Following the retirement of 77-year-old Cardinal Giuseppe Betori, 54-year-old Don Gherardo Gambelli, a missionary, will take his place as the new archbishop of Florence. Betori sent in his letter of resignation to Pope Francis over two years ago upon reaching the age limit for his position. In Spring 2024, Pope Francis appointed Gambelli as the replacement. Betori said he believed Gambelli to be perfectly suited to the role. Betori, appointed Cardinal by [...]
After three decades of legal battles, New York University (NYU) will retain its study abroad campus on Via Bolognese, Florence. This decision was reached by the civil court of Florence following a dispute initiated by Liana Beacci and carried forward by her children, who claimed hereditary rights over Villa Pietra and its art collection, along with four other villas, the surrounding land, and garden. The international law firm Hogan Lovells represented NYU in [...]
In the neighborhood of Le Cure, a man named Marco has started an unusual endeavor: a public library in the railway underpass. Since the fall of 2023, Marco, who is homeless, has set up a temporary home in the underpass, which connects Viale Don Minzoni and Viale dei Mille. He’s not alone in this regard, as several others use the walkway as shelter from the elements. He is, however, the only residential librarian. [...]
Florence is adding the green to the city with five new urban gardens. The gardens will be entrusted to the citizens, associations, and neighborhood organizations to manage. Residents will be allowed to plant whatever they like in the gardens. The local community also has the commitment of carrying out educational, social, and cultural activities that have been financed with €110,000. The project is supported by the CR Firenze Foundation, and will be implemented, [...]
Roberto Cavalli passed away in the comfort of his own home at the age of 83 on Thursday, April 11. His funeral was today, April 15, at the church of San Miniato. A world-renowned designer who never let his long-term health problems stop him from enjoying life, he leaves behind his partner, Sara Bergman Nilsson, and his six children, one of whom was born in March 2023. Cavalli was a successful fashion designer [...]
One of Florence’s most iconic landmarks, the Ponte Vecchio, is set to undergo a restoration and conservation project. The project will primarily focus on the paving, arches, and piers of the bridge, with an investment of 2 million euros. Funding for the restoration is being provided by the Municipality of Florence in conjunction with one major sponsor, the Antinori family. The restoration project is scheduled to begin in October 2024 and will be [...]
Eike Schmidt, director of the Uffizi Gallery from 2014 until the beginning of 2024 and currently the director of the Capodimonte Museum in Naples, has formally announced his candidacy in the election for mayor in Florence, scheduled on June 8 and 9. Schmidt, who became an Italian citizen in 2024, is a dual national and a native of Germany. In a press conference, he noted that he threw his hat in the ring [...]
There’s another Michelangelo in Florence, Vigna Michelangelo, a new urban vineyard. Reviving a medieval tradition, the vineyard, the first planted in modern times, is perched on a hill right next to Piazzale Michelangelo, overlooking the city’s skyline and the historic district of San Niccolo. The vineyard is meant to replicate Florence ‘s original urban landscape, which once comprised patches of countryside parallel to medieval streets. The presence of nature in Florence was recorded [...]
The management of the ACF Fiorentina soccer team announced the death of CEO Joe Barone on Tuesday, March 19. Barone’s body will be brought to Florence from Milan for a service at the stadium, and a funeral with his family will be held in Sicily, where he was born. After the funeral, his remains will return to the United States. Fiorentina has released the following statement: “Rocco Commisso (Fiorentina owner) and his family, [...]
A group of five young climate activists associated with the Last Generation group staged a protest the morning of March 3 at the Uffizi Gallery in front of the Botticelli’s painting of Primavera (Spring). The activists attached photos to the glass protecting the artwork and the walls around the room. Custodians turned off the light asking visitors to leave while the protestors shouted phrases in defense of climate and the environment. Having purchased [...]
