Author Archives: fiorentino
Mozart in Florence
Between December 1769 and March 1773, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his father Leopold undertook three journeys to Italy. During the first, lasting fifteen months, they visited many cities. In those occasions, Leopold Mozart organized some concerts, with the goal of … Continue reading
The invention of Piano in Florence
Did you know that the piano was invented in Florence? Indeed, the invention of the piano is due to the Italian Bartolomeo Cristofori of Padua. Cristofori, a citizen of the Republic of Venice was employed at the court of Ferdinando … Continue reading
Lionardo (not Leonardo) da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci is an artist who certainly needs no introduction and there is no place on this planet where his name is not remembered with admiration. But few people know that the real name of the Florentine genius is … Continue reading
The invention of the internal combustion engine in Florence
Do you know that the invention of the first internal combustion engine was presented in Florence? Eugenio Barsanti (neé Nicolò) was a teacher of mathematics and physics at the College of San Michele in Volterra. In 1841 he illustrated to … Continue reading
The Stendhal Syndrome
The hospital of Santa Maria Nuova is the oldest active hospital in Florence. It was founded in 1288 by Folco Portinari, Beatrice‘s father (Dante‘s muse and inspiration). The building retains a significant historical and artistic value, and contains works by … Continue reading
November 29, 1924: Giacomo Puccini dies
It all started in February 1924 with a sore throat that at first you had probably not given importance to. But, despite the remedies proposed by the doctors, that sordid disease did not heal. Then they told you that you … Continue reading
Remembering Enrico Fermi
Enrico Fermi was born in Rome on Sunday September 29, 1901. During high school, he developed a deep interest in physics. He was then suggested by a colleague of his father, engineer Adolfo Amidei, to take the admission test for … Continue reading
To Giuseppe Verdi
10 Ottobre Hai cantato la gioia e la tristezza, l’amore e il dolore, l’esaltazione e il terrore, l’amicizia e l’inimicizia, la generosità e l’egoismo, la speranza e la disperazione, la vita e la morte. Hai riscattato gli umili, difeso i … Continue reading
June 24 in Florence and Leonardo da Vinci
In the Codex Atlanticus (folio 673 recto) we find the last dated annotation from Leonardo da Vinci: “A 24 di giugno il dì di san Giovanni 1518 in Ambosa nel palazzo del Clu” (“On 24th of June St. John’s Day … Continue reading
The birth of Opera in Florence
Do you like the Opera? Do you know that it was born in Florence? The story starts with the Camerata de’ Bardi, a group of humanists and musicians active in Florence since January 14 1573. Their members used to meet … Continue reading