The Context Foundation for Sustainable Travel, Context Florence and the Le Arti Orafe School of Florence are very proud to announce the recipient of the 2nd annual artisan apprenticeship and etching scholarship, a program that allows burgeoning young artisans to learn the art of etching and to participate in an apprenticeship at a local artisan workshop. This year’s winner is Elia Rizzo (pictured above), a native Florentine, who impressed the entire jury with his dedication and passion for his craft. Read more »
One of my favorite strolls through the city of Florence is on a street that doesn’t burst with bustle and activity, cafes and boutiques - in fact, when wandering this street, one feels like they are in the middle of a quaint country village, lined with Renaissance-era villas, private gardens, picturesque lanes and heavenly views to the Tuscan hills just beyond. Read more »
As the next installment of our holiday guides for our cities (did you check out our great wrap-up for London, provided by docent Imogen Aylen?), we would like to share some tips for Florence. Read more »
Venice is not the only city with an international Biennale…Florence’s take on the twice a year, contemporary art exhibition model has been consistently growing in importance and size edition after edition, making it one of the major art events in Italy for collectors, critics and enthusiasts. Read more »
I’ve always found that one of the best things you can do before you travel is learn a bit more about the sites you will be visiting. And yes, guidebooks are one thing, but there are many educational resources out there to help you probe a bit deeper before you step foot on site or that can be valuable resources upon returning home, should something you have seen sparked your imagination.
From October 15th through 18th, Florence’s Fortezza del Basso expo area will host the fourth annual Festival della Creativita’ (Creativity Festival), a diverse, experimental and innovative program of workshops, concerts, performances and talks. Not solely geared towards the local public, the Festival can be a welcome change of pace from an overload of Renaissance art - a way to glimpse the bright future of a city that is continuously reinventing itself. Read more »
Through the magic of Twitter, I learned about a very cool event going on in Florence from October 2nd-4th. Private Flat #5 is the fifth anniversary of a contemporary art initiative that uses the homes of artists, curators and everyday citizens as exhibition spaces, offering an innovative and experimental way of experiencing art in the city. Read more »
Sometimes, by chance, you come across people that you cannot believe you never met or heard of before, because their missions and ideals are so similar to your own. This happened when I had a meeting last week with Life Beyond Tourism, a Florence-based non-profit whose goals mirror those of Context - sustainable tourism, a commitment to safeguard the spirit of place, enhancing travel experiences as a form of rediscovery of values and not consumer-driven services. In their office near the Duomo, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Alessandra and Michaela, who run the communication and events offices of Life Beyond Tourism, who explained how the organization came to fruition, what their current projects include and what their exciting plans are for the future. Read more »
Located steps away from the glaring bling of the Ponte Vecchio, Borgo San Jacopo is a diverse and busy street, running between two major bridges spanning the Arno and dotted with hotels, galleries, shops and restaurants. One of the delightful characteristics of this street is the fact that the establishments on the north side have their back windows facing the Arno, offering stunning views of the river. Here are some of my favorite spots: Read more »
