Catching Galileo’s Middle Finger

Galileo’s middle finger

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By Barbara Carranza

SPEL Journalism student Barbara Carranza explores the unusual at the Museo Galileo.

Though I’m not a science major, I was still interested in visiting the Museo Galileo. Not necessarily due to the scientific and technological instruments that have been collected and conserved, but that they literally have Galileo’s actual middle finger on display.

The story behind how it’s even possible to view this ancient middler finger (and it’s not alone; there’s also an index finger and a thumb, all from his hand) is one that spans almost three centuries. Galileo may now be referred to as the “father of modern science,” but the last years of his life were marred with controversy. He went against the teachings of the Catholic Church by supporting Heliocentrism, which states that the Sun, not the Earth, is at the centre of the universe. The subsequent inquisition in 1633 found him guilty of heresy. He was sentenced to house arrest that lasted until his death nine years later. The Church initially refused to honour him with a tomb, so Galileo’s family buried him in an unmarked grave outside the Basilica of Santa Croce. This decision was reversed in 1737, when he was deservingly built a tomb inside the basilica. It was during the process of reburying the cadaver when a man named Anton Francesco Gore reportedly removed three fingers, a tooth, and a vertebrae. Passed down through the generations of his family, the body parts disappeared in the early 20th century. Then in 2009, they surprisingly reemerged in an auction.  They were brought to the Florence History of Science Museum, now known as the Museo Galileo.

The museum, which sits right next to the Uffizi Gallery, dedicates its priceless collections not only to the instruments that Galileo used for his groundbreaking discoveries, but also equipment that was assembled by the Medici and Lorraine dynasties. It is in the Medici collection where the famed middle finger and the other two digits are.

When you enter the room, you are greeted with Antonio Santucci’s enormous armillary sphere, walls of other smaller spheres depicting a map of the Earth, and a regal marble bust of Galileo holding a geometric compass and a telescope. Walking past the bust, you will see the ancient fingers in egg-shaped glass shrines. It is perched up high on a pillar, the bones visible as it points up towards the sky. Looking at it at a first glance, I thought it was kind of gross that a museum would exhibit human remains, even if they belonged to a genius like Galileo. But the longer I looked at it, bringing my face as close to the glass as I could manage to examine the decaying texture of the fingers, the more I became captivated by it, just like the other visitors around me. We were, after all, seeing the real human fingers that once belonged to someone who lived 376 years ago. And not just any anyone, but someone who revolutionised science as we know it.

I think everyone should pay a visit to the Museo Galileo, even if the history of science might not sound particularly interesting. The museum provides a close personal look at thousands and thousands of artefacts that have all contributed to the evolution of science, physics, mathematics, astronomy, and technology. Despite not entirely understanding what exactly I was seeing, it was an intriguing experience overall, especially observing the fingers that Galileo used to hold his telescope as he uncovered that Jupiter has four moons.

Museo Galileo is on Piazza dei Giudici 1, open Monday, Wednesday through Sunday from 9:30am to 6pm. Open Tuesday from 9:30am to 1pm. The price for admission is 10 euros, and there is no need book a tour in advance as the wait lines are short. 

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The Fascinating Garden of Villa Stibbert

By Donald Blair
All photos by author

Photography SPEL student Donald Blair explores the beauty of the Villa Stibbert garden.


Gazebo in the garden.

This Stibbert garden sculpture has a ghostly presence as seen by the weathering of her face.

This is one of the many pieces of art one can discover by exploring the area.
 Statue inside gazebo.

Stibbert Garden is designed in the English Garden tradition, allowing one to walk around and discover the art and beauty of the garden’s landscape.

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Espresso Yourself Through Painting


Experiential Learning students Madison Argo, Lia Butterfield, and Guneet Singh.

By Guneet Singh
All photos by author

Journalism student Guneet Singh teaches us how to paint with coffee.

If there’s one thing Florence has a lot of, it’s coffee. You’ve seen the cafes lining every street corner. You’ve noticed the restaurants and even the gelaterias with dozens of coffee options to choose from. But coffee is more than just a caffeinated drink you can use to keep yourself awake.

You can actually use it to paint and that’s what blogger and artist Maham Iftikhar does.

She combines her love for coffee with her passion for art. Her blog contains tons of reviews about different coffee places from around the world and she even teaches people how to paint with coffee. “I encourage people to overcome their fear of mistakes and paint,” Maham said.

So how exactly can you paint with your morning beverage?? Well, we tried it so you can too!

 1.Get cups of water, paintbrushes and a canvas or piece of paper ready

 2. Take some coffee powder and combine it with water. Instant coffee will get     you quicker results

3. Keep adding powder as you go. The more powder you add, the darker your   “paint” will be. Adding more water will make the color lighter

4. Be prepared to smell like coffee afterwards

So if you ever have too much coffee, don’t let it go to waste! Paint yourself a picture.

Maham also paints with wine, matcha tea and plans to use other natural materials in the future.

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Quidditch in Florence?

By Guneet Singh
All photos by author

Journalism student Guneet Singh explores her childhood in Florence.

When I chose Florence as my study abroad location, I knew it was a city that would give me a lot of experiences. But one experience I didn’t expect was being able to attend the opening ceremony of the Quidditch World Cup.

Yes, you read that right.

Quidditch, the fictional sport J.K. Rowling created in the Harry Potter series, is a real-life sport that was invented in 2005.

A Potterhead through and through, I couldn’t believe my luck when I found out the event was happening here! I’ve read all the Harry Potter books and as a child, Quidditch was the main sport I really understood.

The opening parade itself was a five minute walk from Corso Tintori, one of FUA’s main buildings. I got there early and saw dozens of people in red shirts with the words “International Quidditch Association” sprawled across the back.

This is real.

A couple hundred spectators circled the stadium. I didn’t have a ticket but was standing in the right place at the right time and got in to see the ceremony! I was at the front of a crowd spread out across the sides of the dirt field. Eager fans ranged from toddlers to frantic young adults to those a little older and just curious about what the commotion was about.

Music started and teams entered the stadium slowly. I saw teams from countries all over the world, like New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America. There was a myriad of female players, which only serves as a testament to the diversity and acceptance the Harry Potter series preaches.

It was incredible to see an event like this bring so many people together and it was the best way to kick off my first week in Florence!

The Quidditch World Cup will be happening in Florence until July 2nd.

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Pitti Uomo: Keeping Florence a Top Fashion Capital

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By Dara Hernandez

FUA Journalism student Dara Hernandez discovers the importance of internationally acclaimed event, Pitti Uomo, and shares her experience walking through the streets of Florence during this four-day fashion extravaganza.

Florence is known around the globe for its beautiful views, structures, art and historic buildings, but some people may not know that it’s also known as a fashion capital of the world.

One of the most important events in fashion is Pitti Uomo, an event that takes place in Florence every year for four days during the months of January and June. Pitti Uomo features men’s clothing and accessories and brings in every big name in menswear whether they are a designer, buyer or creative mind.

This event was founded by Pitti Immagine, a company that organizes international fairs and promotional events in all areas of fashion. Their goal is to select as well as present the highest quality products and the most innovative styles. The reason that Pitti Uomo is so important to Florence is because the company’s origins go back to the early 1950’s where they held their first fashion show in Florence’s very own Sala Bianca in Palazzo Pitti.

The company not only has brought amazing events to the city but has added new dimension to Florence and has distinguished it as a foundation for today’s style. People from all over the globe attend in their search for the newest trends and styles or even simple details that they can take to improve their collections.


Photo by author

Walking around the city of Florence during Pitti Uomo makes the experience more wonderful than it already is. The city overflows with creativity and hundreds of fashionable men are seen with interesting outfits or fancy suits. The first place I walked through was Piazza della Signoria, where they held the opening ceremony. The attendees could be spotted from a mile away as they walked out of the building in their sharp suits and fancy shoes.

I, then, decided to take a stroll to the Fortezza da Basso and simply walking toward the building was quite the sight to see because it felt as if I were front row in a street fashion show. The outfits in this area were a little more spontaneous. Once I got to the Fortezza, I discovered that this is where they hold most of their main events and it was almost as if I had entered menswear heaven. Of course, many sections were closed off to the public because the event is taken very seriously in the industry but I was able to walk in and see the different stands, clothing racks and large screens showing clips of male models.

Having a fashion event as big as this one is incredible because it is an outlet for people from all over the world to not only attend and gather new ideas but also for individuals to express themselves in a creative way. Fashion is not just about clothing, it’s also about the evolution of style, piecing different garments together and the influence of the culture surrounding it.

Pitti Uomo is the real deal. This month makes it the 92nd edition of the fashion event and the 46th year since it launched in Florence in 1972. The event has grown immensely throughout the years yet remains in the city, maintaining Florence’s fashion capital status worldwide.

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La Fiorita: A Florentine Tradition

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By Dara Hernandez

Journalism student Dara Hernandez digs deeper into the life of Girolamo Savonarola and the meaning behind the yearly Florentine celebration of “La Fiorita.”

One of the main reasons I was drawn to Italy is for the amount of history that it possesses. Walking through the streets of Florence is like walking through a book with a chapter for every building, every piazza, and every sculpture.

Of Italy’s countless traditions, there is one in particular that has existed since 1498. It is known as Florence’s “La Fiorita” and is meaningful to the people of Florence.

The person who inspired this event was a man named Girolamo Savonarola. He was born September 21, 1452 and grew up to eventually become a Dominican friar and preacher here in Florence. He was an extremely radical preacher yet was loved by many Florentines. At the time, he became well-known for his prophecies of civic glory, destruction of secular art and calls for Christian renewal. He was also notorious for organizing “bonfires of vanities” in which artworks, books, musical instruments and other objects were burned.

Savonarola’s passion-filled beliefs led him to getting excommunicated by the Pope. He was no longer allowed to participate in services of the church. Regardless, he chose to defy the Pope. Due to issues of this sort, he ended up being hanged and burned along with two followers on May 23, 1498 in Piazza della Signoria. The next day, his followers filled the area with flowers to honor his life and thus the tradition was born.

In fact, “La Fiorita” is an entire morning dedicated to the memory of Girolamo Savonarola. The people of Florence begin with a mass, proceed to spread flowers on the ground and finally, hold a costume parade to toss rose petals in the river.

As I was learning more about Savonarola, I found myself constantly wondering why people would praise someone who was famous for the destruction of, what he defined as, immoral art and someone who burned secular objects. However, seeing the roses over the plaque in memory of this man made me realize that not only are people drawn to radical, unordinary humans striving to make a difference, but also that Florentines simply accept Savonarola as part of their history. They recognize that walking through Piazza della Signoria holds stories with meaning that should be remembered.

Therefore, despite the unconventional and radical ways of his preaching, Florentines have continued celebrating his life on May 23, year after year.

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Having Family in Florence: What I Taught and What I Learned

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By Gregg Casazza

For two weeks my family visited me in Florence. I got to show them around the ancient city, and was eager to teach them about everything I learned. Surprisingly, throughout this experience I ended up learning quite a bit as well.

Family is everything in Italy. It is not altogether uncommon to find three generations of a family living in one house, children are in-part raised by their countless aunts and uncles, and family meals are some of the most important events in the day. Being from an Italian family myself, being away from them for so long has been quite difficult. However, the separation has taught me a lot, and has especially helped me with my own personal growth.

It wasn’t until I had the pleasure of having my family visit me, that I realized just how much I had learned throughout my Study Abroad experience “on my own.” At the beginning of the semester, time after time I was told, “You will learn your way around the city completely,” and although I am usually quite bad with directions, these people were right. I no longer needed Google Maps to navigate the city, I didn’t need Yelp to suggest restaurants, I didn’t need TripAdvisor to find things to do or see in the city. My parents remarks at how impressive it was that I knew the city so well.

I became like a tour guide for my family, on their own private tour of Florence. Showing my family around the city was in one way a test of how much I had learned about the ancient city, but also a farewell tour around my favorite spots and locales. Things like the legacy of the Medici family, hidden gardens and piazze, as well as the numerous cafes and libraries were all a bit bittersweet to visit again, but also surprised me on just how much I had learned by walking the many winding streets of the city. Even little things like the train system which at first felt impossibly foreign, now seemed almost second-nature. I taught my family about ordering meals or coffees, using different currency, picking wine, the history of Florence, and other seemingly smalls tasks that had become utterly mundane to me, but had contributed to my overall learning experience.

Learning about Florence was not the only way I grew however, I also grew personally as well. Study abroad allowed me a greater sense of independence. I learned my place in a global context, learned how to be alone, and how to be self-sufficient. Shopping for meals in and of itself can be an act of self-sufficiency, but knowing where to shop, how to get the freshest produce, and the best prices are also a huge part of personal growth in Florence, and shows a lot of maturity. Using what I had learned, I cooked for my family during their visit using the freshest vegetables and meats, I made traditional Tuscan dishes, Antipasto, Primo, Secondo, and Contorno, and I realized how much I had grown as a person, and how much being in Florence helped me to “grow-up” as well.

Being with family in Italy, just makes sense. Being away for so long was really tough, but after I made it through that hurdle, Study Abroad started to really work for me. In only one semester I became more integrated into Florentine life, learned about the country, and about myself, and it took my family being here for me to really see it for myself.

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The Farther You Go, the Better it Gets!

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By Jenna Berman

Before studying abroad in Florence, I was sent nearly 10 different “guides” – each one claiming to know the “best place to eat penne with red sauce” or the “most incredible gelato spot.” Yet no one told me about San Frediano neighborhood in the Florentine “Oltrarno.” It was not until I met a local family friend for lunch that she advised me to visit the town crowned “the coolest neighborhood in the world” by Lonely Planet. Finally, three months later, as instructed by my Writing in Digital Media instructor, I set out to make my own opinion about the famous neighborhood across the river.

It is in San Frediano that the chaos of Florence fades, the streets and sidewalks get a bit narrower, the buildings appear even older, and the shiny, brand names are replaced with local artisan shops, quaint cafes, and authentic Italian restaurants. Something about the ora feels just a little more authentic, cozy, and surreal.

As I roamed the streets, stopping into a neighborhood bake shop that smelled of warm, homemade bread and chocolate-goodness, I came across Cara Jansen, 21, who is attending Syracuse University in Florence while living with a host family in San Frediano. “It’s just cooler,” Jansen said. “Everything feels more honest and authentic here.”

San Frediano is a residential district that possesses Florentine treasures such as the Basilica of Santa Maria del Carmine and the church of Santo Spirito. But don’t be fooled by its simplicity – because it is there where the beauty of the neighborhood rests. Merely minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding areas, parts of San Frediano feel so quiet, I can almost hear my own footsteps.

I sat down at a local restaurant for a quick bite where I spoke to a nice, young local couple sitting next to me. The couple married almost two years ago and reside in a “charming” home tucked away in San Frediano. Although our conservation was interrupted with a tough language barrier, I asked them both how they would describe the neighborhood. The husband, with kind eyes, looked over at his wife and smiled.

“It’s home. A beautiful town that we call home” he said.
His wife smiled back, chuckled, and turned to me and sighed.

“I grew up in Rome,” she told me. “I never thought I would love anywhere more – until I moved here.”

On my walk back from San Frediano to Santa Croce, I could not help but feel I just experienced a different world. Maybe it was the love of the married couple, the smell of the delicious baked goods, or the charm of historic streets. But I finally understand Lonely Planet – I may have just encountered “the coolest neighborhood in the world.”

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Allergies, Ailments, and Ancient Pharmacies

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By Gregg Casazza

If the thin layer of yellow pollen that covers the city isn’t already enough of an indicator, allergy season is now upon us. Scratchy eyes, sore throats, and stuffy noses seem to plague the entire city. Thanks to the city’s storied past, you can now easily stop by the local farmacia to get the appropriate modern medicine for nearly any ailment. The history of Florence is forever tied with that of the ancient pharmacies, which housed herbal remedies for anything from heartache to the black plague. What is perhaps most astounding about these ancient places of healing is that many are still open and operating today!

The Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella is frequently touristed, and for good reason. This farmacia is the “oldest historic pharmacy in the whole of Europe, active without interruption for almost 4 centuries” as well as, “one of the oldest commercial establishments ever,” according to their website. This establishment began as a convent, with Dominican friars preparing essences, elixirs, ointments, and balsams using high quality ingredients and recipes that can still be found displayed today. The pharmacy is now a luxurious shop, specializing in perfume, as well as a free “museum of tradition.”

Another lesser known farmacia is the Ancient Boar Pharmacy, or Antica Farmacia del Cinghiale. Looking at the earliest official documents, there are mentions that this farmacia dates back to 1752. However, it is believed that it is actually much older. Similar to that of Santa Maria Novella, the early pharmacists made their own remedies, and the first documented pharmacist working, Girolamo Nicolò Branchi della Torre, prepared his own remedies in his private laboratory. His contributions were so notable that he has been accredited with moving the science of healing past the “magic of alchemy” to the science of chemistry. These contributions were so widespread that the Grand Duke of Tuscany asked him to open the first School of Chemistry in Pisa in 1757.

Many ancient pharmacies make up the history of Florence. There is Farmacia SS. Annunziata, which is also still in operation as well, and has been in operation since roughly 1561. They continue to utilize older traditions of preparing products such as tooth paste, shaving lotion, products for hygiene, skin, and galenic prescription (the combination of multiple medecines to increase their potency.) While these ancient pharmacies have changed a great deal in the many centuries since their inception, they have stayed largely the same as well. They may no longer be run by the Dominican monks however, many of the same recipes and natural ingredients are still being used to create their products. These pharmacies might seem ancient, but in a lot of ways they are rather progressive as well by not using animal-testing for their products. Ancient pharmacies are part of Florence’s strong heritage, and with so many still open today, perhaps consider checking one out the next time you suffer from allergies.

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An Exhibition With a View

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By Samantha Bedell

Samantha Bedell shares her experience visiting Villa Bardini in Florence. Villa Bardini is located in the Bardini Gardens and currently exhibits one permanent and two temporary exhibitions.

Villa Bardini (not to be confused with the Bardini Museum, please learn from my misunderstanding) is on the “other side” of the Arno. Located in the Bardini Gardens, this building exhibits Pietro Annigoni, a variety of artists for the children’s show, and Kang Woongu. The Villa was abnormally quiet, but expected on a beautiful Florentine day. Walking through the space, the only other people I encountered were two security guards. It was quite relaxing to have two floors to myself.

On the second floor is the Villa’s permanent exhibition by artist Pietro Annigoni. Housing many of his important works, its clear Annigoni focused much of his career on portraiture. Many of the portraits are larger than life and command the space. In the final room of Annigoni’s work, the viewer is greeted by a rather intimidating portrait of a man staring at the viewer. Behind the portrait are tattered dummies that look as if they’re simply lounging on the staircase. Personally, I found this room slightly uncomfortable, especially by myself.

The third floor displays two temporary exhibitions. The first exhibition Pinocchio Harry Potter Topolino Heidi e tutti gli altri… is seemingly aimed at children, but adults will equally enjoy the artworks. There are images inspired by Harry Potter, the Three Musketeers, and the Tortoise and the Hare. The dozens of works will remind anyone of their childhood. Down the hallway is the second temporary exhibition by Kang Woongu. The photographs were taken forty five years ago and highlight the lives of Koreans in every season before the country’s industrialization. Woongu‘s photographs provide an intimate look at a country that is completely different today.

Villa Bardini is open year round and opening hours are 10:00-19:00. The gardens are also open with varying times throughout the year. Both are absolutely worth visiting during the spring and summer when all the flowers in the garden are in bloom.

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