘terme’ are said to be 

beneficial for different conditions. Carbon dioxide 

boosts the immune system, for example, 

and sulphur-rich water is believed to be effective 

in the treatment of muscular and arthritic 

pain. Receptive structures have been developed 

around many of these springs, and while some 

have remained fairly modest affairs, others have 

turned into luxury spa resorts offering first-class 

accommodation and a myriad of treatments to 

compliment the thermal waters. 

A day of wallowing in a thermal pool is a 

very popular activity in Tuscany, but many of the 

locals shun the up-market structures in favour 

of the relative simplicity of such places as Bagno 

Vignoni and Bagni San Filippo, which offer pools 

of warm thermal waters in a fabulous natural setting 

but not so much in the way of swish facilities. 

There are other spas where the emphasis is very 

much on the cure rather than the frills, and even 

the swankiest places have a department devoted 

to purely medical treatments. Anyone used to the 

kind of pampering spas where you pad around 

in a fluffy bathrobe and slippers, sip herbal teas 

and chill out to soft, ambient music will be taken 

aback by the clinical atmosphere and rough edges 

that they may encounter in these places. 

Even in the luxury category, there’s not a whole 

lot of respect for modesty. The only thing coming 

between you and your masseuse, for example, 

Grotta Giusta Spa 

is likely to be a minuscule pair of paper knickers 

and women may find it a little disconcerting 

when a male, rather than female, member of the 

staff arrives to plop them unceremoniously in 

the tub for a hydrotherapy session or hose them 

down naked after a session in the steam room. 

Many Italians swear by the salutary effects of 

‘fanghi’ or hot mud baths. Considered to work 

wonders for rheumatic, arthritic, and muscular 

problems, hot, mineral-rich mud is applied to the 

afflicted part of the body and left to do its stuff 

for twenty minutes or so. It’s also guaranteed to 

leave your skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom 

and most of the places mentioned here offer mud 

treatments. 

The more upmarket thermal establishments 

are attached to a suitably swish hotel and offer 

various ‘pacchetti’ combining a certain number of 

treatments with accommodation. These are usually 

quite expensive, but one way to save money is 

to book into a cheaper hotel in the area, take out 

a day membership to the spa that will give you 

access to the basic facilities (usually the thermal 

pool plus extras such as the sauna and Turkish 

bath where relevant), and arrange the treatments 

separately according to your requirements. 

The unique feature of the Grotta Giusti spa in 

Monsumano Terme near Lucca is its extraordinary 

prehistoric underground cave system that 

was stumbled upon in 1849. An hour spent sitting 

and sweating in the dripping grotta offers 

relief from rheumatic pain and does wonders for 

the skin. In the hottest part of the cave (‘Purgatory’), 

the temperature is a constant 34° C with 

90% humidity, so you are advised to pass through 

cooler Paradise and Limbo first. The shuffling 

figures dressed in shapeless, hooded white gowns, 

looking like they have escaped from a sanatorium, 

are you and your fellow sweaty guests; 

don’t bother with the mascara! After your sweat, 

you will be sluiced down naked in a small cubicle 

with a strong jet of water. There are many other 

treatments such as fanghi, massages (including a 

rather bizarre but very effective chocolate face 

and body scrub), inhalations, facials and so on, 

plus a new outdoor thermal pool. The adjacent 

hotel has recently been renovated; it sits in a 

lovely park filled with secular trees and birdsong 

and has a fine restaurant, producing fresh and 

imaginative dishes even for dieters. 

IRISH PUB 

Irish owned 

Via San Gallo, 123/r. - FIRENZE ph. 055 490794 

LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE ON 3 SCREENS 

ENGLISH AND SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP, RUGBY, NFL, etc.. 

open every day 13,00 - 00,30 

31 st October 

HALLOWEEN FANCY DRESS PARTY 

from 9,00 p.m. til late 

www.finneganpub.com 

Situated in the extreme south-eastern corner 

of Tuscany, San Casciano dei Bagni is home to 

the Fonteverde Terme. Set in glorious countryvintage,uniforms, 

bijoux, handbags, 

oldtoys and..


Life in Italy 

21 



Wade through the Water, 

Wallow in the Mud 

“ A day of wallowing in a thermal pool is a 

very popular activity in Tuscany, but many 

of the locals shun the up-market structures 

in favour of the relative simplicity of such 

places as Bagni Vignoni and Bagni San 

Filippo, which offer pools of warm thermal 

waters in a fabulous natural setting but not 

so much in the way of swish facilities.” 

Bagni Vignoni 

side, it has a state-of-the-art spa offering more 

than a hundred different treatments. Grand 

Duke Ferdinando I dei Medici came to this spot 

and built a large house, now the five-star Hotel 

Terme de’ Medici. The original Roman spring 

is preserved in the elegant, frescoed restaurant 

where delicious creative food (adjectives that are 

equally applicable to the ‘light’ menu) is served by 

white- and gold-jacketed waiters. A day at the spa 

should start off with a long dip in the fabulous, 

hot ‘Bioacqua’ pool (half indoor and half out), 

where you can sit or lie and let 24 different massage 

jets pummel the stiffness from limbs, backs, 

and shoulders at the press of a button. Follow 

this with an Ayurvedic massage in the extraordinary 

hands of Dipu (book well in advance – he’s 

a popular guy), and then chill out in one of various 

‘relax’ areas where you can sip green tea to a 

background of calming music. 

The Tombolo Talasso Resort at Castagneto Carducci 

(a seaside town in the beautiful Maremma) 

enjoys an ideal position a stone’s throw from a 

long, private beach. This is Tuscany’s first spa specialising 

in thalassotherapy (from the Greek word 

‘thalassa’-sea), a combination of preventive and 

curative treatments using the virtues of seawater 

and seaweed to oxygenate, tone, moisturise and 

revitalise the body and skin. Seawater is pumped 

from 900 metres off the coast, purified (but not so 

much that it destroys all the beneficial minerals 

and algae), and is used to fill indoor and outdoor 

pools as well as in specific treatments offered at 

the spa. Five heated pools equipped with various 

hydrojets are housed in a large, womb-like 

artificial cave and seawater is also used in mud 

treatments, hydro massages, and medicinal inhalations. 

Once done with the pampering, you can 

relax in the comfortable hotel, a low-rise modern 

building done out in natural colours overlooking 

the beach. Make sure you get a room with a sea 

view; the best have big terraces. There’s an excellent 

restaurant that also serves ‘light’ dishes, but 

this being Italy, even the diet food is fabulous. 

The area around Monte Amiata, south of 

Siena, is particularly rich in thermal activity. The 

warm, sulphurous waters at the tiny mediaeval 

spa of Bagno Vignoni have been known since 

Roman times, and the Medici constructed a huge 

pool in the central piazza to contain the hot, bubbling 

waters. You can’t bathe in the old ‘vasca’ 

these days, but you can wallow in the magnificent 

pool at the Hotel Posta Marcucci to the splendid 

backdrop of the Val d’Orcia. If you want to stay 

over, the newly renovated three-star hotel provides 

reasonably priced accommodation and a 

limited number of spa treatments. Just south of 

here lies Bagni San Filippo where, at a constant 

42°, the water is even hotter. The steaming, sulphur- 

and calcium-rich waters are characterised 

by their opaque, electric blue colour, and the pool 

at the Terme is surrounded by natural waterfalls 

and whirlpools, a result of the unusual rock formations. 

The newly renovated three-star hotel is 

comfortable and reasonably-priced and offers a 

good variety of spa treatments. 

These are just a handful of the many thermal 

spa establishments in Tuscany, but there are 

plenty more. Also check out Terme di Saturnia, 

Montecatini Terme, Bagni di Pisa, Casciana 

Terme and Chianciano Terme. 

• Grotta Giusti, Monsumano Terme, 0572 

90771, www.grottagiustispa.com 

• Hotel Terme de’ Medici, San Casciano 

dei Bagni, 0578 57241, www.fonteverdeterme 

• Tombolo Talasso Resort, Via del Corallo 

3, Marina di Castagneto Carducci. 0565 

74530, www.tombolotalasso.it 

• Hotel Posta Marcucci, Bagno Vignoni, 

0578 887112, www.hotelpostamarcucci.it 

• Terme San Filippo, Bagni San Filippo, 

0577 872982, www.termesanfi lippo.it

22 



Back to the Future 

Agriturismo: Getting Back 

to the Good Life 

By Kathy Perunic 

Life in Italy 


It is no secret that Italians are 

leaving bigger cities in search 

of a slower paced rural lifestyle. 

The current revival of small towns 

throughout Italy is allowing people 

to rediscover the beauty and benefits 

of a more simple and traditional 

way of living. Tourism is also following 

the lead, 

and visiting 

Italy is no longer 

just about 

cities of art and 

monuments. 

The “in” vacation 

amongst 

Americans has 

become going 

to an old farmhouse 

in the 

countryside to 

really experience 

nature. In response, we have seen the 

fast-growing trend of Agriturismo 

(country houses, usually family run, 

offering room and board and often 

many other activities). Today there are 

over 13,000 authorised agriturismi in 

Italy; five years ago there were fewer 

than 9,000. Fortunately, by boosting 

local economies, they are also helping 

to preserve the old way of life in 

and around these picturesque historic 

towns. 

I am one of those fortunate foreigners 

who lives in a portion of a 

restored casa colonica (farmhouse) 

in the Tuscan countryside. What are 

the perks of living outside the city? 

NO traffic, NO parking problems, 

LESS smog, NO crowds or noise... 

and, of course, that small town thing 

where everyone knows you and is 

more willing to pitch in and give you 

a hand when you need something. 

I love looking out of my windows 

(which have no curtains) and seeing 

the green hills and open space 

all around me. I enjoy the silence 

that is broken only by the sounds of 

nature, making spring the noisiest 

season. It doesn’t leave me feeling 

lonely or isolated, but rather it gives 

me a sense of space and calm. 

I feel like 

I have always 

known what 

the Italians 

seem to be “discovering” 

only 

now: that there 

is a treasure to 

be protected in 

Italy that goes 

beyond its urban 

monuments and 

museums. It is 

precisely the 

natural beauty of its landscapes and 

the rich fertile earth that provides 

its world-renowned wines and oils 

(not to mention the simpler things 

like tomatoes, oranges, eggplants, 

etc, which just ‘don’t taste the same’ 

anywhere else!) that the Italians 

must protect. Finally, there are signs 

of hope: you can actually find cases 

where land is being cleared, not to 

build yet another condo complex, 

but rather to plant a new vineyard! 

It’s about time. But, there is still a 

long way to go. 

All over the country, there are 

quaint mediaeval villages called 

borghi perched upon rolling hills, 

with their narrow stone-paved 

streets, that seem to have been frozen 

in time. They must not be allowed to 

decay. Many are full of important artwork 

and artefacts, often overlooked 

because they are not classified as “masterpieces,” 

or taken for granted due to 

the sheer quantity of art in this country. 

It is clear that some of these tiny 

old villages would be hard to live in 

for many. But there are those “daring” 

people who find that kind of 

lifestyle alluring. The problem has 

always been how to “survive” today 

in one of these places. Where do 

you work? Well, finally there is a 

growing movement amongst local 

governments to sustain the development 

and re-population of these 

tiny towns. Even the federal government 

is deliberating financial-aid 

packages for small towns in order 

to guarantee their future. (Let’s just 

hope that the usual bureaucratic 

traps don’t hold it up for decades!) 

For some of the towns the answer 

is specialised agriculture: from vineyards 

and olive groves to agricoltura 

biologica (organic farming). Others 

are counting on ‘didactic tourism’ 

aimed at rediscovering the feudal 

heritage of the smaller, more remote 

towns that still maintain their historic 

landmarks. The burgeoning 

trend of turismo enogastronomico 

(in which food and wine become 

the focus of a vacation) has many 

scrambling to prepare wine cellars, 

specialised shops, and restaurants 

to cater to the journey of this new 

breed of tourist. Even the original 

vocation of the bed and breakfast 

style agriturismo is mutating to 

enrich its offerings and expand its 

services. When you think about it, 

it’s really a fabulous idea!! 

Thus, all the indicators are posi- 

tive for rediscovering some of the 

most ancient traditions of Italy in a 

new and dynamic framework that 

is compatible with the 21 st century. 

In the long run, the results of this 

change in attitude will hopefully 

benefit both the land and its inhabitants. 

Tourists can check out what’s 

available, and authentic (thereby 

avoiding unauthorised facilities 

claiming to be agriturismi), by consulting 

the regional government 

websites. 

FOR TUSCANY: 

www.agriturismo.regione.toscana.it 

€ 

€ 

€


Useful Numbers and Classifi ed Ads 

23 


Classifi ed ADS 

Housing For Sale/Immobili Vendita 

Loft For Sale in Prato. 2 lofts near 

historic centre, each 137 sq. m., ideal 

for homeoffi ce. We can show project 

and location. For information, e-mail 

marco@agilelogica.it 

Truly one of the most beautiful places 

in Tuscany, 3 acres of glorious Tuscan 

property. Fig, pear, peach, plum trees 

and more! Artichoke, rosemary, lavender, 

150 plus olive trees in a beautiful 

park-like setting. 2 cabanas, little 

wood(garden)house, outside toilet and 

shower. A great spoke for the weekend 

or to begin business. Call/email Beth 

338-869-1235 or ms_beth@hotmail.com 

Housing for Rent/Immobili in Affi tto 

Rent 2-room apartment with terrace 

Florence view near S. Margherita a 

Montici also short periods-weeklymonthly. 

Cell 338.4198068 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charming renovated 2/3 bedroom 

garden cottage overlooking Ugolino golf 

course in Grassina, 15 minutes south of 

Florence. Beautifully furnished and fully 

equipped. Living room with fi replace, 

large dining room. Terraces, lawns and 

rose gardens. Private gated entrance. 

Peaceful yet close to Florence and 

schools. Call 338.2575691 

Piazza del Carmine apartment for 

rent 60 sqm, newly renovated, fi nely 

refi nished, furnished with taste. Tel. 388 

7131613 

Two large, bright rooms, in a fl at 

equipped with every comfort, for rent 

in via Mariti, 100 m. from University. 

Available from July. Non smokers only. 

Tel. 055.353425. 

Household Items for Sale/ 

Oggetti in Vendita 

Piano upright Kawai for sale with 

“silencer system” in excellent condition 

€ 3.200. Reiger Kloss upright piano also 

in perfect condition € 2.300. Owner 

wishes to sell either one of these and 

keep the other. Delivery included, price 

negotiable. Call 338.5098950 

Help Wanted/Offerte di lavoro 

Job Opportunity. Sales Associate 

for The Florentine. We are looking for 

people who are interested in selling 

advertising in The Florentine throughout 

Florence and Tuscany. Please contact: 

pubblicita@thefl orentine.net 

Business Opportunity: one Santo 

Spirito business encompasses many 

enterprises: an optical shop, camera 

and photo equipment and services, 

and an internet point offering 

extensive computer services. 

This 40 year old neighbourhood 

business has a stable clientele of 

both locals and tourists. Minimal 

investment required for this unique 

and well-established opportunity. 

Phone Luca 347.5123234 

Looking for part time cleaning, ironing 

and cooking, job in Florence and 

Fiesole area, experienced lady with very 

good references, employed for many 

years with the same families. Phone 

Ingrid 055.599814 or 

Ann 055.541269 

Jobs Wanted/Cerco lavoro 

I teach English several evenings a week 

and am looking day work. By trade (not 

in Italy), I am software salesperson. I am 

looking for offi ce work, creative work, 

organizational work (home or bus), 

babysitting. I am positive, direct, good 

attitude. 338-869-1235 

Japanese mother tongue seeks job in 

translation and/or as interpreter (italian/ 

japanese - japanese/italian) availability 

for meetings, conventions, etc, and also 

for private language instruction. 

Contact sanae@cheapnet.it 

Sri Lankan male, well referenced, seeks 

afternoon or evening work in Florence. 

Cleaning, cooking and/or ironing. 

Call Perrera 339.4826354 

Baby sitter, responsible 16 year old 

American girl, I have lived in Florence for 

one year. I have experience with infants 

and “energetic” children. 

Call Montana 338.1190247 

English teacher available for private 

lessons, good with children and can also 

teach corporate English. 

Tel. 329.9119012 

Baby sitter, I am a mother of a 6 month 

old child looking to baby-sit children 

together with my son. Mother tongue 

English, phone 329.9119012 

Experienced English Instructor with 

corporate experience and with children of 

all ages. Available for tutoring to improve 

all levels of fl uency. Flexible schedule. 

Phone: 333 268 2729 

Private Lessons/Lezioni Private 

Bilingual florentine lady with teaching 

experience in Florence, New York and 

London, Perth is available for Italian 

conversation with beginners and at 

advanced level, enriched on request by 

Italian literature and Florentine history of 

art. Please call Margreta 338.4310208 

Painting watercolor private lessons 

english italian spoken studio near S. 

Spirito. Please call for information 

055.224357 or 340.3672987. 

Private oil painting lessons in English, 

Saturday mornings near Teatro Goldoni. 

Still life subject, canvas, paints and 

easel supplied. All levels are welcomed. 

For more information please contact 

Cathy at 055 2207171 

Leather Crafting Classes. Scuola del 

Cuoio offers short-term (3 hours/1-2 

days) & long-term (1 wk to 10 mths) 

individual courses and classes under 

a Master Leather Craftsman inside 

the Monastery of Santa Croce, via 

San Giuseppe 5R(thru the garden). 

Enquiries: tel 055.244.533 or 

info@leatherschool.com. More info on 

www.leatherschool.com 

Personalized cooking classes from 1 

day up. Min. 2 people- max 12 people. 

Only very traditional Tuscan cookery, 

plus very exclusive arts and crafts tours. 

Only week days. www.toscanainbocca.it, 

info@toscanainbocca.it 

Personals/Personali 

Looking for English-speaker toddlers 

in the Prato area to play / hang out with 

my Italian daughter who is 2 yrs and 10 

mns old. Email to giogiu@gmail.com. 

Looking for English speaking friends 

to improve my English. No private lessons. 

Marco 335.204747 

Are you an English speaking mom 

looking for other English speaking 

moms? Join our English speaking moms 

& tots playgroup. We meet Mondays 

10-12 at St. Marks church. For more 

information call Melanie @ 340 5131772 

or Barbara @ 333 7662352 

Services/Servizi 

The pleasure of being yourself. 

Skin-care, make-up application, energy 

program. Adults and teenagers. For consultation 

call Dianne Carriker, Image and 

Wellness Consultant 055-6801212 or 

320-0897525 

American landscape designer 

offers services from design to installation 

and maintenance. Initial consultation 

free. Contact Jessica Casoni: 

338.3298135 or jessica@fl orencega 

rdendesign.com 

Create a musical atmosphere for your 

social event with Soul Shaker. International 

quartet featuring a New York City 

Saxophonist perform soothing Bossa 

Novas and Soulful Funky Jazz. 

Vehicles/Veicoli 

Fiat Tipo ’95, new clutch, fanbelt, 

radio, grey exterior, 4 doors, automatic 

windows, good condition, only 53.000 

km. Ask €1.500. 

Call Nicole 348.1504026


Useful Numbers and Classifi ed Ads 

23 


Classifi ed ADS 

Housing For Sale/Immobili Vendita 

Loft For Sale in Prato. 2 lofts near 

historic centre, each 137 sq. m., ideal 

for homeoffi ce. We can show project 

and location. For information, e-mail 

marco@agilelogica.it 

Truly one of the most beautiful places 

in Tuscany, 3 acres of glorious Tuscan 

property. Fig, pear, peach, plum trees 

and more! Artichoke, rosemary, lavender, 

150 plus olive trees in a beautiful 

park-like setting. 2 cabanas, little 

wood(garden)house, outside toilet and 

shower. A great spoke for the weekend 

or to begin business. Call/email Beth 

338-869-1235 or ms_beth@hotmail.com 

Housing for Rent/Immobili in Affi tto 

Rent 2-room apartment with terrace 

Florence view near S. Margherita a 

Montici also short periods-weeklymonthly. 

Cell 338.4198068 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charming renovated 2/3 bedroom 

garden cottage overlooking Ugolino golf 

course in Grassina, 15 minutes south of 

Florence. Beautifully furnished and fully 

equipped. Living room with fi replace, 

large dining room. Terraces, lawns and 

rose gardens. Private gated entrance. 

Peaceful yet close to Florence and 

schools. Call 338.2575691 

Piazza del Carmine apartment for 

rent 60 sqm, newly renovated, fi nely 

refi nished, furnished with taste. Tel. 388 

7131613 

Two large, bright rooms, in a fl at 

equipped with every comfort, for rent 

in via Mariti, 100 m. from University. 

Available from July. Non smokers only. 

Tel. 055.353425. 

Household Items for Sale/ 

Oggetti in Vendita 

Piano upright Kawai for sale with 

“silencer system” in excellent condition 

€ 3.200. Reiger Kloss upright piano also 

in perfect condition € 2.300. Owner 

wishes to sell either one of these and 

keep the other. Delivery included, price 

negotiable. Call 338.5098950 

Help Wanted/Offerte di lavoro 

Job Opportunity. Sales Associate 

for The Florentine. We are looking for 

people who are interested in selling 

advertising in The Florentine throughout 

Florence and Tuscany. Please contact: 

pubblicita@thefl orentine.net 

Business Opportunity: one Santo 

Spirito business encompasses many 

enterprises: an optical shop, camera 

and photo equipment and services, 

and an internet point offering 

extensive computer services. 

This 40 year old neighbourhood 

business has a stable clientele of 

both locals and tourists. Minimal 

investment required for this unique 

and well-established opportunity. 

Phone Luca 347.5123234 

Looking for part time cleaning, ironing 

and cooking, job in Florence and 

Fiesole area, experienced lady with very 

good references, employed for many 

years with the same families. Phone 

Ingrid 055.599814 or 

Ann 055.541269 

Jobs Wanted/Cerco lavoro 

I teach English several evenings a week 

and am looking day work. By trade (not 

in Italy), I am software salesperson. I am 

looking for offi ce work, creative work, 

organizational work (home or bus), 

babysitting. I am positive, direct, good 

attitude. 338-869-1235 

Japanese mother tongue seeks job in 

translation and/or as interpreter (italian/ 

japanese - japanese/italian) availability 

for meetings, conventions, etc, and also 

for private language instruction. 

Contact sanae@cheapnet.it 

Sri Lankan male, well referenced, seeks 

afternoon or evening work in Florence. 

Cleaning, cooking and/or ironing. 

Call Perrera 339.4826354 

Baby sitter, responsible 16 year old 

American girl, I have lived in Florence for 

one year. I have experience with infants 

and “energetic” children. 

Call Montana 338.1190247 

English teacher available for private 

lessons, good with children and can also 

teach corporate English. 

Tel. 329.9119012 

Baby sitter, I am a mother of a 6 month 

old child looking to baby-sit children 

together with my son. Mother tongue 

English, phone 329.9119012 

Experienced English Instructor with 

corporate experience and with children of 

all ages. Available for tutoring to improve 

all levels of fl uency. Flexible schedule. 

Phone: 333 268 2729 

Private Lessons/Lezioni Private 

Bilingual florentine lady with teaching 

experience in Florence, New York and 

London, Perth is available for Italian 

conversation with beginners and at 

advanced level, enriched on request by 

Italian literature and Florentine history of 

art. Please call Margreta 338.4310208 

Painting watercolor private lessons 

english italian spoken studio near S. 

Spirito. Please call for information 

055.224357 or 340.3672987. 

Private oil painting lessons in English, 

Saturday mornings near Teatro Goldoni. 

Still life subject, canvas, paints and 

easel supplied. All levels are welcomed. 

For more information please contact 

Cathy at 055 2207171 

Leather Crafting Classes. Scuola del 

Cuoio offers short-term (3 hours/1-2 

days) & long-term (1 wk to 10 mths) 

individual courses and classes under 

a Master Leather Craftsman inside 

the Monastery of Santa Croce, via 

San Giuseppe 5R(thru the garden). 

Enquiries: tel 055.244.533 or 

info@leatherschool.com. More info on 

www.leatherschool.com 

Personalized cooking classes from 1 

day up. Min. 2 people- max 12 people. 

Only very traditional Tuscan cookery, 

plus very exclusive arts and crafts tours. 

Only week days. www.toscanainbocca.it, 

info@toscanainbocca.it 

Personals/Personali 

Looking for English-speaker toddlers 

in the Prato area to play / hang out with 

my Italian daughter who is 2 yrs and 10 

mns old. Email to giogiu@gmail.com. 

Looking for English speaking friends 

to improve my English. No private lessons. 

Marco 335.204747 

Are you an English speaking mom 

looking for other English speaking 

moms? Join our English speaking moms 

& tots playgroup. We meet Mondays 

10-12 at St. Marks church. For more 

information call Melanie @ 340 5131772 

or Barbara @ 333 7662352 

Services/Servizi 

The pleasure of being yourself. 

Skin-care, make-up application, energy 

program. Adults and teenagers. For consultation 

call Dianne Carriker, Image and 

Wellness Consultant 055-6801212 or 

320-0897525 

American landscape designer 

offers services from design to installation 

and maintenance. Initial consultation 

free. Contact Jessica Casoni: 

338.3298135 or jessica@fl orencega 

rdendesign.com 

Create a musical atmosphere for your 

social event with Soul Shaker. International 

quartet featuring a New York City 

Saxophonist perform soothing Bossa 

Novas and Soulful Funky Jazz. 

Vehicles/Veicoli 

Fiat Tipo ’95, new clutch, fanbelt, 

radio, grey exterior, 4 doors, automatic 

windows, good condition, only 53.000 

km. Ask €1.500. 

Call Nicole 348.1504026

Notorious Vandal Strikes Again - The Florentine

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?