Arnolfo, the origins of the Florentine Renaissance
Museum of Santa Maria del Fiore, Piazza del Duomo 9, Florence

Arnolfo Di Cambio was an architect and a sculpture, one of the greatest of the later part of the two hundreds. This exhibition at Museo dell'Opera in Florence closes the season of VIIth centenary celebrations of the artist Arnolfo. There are more ten hundred works presented at the exhibition, and many of them comes from Florence where Arnolfo also is associated with some of the major monuments of this period. An exhibition dedicated to sculpture with masterpieces in loan from both Italy and abroad. For example you will be able to admire the "Madonna" of the school of Nicola Pisano in Berlin and the statue of Charles d’Anjou from the Capitoline Museum. But there will also be paintings, gold work and sculptures describing for us the artistic scene in the city of Florence during the period of Arnolfo.

The Exhibition has been extended up to the 21st of May

The Florence Museum of Santa Maria del Fiore is found in Piazza del Duomo n. 9. The museum is open every day from 9.00 to 19.30, full price is 10,00 euros and reduced is 8,50 euros.

Chianti Sculpture Park
Pievasciata, Siena See map

A project of integrating art and nature using international sculpture works, each one expressed in different materials has resulted a unique art experience, The Chianti Sculpture Park. It has recently opened but is already a "must" stopping place, if you are travelling through the Chianti area. Artist from no less than five different continents where asked to first select their prefeable spot in this already stunning landscape, and then make a proposal of a sculpture to arrange there. In this way the park developed into a work of art, with sculptures in total harmony with the trees and light surrounding them, art integrated with the nature!

So if you are travelling in this region of Italy don't miss out on this unusual promenade through the Tuscan landscape. The sculpture park is found in the Chianti region close to the village of Fornace, visiting the homepage of the park, you will find all the information on how to reach it ( in english of course )

The park is open from April to October, from 10:00 am to Sunset. From November to March it is advisable to call first: 0577-357151. The entrance fee is 7,50 euro, 5 euros if you are under 16 years.

Florence over Christmas

If you are visiting Florence over Christmas here are some tips on how to find the right Christmas atmosphere in the renaissance city. The markets is yearly returning tradition, and you will find several of them throughout the city, the most important is the one in Piazza Santa Croce, here you'll find traditional Christmas biscuits, wine and decoration.


If you are strolling down Piazza Republica you will find the giant decorated Christmas tree and if you are travelling with kids, maybe a visit to the ice-skating rink in piazza della Libertà is a good idea. Another guarantee for the right atmosphere is the Christmas concerts. This year there are no less then 30 different ones organised all over town. Music will be played in churches, museums and libraries, sacred as well as classical and contemporary. We can mention that the 29th of December at the "Altana della Biblioteca delle Oblate" the choir "Piccolo coro di melograno" will perform music of Brahms and Coppio Ferri. Also keep in mind the Teatro della Pergola where several concert will be performed during the holidays.


Finally there is the big new years eve concert in Piazza Santa Croce but if you prefer why not celebrate the new year in the Uffizi center, surrounded by centuries of art and history?. In front of the Uffizi gallery this big party will take place for the second year in the row.

Photography exhibition by Gruppo Fotografico Pientino
Pienza

This is a photographic research on the main gardens and green areas within five district of the Val d'Orcia natural park. In the splendid town of Pienza, where the historical centre is on the world heritage list since 1996, this event is organised by Gruppo Fotografico Pientino with the aim to show 600 portrait photos of the beautiful "Val d'Orcia Historic Gardens".

Michelangelo's Architecture at San Lorenzo, four open questions
Florence
Casa Buonarroti, Via Ghibellina 70

Thanks to the drawings of Michelangelo in Casa Buonarroti and other works of art from prestigious Italian and international collections this exhibition is presented. An exhibition which has as main theme the discussion of the incompleteness of Brunelleschi's famous basilica.
This is also an occasion to a deeper study of Michelangelo's role as architect in one of the most famous and visited artistic monuments, with the help of digital renderings and three-dimensional models. The exhibition focuses on four key issues and the aim is to try and straighten out some questions regarding this four themes. The intervention in the New Sacristy, the stair hall of the Laurentian Library, the construction of the Tribuna delle Reliquie and the drawings for the mysterious triangular-plan "Secret Library" that was never realised.

Tickets: full price Euros 6,50, reduced price Euros 4,00, schools Euros 3,00
Opening hours: 9.30 - 14.00, closed on Tuesdays.

Autumn in Chianti
Gastronomic festival in the Chianti region

This food and wine event is organised in eight different municipalities of the Chianti region. It was created to rediscover and explore the traditional Tuscan cuisine. The event is characterized by the participation of 58 typical restaurants spread over the municipalities of Castelnuovo Berardenga, Barberino, Castellina, Gaiole, Greve, Radda, San Casciano e Tavarnelle. Each one presenting a particular menu following a theme, with promotional prices and as guest of honour the "Extra vergine olive oil".

Festival of Val d’Arbia.
Festival of Val d’Arbia is kept in in Buonconvento, Siena. The festivity recalls on the ancient market of cattle and merchandise that was originally held the 24th of September. Today it consists of different shows, sport events, typical products from the area, merchandise of all kind, aswell as art and sculpture.