Florence... Not only Uffizi

Florence, with its museums and its ten hundred masterpieces by far girar la testa, I have the fortune to know quite well since I live near there. For this reason, last weekend because my friend from Milan stopped for a few days in Florence I thought to suggest a tour 'alternative', the discovery of those corners of the city some 'less beaten by the tourist trail.

Saturday 29. Meet at 10 before the pharmacy station Santa Maria Novella and path to the first stage of our weekend in Florence: the Museum Stibbert, easily reached from Santa Maria Novella taking the bus 4. Going to stop Gioia, a short climb leads to the museum, an old-style dwelling neomedievale dell'anglofiorentino Frederick Stibbert who has collected many works of art and antiques acquired over the years, this is porcelain, paintings, costumes and weapons of eras and other countries.

I confess that the museum has exceeded my expectations, and this thanks to the establishment that sees objects as the Middle East exposed in a room Moorish style and a parade of riders (almost as tall men in flesh and bones) that seem to parade in the hall medievaleggiante for a final outcome truly impressive. Unfortunately we can not do photos, so you have to be satisfied with those you find on the site www.museostibbert.it.

Taken back to the bus station and from there we head towards the district of San Lorenzo where lunch at the restaurant Giannino in San Lorenzo, despite the space is quite crowded, the service is quick and tasty courses.

A belly full resume the journey until Capucci Museum located near Ponte Vecchio on top of a steep climb. So much effort is adequately rewarded by the beauty of dresses by Roberto Capucci. "Others that Cavalli and Dolce and Gabbana" exclaims my friend and give it as wrong. Ocean, Giorgini (the names of some of his latest creations) ... a triumph of colors and shapes to be admired ... without being able to photograph! For me as an easy step from is difficult but the keeper careful notes and I desist. Save images from the site www.fondazionerobertocapucci.com.

Single worry: too few clothes on display. Tickets (6 euros one whole) includes admission to the Museum Annigoni, the Milanese artist of the twentieth century who did not know and whose works are preserved. Now back doing a brief stop in the little church of Santa Felicita where it is kept The Deposition of Pontormo. It will be for the bright colors, will be almost sculptured forms, Pontormo I think the Capucci of Mannerism.

We cross Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge) that, so decorated with ornaments and Christmas lights, shines even more, and take the lungarno until you reach the museum Horne whose story is somewhat similar to that of Stibbert. Again a rich English gentleman, in love with Florence and great art collector, gave birth to this museum leaving a legacy to the city. Besides the beauty of works of art, what I liked most of this museum is visiting seems to be in a Renaissance house, furnished with tables, chairs, chests and other furniture at the time, and I feel somewhat as Roberto Benigni in the movie We just have to cry (Non ci resta che piangere).

Satisfy view, it is time to satisfy even the stomach and so we decide to grant us the 'luxury' to a stop at Cafe Pazskowski afternoon, a cafe that historians overlook the Piazza della Repubblica: a tea rose in winter to you, a warm milk with an apple flan I for a total of EUR 19.50! But sometimes it's nice pamper a while '.

After a stroll around the shops and the market of San Lorenzo dinner at the restaurant ZA ZA, where he eats well, the flows are abundant and spends just (a great appetizer for two, a first and two seconds, water and covered at 56 euros), and at the end of the evening we go to the pub Colle Beret in piazza Strozzi. Sunday 30. The following day begins with the Alinari Museum, in Piazza Santa Maria Novella, we are lucky, is the last day of the exhibition devoted to Japanese Shinjo Ito whose art was strongly influenced by Buddhist religion. Along with its statues, permanent exhibit some of the many photographs belonging to the fund Alinari showing landscapes, costumes and characters of the past. Left the museum cast a last glance at the church of Santa Maria Novella with the beautiful facade made by Leon Battista Alberti.

Upstream along the path of beautiful women, some 'hidden to the eye, there is a strange door once used by wine merchants to pass their flasks avventori and two steps in the square Antinori, visit the church of Saints Michael and Gaetano, beautiful baroque. What a pity it had not been able to see the painting by Pietro da Cortona, whose restoration should end at the beginning of the year again. We will come back for sure! A sandwich and street toward the ultimate goal of this weekend Florentine Palazzo Medici Riccardi. In addition to the magnificent painting cycle of Benozzo Gozzoli that adorned the walls of the chapel of the palace, already in via Cavour Via Larga, it is now possible to admire the beautiful painting by Raphael depicts the Madonna of the goldfinch in stages of restoration just completed are shown through panels explanatory. Find some information on the site www.palazzo-medici.it

Let's go even a little 'a stroll to shops, from the International Feltrinelli bookshop in front of the museum. For more information about museums, restaurants, cited in this mini tour will mark the information found on the site www.agriturismo.net / Tuscan-info and the guide Tuscany and unusual secret. Really unusual and secret can be a tourist town like Florence who visited houses in corners, museums, palaces, unusual views, which should be viewed alongside the Uffizi and the Duomo.