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With the unification of Italy and the relocation of the kingdom’s capital to Florence in 1865, the residences that had belonged to the Grand Dukes of Tuscany became the new home of the Italian monarchs, the Savoy family. Palazzo Pitti and the countryside villas were transformed to suit the taste of the King of Italy…

Staying within the historic centre of Florence, there are many lesser-known places that deserve to be explored. All it takes is a bit of curiosity and comfortable shoes to enjoy new, uncrowded, and truly significant viewpoints. Few people know that the towers and entrance gates that gave access to Florence in the Middle Ages, protecting…

In the heart of Medieval and Renaissance Florence, a stone’s throw from Palazzo Vecchio and the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, lies one of our favorite places: the Bargello Palace. This majestic building, made of pietraforte, the local brown strong stone, appears as a true fortress, echoing the ancient political and judicial institutions that…

In our tours, we like to take you to see lesser-known places in our beloved Florence. In the itinerary dedicated to Michelangelo, along with the most popular museums where you can see iconic works like the David, we have also included a stop at the National Museum of the Bargello. Housed in an evocative Medieval…

Among the many sculptures by Michelangelo that you can find in Florence, there is one very particular and quite unknown: Bacchus, made on marble around 1496-97, displayed in one of our favorite museums, the Bargello. On the ground floor of this imposing medieval building, a large room hosts numerous masterpieces by the famous Michelangelo. Bacchus…

In a world where marriages were arranged for political or economic reasons rather than love, genuine passions and unconditional love that defied all obstacles were rarely considered, especially for members of a noble house like the Medici.

Since antiquity, perfume has always accompanied mankind’s journey. It was the Crusaders who brought this custom to Europe, importing fragrances from the East through Genoa and Venice. With the discovery of America, new fragrant substances arrived in Spain, which also made their way to Italy. The Renaissance was the golden age of perfumery, especially at…

If, like us, you are fortunate enough to often stroll through the rooms of the Palatine Gallery at Palazzo Pitti, amidst hundreds of more famous paintings, you might come across truly worthy masterpieces, but largely unknown to most. This is what happened to us with the paintings by Rachel Ruysch. Still lifes with hyper-realistic details,…