Villa Gamberaia-Florence-Tuscany

To all the garden lovers: Florence and Tuscany have extraordinary gardens in the perfect italian style. When you come to Florence to visit the city, after a good rest at Hotel Mario's, you can enjoy a visit to Villa Gamberaia or to one of the many villas there are in the city and around it.
The Villa Gamberaia is located on the hillside of Settignano, with extraordinary views of Florence and the surrounding Arno valley. It is renowned for its splendid gardens, which are celebrated throughout the world by leading landscape architects and garden historians.Among the outstanding gardens of Tuscany, few have retained through the course of four centuries as much of their original design and distinctive character as Villa Gamberaia. From the first decades of the 17 C, when the wealthy Florentine merchant Zanobi Lapi built an imposing villa on the hillside of Settignano (1610–1630), on the foundations of a pre-existing casa da signore, and his nephews laid out the main areas of the garden, generations of owners have maintained and improved the property without significantly modifying its basic plan. During the last half century, owners have been engaged chiefly in restoration and conservation. In the summer of 1944 the villa was badly damaged by fire set by the retreating German army, and Marcello Marchi, who purchased the property in 1954, devoted the following years to rebuilding and renovating the house and restoring the garden. In the parterre the evergreens were carefully reshaped into their geometric forms and the gardener Silvano Ghirelli sculpted the phyllirea into an enormous sphere; the wisteria was revived in the gabinetto rustico; and Albertine roses were planted along the walls of the lower terrace and the limonaia. The photographic essay by Balthazar Korab attests to the rebirth and renewed splendor of the garden in the late 1960s.

During the last fifteen years, Luigi Zalum, son-in-law of Marcello Marchi and the present owner, has carried on the work of improving the property while preserving its historic image. The walls along the garden avenue have been reinforced and their graffito decoration repainted; the conduits have been repaired, and substantial sections of box and cypress replanted; the smaller houses on the property have been renovated; and, with the help of experts from the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence, parts of the rocaille decoration of the grottoes have been restored. Under the supervision of Mariachiara Pozzana, consultant for historic conservation, many of the plants recorded by Edward G. Lawson in his “Planting Plan” of c.1917 have also been reintroduced, among them the borders of iris, santolina, and lavender in the parterre, the mixed borders of perennials on the lemon terrace, and the many varieties of roses throughout the garden.
You can visit on the web other gardens like the one of Villa la Gamberaia : www.gardens-of-tuscany.net
Check if we have some room available and stay with us at Hotel Mario's
www.hotelmarios.com

via Faenza 89 in the centre, but close to the bus station. You can catch the bus to go everywhere to discover villas and gardens in Florence.

BEACH ALONG ARNO RIVER...........FLORENCE!!!

It's not exactly the vast blue ocean, but the beach on the river bank of the Arno is a nice, although unusual place to relax in a complimentary deck chair, play beach volleyball or sunbathe within a stone's throw of the city centre. Arno "beach" is open during the summer months through September 2 each year.

THE COURSE OF 2010 FIRENZE MARATHON

The Florence Marathon takes place in one of the most fascinating cities in the world and its route takes the runners through the heart of it, filled with monuments and artistic sights. The race starts off at Piazzale Michelangiolo, leaving the breathtaking Ponte Vecchio behind. Half course runs within the historical town centre and a great part across the Cascine Monument and National Park and the Florentine' districts.
Besides the first 3 km which are lightely downhill, the route is entirely flat and is closed to traffic, characteristics which the marathoners appreciate.

The streets of the course:
PIAZZALE MICHELANGIOLO - Partenza - VIALE GALILEI – 1° km - PIAZZALE GALILEO- VIALE MACHIAVELLI – 2° km. – 3° km - PIAZZALE DI PORTA ROMANA- VIALE PETRARCA – 4° km - VIALE V. PRATOLINI - VIALE A. ALEARDI - VIALE R. SANZIO – 5° Km - PIAZZA PIER VETTORI - VIA PISANA – 6° km - VIA SANT’ANGELO - VIA DEL POLLAIUOLO – 7° km - VIA BRONZINO – 8° km - PIAZZA GADDI - VIA DELLA FONDERIA- LUNGARNO SANTA ROSA - LUNGARNO SODERINI – 9° km - PIAZZA NAZARIO SAURO - VIA DEI SERRAGLI – 10° km - PIAZZA DELLA CALZA - VIA ROMANA - PIAZZA PITTI – 11° km - VIA GUICCIARDINI - VIA DEI BARDI - PIAZZA S. MARIA SOPRARNO - LUNGARNO TORRIGIANI - LUNGARNO SERRISTORI – 12° km - PIAZZA POGGI - LUNGARNO CELLINI - PONTE S. NICCOLO’ – 13° km - LUNGARNO DEL TEMPIO - LUNGARNO COLOMBO – 14° km - LUNGARNO ALDO MORO – 15° km - VIA DE NICOLA- VIA GOBETTI - VIA DI VARLUNGO- VIA TURATI - VIA ARETINA – 16° km - VIA DELLA RIPA - VIA ROCCA TEDALDA- VIA ARETINA – 17° km. – 18° km - LARGO MONZANI - VIA ARETINA - PIAZZA L.B. ALBERTI - VIA DI CREDI - VIA MANNELLI – 19° km. – 20° km - PIAZZA VASARI - PONTE DEL PINO - VIA CAMPO D’ARRIGO – 21° km - LARGO GENNARELLI – ½ maratona - VIALE MALTA - VIALE FANTI - VIALE PAOLI – 22° km - VIALE FANTI – 23° km - VIA CIALDINI - VIALE DE AMICIS – 24° km - CAVALCAVIA DELL’AFFRICO - PIAZZA L.B. ALBERTI - VIA PIAGENTINA – 25° km - VIA FRA’ GIOVANNI ANGELICO - VIALE DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI - VIALE GIOVINE ITALIA - VIA DELL’AGNOLO – 26° km - VIA SANTA VERDIANA - PIAZZA GHIBERTI - LARGO ANNIGONI -VIA DELLA MATTONAIA - VIA NICCOLINI - PIAZZA D’AZEGLIO - VIA DELLA COLONNA – 27° km - PIAZZA SS. ANNUNZIATA - VIA BATTISTI - PIAZZA SAN MARCO - VIA RICASOLI - PIAZZA DUOMO – 28° km - PIAZZA S. GIOVANNI - VIA ROMA - PIAZZA DELLA REPUBBLICA - VIA STROZZI - VIA DELLA VIGNA NUOVA - PIAZZA GOLDONI -BORGO OGNISSANTI – 29° km - VIA IL PRATO - VIA MAGENTA - VIA MONTEBELLO - VIALE F.LLI ROSSELLI – 30° km - PIAZZA VITTORIO VENETO - VIA DEL FOSSO MACINANTE - VIALE DEL VISARNO - PIAZZALE JEFFERSON - VIALE DEGLI OLMI – 31° km - PIAZZALE DELLE CASCINE - VIALE DELL’AERONAUTICA – 32° – 33° km - PIAZZALE DELL’INDIANO - VIALE WASHINGTON - 34° - 35° km - PIAZZALE KENNEDY - VIALE LINCOLN – 36° km. – 37° km - PIAZZALE VITTORIO VENETO - CORSO ITALIA - VIA MAGENTA - VIA SOLFERINO - VIA PALESTRO - VIA MONTEBELLO – 38° km - VIA CURTATONE - LUNGARNO VESPUCCI - LUNGARNO CORSINI - LUNGARNO ACCIAIUOLI – 39° km - VIA POR SANTA MARIA - VIA VACCHERECCIA - PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA - VIA CALZAIUOLI - PIAZZA DUOMO (lato misericordia) - VIA DEL PROCONSOLO – 40° Km - VIA GHIBELLINA – 41° km - VIALE GIOVINE ITALIA - PIAZZA PIAVE - LUNGARNO DELLA ZECCA VECCHIA - PIAZZA CAVALLEGGERI - CORSO DEI TINTORI - VIA MAGLIABECHI – 42° km -PIAZZA SANTA CROCE – Arrivo

Florence, Italy: Brunelleschi's Dome

The building of the dome on Florence cathedral, by Filippo Brunelleschi, can be considered one of the Renaissance's main building enterprises. The highest expression of a new attitude, placing man and his abilities at the centre of the world and finding in classic antiquity the premises for cultural rebirth after the dark Middle Ages.

Renaissance society was based on completely different values to the medieval ones of chivalry and nobility. The new ideals were self-sufficiency, civic virtue, intelligence and almost unlimited trust in man's abilities.

Even though the Middle Ages weren't that far away and nor could they be considered the backward world depicted for so long, Renaissance men were aware they were different: in less than twenty years, starting from the building of the Brunelleschi Cupola, a small group of artists in just one city, Florence, brought about one of the most important revolutions in cultural history, and not just Italian.

The figure of Brunelleschi was in tune with this new world. He perfectly incarnated the figure of the Renaissance man, free, intelligent and trusting in the strength of his ideas. He was the son of a wealthy Florentine Notary and had been educated in a liberal manner; from boyhood onwards he'd shown interest in sculpture, mechanics and mathematics. To him we owe the study of the linear prospective which up until him, had already been used, but without precise rules of reference.

THE FLORENCE FLOOD: 4th of November 1966

"On November 4, 1966, in Florence the Arno river swollen with dark, muddy waters, spilled over sweeping away everything in its way. When the waters subsided, only destruction enveloped the city." (main source: the book "Florence flood 1996")

This flood, happened between the 3rd and 4th of November, was the worst of all in Florence and in the surrounding villages, due to the big quantity of water that flowed into all of the region, about the third part of the annual average ( about 200 litres for square metre ) and also because of the fact that the level of the Arno rose up to 11 metres.
The 4th of November flood, damaged not only the historic centre of Florence but also the zone of the Arno’s dock. Moreover, the surrounding fields continued to be flooded for many days after the disaster and a wide range of smaller communes were damaged heavily and also isolated.


The Chronicle Of The Drama

The last few days of October and the first ones of November were characterized from intense rainfalls, interrupted only from short clearings during the All Saints’ Day.
Even if during the following days the rainfalls continued and increased in intensity, the inhabitant of Florence weren’t worried because they can’t imagine the catastrophe that will happen, above all because they are accustomed to the autumnal floods of the near river and watercourses.
The victims were relatively few, because the horrible flood didn’t overtook them while they are going to work or while they are working in the fields, but the majority of them was at home to pass the 4th of November with their families.
3rd of November
In the evening: the first worrying news come from the Mugello and from the province of Arezzo ( Casentino, High Valdarno),where river and torrent have flooded.
At the Midnight: The River Arno begin its work of destruction, firstly in the zone of Casentino and High Valdarno , secondly in the zone of Incisa, where have to be interrupted the motorway of the Sun and the railway to Arezzo and Rome. In a second moment, the waters of the Arno flood the surrounding villages such as Montevarchi, Figline Valdarno, Incisa, Rignano sull’Arno,Pontassieve and many more. An episode to remember with sadness, happened in the zone of Reggello, is that of an habitation, where lived seven persons, completely destroyed by the flood.
4th of November
1:00: the Arno overflows in the zone of “la Liscia” in the commune of Lastra a Signa . The state road Tosco-Romagnola and the secondary ways between Florence and Empoli were interrupted.
3:00: the fury of the Arno reaches Florence.
3:30: The Arno breaks the levees in the zone of Rovezzano. Moreover, many quarters of Florence are flooded and there is the first victim of this natural catastrophe, a man called Carlo Maggiorelli, who was an overseer of the water establishments. In the historic centre the sewers and the cellars are being flooded.
From this moment, during all the night and also during the next day the situation becomes even more critical. In fact, the destructive strength of the water causes problems to the things and to the persons; maybe, among the damages to the things, those to the National Library and to the well known quarter of Santa Croce can be considered the most serious.
12:00: The worst moment of this drama for the artistic town of Florence, because the water reach the first floor of the buildings and the first victims are made known ( a couple of old persons and a young prisoner ) .
18:00: the River Arno begins slowly to return into its levees.
Finally, a strange image of a fact happened during the flood and filmed from all the means of communication, has been considered the symbol of this tragic day, that it is the image of a group of cows gathered at the first floor of the “Casa del popolo” in the zone of San Donnino, due to the attempt to save them.


About The Rescue Work - the "Angeli del fango"

The flood was the first episode in Italy that underlined the absolute lack of an efficient body for the civil protection. In fact, in this critical situation the first official helps arrived six days after the beginning of the catastrophe.
Luckily, there were some non-official helps that tried to solve the problems caused by the flood, such as a multitude of young voluntaries of various nationalities, called “ the angels of the mud “ , who came to Florence to save the books and the works of art from the destruction. However, the damage to the artistic and historical heritage was considerable, in fact in the storerooms of the National Library, thousands of precious volumes were completely destroyed and the world famous picture by Cimabue, the “ Christ Crucified “ was destroyed at its 80%, in spite of the subsequent restoration.
The only financial help from the government was of five- thousand-lira to the traders.
Finally, we haven’t to forget the documentary about the flood by the world-famous Franco Zeffirelli , very useful in the work of sensitisation, with the sorrowful call by the English actor, Richard Burton.

Florence, June 24: Florence celebrates the feast of its patron, San Giovanni.

THE HISTORY: FROM GOD MARTE TO SAN GOVANNI BATTISTA The choice of San Giovanni Battista as the Saint Patron of the city of Florence, comes only after the total transformation of the city to Christianity. Initially, the Patron (or Protector) of the city was the God Marte whose statue was located at the north entrance of Ponte Vecchio and remained there until 1333, when it was completely destroyed by the Arnio flooding.

Feast of the Patron of Florence: old cartIt was however in the Longobard period (6th to 7th century), that San Giovanni Battista was recognize as the Saint Patron of Florence. San Giovanni Battista was already chosen as the Saint Patron of the Longobard people. In fact, it is in this period that the San Giovanni Baptistery was reconstructed in Florence (6th-7th century) over the rubbles of what it once was the Marte Temple.

The selection of San Giovanni wasn't only first and foremost for his clear and brief pedagogy, but also for his strong and courageous personality. However, it was until June 24th in the 13th century that the first celebration dedicated to San Giovanni Battista took place.

Thanks to these celebrations the San Giovanni Baptistery and the Duomo Square became the city heart of the Religious and Political life of Florence. In fact,it is in front of the Baptistery that the festivities of June 24 end. History narrates that an ancient tradition asked to the Noble people of Florence to donate their big candles richly ornamented which had then to be burned in front of the Baptistery. Originally, the festivisty ended with a large candle that was transported in a wagon from Piazza Signoria to the front of the Baptistery. That same wagon named Carro di San Giovanni (San Giovanni's Wagon) gave birth to the Scoppio del Carro festivity (Wagon's Outburst); however, at a second stage, this festivity was devoted only to Easter ceremonies instead to the Patron.

Florence, June 24, 2010: Fireworks for Saint John

June 24th, it's a day where several festivities take palce in Florence throughout the day such as parades, the Rowing Club competition along the Arno river, fireworks, etc.

The final game of the Calcio in Costume (football soccer in costumes) was played on this same day. The famous Historic Florentine Football, was a peppy Medieval version of football, usually played in Santa Croce square. In 2006, the event was cancelled because an article of a document from the fifth council commission of sport and culture prohibits sporting events that cause violent celebrations by its fans. “The unjustify events that took place on the opening match of the 2006 edition, forced the Municipality of Florence to take action on this important sporting event.”

Along with the Historic Florentine Football, another sporting event is celebarted on this day. The Notturna di San Giovanni (night run marathon), it's one of the oldest marathons in Italian history.

Firework show in Florence for the feast of the PatronIn order to salute the Saint Patron, at around 9:00pm, you can admire a firework show in Florence. The best spot to see them it's in Ponte Santa Trinita (Santa Trinita Bridge). From there you can see Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), and behind it the beautiful fireworks reflecting in the Arno river. The bridge and its surrounding streets gets jammed of people, so it is recommended that Florentine people having houses with view towards Piazzale Michelangelo open their doors to their friends and relatives, so you can enjoy the show in company of your loved ones.

Again, during the same weekend it is usually organized another funny event, concerning just one side of the city: Nottarno, la notte bianca in Oltrarno (Nottarno, the White Night in the Oltrarno zone). This year, the event is expected for Saturday 27 of June 2009. Various and different events will be organized and dislocated along the streets and squares of the city district, and have been already inserted in the program of the night (download the pdf of the program): music, exhibitions and various kinds of entertainment. On the occasion, shops, pubs and restaurants of the Oltrarno district stay open all night long and arrange tables on the streets of the centre.

Hotel Mario's in the area of San Lorenzo Market

Just in the area outside the Central Market are numerous and are open every day from 9:00am to 7:00pm (except Mondays in winter). The vendors sell a great variety of products and you could spend hours roaming through them all.What about the histoy of the market? Because the population was growing and the New Market, under the Loggia del Porcellino was clearly insufficient, it was decided to create three new markets instead of one, taking advantage of the occasion to revitalize one of the older neighborhoods in Florence called the Camaldoli. The largest market would be constructed in San Lorenzo, the Herb Market in Sant’Ambrogio and yet another, which was demolished in the beginning of the 1900s, in San Frediano.
It was a great idea but San Lorenzo had no room for a new market. It was therefore necessary to open up a vast area in the labyrinth of narrow streets that had grown up outside of the first set of Roman walls and between the two sets of medieval walls.The ecclesiastical neighborhood centered around the city's original cathedral, San Lorenzo (it was outside the city walls, and, according to tradition, was funded by a pious Jewish woman), and the commercial neighborhood centered around the mercatino, the street market, and the Mercato Centrale, the city’s major produce market. The former, with Brunelleschi and Michelangelo’s Sacristies, Pontormo’s paintings, Michelangelo’s sculptures, and the Laurentian Library (also designed by Michelangelo) is one of Florence’s intellectual cornerstones. In these days the market is specialized in clothing, leather goods, gifts and souvenirs, and is one of several places in the city frequented by tourists; it’s possible to find a wide choice of leather jacket and bags, jeans, t-shirts, shoes…everything of reasonably good quality and at reasonable prices.However The main attractions of San Lorenzo (apart from shopping, of course) are the San Lorenzo Basilique (made up of several buildings including the San Lorenzo church, the Brunelleschi Sagrestia Vecchia, the annex cloisters, the Canonici area and the Laurenziana Library with the famous staircase by Leonardo da Vinci) consecrated by St. Ambrose in 393, it is the oldest church in the city. It was then rebuilt along Romanesque lines in 1060. The present building dates to 1423 and was designed and built by Brunelleschi) and the Cappelle Medicee (the Medicean Chapels – are a precious tomb which preserve the Medici family remains, representing the mausoleum of the big family).
Hotel Mario's is located between San Lorenzo Market, Central Market, Santa Maria Novella church and the central railway station Santa Maria Novella.This is a great opportunity to visit the city in a very fantastic location. Reserve a room in the old historic building at Hotel Mario's, you'll enjoy part of Florence's history.
Visit www.hotelmarios.com or write an email to info@hotelmarios.com

Chianti Classico wine

The Chianti Classico Wine Consortium has safeguarded since 1924 the world’s best known wine, promoting the denomination, its territory of origin and its history.
Its trademark, which stands out because it displays the unmistakable image of the Black Rooster which guarantees the real Chianti Classico: authentic, because it uniquely originated in the territory of Chianti; certified because its production is controlled from the vine to the bottle; inimitable because its quality and identity are protected in Italy and throughout the world.

The DOCG regulations. Not all the wine produced in the Chianti zone is Chianti Classico.
To have the right to a denomination is not sufficient. In fact, the provenance refers to a given territory but also all the rules stipulated in the production regulations must be respected. Those rules determine the conditions and the requisites that permit a wine to be decked out with the name Chianti Classico DOCG.
Chianti Classico wine In addition, other fundamentals and other requisites concern the ampelographical base—or the types of grapes that can be used in the preparation of the wine. The rules provide for a minimum ratio of 80% for Sangiovese, the typical red variety of the zone. Along with the Sangiovese, other red grapes of the area can be used in a maximum percentage of 20%. These grapes include natives like Canaiolo and Colorino as well as “international” varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, all recommended and/or authorized for the production zone. Among the principal sensory characteristics indicated by the production rules, there is the ruby red color that can become at times intense and profound, depending upon the wine’s origin.
The odor offers floral notes of violets and irises combined with a typical character of red fruit. The flavor is harmonious, dry and sapid with a good level of tannin that fines in time, becoming soft and velvety. Other requisites requested include a minimum alcohol level of 12 degrees for young wines and 12.5 degrees for the Riserva. Minimum net dry extract amounts to 24 g/l, while total minimum acidity is registered at 4.5 g/l. In addition, the production rules require important factors. For example, it is stipulated that the yield of grapes per hectare cannot exceed 75 quintals four years after the vines are planted and that the yield of wine from grapes cannot exceed 70% or 52.5 hectoliters per hectare. In addition, the regulations note that the processes of vinification, preservation and bottling must occur exclusively in the production zone. And the wine may not be released for consumption before October 1. Minimum required maturation for the Riserva is 24 months including three months of bottle fining.
As far as the label is concerned, the regulations contain some terms that are added to those already stipulated by the specific rules in effect in the sector. In the first place, the label must contain the indication “Chianti Classico” with the more specific identification, Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita and display the year when the grapes were produced (vintage). The name of the wine can be identified in connection with that of the estate or with a brand name or it can be a fantasy name or indication of the name of the vineyard of provenance. In any case, terms like extra, fine, select, selected, superiore, old and similar may not be used.

AAAS10: ADVANCED ATMOSPHERIC AEROSOL SYMPOSIUM

From 14 to 17 March 2010 in the astonishing scenario of Florence the fourth International Conference on Safety and Environment in the Process Industry (CISAP4) will be held, thus giving continuation to the permanent biennial forum in the Italian country on HSE topics as well as industrial sustainability.
As in the past events, the principal aim of the Conference is to help the process industries to find out the best balance between the expected growth of the enterprise value and the safeguard of the health of employees and population, the safety of operations, the environmental protection.
I hope that this conference could provide both the platform for bringing together operators, researchers, consultants involved worldwide in optimizing the Safety and Environmental science and engineering and the opportunity for participants to learn about the latest developments, to improve communication and to increase cooperation and coordination among all the actors.

24th ANNUAL CONGRESS OF THE ESVD-ECVD: FLORENCE, SEPTEMBER 23-25, 2010

We would like to invite you to join us for the 24th Congress of the European Society and College of Veterinary Dermatology in the ancient and history rich city of Florence. The program and the venue are unique.
The Scientific Organizing Committee has selected a number of internationally recognized experts who will deliver state of the art lectures in both the Scientific and the Continuing Education Sessions. The main theme of the Congress will be infectious diseases (leishmaniosis, tick-borne transmitted diseases and atypical skin infections), genetic (hereditary dermatological conditions and the latest on canine genoma), otitis, dermatophytosis, oncology (cutaneous lymphoma and melanoma), and a review of dermatological diseases of exotic animals.
The Local organizing Committee has selected one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We hope you will come and enjoy the historic centre of Florence, that attracts millions of tourists each year and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1982, and the food, as Florence and Tuscany have one of the most versatile and varied-form cooking traditions in Italy and the area surrounding Florence is famous for being the birthplace of Chianti, the most famous Tuscan wine.
This will be a wonderful opportunity for meeting again with friends and colleagues and sharing scientific and cultural opinions.
Finally this meeting could not planned and organized without the generous sponsorship of our Long term Partners (ICF Italia, Merial and Royal Canin), all the other sponsors, and the congress organization provided by the AIM Group.

XXVII FIRENZE MARATHON - 28th november 2010 Running in Florence

The wrapping glamour of centuries of art, history and culture accompanies you step by step along the 42 kilometres and 195 meters of the Florence Marathon. A unique emotion which can be told only by those who have run in Florence and which has made the classic race of Florence an appointment that cannot be missed by thousand of sportsmen and enthusiasts who each year punctually come from all over the world on the last Sunday in November. The Florentine event has gained exponential importance during the recent years, so much that on last November 29th on the occasion of its XXVI edition a new record of participants has been achieved with over 10.166 runners (7.425 Italians and 2.741 foreigners) coming from 57 countries.
The record of the men’s race has been established by the 24-year old Kenyan James Kutto who won his race in 2h08’41”: fourth time ever for the winner of an Italian marathon. A record has been achieved also with regard to the number of athletes crossing the finishing line: 8.206 runners. Amazing numbers, in witness of a development both numerical and qualitative, which has transformed the Florence Marathon into the second Italian marathon second to the Rome race.
An event, which is not only a sport event, but also a custom and cultural enchanting event. This is the common feeling joining thousands of runners and shared by the large audience of Raitre channel, watching the three-hour live broadcast of the XXVI Florence Marathon by Tgs-Raisport. This is the fifth consecutive year dedicated by Rai to the live broadcast of the Florentine event, as well-deserved appreciation of the growing importance this event has achieved during the recent years. Mentioning numbers only, however, won't convey the right value to a marathon which has now reached full excellence as to its organizational level and which can boast an exceptional stage such as the city of Florence, unique in the world for its beauty and atmosphere.
The Florence Marathon is the main road race event taking place in Tuscany, which together with Rome is rightly by now the most important international marathon in Italy and among the first 20 marathons in the world as far as quality and number of participants. The event inaugurated by Orlando Pizzolato, multi-winner of the New York Marathon, has been attended during the years by some of the main Italian athletes such as Giacomo Leone, Francesco Ingargiola, Michele Gamba, Fabio Rinaldi, Denis Curzi and Angelo Carosi, in the men’s field, Tiziana Alagia, Gloria Marconi, Florinda Andreucci, Bettina Sabatini, Anna Rita Incerti and Vincenza Sicari, in the women’s field, just to mention a few, besides top-ranking foreign runners. James Kutto, Kenyan beginner over the long distance, who crossed the finishing line in 2h08’41 “, exceeding the record established by his compatriot Daniel Kirwa Too in the year 2001, with 2h10’38”, has established the men’s record of the event in the year 2006. On the contrary, the women’s record has been established during the 2002 edition by the Slovenian Helena Javornik, winning with the excellent time of 2h28’15”.

THE ROUTE
The Florentine route follows landscape views and monuments of singular beauty, which made the city famous worldwide. A route touching the most fascinating places in Florence, such as piazza del Duomo, piazza della Signoria, Ponte Vecchio and many other roads and squares rich in history and culture, before ending in the solemn majesty of piazza Santa Croce. The path is fully surfaced and ramp-free, exception made for the slightly sloping stretch of road at the start. Those characteristics make it particularly flowing and appreciated by all the athletes.

FIRENZE MARATHON EXPO
The Florentine race is always supported by many tourist, sport and leisure initiatives like the ones offered by the Firenze Marathon Expò: fair and reception centre for the athletes, stage of events and shows, such as traditional technical congresses open to the general public, meetings with athletes and experts, sessions of guided training or tasting of typical produce. A lively and vibrant area of over 4 thousand square meters, within the indoor area of the new Athletics Stadium ‘Luigi Ridolfi, which last year hosted about seventy stands
displaying the best products for sports lovers and which has been visited by over 22.000 visitors.

FIRENZE MARATHON AND SPORT TOURISM
Moreover, the Florence Marathon offers to athletes and companions the ideal chance to live the city as tourists, during the pre-Christmas time, with the possibility to avail oneself of a prompt service of hotel booking at competitive prices. This is a further reason which makes the Florentine event, with its ability to combine the tourist and cultural aspects with the agonistic side, attract an always increasing number of participants from all over the world: 57 countries in 2009, with 2.741 foreign registered runners.

GINKY FAMILY RUN
It was one of the innovations of 2007 edition, and it has characterized also 2009 edition of the Florence Marathon,last November,29th. It is the development of what for eight years has been the race devoted to “small champions” on the marathon’s day: the GINKY MINI RUN, an event organized by Firenze Marathon, in cooperation with Atletica Firenze Marathon and with the Sport and Education Councillorships of Florence Municipality. The Family Run, indeed, aims at preserving its characteristic of being an event able to fascinate students of primary and secondary schools (over 2.500 in piazza Santa Croce last year), and to open out to families in order to give birth to an event uniting young people and adults to sport and joining people of every age in a big sport celebration able to involve the entire city of Florence.

Lorenzo de' Medici, a real Florentine Genius

Medici was the name of a great ruling family of Florence. Lorenzo, the Magnificent, was the most famous Medici. Lorenzo de Medici was the grandson of Cosimo de Medici, and he took the reigns of control over Florence from Cosimo in 1469. (Rabb and Marshall, 1993, p. 28). While Cosimo had taken a low profile approach to governing Florence, Lorenzo was not afraid of confrontation, and he took a more prominent position in Florence society.he was a diplomat, politician and patron of scholars, artists, and poets. His life coincided with the high point of the early Italian Renaissance; his death marked the end of the Golden Age of Florence. The fragile peace he helped maintain between the various Italian states collapsed with his death. Lorenzo de' Medici is buried next to his brother Giuliano in the Medici Chapel in Florence. Lorenzo de' Medici was ruling over Florence, but several parties had conspired against the Medici family, trying to overthrow and move them into a position of power in their place. Lorenzo hired Giovanni Auditore, an Assassin, to investigate. Giovanni successfully captured one of Rodrigo Borgia's men and hands him over to Lorenzo for interrogation. The man revealed an assassination plot to kill Galeazzo Maria Sforza, the Duke of Milan and a powerful ally of Lorenzo's. He then sent Giovanni to Milan in order to prevent the assassination. Unfortunately, Giovanni failed and the assassination was successful. However, Giovanni did manage to retrieve an encrypted paper from the thug that led the assassination. Michelangelo While still in his adolescence, he was given equally extensive exposure to the art and thought of the ancient world as a privileged protege of Lorenzo de' Medici, in whose palace he encountered a celebrated collection of classical works of art and conversed with the leading humanist poets and philosophers of the day, notably Marsilio Ficino and Angelo Poliziano. Neoplatonism espoused by Poliziano and Ficino, Michelangelo found his belief in rationalistic humanism tempered by the fiery sermons of the Dominican monk Girolamo Savonarola, whose fundamentalist attacks on pagan culture and corrupt church practices struck a responsive chord in the deeply religious young artist. During the last years of his life, Lorenzo fell under the spell of an Italian Religious reformer name Girolamo Savonarola. Savonarola preached that he strongly felt that Christians wondered too far into Roman Culture. Lorenzo Medici was the reason that Savonarola was brought to Florence. Lorenzo de Medici died on either April 8th or April 9th and one of his dying wishes was for Girolamo Savonarola could be taken to his death bed so they could have a final talk before Lorenzo died. A horrible rumor was created by an unknown source that Savonarola dammed Lorenzo in his dying moments but this rumor has been argued by many people. Witnesses of the account say that Savonarola blessed the dying Lorenzo de Medici and that he passed away a consoled man.
Lorenzo de Medici was known for his exceptional peace keeping skills rather than his assets in banking and commerce. Lorenzo maintained the peace between Italy and Florence from 1480 until his death in 1492.
If Florence is so important, in our opinion, is mainly thanks to Lorenzo De Medici," il Magnifico".

Florence: Palazzo Vecchio

Hotel Mario's is 15 minutes far walking. A nice way through the old city centre. The Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence, Italy. This massive, Romanesque, crenellated fortress-palace is among the most impressive town halls of Tuscany. Overlooking the Piazza della Signoria with its copy of Michelangelo's David statue as well the gallery of statues in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi, it is one of the most significant public places in Italy.
Originally called the Palazzo della Signoria, after the Signoria of Florence, the ruling body of the Republic of Florence, it was also given several other names: Palazzo del Popolo, Palazzo dei Priori, and Palazzo Ducale, in accordance with the varying use of the palace during its long history. The building acquired its current name when the Medici duke's residence was moved across the Arno to the Palazzo Pitti.

Cenacolo del Conservatorio in Fuligno, Florence

Hotel Mario's is situated in a fantastic position for all the visitors would like starting their days walking to everywhere here in the city. Close to the train station of Santa Maria Novella ( less than 2 blocks ), close to the Mercato Centrale of San Lorenzo and also to the topic we are talking today : The Cenacolo of Fuligno.
The ancient convent in Fuligno was founded at the start of the fourteenth century and subsequently renovated in 1430.The convent’s refectory is decorated with fifteenth century frescoes depicting the Last Supper and the Oration of Christ in the Garden, both of which are attributed to Pietro Perugino. This refectory was used as a museum from the nineteenth century.Many works of art damaged in the great flood of 1966 were brought here. It was re-opened in 1990, with the addition of some frescos by Bicci di Lorenzo (1430 circa) which came from other rooms of the convent, as well as a wooden crucifix by Benedetto da Maiano.
Today the Cenacolo, or refectory, is home to other works such as the Assumption of the Virgin by Valerio Marucelli which once stood above the main altar in the church of Sant’Onofrio, the Crucifixion and several fifteenth and sixteenth century Tuscan and Italian paintings of the Perugino school. Hotel Mario's is only 50 metres far from this extraordinary masterpiece and we are glad to welcome you here in our small and typical hotel.


Opening hours
Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday 9am – 12pm
Closed on New Year’s Day, 1st May and Christmas Day

Entry fee
Free

Disabled access
No

Contact information
via Faenza 42
Florence
Telephone 055 286982
E-mail segreteria@sbas.firenze.it
http://www.polomuseale.firenze.it/musei/fuligno

FORTEZZA DA BASSO

Mario's Hotel is very near Fortezza da Basso.
The great pentagonal mass of the Fortress of San Giovanni is known to everyone as the Fortress "Da Basso" because it is located on the river plain.
It was built around the medieval Porta Faenza beginning in 1534 by the great architect Antonio San Gallo the younger, and commissioned by the Duke Alessandro de' Medici, who wanted to create a kind of citadel of power. Indeed, in the original designs for the fortress, there was a palace to be constructed inside for the Prince himself. However, political considerations persuaded him to remain in the Medici family residence in Via Larga. The fortress was finished in 1537 and today is used as an exhibition center.

A TRIP TO FIESOLE

Mario's Hotel's staff helps you in visiting Fiesole.
Fiesole(Vipsul) was probably founded in the 9th-8th century BC, as it was an important member of the Etruscan confederacy, as may be seen from the remains of its ancient walls.
The first recorded mention on the town dates to 283 BC, when the town, then known as Faesulae, was conquered by the Romans. In pagan antiquity it was the seat of a famous school of augurs, and every year twelve young men were sent thither from Rome to study the art of divination. Sulla colonized it with veterans, who afterwards, under the leadership of Gaius Mallius, supported the cause of Catilina.
Fiesole was the scene of Stilicho's great victory over the Germanic hordes of the Vandals and Suevi under Radagaisus in 406. During the Gothic War (536-53) the town was several times besieged. In 539 Justinus, the Byzantine general, captured it and razed its fortifications.
It was an independent town for several centuries in the early Middle Ages, no less powerful than Florence in the valley below, and many wars arose between them; in 1010 and 1025 Fiesole was sacked by the Florentines, before it was conquered by Florence in 1125, and its leading families obliged to take up their residence in Florence.
By the 14th century, rich Florentines had countryside villas in Fiesole, and one of them is the setting of the frame narrative of the Decameron, also Boccaccio wrote the poem "Ninfale fiesolano". Robert Browning also mentions "sober pleasant Fiesole" several times in his poem, Andrea del Sarto.

OUR STAFF HELPS YOU IN VISITING FLORENCE

Florence keeps an exceptional artistic heritage, marvelous evidence of its secular civilization.
The works of great Italian art, Cimabue, Giotto, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, are gathered in numerous museums including the Uffizi, a key step for those visiting the Tuscan capital.
Great monuments are the landmarks florentine artistic culture: the Baptistry, the Duomo, the medieval churches, the public and private buildings, monasteries and cloisters, monasteries and the Certosa.
World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO in 1982, the historic center of Florence, enclosed by a circle of paths traced over the old medieval walls, collects the most important cultural heritage of the city.
The old town can be appreciated in its entirety from the surrounding hills, especially by the Forte Belvedere, from the Piazzale Michelangelo with the Romanesque Basilica of San Miniato al Monte and the hills of Fiesole, which offers one of the most beautiful views of Arno valley.

Parking available in Florence at Hotel Mario's

Hotel Mario's doesn't get an own parking space. In the area where we are situated, in the heart of the city centre, it's not easy to find hotel with garage, but what we offer is a very good service with a parking just 50 metres far away from the Hotel. We have an agreement in place with Garage Palacongressi in piazza del Crocefisso, 1. They deal with the regularization of your entry into ZTL (Traffic Limited Zone), so allowing you to drive through the areas normally forbidden to not-authorized vehicles even if to get here at the Hotel you could pass from viale Lavagnini and then taking Via Santa Caterina d' Alessandria; this is not a ZTL area and you need no permission. Anyway, the parking will communicate automatically to the system that your car is allowed to drive in the centre of the city.The garage is located in a crucial point of Florence and it is controlled and safe, according to the currently European rules.There is a manual and automatic internal and external car wash, directly in the garage if you would require.
This is a fantastic service, you don't need to park far from where the Hotel is and is absolutely the private parking most cheap of the centre of the city.
Give a look to the information and when you'll be here at Hotel Mario's you know you can consider this option of Garage Palacongressi ( http://www.cb512parcheggi.it/ ). Hotel Mario's, in the heart of the beautiful city of Florence, Italy.

VASARI CORRIDOR

The Vasari Corridor (Italian: Corridoio Vasariano) is an elevated enclosed passageway in Florence, which connects the Palazzo Vecchio with the Palazzo Pitti. Beginning on the south side of the Palazzo Vecchio, it then joins the Uffizi Gallery and leaves on its south side, crossing the Lungarno dei Archibusieri and then following the north bank of the River Arno until it crosses the Ponte Vecchio. At the time of construction the Torre dei Mannelli had to be built around using brackets because the owners of the tower refused to alter it. The corridor covers up part of the façade of the chiesa di Santa Felicità. The corridor then snakes its way over rows of houses in the Oltrarno district, becoming narrower, to finally join the Palazzo Pitti. Most of it is closed to visitors.
The Vasari Corridor was built in 5 months by order of Grand Duke Cosimo I de' Medici in 1564, to the design of Giorgio Vasari. It was commissioned in connection with the marriage of Cosimo's son, Francesco, with Johanna of Austria. The idea of an enclosed passageway was motivated by the Grand Duke's desire to move freely between his residence and the government palace, when, like most monarchs of the period, he felt insecure in public, in his case especially because he had replaced the Republic of Florence. The meat market of Ponte Vecchio was moved to avoid its smell reaching into the passage, its place being taken by the goldsmith shops that still occupy the bridge. At the latter extremity, the corridor was forced to pass around the Mannelli's Tower, after the staunch opposition of that family to its destruction.
In the middle of Ponte Vecchio the corridor is characterized by a series of panoramic windows facing the Arno, in direction of the Ponte Santa Trinita. These replaced the smaller windows of the original construction in 1939, by order of Benito Mussolini.
After the Ponte Vecchio the Corridor passes over the loggiato of the church of Santa Felicita; at that point it had a balcony, protected by a thick railing, looking into the interior of the church, in order to allow the Grand Duke's family to follow services without mixing with the populace.