Santa Trinita, another look

Recently I posted about Santa Trinita and I just had another chance to pay it another visit.  It was a sunny day following a week of rain, and it just felt good to be out and in the sunshine.  You might notice that the city of Florence has begun decorating for Christmas already!

The Mannerist facade by Buontalenti:

The beautifully carved central doors:

You must never forget the fabulous column and Roman statue in the piazza outside the church:

 

Once more, the facade:

 

 

Inside the church we are fortunate to see the extant old Romanesque facade of the church. Luckily for posterity, they didn’t destroy it when they constructed the new front for the church:

 

One either side of the central door, inside the church are these tombstones and paintings:

 

The interior:

 

 

 

 

 

The Chapel containing the (presumed) Donatello:

 

 

 

The statue of Mary Magdalene by Desiderio di Settignano:

 

 

The fragrance of history in Florence

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Florence is home to several historical perfumeries that make essences out of top quality, completely natural ingredients.

The best-known of these is undoubtedly Officina Profumo Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella (via della Scala, 16). Its extensive products  includes perfumes, soaps, cosmetics, historical pharmaceutical preparations, home fragrances, and syrups, including in its renowned Alkermes, found in many traditional Tuscan sweets. Open on Sundays, a visit will dazzle you with the wonderful scents you breathe when you step over its threshold and the endless charm of its interiors and variety of all natural products.

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Since the 1980s, Lorenzo Villoresi (via de Bardi,14), has been designing custom fragrances for the home and perfumes designed to fit the personality of the person wearing it, like a tailor-made garment.

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The Antica Officina del Farmacista Dottor Vranjes (via della Spada 9/R) has a great variety of home fragrances, all-natural and based on spices, flower and fruit. In addition to home fragrances, it has perfumes and body care products based on pure vitamins and minerals to treat yourself in spa style at home.

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Antica Profumeria Inglese (via de’ Ginori 2/R) has been setting itself apart since 1843 for the quality and refinement of its products. It was here that Henry Roberts invented a something that made its way around the world: talcum powder.

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Sileno Cheloni’s olfactory creativity spawned a new line of limited edition fragrances, called Teatro Fragranze Uniche (via Maragliano, 56), founded on the inspiration and dedication of three women with the support of profumiers.

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Farmacia Santa Annunziata. In 1561, the chemist Domenico di Vincenzo di Domenico Brunetti was the 1st manager of the Santissima Annunziata Pharmacy. Since that time the Farmacia has always maintained a special tradition in preparing prescriptions and products for the beauty of the skin. Using ancient processes completely handmade, with pestle and mortar, to special quality controlled preparations made with modern and safe machinery, special attention is paid both with traditional and new raw products. Our ancient tradition has been mantained and the standards of our products have become better and safer.

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Acqua dell’ Elba

 

 

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Olfattorio Bar a Parfums The experience continues outside the boutique with the olfactory glasses designed by Giovanni Gaidano.

https://firenze.flawless.life/en/olfattorio-bar-parfums/

Antico Setificio Fiorentino

A visit to this amazing workshop in Florence has been on my list of things to do for several years.  I finally made it recently and it was above and beyond my expectations.

 

Situated in the Oltrarno, not far from the extant medieval walls of the city, the factory is open to visitors by appointment.  I went with a group from Florence and we had an excellent tour, ending in the showroom where we were surrounded by their beautiful fabrics on rolls and treated to tea and pastries.  A lovely experience in every sense.

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The Christmas lights on Via Tornabuoni, Florence

Via Tornabuoni is the Tony street at the center of Florence that goes from Piazza Antinori to the Ponte Santa Trinita. This street is loaded with the major fashion and jewelry boutiques.

Perhaps it is not surprising that this little stretch of roadway would be the first decked out in holiday splendor.  I took these photos on the afternoon of 17 November, and, as you can see, Christmas has seemingly already arrived!

It is interesting to note that none of the other pedestrian thoroughfares in the city have their familiar white lights up yet.  Fashion comes first!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The giant red Christmas bulb sitting on the street is a new addition to the street this year.