Tourists who visit Florence to admire its masterpieces of art and architecture would observe them
with even greater interest if they knew
the many curious facts and the frequently
comical episodes that are hidden beneath the solemnity and magnificence of these masterpieces. Real
events, legends, traditions and typical
expressions reveal the other side of
Florence, bringing the city, and the wily and ingenious Florentines with their famous repartee,
vibrantly to life. The Secrets of Florence is a peek behind the scenes into
the history of the city: from its Etruscan origins to when the Florin, and Florentine
merchants and bankers, ruled the commercial world, through to the golden age of
the Renaissance. The truce in the constant rivalry between Florence and Pisa;
the tax on swearing introduced to fund the construction of the cathedral; the
love story that gave rise to the Guelphs and the Ghibellines; the miracles of
the preachers; the bell that once saved Savonarola’s life; the quirks and
witticisms of Benvenuto Cellini and Michelangelo; the pranks of Buffalmacco; and
the Florentines who discovered America. These are just some of the numerous
secrets revealed in this entertaining book, penned with the light touch and
self-deprecating irony that is the hallmark of the Florentine spirit.
Brevi racconti, aneddoti, episodi divertenti, notizie interessanti e curiose: questo libro narra molti fatti – realmente accaduti e storicamente documentati o tramandati dalla tradizione popolare – che fanno conoscere meglio la Firenze artistica nei suoi aspetti più nascosti e meno conosciuti.
Ecco alcuni fra i tanti argomenti trattati: le origini di Firenze e del suo nome; le “colonne affumicate” del Battistero di San Giovanni; lo scoppio del Carro e le pietre focaie del fuoco santo; l’enorme debito verso Firenze che l’Inghilterra non ha mai pagato; Benvenuto Cellini bizzarro, usuraio, imbroglione ma grande artista; il cagnolino di Giotto scolpito sul campanile; una lista di vivande per la “settimana santa” del tempo di Dante Alighieri; i fiorentini che scoprirono l’America; i carnefici di Or San Michele; otto secoli di Bischeri; la campana che fu mandata in esilio; i due Giuliani e i due Magnifici Lorenzi delle tombe medicee; i fiorini d’oro “murati” nel convento di San Marco; la pianta della città di Firenze come era duemila anni fa e… tantissime altre curiosità!
1st edition: June 2008
Reprints: January 2009, December 2009, December 2010, December 2012, December 2014, September 2016, February 2019, March 2022, December 2023
1st English edition: The Secrets of Florence, Sarnus, Florence, January 2025 (translation: Aelmuire Helen Cleary)
Tourists who visit Florence to admire its masterpieces of art and architecture would observe them
with even greater interest if they knew
the many curious facts and the frequently
comical episodes that are hidden beneath the solemnity and magnificence of these masterpieces. Real
events, legends, traditions and typical
expressions reveal the other side of
Florence, bringing the city, and the wily and ingenious Florentines with their famous repartee,
vibrantly to life. The Secrets of Florence is a peek behind the scenes into
the history of the city: from its Etruscan origins to when the Florin, and Florentine
merchants and bankers, ruled the commercial world, through to the golden age of
the Renaissance. The truce in the constant rivalry between Florence and Pisa;
the tax on swearing introduced to fund the construction of the cathedral; the
love story that gave rise to the Guelphs and the Ghibellines; the miracles of
the preachers; the bell that once saved Savonarola’s life; the quirks and
witticisms of Benvenuto Cellini and Michelangelo; the pranks of Buffalmacco; and
the Florentines who discovered America. These are just some of the numerous
secrets revealed in this entertaining book, penned with the light touch and
self-deprecating irony that is the hallmark of the Florentine spirit.
1st edition: June 2008
Reprints: January 2009, December 2009, December 2010, December 2012, December 2014, September 2016, February 2019, March 2022, December 2023
1st English edition: The Secrets of Florence, Sarnus, Florence, January 2025 (translation: Aelmuire Helen Cleary)
Sarnus, 2025
Pagine: 192
Caratteristiche: ill. b/n, br.
Formato: 15x21
ISBN: 978-88-563-0344-5
Collana:
Toscani super DOC, 3
Settori:
