Traditional Christmas Roast in Florence

Traditional Christmas Roast and Fundraiser for Groups
December, 13. 2009

The Phantom Christmas
Starter: Welcome of mulled wine, cheese straws, blue cheese & walnut paté with port jelly
Main: Roast stuffed goose with prunes & cognac served with roast potatoes, braised red cabbage, carrot & celeriac purée OR Vegetarian option of red onion tarte-tatin
Dessert: Mince pies with custard and a glass of sherry
Water, wine and coffee included

Price: Euro 40.00*

* FUNDRAISER: Mention which group you belong to when reserving and we’ll donate 10% back to them!

at Villa del Molino “DULCAMARA”
Via Dante da Castiglione, 2 - Loc. Cercina 50019 Sesto F.no Firenze

335.6591939 – paula_carrier@yahoo.co.uk

The exhibition L’Oratorio di Santa Caterina all’Antella e i suoi pittori

The exhibition L’Oratorio di Santa Caterina all’Antella e i suoi pittori (the Oratorio di Santa Caterina all'Antella and its painters) in Bagno a Ripoli (Florence) will last until December, the 31.

Approximately in the nineties of the 14th century, in coincidence with the realisation of the paintings by Spinello Aretino, a large triptych by Agnolo Gaddi, today in the Uffizi Gallery, was placed above the altar of the Oratorio: it represented "Madonna col Bambino in trono fra i santi Filippo e Lorenzo" and, in the round frames of the cusps, Cristo benedicente and the characters of the Annunciazione. The temporary reallocation of the artwork in the Oratorio di Santa Caterina, recently restored, represents the main event of the exhibition.
This exhibition near Florence aims to temporarily reinstate the original conditions of the florentine church thanks to one of its most evocative features, thus celebrating the undoubted splendour of this place, both famous and secluded at the same time as a religious building as well as for being a treasure chest filled with important artworks.
The two most important painters of the last years of the 14th century in Florence and Tuscany, that is to say Spinello Aretino and Agnolo Gaddi, found themselves side by side in Antella, after having worked together in 1387 when drawing the projects for the sculptures of the cathedral of Florence and for the famous decoration of the sacristy of the church of San Miniato al Monte, where the frescoes with Storie di San Benedetto by Spinello were put side by side with the polyptych by Agnolo Gaddi, now shown in the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
The first-rate role played by Spinello di Luca in the development of late Gothic art in central Italy is pointed out in the exhibition thanks to the presence of Crocifissione tra dolenti e quattro santi. The definitive return to the Oratorio of the the fresco lunette Madonna col Bambino e due angeli by Spinello Aretino with its related sinopia, that Spinello painted above the entrance door of the Oratorio, is equally important.

Within the exhibition, it is necessary to remark the role of the relatively “minor” characters of Maestro di Barberino and Pietro Nelli, authors of the first phase of painting decorations of the Oratorio dating back to mid 14th century. Pietro Nelli's art is represented by an Annunciazione coming from a private collection and by round frames with detached frescoes, respectively representing Santi Antonio Abate e San Domenico, coming from the Franciscan building complex of Santa Croce in Florence.

Saint Catherine was particularly venerated during the Middle Ages and was considered the protector of judges and notaries.

Location and opening hours:
Oratorio di Santa Caterina all'Antella o delle Ruote, Via del Carota (Bagno a Ripoli)
Monday:
15.00 – 19.00
Tuesday to Sunday:
9.00 – 13.00; 15.00 – 19.00
The exhibition is closed on December 25th only
(31th December: 9,00 – 13,00)

Admission:
Standard ticket: € 5.00
Concessions:

Groups of 10 or more visitors , visitors over 65 years of age, Coop card holders: € 3.50

Students and school groups, families with children under 14 years of age: € 2.00

Free admission: teachers accompanying students, people accompanying organized groups of 10 people minimum, journalists with professional identification card, children under 6 years of age, disabled people with escorts, tourist guides, and public security officers

Christmas Markets in Tuscany

Christmas Markets in Tuscany. While we are waiting for the annual Xmas Market in Santa Croce square, here are the best places to go to shop. Explore Tuscany in November:

- Florence Noel. Christmas market in Florence at Leopolda Station, from Novembre 28 to December 8.
- Christmas Market in the historical center of San Godenzo, not far from Florence. On Sunday, 22 of november.
- Advent exhibition and market in Palazzo Malaspina, at San Donato in Poggio, on the highway from Florence to Siena.
On 28 and 29 of November, 2009.
- If you like to admire the italian "presepe" (=nativity scene) come to Le Piastre, on the tuscan hills close to Pistoia (towards Bologna): from December until the 6th of January every person living in this village creates his own presepe. You can admire more than 100 of them!
Some of them are made with electrical movements!

Don't forget the New Year's Eve events in Florence.
Here is the post of Xmas Markets in Florence 2008.

Xmas holidays in Florence: new year's eve dinner and hotel

If you are planning you Christmas holiday in Florence or you are making up your mind where spend the New Year’s Eve in Florence (December 31, 2009) here are some suggestions for your trip.

For the lodging I can suggest you a small, lovely, and very fashionable boutique bed and breakfast in Florence center. There's a small spa with a romantic jacuzzi and a turkish bath available just for the guests.
They offer a special Christmas package:
- tasting the typical italian Xmas dessert “panettone” cake in your romantic room upon arrival, and the warm athmosphere of the candle lit SPA with jacuzzi hydromassage, a bottle of Champagne and red candles. Prices starting from only 145 euros for 1 room (2 people!) Here are more info and the prices>>

And for the night of the 31st of December enjoy the big party just few step away the B&B: new year's eve galà and party in Florence at Palazzo Gaddi.

Piazza Duomo, Florence, is for pedestrians only!

Last Sunday Florence had a very special change in its viability, a sort of revolution: the very central cathedral square, piazza Duomo for the Florentines, has become for pedestrians only. It means that all the buses, tracks, cars, motor scooters are not allowed to enter the area, and obliged to change their routes.

Thanks to the perseverance of its young major, the square has been given back to Florence citizens and tourists.

This revolution took place on October 25th and even if a lot of people had their say about that, many others understood the importance of closing the traffic in Piazza Duomo and enjoy the silence of the square, admiring the Cathedral, the Baptistery and the Giotto tower.

This day was welcomed by concerts, historical parades and many events and even though a lot of buses had to change their routes, it's been a good thing for Florence and its citizens.

Come to see Piazza Duomo and enjoy its new magnificence!

Chef in Tuscany

Chef in Tuscany!

Lately there's a bit fashion to pay someone to come and cook at home: in short, a chef to prepare dinner for a special event. Knows something the good Arturo Dori who left the Black Cabbage ("Cavolo nero" restaurant in Florence) in order to dedicate himself to this activity.
How does the chef at home?
The chef takes care of all: does the shopping, food preparation, equipment, imbadisce the table, serve food, cleans everything ( I like especially this! ).
A reader writes to tell me a site where you can book just a cook at home (I did not understand if they work in all of Tuscany but I assume that at least in and around Florence is). I read on the site that they do for tourists who book a Tuscan villas.
Interesting ...

The New Meyer paediatric hospital in Florence, a champion of respect for the environment

Last thursday I went to visit the New Meyer, the main paediatric hospital in Florence.

The New Meyer is the first bio climatic hospital in Italy. The whole complex has been planned and constructed with a new concept for the environment, capable of matching together the need to save energy and minimizing the impact of polluting the atmosphere. Both in the recuperation of the antique Villa Ognissanti in Florence, Italy, and the realisation of the new building, hidden in the hills that houses the confinements, eco compatible solutions have been adopted, financed by the European projects Revival and hospitals.

The New Meyer responds to a series of parameters: the reduction of emissions of Carbon Dioxide, protection of summer overheating, ventilation and the best air quality, containment of the use of air conditioning, the best use of natural light. To permit the best use of natural light within the areas of confinement, particular systems have been adopted, such as “Pinocchio’s hats” and “solar tubes”.

Systems that direct sunlight from the sky towards the inside, lighting up every room and every area within, including the day room, the play areas and even the consulting rooms.

Another particularity is the bio climatic photovoltaic “green house” hallway, that acts as an entrance way and a greeting area. A structure built from thin sheets of wood and glass, just like rows of trees. An “inside forest” that matches with the surrounding park. The “green house” hallway uses photovoltaic panels that have the double function of producing electric energy (30.5KW) and to filter natural light.

Thanks to these solutions the New Meyer beats 40% of energy consumption and reduces the emission of carbon dioxide by 35%. Light, sun, greenery at the service of the health of children and adolescents.

And on the roof there is a field!

At the New Meyer, greenery is everywhere, on the terraces and on the roof. A decision that the project managers of CSPE Studio in Florence have made in order to protect the building from heat, ice, rain and ultra violet rays. A carpet of cactus plants (Sedum), that during the summer remove heat from the structure up to a maximum of 4°C. The garden terraces cover a total area of 5,000 square metres. At the New Meyer, the greenery is inside and out. The hospital is surrounded by a 72,000 square metre park, rich in trees and plants originating from the Tuscan region.

The New Meyer is a hospital that for the attention paid to the whole project represents a total innovation in the healthcare sector. There is no area, no small detail that has not been thought of for the children and their families, the most important people of the Paediatric hospital.
It's a hospital for kids, but it's also a place where children can feel comfortable, receiving care, affection and respect, together with medicines and cures. Because children may feel ok also in hospital.