Original sound movies in Florence at Cinema Odeon

There are some big changes for the Odeon this Autumn.

The historic cinema is proud to host 50 Giorni di Cinema Internazionale (50 days of International movies) which gets under way on 31 October with the 20th France Cinema festival. The various programmes of the Festival will offer the opportunity to sample hundreds of excellent films in original language versions, to meet directors, actors and writers of quality cinema from all over the world. It will be an opportunity for full immersion in the Seventh Art!
The Odeon Original Sound Programme will however continue to offer cinema-goers the chance to see the best current productions. So, after an array of movies in the second half of October and two days in November, the programme will transfer to the Astra 2 Cinehall (a 20 minute walk from the Odeon) to offer the most eagerly awaited movies of the season: from the latest acclaimed offerings from Clint Eastwood and Ridley Scott to the hits of the Venice Festival such as The Burning Plain and Rachel Getting Married. After the customary Christmas Break, the Odeon Original Sound programme will return to its traditional home in Piazza Strozzi.

November - Cinema Odeon CineHall – via Sassetti

Wednesday 5 Entre les murs (France - 128’) by Laurent Cantet with François Bégaudeau, Nassim Amrabt, Laura Baquela, Cherif Bounaïdja Rachedi, Juliette Demaille, Dalla Doucouré

Shows: 3.00 - 5.30 – 8.00 – 10.30 pm - Golden Palm Cannes Film Festival -

Wednesday 12 The Hurt Locker (USA - 131’) by Kathryn Bigelow with Ralph Fiennes, Guy Pearce, David Morse, Christian Camargo, Anthony Mackie, Jeremy Renner, Brian Geraghty Shows: 3.00 - 5.30 – 8.00 – 10.30 pm - Venice Film Festival -

November - Cinema Astra2 CineHall – piazza C. Beccaria

Monday 3 Pride and Glory (USA - 125’) by Gavin O’Connor with Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Jon Voight, Noah Emmerich, Jennifer Ehle, John Ortiz, Shea Whigham, Frank Grillo

Shows: 3.00 - 5.30 – 8.00 – 10.30 pm

Monday 10 The Burning Plain (USA - 110’) by Guillermo Arriaga with Charlize Theron, Kim Basinger, Joaquim de Almeida, José María Yazpik, Danny Pino, Jennifer Lawrence
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm - Venice Film Festival -

Monday 17 Changeling (USA - 140’) by Clint Eastwood with Angelina Jolie, Riki Lindhome, Amy Ryan, Devon Gearhart, Kelly Lynn Warren, John Malkovich, Jeffrey Donovan
Shows: 4.00 - 7.00 – 10.00 pm

Monday 24 Quantum of Solace (USA/UK) by Marc Forster with Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Giancarlo Giannini, Jesper Christensen, Mathieu Amalric, Olga Kurylenko, Gemma Arterton, Jeffrey Wright, Neil Jackson, Joaquín Cosio, Anatole Taubman, Al Pacino, Fernando Guillen-Cuervo

Shows: 3.00 - 5.30 - 8.00 – 10.30 pm

December - Cinema Astra2 CineHall – piazza C. Beccaria

Monday 1 Body of Lies (USA) by Ridley Scott with Leonardo Di Caprio, Russell Crowe

Shows: 3.00 - 5.30 – 8.00 – 10.30 pm

Tuesday 9 Rachel Getting Married (USA - 119’) by Jonathan Demme with Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm - Venice Film Festival - - with Italian subtitles -

Monday 15 The Women (USA - 114’) by Diane English with Meg Ryan, Annette Bening, Eva Mendes, Debra Messing, Jada Pinkett Smith, Carrie Fisher, Cloris Leachman, Debi Mazar, Bette Midler, Candice Bergen
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm - whit Italian subtitles -

Giovanni Fattori exhibition in Florence

The Other Face of the Soul: The Works of Giovanni Fattori.

After the exhibition of the two queens today I would like to talk about this new event in Florence. Giovanni Fattori, born in Livorno in 1825, was one of the leaders of a group of Tuscan artists called the Macchiaioli, forerunners of the French Impressionists. Fattori’s early works typically depict scenes of a historical and/or military nature. In later paintings, those associated with the Macchiaioli, his subjects were often landscapes, rural scenes and military life. Mary Stuart at the Camp of Crookstone, Pause in the Maremma with Farmers and Ox-cart, After the Battle of Magenta and Storming of the Madonna della Scoperta are among his most famous works.

"The Other Face of the Soul" will showcase some of the greatest paintings of all times, including La cugina Argia, I fidanzati, Ritratto della prima moglie, Testa di buttero, Il bersagliere, Signore in giardino and the famous Autoritratto del 1894 (above). Traversing a gallery of over 60 beautifully restored paintings, one will be fascinated and intrigued to recognize, to understand and interpret th society of Tuscany in the artist’s age.

The Other Face of the Soul
October 28, 2008 through January 25, 2009
Gallery of Modern Art, Pallazzo Pitti, Piazza Pitti 1, Florence

Open Tuesday through Sunday 8:15 a.m. to 6:50 p.m. Closed Christmas and new Year's Day

Entrance 12 euro, 6 reduced, free for EU citizens under the age of 18 and over the age of 65

Additional cost for advanced purchase, 3 euro
For reservations, contact 055-294883 or visit www.firenze2008.it

Olive oil tasting and room with a view

An Exiciting Morning at the Villa FRESH SQUEEZED OLIVE OIL TASTING & TOUR AT THE VILLA DI MAIANO.

You visit: the exclusive and private Renaissance “Villa di Maiano”, where James Ivory shot several scenes of A Room with a View; the olive-mill, while we’re producing the new extra virgin olive oil.
After the tour you’ll enjoy the extra virgin olive oil just squeezed and a Tuscan products selection (salami, olives, bruschetta and a house dessert) on the Villa’s estate. Superb views of Florence and of the Tuscan landscape. Bring your Camera!
Meets: every Thursday in November - Fattoria di Maiano, via B. da Maiano n. 11 – loc. Maiano, Fiesole (FI) Time: 11,00

Cost: special price for November, 27 euro per person
The tour is subject to booking. Booking and info: Lucia Nistri Mon/Fri 9am -5pm
tel. 055 599600 fax +39 055 599640 e-mail maiano2@contemiarifulcis.it

HOW TO GET TO THE FATTORIA DI MAIANO:
BUS LINE N. 7 – bus stop P.ZZA EDISON + LINE SF (H 9,20) bus stop in front of the FATTORIA DI MAIANO BUS LINE 7 – bus stop REGRESSO
BY CAR - GPS: N 43.47.38.33° - E 11.18.14.43° Google map
TAXI: 15 minutes from the city centre

What's on in Florence and Tuscany : november 2008

1st of November: Liza Minelli in concert. At TEATRO COMUNALE Corso Italia, 16 - Firenze Info: 055/2779350. Prices: galleries from 120 to 150 euros; stalls 300 euros.

From 14th to 16th of november 2008 (from 11.00 am to 8.00 pm), there will be the Japan Festival: stands, exhibitions, games, tasting. Everything from Japan: sushi, judo, handwriting, origami and other stuff. Free entrance. At Villa Limonaia di Villa Strozzi, via Pisana, close to Polimoda Institute.

The XXV edition of the Florence Marathon next November 30 will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Florence Italy running november 2008. The classic Florentine race: 42 kilometers and 195 meters to be run without stops, fascinated by the magic of streets, squares and timeless monuments together with thousands athletes coming from all over the world.

San Miniato will host it’s 38th annual White Truffle Festival and Market during the third, fourth and fifth weekends in November. On Saturday, November 23rd there will be a sausage tasting at 11a.m. and a truffle tasting at 5p.m. in Piazza del Duomo. San Miniato is close to Pisa.
Le Crete Senesi is to hold a festival and market to celebrate the white truffle season as well. From the 9 through the 16th of November, one can sample cheeses, oils, honeys and meats from the region. Main events will include a truffle-hunting competition for dogs and a cooking contest for people. Crete Senesi are in the South of Siena.

Women in power: Caterina and Maria de' Medici. The return to Florence of two Queens of France at Palazzo Strozzi

Women in power: Caterina and Maria de' Medici. The return to Florence of two Queens of France Florence, Palazzo Strozzi

The event is a tribute to Caterina and Maria de’ Medici, queens of France yet both imbued with a fresh and innovative cultural approach. They were energetic regents: two women in power, both controversial, both emblematic, and both of whom left their mark on a century of European history.

The 15 spectacular tapestries (see here the 5th room of 8), all close to 5 meters in height and devoted to the legendary Queen Artemisia, bear witness to the way in which two Medici queens of France used powerful images to legitimize their claims to rule over warring families and factions.
To glorify Caterina, the legend of two very different Artemisias from antiquity was appropriated: the warrior queen who fought at the battle of Salamis, and the widowed queen of Rhodes celebrated as the builder of the Mausoleum dedicated to the memory of her husband. This exhibition is quite small: just 8 rooms. You can visit it in about 1 hour.

Women in power: Caterina and Maria de'Medici. The return to Florence of two Queens of France
Florence, Palazzo Strozzi
October 24, 2008 – February 8, 2009

Opening times
Daily 9.00 - 20.00
Thursday 9.00 - 23.00
Visitors are admitted up to one hour before closing time
Tickets:
Full price 10 euros
Children under 6: free entrance

Lebanese resturant in Florence

Lebanese resturant in Florence, Valle dei Cedri

I knew about this restaurant but I never had the chance to go until yesterday night when a friend invited me to try.

The dining room is not so big and the lights could be softer but on the whole is nice. The owner seems a character of an old movie, very gentle and friendly. The menu offers different kind of Lebanese specialties but we opted for an appetizer mix with pieces of Lebanese bread together with different kind of sauces: Hommos (spectacular), eggplants, tuna fish, sesame (amazing).
Then we had falafel, Fatyer, Rikakat, Sambusec, kebbehcon, meatballs.
The appetizer is more than enough but we tried also the good Kebbeh, a kind of meat pie with yogurt and rice. But I liked a lot a spice that I found in the salad. The owner told me that he does not know the name in Italian but if you go to Piazzale Michelangelo you can see the tree, which is called summak. For the wine we chose a good Lebanese wine, a Chateau Ksarà Reserve du Couvent 2005.
For prices and menu you can give a look to the well done web site www.valledeicedri.com

Ristorante Valle dei Cedri
b.go santa Croce 11 r 40100 Firenze
tel.055 2346340

Christmas markets and winter events in Florence

What's on in Florence for Christmastime?

Markets, ice skating rink in Florence (at Parterre), classic concerts in the churches, luminous decorations in the streets, the huge tree in Piazza Repubblica...

Weihnachtsmarkt, Heidelberg's Christmas Market
In Piazza Santa Croce (Santa Croce Square) the Weihnachtsmarkt, the Christmas Market of Heidelberg: the classic market with small wooden stands offering wonderful, traditional German goods, food and treats, but there are also many other stands of typical products from all over Northern Europe. The Heidelberg market will finish on the 16th of December. Later in December still in Piazza Santa Croce, a more typical Italian Christmas Market will take over, (despite a very English fish and chips stand). And in Piazza Santa Croce many interesting and funny initiatives for children will take place in “La Casetta delle Storie” (=“The Little House of Tales”) starting from 4 P.M. (free admittance).

Florence Noel
The Stazione Leopolda will house the annual Florence Noel market, open from November 29th through December 8th from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Sunday and on Monday, December 8th. Food, crafts and gifts of predominantly Tuscan origins will fill the merchants’ displays, but the main attraction is sure to be a visit to the house of Santa Claus. Tickets cost 7 euro.

Xmas markets around Florence
The markets are another initiative for the little neighbourhood town of Bagno a Ripoli (10 minutes drive from Florence), and the initiative of “A Tutto Natale” (=“All of Chritsmas”) with a special edition of the weekly market on December 21st called “A Christmas with You”.
Grassina
December: Piazza Umberto I, Calcit Market (charity market in which all should partake)
January 6: The March of the Magi Kings in the Piazza Tegolaia, for italian celebration of "befana".
Antella
December: Christmas Market (charity market)
Bagno a Ripoli
December, the 21. From 10am until 7pm: “Natale con i Tuoi” = “Christmas with the ones you love;” beginning at 11 am: a market with the stands of the local Charitable Associations; at the end of the night, via Roma (the main street) will be alive with simple toys which adapt to intelligence for the big and the small; live music; Santa Clause will cheer up the festival with his pony and small gifts at 3pm. The Festival of the Nativity with a living Christmas scene in the piazza in Via delle Arti and 5pm. There will be a prize given to the 3best letters to Santa Clause at 5:30 pm, and there will also be a prize given to the most beautiful shop window; a parade will take place.

On December don't miss Ponte Vecchio Golf Challenge played from the ancient bridge onto greens on the Arno.
And very soon on this blog Florence new year's eve events, so you can decide how to spend new year's party in Florence.
See the post of last year: Florence noel and Xmas markets in Florence