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The Cascine Park, Florence, c. 1900
Passeggiando di festa alle Cascine, inizio 900.
Piazza della Signoria, 1950s
Piazza della Signoria in the 1950s
The 1890s in Florence
Panorama da San Miniato, quanto gli alberi erano ancora bassi e si poteva osservare meglio il panorama. View of Florence from San Miniato, when the trees were still low and you could better see the panorama.
Giardini della Fortezza. Famiglia in posa per una foto ricordo. Anno 1910. Gardens of the Fortezza di Basso, a family posing for a picture in 1910.
Lo struscio sul Ponte Vecchio. Strolling on the Ponte Vecchio.
Borgo Ognissanti, negozio Sale e Tabacchi del 1910.
A medieval alley, alive & well, in Florence
There’s an alley dating back to the medieval period leading out of (or into?) the Piazza della Signoria. Called the Chiasso di Baroncelli, this alley has seen some history. If alleys could talk!
Let’s just think a minute the events this alley has withstood: 16th and 19th century city demolition and rebuilding, German mining during WWII, the infamous 1966 flood and so much more.
Bounded on the southern end, where it meets via Lambertesca, buildings shield the alley from sunlight.
Next time you are walking around the piazza, stop and take a look.
Church of San Salvador, Florence’s 1st Christian Cathedral, and Santa Reparata
In the 1st C. AD, Christian converts began to invade Florentia. The Christians were persecuted—thrown to lions in the amphitheater—on and off throughout the third century A.D. But by 313 a bishop was living safely in Florence; it’s likely that the first Christian cathedral was built around this time too.
The Church of San Salvador was the name of the edifice, and its location was quite near if not directly under what is now the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in the Piazza del Duomo.
Sandwiched between the first cathedral and the last was Santa Reparata, a church named for a twelve-year-old female martyr. The young saint was said to have appeared in the middle of a 5th-century battle between a host of Vandals and Goths and the citizens of Fiesole.
Santa Reparata suddenly arrived on the spot with a bloodred banner and a lily in her hand. Miraculously, following close behind her was the Roman general Stilicho with a fresh legion of troops. The barbarians fought a losing battle, and the Florentines built a new cathedral in remembrance of the girl’s military assistance.
You can read more about the church of Santa Reparata, which would rebuilt as il Duomo later on here: https://operaduomo.firenze.it/blog/posts/la-nuova-musealizzazione-di-santa-reparata
Holler, Anne. Florencewalks: Four Intimate Walking Tours of Florence’s Most Historic and Enchanting Neighborhoods (Kindle Locations 57-65). Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.
Today in Florence: Oggi a Firenze
Happy Feast of San Lorenzo day! August 10 is when Florence pays homage to the Saint named Lorenzo. The festivities center around the Medici parish church of San Lorenzo and the adjoining piazza. Also known as Cocomerata, which means watermelon, this fruit of summer is eaten “under the stars” of St. Lawrence.
The Feast of San Lorenzo is an annual event deeply rooted in the city’s tradition. In the past, in fact, the “San Lorenzo Bakers Company” used to give holy bread – and watermelon in the evening – to everyone for free.
Today, this ancient tradition is still celebrated by giving lasagna and watermelon to everyone, both local residents and tourists alike, after a historical parade winds its way through the streets of the historical center. A band will play in the piazza tonight.
in medieval times, the public was treated to pieces of grilled steak and watermelon. Today it will lasagna and watermelon.
The Feast of Saint Lawrence and the free watermelon under the stars take advantage as well of this time of year, when shooting stars are more likely to be seen. They make wishes, and as the Perseid meteor shower crisscrosses the Italian sky.
The following info is from this great source, and tells us more: https://www.facebook.com/freyasflorence/?hc_ref=ARRkXgpNDRWjapZLHRHa6lI9aHzZGzD9jnQYFzpEG6PbFEqfGZX6blw3j_TrfTlUXps&fref=nf
La Notte di San Lorenzo, as it is known in Italy today, is a celebration dating back to Roman and Etruscan times, if not earlier. Catholics marked this day in remembrance of the martyr, believing the falling stars represent the tears of the saint and the embers of the fire that burned him, thus originating a saying “San Lorenzo dei martiri innocenti, casca dal ciel carboni ardenti” (Saint Lawrence of innocent martyrs, hot embers fall from the sky).
This shower of stars is caused by the particles of the Swift-Tuttle comet entering our atmosphere on the Earth’s annual orbit through its path, nevertheless, Italians don’t let science spoil this magical night. Millions still flock as far as necessary to have enough darkness to gaze at the sky. And under their breath utter “Stella, mia bella Stella, desidero che…” every time a falling star sparks across the sky, making a wish.
Dolci & Dolcezze, Firenze
A pretty little cafe in Piazza Beccaria.
New book by Iris Origo
Who knew? Florence
Fennel has been the official herb of Florence for centuries. Dedicated to the patron saint of the city, John the Baptist, fennel was given to invalids for strength and to underweight people for extra poundage. Mixed with honey, fennel is guaranteed to cure bites from hungry mad dogs.
Source: Holler, Anne. Florencewalks: Four Intimate Walking Tours of Florence’s Most Historic and Enchanting Neighborhoods (Kindle Locations 250-252). Henry Holt and Co.. Kindle Edition.
get back, lauretta! 
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