PITTI W Florence, ex-Dogana Via Valfonda, June 15-18, 2010

A special platform to launch new products
previews and capsule collections

The sixth edition of Pitti W_Woman Precollection, the Pitti Immagine fair-event devoted to women’s collections will be held in Florence from 15 to 18 June 2010 concomitantly with Pitti Uomo 78. A selected group of about 60 international brands will present exclusive previews of their 2011 spring-summer collections in the Dogana on via Valfonda.

Pitti W has already made a name for itself as a strategic event, and it is chosen by exhibitors for preview launches, for capsule collections and for specific projects linked to new approaches to female elegance. In response to a need expressed by many buyers, this edition of the fair-event will focus even more on collections built around a selection of key items. The reason behind this is to generate greater impact in terms of sales and communications, by starting the game early when buyers’ budgets are still open. In parallel, the Pitti W offer is becoming broader – with more space in the sections dedicated to vintage items and fragrances – with a refreshed layout designed by Olivero Baldini and a new approach to how the space is used – everything is more open to enhance dialogue among the products.

At the Dogana, the third edition of Vintage for Pitti W
and the special area dedicated to artistic perfumery

After last season’s success, Pitti W will once again feature the “Vintage for Pitti W” area produced in cooperation with A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Palace and dedicated to…vintage, of course!. A special setting will host a selection of some of the best from this unique world who will be showing their collections of vintage couture, accessories, jewels and signature scarves.
The area for Fragranze, with the latest developments from the world of artistic and selective perfumery - important lifestyle components of the contemporary woman’s wardrobe – will feature some of the exhibitors from the Pitti Immagine September event with the same title. The participating brands will include: Biehl, Calé Fragranze d’Autore, Histoires de Parfums, La Maison de la Vanille, Laboratorio Olfattivo, Profumi di Pantelleria and Solange.
The area “Vintage for Pitti W”, includes the project dedicated to the vintage universe, in cooperation with A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Palace. A special setting will show a selection of some of the best operators for the vintage fashion that will bring in Florence their best selection of vintage couture, accessories, jewelry and foulard.

The special section: Designer Collections

And, once again, Pitti W will host Designer Collections, the special area for brands that best interpret the concept of design research in feminine elegance. The buyers who come to Florence will have the opportunity to see preview showings of the collections by well known and young designers.

The brands participating in Pitti W n.6 will include:
1-one, 50100 Firenze, A.N.G.E.L.O., A-Lab Milano, Alberto Fasciani, Amazonlife, Banci Gioielli, Barbara Boner, Bhcrafts, Bibi Chemnitz, Biehl, Bloch, Bp Studio, Brebis Noir, Ç Les Maçons Danseurs, Calé Fragranze D’Autore, Cappi Vintage Bijoux, Carta e Costura, Mario Caruana, Charlottenborg, Chic Appeal by De Pio, Cloli', Cocchi, Collection 00, Collezionando, Coral Blue, Cut It Out, D.L.& Co, D. Del Cima, Dominique Aurientis, Es’ givien, Emak Bakia Vestirsi Vintage, Fabi, Gaudelis, Get U, Gherardini, Gilli, Giora' by Giovanna Raspini, Gossip, Gotha, Grange Yard, Henry Beguelin, Histoires De Parfums, Insideout, It Is di Cut It Out, Juicy Couture, Un Dimanche A Venise Par Kalliste', Kartell, Key-Tè, Komlan, La Maison de la Vanille, Laboratorio Olfattivo, Lika, Mary Frances, Mauro Gasperi, Monica Bianco, Ok.tober, Paolo Pecora Donna, Peridot London, Piera, Pierre Ancy, Pinkmemories, Profumi di Pantelleria, Roberta Guercini Fashion, Sara Roka, Solange, Star Chic, Stephen Venezia, Tarina Tarantino, Urbanikab, V.Level, Venturino Vintage, Veronica Bettini Mood, Violanti Stone, Youdith, Yrusha.

Hotel Mario's is 5 minutes walking far from this important fair-event!!!

Basilica di Santa Croce: Firenze

The Basilica di Santa Croce (Basilica of the Holy Cross) is the principal Franciscan church in Florence, Italy, and a minor basilica of the Roman Catholic Church. It is situated on the Piazza di Santa Croce, about 800 metres south east of the Duomo. The site, when first chosen, was in marshland outside the city walls. It is the burial place of some of the most illustrious Italians, such as Michelangelo, Galileo, Machiavelli, Foscolo, Gentile, Rossini, and Marconi, thus it is known also as the Temple of the Italian Glories.
The Basilica is the largest Franciscan church in the world. Its most notable features are its sixteen chapels, many of them decorated with frescoes by Giotto and his pupils, and its tombs and cenotaphs. Legend says that Santa Croce was founded by St Francis himself. The construction of the current church, to replace an older building, was begun on 12 May 1294, possibly by Arnolfo di Cambio, and paid for by some of the city's wealthiest families. It was consecrated in 1442 by Pope Eugene IV. The building's design reflects the austere approach of the Franciscans. The floorplan is an Egyptian or Tau cross (a symbol of St Francis), 115 metres in length with a nave and two aisles separated by lines of octagonal columns. To the south of the church was a convent, some of whose buildings remain.
In the Primo Chiostro, the main cloister, there is the Cappella dei Pazzi, built as the chapter house, completed in the 1470s. Filippo Brunelleschi (who had designed and executed the dome of the Duomo) was involved in its design which has remained rigorously simple and unadorned.
In 1560, the choir screen was removed as part of changes arising from the Counter-Reformation and the interior rebuilt by Giorgio Vasari. As a result, there was damage to the church's decoration and most of the altars previously located on the screen were lost.
The campanile was built in 1842, replacing an earlier one damaged by lightning. The neo-Gothic marble façade, by Nicolò Matas, dates from 1857-1863.
A Jewish architect Niccolo Matas from Ancona, designed the church's 19th century neo-Gothic facade, working a prominent Star of David into the composition. Matas had wanted to be buried with his peers but because he was Jewish, he was buried under the porch and not within the walls.
In 1866, the complex became public property, as a part of government suppression of most religious houses, following the wars that gained Italian independence and unity.
The Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce is housed mainly in the refectory, also off the cloister. A monument to Florence Nightingale stands in the cloister, in the city in which she was born and after which she was named. Brunelleschi also built the inner cloister, completed in 1453.
In 1966, the Arno River flooded much of Florence, including Santa Croce. The water entered the church bringing mud, pollution and heating oil. The damage to buildings and art treasures was severe, taking several decades to repair.
Come and stay at Hotel Mario's and the staff will help you to visit the amazing city of Florence!!!