Dishing love for The Florentine, the English news magazine for Florence lovers!!

Best. view. ever. From Piazzale Michelangelo. Firenze, Italia.

I was introduced to the incredible publication, The Florentine, in 2015 when I was in planning mode for a return visit to Florence. I simply wanted access to events and exhibits information and what I received when I signed up for the newsletter and started following The Florentine on social media was beautifully curated insight into the monthly happenings in the city known as the “Birthplace of the Renaissance”.

During my dive into The Florentine’s offerings, I connected with Mary Gray the publication’s Events + associate editor  and Editor, The Tuscan Times. I shared with Mary that I fell in love with Florence during the summer of 1992 when I was a student of the Florida State University International Program and how much the glorious city meant to me as she was gathering quotes and stories from “Repeat Visitors” (like me). Fast forward to my sheer joy as I read the April 2017 issue of The Florentine and saw my quote included in the article aptly titled “The Returners“.

Dishing about being eternally drawn to Firenze!

Click on the hyperlinks to view the article and follow The Florentine on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and sign up for the newsletter!

2015 – Il Duomo

For more dishing about Florence, put “Florence” in the search box on the home page of The Candi Dish blog and all articles will pop up!

Overjoyed to have my product invention: RestoPresto with me on this return visit to Florence!

Remembering the 1966 Florence Flood

2015 - Il Duomo

2015 – Il Duomo

Adoring Firenze passionately is somewhat of a pastime at The Candi Dish! It is a magical city that exudes charm, transcendent beauty and unique history: some obvious (IL DUOMO,) and some hidden (VASARI CORRIDOR). One significant and devastating piece of history occurred exactly 50 years ago today. On November 4, 1966, after a long period of steady rain the Arno River flooded Firenze. The flood took the precious lives of people and destroyed millions of masterpieces.

With RestoPresto on the Arno!

With RestoPresto on the Arno!

At its highest, the water reached over 22 feet in Santa Croce. If you have been to Florence, this statistic is quite shocking.

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Basilica di Santa Croce

Here are 2 photos that I took last year that show one of the “high water mark” signs from 2 different angles on the side of a building in the Oltrarno.

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Close up of the “high water mark” sign that reads: “Qui arrivo la piena dell’Arno”

 

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The “high water mark” sign on the side of a building in the Oltrarno.

My first of many visits to Firenze was in 1992 when I entered the Florida State University International Program Study Abroad Program that summer. I was in love with the city immediately and can honestly say that my 6 weeks in Firenze changed my life in the most wonderful ways. The FSU Florence Program is celebrating its 50th Anniversary as well which means that the first round of students experienced the Arno flood in November 1966. There is a wonderful documentary by Breanna Bruner interviewing former students who were there in 1966 and how they became Angeli del Fango (“Mud Angels) – here is a link to the video: https://youtu.be/Ymf92c4cm0Q

I am proud to be a FSUIP Alum!

So today, 50 years later I honor the lives lost, the generous Angeli del Fango whose speedy volunteer efforts to save damaged pieces led to the restoration of many fine works of art and magnificent Firenze, herself.

If you are interested in a firsthand account of what was happening in Firenze after the flood, here is a terrific article by Jonah Jones via The Florentinehttp://www.theflorentine.net/lifestyle/2016/11/memories-1966-florence-flood/

For stunning photos of the flood, click on this link to the Foto Locchi site which has archived photos taken in Firenze following the disaster: http://www.fotolocchi.it/it/

 

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