Author Archives: fiorentino

The Florentines are the fifth element

During the Jubilee called by Pope Boniface VIII, a famous episode occurred, recalled by a man called Consiglio di Michele dei Cerchi in his book of Ricordanze [1] (i.e., Recollections). Twelve Florentine ambassadors were sent in 1300 to Rome by … Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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