Pontevecchio Golf Challenge

This weekend in Florence there's an amazing golf challenge: the best golf players will dispute a performance on a unique stage: Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. 

The tees are on the Arno River! The first green, at 75m/80yds, corresponds to 4 points. The second one, at 110m/120yds, corresponds to 7 points. The third and last one, which is the farthest and the most difficult to reach, at 140m/150yds, is worth 10 points for each hole.

How to survive to the hot Summer in Italy! A day in the local swimming pool in the Chianti

Today I decided to escape from the hot temperature of Florence, and spend one day of relax in a local swimming pool in the Chianti area, in the town called Greve in Chianti (famous for the wine!). You can reach easily Greve in Chianti by car or by bus: it takes 20 minutes more or less. 

The swimming pool is immersed in the country, with some umbrellas close to the pool and some umbrellas and chairs on the green. Outside there are 2 pools: one with deeper water and one for kids. Inside there's a big swimming pool for the ones who want to swim. 

The place is clean, not so crowdy and with a big free parking.

Entrance fee is only 6.50 euros in the week days, and 7.50 euros for the weekend. Plus 3 euros for every sunbed you take.

There is a small bar, but except for the ice-creams, I suggest you to buy your lunch outside and bring it inside with you. 

Superlative massage at the Four Season Hotel Spa in Florence

I was completely shocked when I received, as a birthday gift, a superlative 75 minutes massage at the Four Season in Florence! I had various opportunity to visit the Four Season in Florence (aperitif, brunch etc), but a visit to the spa was certainly a treat. 

I chose the massage, “Gocce di Luce” with candles. The candle composed by a special butter melt transforming the butter in warm oil used to massage the skin: this oil is composed by avocado oil, coconut oil, Shea butter; the fragrance is sweet oriental- spicy with vanilla tones.

Few words about the atmosphere of this Spa: amazing, warm and a tremendous kindness of the girls who work there. They let you fill up a form, first of all, asking if you want a gentle, medium or strong pressure of the massage then they lead you to the big changing room.

Everywhere all kind of amenities you might need like towels, make up removal, candles, water, fruits, fragrances: a true paradise for women.

After wearing my soft bathrobe I enter my room called after one of the hundreds kind of trees of the garden. It took me just few seconds to disconnect my brain from the rest of the world: the gentle but energetic massage of my back, the legs, feet and the massage of my face relaxed me so much that I said to myself: ”I stay here forever”.

The relax continued also after the 75 minutes massage when I lay on a bed in the relaxing room, sipping a herb tea cup and eating some organic biscuits watching the freezing cold wind bending the arms of the trees.

Other details I appreciated of the spa:

Many objects that you see at the Four Season in Florence are created by Florentine or Tuscan artisans like the alabaster shelf coming from Volterra or the tray and basket coming from a Florentine artisan, but above all, all the spa products coming from The Officina Profumo of Santa Maria Novella, an institution in Florence since 1612 that created only for the Four Season in Florence (no other 4 Season of the world have) the 4 Spa line named after the seasons, like the famous scrub made by the berries of the Tuscan cypress. 

Info: 055/2626 630 - mail: spa.firenze@fourseasons.com

Four Season Hotel - Borgo Pinti Florence, Italy.

You may be interested also in http://lovingflorence.blogspot.com/2008/10/mediterranean-massage-at-urban-spa-in.html

Icerinks for skating in Florence

Yes! even this year we have the ice rink in Florence, it will remain open until January, the 11.

It's just above the Parterre parking, not far from the center of the city. You can rent the skates there. Probably it will stay open also for the New Year's eve, until midnight.
See the old post about ice skating in Florence>

CORRI LA vita, run the life!

This is one the most excited event of the year for the city of Florence and not only.

Corri la Vita is at its 7th edition and every year it brings more people. This could be a competition race for professional athletes or a simple walk but all the people who join the event do something important to fight against breast cancer. All the funds raised go to help doctors and people who suffer to improve the research.
CORRI LA VITA
Sunday, September 27th 2009
Piazza della Signoria, Florence
at 9,30 am
CORRI LA VITA is open to all: youngster, children, professionals, and aged people. A unique occasion also to see, during the walk troughout Florence, the most amazing secluded places of this important town.
All the funds will be given to the New Cancer rehabilitation Centre of Florence.
There will be two routes: the competition (12 km) and the walk (5,7 km) will be between the historical centre and Diladdarno. It will be the occasion also to see among others jewels like the church of Orsanmichele, Palazzo Strozzi Sacrati, The courtyard of Palazzo Rucellai, Frescobaldi garden, church of San Jacopo, Cloister of San Pier Martire, Giardino Corsi, Giardino di Boboli, Giardino Bardini and Museo Bardini

HOW to register and contribute:
FILE
Via S. Niccolò, 1 - Firenze tel. 055 2001212
Firenze Marathon
Viale Fanti, 2 - Firenze tel. 055 5522957
Universo Sport
Piazza del Duomo, 6/7/8r - Firenze
When you register and donate a minimum of 10 Euros you will be given two vouchers, one to pick up a gift the day of the race and one to pick up your Corri la Vita T-shirt 2009 designed by Salvatore Ferragamo, the main supporter of the event.

Join the race, CORRI LA VITA!

Half marathon Florence Italy april 2009

Florence half marathon (Vivicittà Firenze Marathon april 2009): the running will be on April, the 19th. As every year it will start (and it will end) at Santa Croce square, after a panoramic faboulous path through the city of Florence.

When: Sunday, 19th of April 2009

What time: from 9.30 am. The whole circuit is supposed to be run in 2 hours and a half, after that time there won't be any guarantee to find roads without cars.

How long: km 21,097
How to register: pre-registration is required. For more info write to: vivicittà@mediauisp.it
There will be also the non-competitive running (12 km) and the one for the kids.
Price for participating: 5 euro.
Every 5 km there will a resting point for drinking and other needs.

Florence marathon

Next Sunday in Florence there will be the 25th edition of Florence Marathon: more than 9000 participants from all the countries. Starting from Piazzale Michelangelo at 9.30 am, the marathon will be held through the streets of Florence. Arrival is at Santa Croce square.
Participants are coming from all parts of the world: from France (658 runners), from Germany (382), from Austria (248), from Spain (241), from Great Britain (230), Switzerland (117), USA (85), Denmark (73), Belgiium (71), Hungary (54), Slovenia (47), Netherlands (33) e Poland (31).
Car traffic will be stopped for the event.

Mediterranean massage at Urban Spa in Florence

Following a very stressful moment, I decided to try for a relaxing massage at Fonbliu’.

This urban spa is in Porta Romana, one of the nicest areas of Florence surrounded by the gentle hills of Florence. This small urban spa is one of the gifts that Florence, sometimes, offers to its inhabitants.
The environment is a very calm, clean, essential one. The girls who work there are extremely kind and they have a sort of relaxing attitude: “good for them”, I thought!
Once you enter they offer you a soft and perfumed white bath robe with a pair of flip flop: you enter in the cloakroom and then you exit beside the swimming pool forgetting about the chaos and the traffic just a few steps away from you.
I chose a massage called: Light of Morocco, a relaxing massage that helps untied tension not only physical but also emotional ones. This massage evokes the manual gestures done in the hammam and more than using argan oil (antioxidant) enriched with a patchouli fragrance, the girl used a mhakka: a little terracotta disc that activate circulation and it works as a peeling as well.

Now, I don’t know if she was good, if I needed to relax, if it was the terracotta disc, but I felt particular sensations: I was in peace with the whole world! My legs, my entire body was in complete relax when I left the spa and next time I think I will try the so called Nausica treatments, a special soft bed where you will be surrounded by steam, vaporized water, essentials oils, and at the end they offer you a massage as well…to try!
Last two things to say: men are going to have massage as well as women (I asked it for curiosity) and if you are lodged at Villa la Vedetta a splendid 5 stars hotel at Piazzale Michelangelo, they have a shuttle bus for the spa.

Fonbliù, Urban spa Piazzale di Porta Romana 10r
Tel. +39 055 23 35 385
Email: info@fonbliu.com
www.fonbliu.com

Florence Marathon and Corri la vita

This Sunday there will be the "Corri la vita" Marathon: is a walkathon/marathon with the goal of collecting funds for the fight against breast cancer. As in the previous editions, there will be a non-competitive walk (approx. 6000 mt) open to all and a competitive mini-marathon (approx. 12000 mt). The exact itinerary, as always, will start and end in Piazza Santa Croce and you can be sure that it will lead through beautiful hidden gardens and historical buildings and sites.

Date and time:
DATE: Sunday, September 28
PLACE: Firenze Piazza Santa Croce
DEPARTURE TIME: 9:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION: Boots will be open in Piazza Samta Croce Saturday 10 to 17 and last minute Sunday from 8:00 to 9:00 in.

Florence has other marathons:
- Vivicittà half marathon, normally in April

- 25th FIRENZE MARATHON in November
Date and Time:
The marathon will be held on 30th november 2008 at 9.00 am with start from Piazzale Michelangelo. Distance 42,195 km
Who can partecipate? Athletes who are members of any sports affiliated organisation recognised by IAAF. Athletes who are not members of foreign Federations affiliated with IAAF must produce a medical certificate valid.
Entry is possible until 15th november 2008, unless the upper limit of 9500 participants has been reached before.

10 REASONS FOR RUNNING IN FLORENCE 25th FLORENCE MARATHON on SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2008
1) You run in one of the most beautiful towns in the world, discovering its art, history and culture.
2) Along with the one in Rome, it is the Marathon with the largest number of participants in Italy
3) It is the best loved Marathon by international athletes coming from 56 countries representing 40% of the total number
4) The race course is very fast (male record 2hrs 08:40) and the climate in Florence is ideal at this time of the year
5) Training Consultant Fulvio Massini supplies guided training along the course, running by the famous churches, places and monuments in the town center
6) The Marathon provides a perfect opportunity to gather tourism and sport: you can visit a unique town and take advantage of the festive season for shopping
7) Taste typical Tuscan specialities accompanied by freshly pressed olive oil and a wide range of excellent wines
8) Join a special pasta breakfast on the morning of the race in the hotels selected by Promotels, official tour operator of the Marathon
9) Enjoy a big party for all participants on the evening of the Marathon
10) Direct flight connections to Florence and Pisa airport (only 60 km from Florence) with Ryanair, British Airways, Delta Airlines,Transavia, Easyjet, Meridiana, Air Sterling, Norvegian Air Shuttle, Sterling, Brussels Airlines

Corri la vita marathon

“The Run to Beat Breast Cancer” Piazza S. Croce, Florence, Italy

Sunday September 28, 2008 at 9:30 a.m.












The next appointment for CORRI LA VITA is Sunday September 28, at 9:30 a.m.
This very popular walkathon/marathon in Florence is open to all. It was created as an opportunity to mix sport and social conscience, with the goal of collecting funds for the fight against breast cancer. CORRI LA VITA is first and foremost, a wonderful event that will involve the city of Florence and all of Tuscany. All are invited to participate: from the most serious athletes to the most sedentary, children, adults, young, and old, individuals, whole families, groups, colleagues and friends…everyone is welcome.
Participating means you will have the chance to add your contribution towards the fight against cancer. Both professional and amateur athletes will choose to run or walk in either the 10.5 km or 5.1 km courses. The competitive run (10.5km) is for both professional and non-professional participants.

Piazza Santa Croce is the starting point, and from there the course will proceed through the surrounding hills of Florence to touch Piazzale Michelangelo then head back down to the banks of the river Arno and on to Santa Croce. Along the way, at special points of interest, certain museums, historic homes and private gardens will be opened especially for CORRI LA VITA participants. A total of 42,000 participants in the 5 past editions of CORRI LA VITA have raised over 1,000,000 Euro.

“From the very first edition CORRI LA VITA was to be a point of reference for the national health system of Tuscany as solid support for women in their personal fight against breast cancer, using all the most advance technological and psychological assistance available” declared the President of the organization committee Marchesa Bona Frescobaldi.

The Aim:
- To assist the centre for rehabilitation called Ce.Ri.On.
- Assist in financing the department of oncology at Villa Le Rose (at the annual cost of 250,000 Euro) and also the department of rehabilitation (both physically and psychologically) for all breast cancer patients. It is thanks to the help of CORRI LA VITA that 2 years ago Villa le Rose was inaugurated specifically for this purpose, to help all breast cancer victims.
- To participate in buying a digital mammograph for the diagnostics department for breast cancer for the main learning hospital of Florence called Ospedale di Careggi
- To help FILE (Italian Lenitive Foundation) finance a full time nurse to assist the lenitic doctor at the oncology department of the day hospital at Santa Maria Nuova

The Participants:
The first 12,000 participants will receive a complimentary gift bag, plus a T-shirt styled and donated by the famous Florentine Fashion House Salvatore Ferragamo, the main sponsor of CORRI LA VITA. “This event creates a dynamic and positive impact on the Florentines. To participate is an honour not an obligation” said Mr. Ferruccio Ferragamo, CEO of Salvatore Ferragamo SpA

To participate:
Everyone must register and pay an entry fee of 10 Euro. Registration will commence September 1st and maybe done at the following locations: FIRENZE MARATHON – Viale M. Fanti, 2 tel. 0555522957 e.mail info@firenzemarathon.it
For more information on how to enrol, please go to our web site www.corrilavita.it

Vivicittà: half marathon in Florence

On April 6th the half-marathon “Vivicittà” will take place in the heart of Florence.
Departure will be at 10 am from the marvellous Piazza Santa Croce. It will be a unique opportunity to run (or walk) through the Florentine squares and streets.

Firenze Marathon

Next sunday in Florence there will be Firenze Marathon.

Meeting on Sunday, 25th of November 2007 with the 24th edition of the international classic road race.
The wrapping glamour of centuries of art, history and culture accompanies you step by step along the 42 kilometres and 195 meters of the Florence Marathon. A unique emotion which can be told only by those who have run in Florence and which has made the classic race of Florence an appointment that cannot be missed by thousand of sportsmen and enthusiasts who each year punctually come from all over the world on the last Sunday in November. The Florentine event has gained exponential importance during the recent years, so much that on last November 26th on the occasion of its XXIII edition a new record of participants has been achieved with over 7.700 runners (4.836 Italians and 2.872 foreigners, 37 % of the total approximately) coming from 58 countries.

The Florence Marathon is the main road race event taking place in Tuscany, which together with Rome is rightly by now the most important international marathon in Italy and among the first 20 marathons in the world as far as quality and number of participants

This is the route:

Piazzale Michelangiolo - Partenza - Viale Galilei – 1° Km - Piazzale Galileo- Viale Machiavelli – 2° Km. – 3° Km - Piazzale Di Porta Romana- Viale Petrarca – 4° Km - Viale V. Pratolini - Viale A. Aleardi - Viale R. Sanzio – 5° Km - Piazza Pier Vettori - Via Pisana – 6° Km - Via Sant’angelo - Via Del Pollaiuolo – 7° Km - Via Bronzino – 8° Km - Piazza Gaddi - Via Della Fonderia- Lungarno Santa Rosa - Lungarno Soderini – 9° Km - Piazza Nazario Sauro - Via Dei Serragli – 10° Km - Piazza Della Calza - Via Romana - Piazza Pitti – 11° Km - Via Guicciardini - Via Dei Bardi - Piazza S. Maria Soprarno - Lungarno Torrigiani - Lungarno Serristori – 12° Km - Piazza Poggi - Lungarno Cellini - Ponte S. Niccolo’ – 13° Km - Lungarno Del Tempio - Lungarno Colombo – 14° Km - Lungarno Aldo Moro – 15° Km - Via De Nicola- Via Gobetti - Via Di Varlungo- Via Turati - Via Aretina – 16° Km - Via Della Ripa - Via Rocca Tedalda- Via Aretina – 17° Km. – 18° Km - Largo Monzani - Via Aretina - Piazza L.B. Alberti - Via Di Credi - Via Mannelli – 19° Km. – 20° Km - Piazza Vasari - Ponte Del Pino - Via Campo D’arrigo – 21° Km - Largo Gennarelli – ½ Maratona - Viale Malta - Viale Fanti - Viale Paoli – 22° Km - Viale Fanti – 23° Km - Via Cialdini - Viale De Amicis – 24° Km - Cavalcavia Dell’affrico - Piazza L.B. Alberti - Via Piagentina – 25° Km - Via Fra’ Giovanni Angelico - Viale Duca Degli Abruzzi - Viale Giovine Italia - Via Dell’agnolo – 26° Km - Via Santa Verdiana - Piazza Ghiberti - Largo Annigoni -Via Della Mattonaia - Via Niccolini - Piazza D’azeglio - Via Della Colonna – 27° Km - Piazza Ss. Annunziata - Via Battisti - Piazza San Marco - Via Ricasoli - Piazza Duomo – 28° Km - Piazza S. Giovanni - Via Roma - Piazza Della Repubblica - Via Strozzi - Via Della Vigna Nuova - Piazza Goldoni -Borgo Ognissanti – 29° Km - Via Il Prato - Via Magenta - Via Montebello - Viale F.Lli Rosselli – 30° Km - Piazza Vittorio Veneto - Via Del Fosso Macinante - Viale Del Visarno - Piazzale Jefferson - Viale Degli Olmi – 31° Km - Piazzale Delle Cascine - Viale Dell’aeronautica – 32° – 33° Km - Piazzale Dell’indiano - Viale Washington - 34° - 35° Km - Piazzale Kennedy - Viale Lincoln – 36° Km. – 37° Km - Piazzale Vittorio Veneto - Corso Italia - Via Magenta - Via Solferino - Via Palestro - Via Montebello – 38° Km - Via Curtatone - Lungarno Vespucci - Lungarno Corsini - Lungarno Acciaiuoli – 39° Km - Via Por Santa Maria - Via Vacchereccia - Piazza Della Signoria - Via Calzaiuoli - Piazza Duomo (Lato Misericordia) - Via Del Proconsolo – 40° Km - Via Ghibellina – 41° Km - Viale Giovine Italia - Piazza Piave - Lungarno Della Zecca Vecchia - Piazza Cavalleggeri - Corso Dei Tintori - Via Magliabechi – 42° Km -Piazza Santa Croce – Arrivo

For more info: www.firenzemarathon.it/

Corri la vita marathon

Next Sunday in Florence there will be "Corri la vita".
"The run against Breast Cancer"

CORRI LA VITA is a marathon with the goal of collecting funds for the fight against breast cancer. It is a wonderful event that will involve the city of Florence and the whole of Tuscany. All are invited to participate: residents and non residents, from the most serious athletes to the most sedentary, but also children, adults of any age, individuals, whole families, groups, colleagues and friends…everyone is welcome. Participating means you will have the chance to add your contribution towards saving millions of lives each year.

In 2005, with the success of the previous editions, a new Cancer Rehabilitation Center was created to assist people who have undergone breast or intestinal surgery in both physical and psychological rehabilitation. Part of the money collected with Corri La Vita is also designated to FILE which provides hospice care and pain alleviating therapy.

As in the previous editions, there will be a non-competitive walk (approx. 6 Kilometers) open to all and a competitive mini-marathon (approx. 12 Kilometers). The exact itinerary, as always, will start and end in Piazza Santa Croce at 9.30 am and you can be sure that it will lead through beautiful hidden gardens and historical buildings and sites.

DATE AND PLACE: Sunday, September 30th 2007, in Firenze Piazza Santa Croce
DEPARTURE TIME: 9:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION: Boots will be open in Piazza Santa Croce Saturday 29 September 10 to 17 and last minute Sunday 30th September from 8:00 to 9:00 in.
Every participant must fill in an entry form, specifying if he/she wants to walk (6 km.) or take part in the competitive race of 12 km (see example of required medical certificate below). The entry form must be taken to:
The enrollment fee is minimum 10 Euro per person and for this you will receive a bib number, together a free Salvatore Ferragamo T-shirt and gift bag certificate. Children under 10 do not pay, but those children who register and pay their € 10 will be eligible for a t-shirt, bib number and gift bag certificate plus the possibility of winning race prices.

Read also Vivicittà Firenze half marathon