By Emma Vallelunga
Photo by the author
Since 1946, Profumeria Invicta on Via Ricasoli between the Duomo and the Galleria dell’Accademia is a family-run business, home to hundreds of beauty products for Florentine hairdressers, fragrance fanatics and visiting tourists.
Continue reading Discovering a Florentine’s One-Stop Beauty Shop
By Emma Vallelunga
Photos By The Author
Inside the Gucci Museum, an exhibit dedicated to Italian artist Ketty La Rocca showed visitors a look into the art of visual human expression beyond verbal communication as part of this year’s L’eredita delle Donna Women’s Heritage Festival in Florence.
By Chelbie Smith
Photo from Unsplash
Social media is probably one of my favourite outlets for not only communication, but also to platform my thoughts and creativity. I mean how amazing is it that I can connect to family who are thousands of miles away just by a few clicks? They can stay updated on what I am doing in all of my posts appreciating the charming, Firenze. But now that I am living in a town during tourists’ peak, it has made me question my treasured social media.
Continue reading Why Florence Makes Me Want to Ditch My Social Media
By Quincey Caldwell
Photo by the Author
When picturing the historic sights and spots of Florence, it is often people’s first instinct to imagine the grand churches and monuments that adorn the streets. While these attractions are significant in defining the culture of the area, they are not the only means of taking in the richness of the city’s past. For a look into a unique strain of Florentine artistry, one need not look further than Filistrucchi.
Continue reading The Quiet Artistry of Florentine Wig Making
By MacKenzie Gellner
Photo by Unspalshed
For the first time, I experienced a symphonic performance. It was held in St. Stephen Auditorium by the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina, featuring violinists Marco Lorenzini and Kevin Mucaj. It may have had to do with it being a Florentine orchestra, but it was far more magical than what I had expected. Realistically, since having no previous experience to compare, I attempted to not have too high of expectations in case I got my hopes up. The only symphonies I’ve ever seen are in films (and I’m not really sure if that counts).
Walking the streets of Florence can uncover many different experiences, the Giardini di Boboli evoke a similar idea, as down every pathway are new and exciting sights. My favorite place I encountered is known as the Knight’s Garden.
While heading towards this spot I was encouraged to continue going up, past all the tourists that crowded around the bottom and up to one of the highest look out points. After venturing off to the side and up a small spiral staircase I encountered wonderful views, but not the ones I was expecting to see. While I saw the mesmerizing familiar city line, the garden offered something else too.
The Knight’s garden, a rooftop garden above the fountains and ornate decorations, is a stepping stone between historic Florence and the surrounding Tuscany countryside. The hills beyond the garden flow freely as you get a panoramic view of the cypress trees and olive groves. Sometimes, if the signs and food doesn’t remind you you’re in Tuscany you would never know, but here up above the city you are reminded by the colors you see in the hills.
You can spot many Italian villas nestled right between the hills where you can imagine the simplicity only such a retreat can offer. It’s a simple escape from the city, where you are connected to Tuscany and the magnificent city of Florence all at once. The view will remind you that there is plenty more of Italy to uncover as well.
The walls supporting the Knight’s Garden were made by Michelangelo in the 1500s. When they improved the Gardens, they created a villa for a knight, currently the Porcelain museum, and they added the gardens as well. Beneath the gardens there is an irrigation system that helps to water the many greenery spread around the hillside, it’s invention was one of the firsts of its time. Standing in a space that was so integral to this society was humbling.
The plants surrounding the rooftop were not in full bloom, but they were taken care of with precision, the gardeners just waiting for the spring to approach and with it the new blossoms.
The fountain in the middle of the square was also adorned with statues of monkeys, adding a mystic vibe to the scene.
Standing in the middle of such a unique place, I never wanted to leave. When it finally became time to make the descent down through the rest of the gardens I thoughtfully said my goodbyes to the panoramic view of Tuscany and parted towards the city once more.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.
By Reese Bentzinger
Photo by author
In one of the first rooms of Palazzo Pitti’s temporary Animalia Fashion exhibit, there’s a small sign stating that none of the clothes on display involved harming animals. However, the sign adds, the issue is still important to consider.
The exhibit, which showcases nature’s influence on haute couture, begins in a long hallway of narrow rooms. The couture pieces were blocked from admiring viewers by velvet rope and a raised platform, transporting the viewer to the runway stages that they made their debut on.
Each room is backdropped by a cloth sketch displaying the animals that the nearby pieces were based on. With some of the pieces the influence was obvious. For example a golden snake, placed on the back of a navy gown, is clearly inspired by the animal kingdom. Othertimes it takes a little looking to realize how the piece reflects nature. This is the case with another snake inspired piece, a vest with twisting tubes that reflects the animal’s movements rather than have direct snake imagery.
The clothes are a reflection on how nature both fascinates and terrifies us, with many sources for inspiration. A bridal-style white gown has graceful curves that would perfectly reflect the moonlight that inspired it. The prickily nature of the pufferfish is seen in boldly spiked jacket. No matter which direction the inspiration came from, it’s clear that nature has an impression on fashion.
This impact is felt both ways, but it doesn’t always result in something to be admired. Many of the rooms also display stuffed birds and insects in glass, reminding viewers of how fashion can cruelly collide with the natural world. From hunting animals for prized fur to environmentally harmful factories, nature and fashion can be a dangerous combination.
The exhibit showcases hypocrisy in the fashion industry. They take influence from the beauty of nature, yet play an active part in its destruction. The message of the gallery is the same one as the sign in the front of it: it’s important to reflect on how fashion can impact nature.
Animalia Fashion will be at Palazzo Pitti until May 5, 2019.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.
By Reese Bentzinger
Photo by the author
A tourist (or perhaps just me), will find it very easy to get lost in Florence.
The curved roads here are different from those back home. It’s hard to tell when the brick-lined street you’re walking on will spill into a piazza or turn into a narrow alleyway.
This isn’t something to raise alarm, it’s part of the city’s charm. After all, when you get lost you never know where you’ll find yourself.
I’ve discovered some amazing places whenever I’ve gotten lost in the city. Just this morning I stumbled into a hole in the wall with a coffee vending machine. I got myself a shot of espresso for 30 cents that was surprisingly good considering the fact that it didn’t come from a barista’s hands.
Not that you should rely on random vending machines for food or drink. If you ever get lost in Florence, try to make your way to somewhere that offers food. I usually find myself at a coffee bar, enjoying a shot of espresso and observing the city around me.
There’s a lot of activity in the streets of Florence. You’ll find cart vendors selling anything from antique books to leather goods. The many piazzas around town offer excellent places to sit and relax with your friends. To top it all off, you’re guaranteed to be surrounded by some gorgeous old-world architecture.
Of course you don’t want to get too lost. Make sure you have a cell phone with data that will help you find your way back to where you’re staying. But if you’re on your way to the Duomo and make a wrong turn, use it as an opportunity to explore somewhere new.
It might be tempting to stay in the touristy areas of Florence, but this offers only a glimpse of the city. In order to see it’s true nature without having to wait in line, walk around the city and step inside a shop that you didn’t make plans for.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.
By Katie Weiler
Photo by author
It’s nice to get out of the city air every once in a while to recharge on a nice day. Luckily, I had just that in mind when I found out about the Giardino dell’Orticoltura, or the Horticulture Garden of Florence. This garden is outside of the city center and has an air of mystery surrounding it.
The greenhouse in this garden was built as the result of a movement for more green space in the city, and for all the nineteenth-century splendor it was built in, did not have all of the crowds I was used to in Florence. I was anxious to see what I might find and if it would even be open.
As soon as I crossed the street, I was met with the open doors of the park. It was a lot bigger than in the pictures online. After walking a lap around the garden, I sat on a bench and tried to be as quiet as I could be. I found myself listening to the birds and writing in my journal. I could hear the people reading a few benches over turn the pages to their book every now and then. Others had parked their strollers next to the benches while the children slept. Some were taking a smoke break or reading the newspaper. There were many pathways lined with small pebbles, so that when people walked by even a few meters away you could hear their feet crunching the ground beneath them. I watched the people walk past with their friends and their dogs. I saw people sit down on the grass right next to the smaller flowers, the first of the little weeds that were starting to pop up in mid-february.
The greenhouse was a sight to see. It sparkled the sun off of its clear windows which stood out against the white structure inside. It was completely empty inside, but there will be flower exhibits in late April that I’m told will fill the building with color. The tropical trees around the greenhouse make it very picturesque. Even on a colder day, the trees lend a feeling that the warmer weather will soon be here. The park itself seems out of a magazine, scattered statues of dogs are all around the place. What stands out to me is the decorated taxi that is in the grass on a raised bed. The taxi is covered in fun childish paintings and drawings of cartoons. After translating the message in the window, I learn it is the Milan 25 car, which was a taxi driven to cheer up children in hospitals. The taxi was decommissioned and replaced, so the old one is in the park for everyone to see and visit.
Although I wanted to stay in the quiet park all day, I decided to start making my way back to the city center. The streets were nearly empty on this side of Florence, and I noticed there was a lot more car traffic than I was used to in the historical district. I had to wander down the street to find a crosswalk, and when I did I found another small outdoor area. My directions were telling me I should cut through a park, but once I saw it I told myself I needed to make a detour. As soon as I saw the amazing Fontana Della Fortezza da Basso, a fountain with benches and sidewalks that was conveniently placed next to the base, I knew I had to come back here many more times in my days in Florence. I encountered many more Florentine sights on my way back, but none stuck to mind quite like the outdoor spaces did. I had never seen this side of Florence before and it seemed everywhere I turned, I had a new memory of this fantastic sun-filled day.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.
By Lillian George
FUA student Lillian George tells us everything we need to know about bookshops in Florence.
Florence is filled with several historical landmarks, and many people travel from all over the world just to see them. Shopping is also a must whilst you are visiting Europe, but what about books? Sure, go ahead and order your book on Amazon, or your kindle, but are you getting the real experience? Having items shipped to you whilst you are in another country can be expensive, and it can take a few weeks. Going into a bookstore is an experience in itself, and it can really take you into a whole new world.
Just the other day I was walking down the crowded streets of Florence, and I stumbled upon an old bookstore, BM Bookshop. It had a very retro feel to it, just by looking at display in the window. I wanted to walk in, but it seems that the store had been permanently closed. I could tell right away that this bookshop had been around for quite some time. The person working next door could tell I was a student, and she greeted me immediately. I walked over to the friendly woman and introduced myself. I decided to try to talk to her directly about the store, although my Italian is not very good. Luckily, she spoke some English and I was able to learn more about the remarkable BM Bookshop. Talking to someone about this shop and learning as much as I did was a great experience, even if I did manage to go inside the store itself.
BM Bookshop was possibly the oldest English language bookshop in Florence, Italy. It was first introduced about fifty years ago by Libby, an American, and her husband Francesco, an Italian from Florence. The focal point of this store was the huge selection of Italian cookery books, tourist guides and books on art, architecture, design and fashion in English. However, recently (before they shut down) they added French, German and Spanish language sections. BM Bookstore was a sincere and welcoming location for English-speaking people. This bookstore was located in central Florence, and even if you cannot go into the store anymore, I recommend taking the walk over there just to see the history of it all.
The woman I talked to, who preferred to remain anonymous, peaked my interest about this store. Later that day, I went home to do some research. The most recent owner of the shop was John Werich, a young Swedish man who has lived in Florence since 2006. He bought the store because he was looking for a way to put down roots in the city. This store made him feel at home, but it’s sad that the bookshop did not last very long while it was in his possession. He and his family are art lovers, so when he bought this historical place he decided to bring some art into the store. Another interesting fact is that the store was not always called “BM Bookshop”, he renamed it to be “B&M Books and Fine Art”. He decided to rename the shop when he bought it to honor his family’s love for art.
Walking around Florence each day is getting better and better for me. I’m able to navigate the city without GPS now, and it really is becoming home. Finding stores like BM Bookshop is what this city is all about. Just because a place is shut down forever, it doesn’t mean that you can’t learn about it. I am grateful to have met the woman who taught me so much about this little old bookshop with a history behind it.
See more of Florence and Italy at FUA’s FB, Instagram, and Twitter.