2024

It is one of the oldest scientific museum in Europe and on February 21, after four years of work, its suggestive rooms reopen, rich in anatomical and botanical waxes. In preview, the spectacular of Palazzo Bini Torrigiani in via Romana was visited by the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella in the Tuscan capital on 8 February for the hundred years of the University of Florence.

One of the most requested appointments from Florentine lovers also returns this year: the toast on the Torre di Palazzo Vecchio. On February 14, on the occasion of the Valentine’s Day, the party of lovers, the Municipality of Florence and Mus.e propose a special afternoon dedicated to those who love each other. To all couples, from 19 to 20:30 (reservations required, limited places) will be given the unmissable opportunity to visit the walkway of Ronda and the Torre di Palazzo Vecchio, until it reaches its top along the stone staircase consisting of 223 steps that allows you to reach the last level of sighting, from which you can enjoy a wonderful 360 ° view of the city.

What we see in the photo is not the famous Raffaello masterpiece that many of you will certainly have already admired to the Uffizi. It is a copy and is located in the National Gallery of Capodimonte in Naples. It is said that one day Federico Gonzaga visiting Florence had been amazed by the beauty of this picture performed by Raffaello on behalf of Pope Leo X who had made himself portrayed together with the cousin Cardinal Giulio dei Medici (that is, the one destined to become Pope Clement VII) And to the other cardinal/cousin, Luigi de ‘Rossi. Federico Gonzaga asked that picture as a gift and Clement VII told him yes. When Ottaviano dei Medici he knew him a blow: no, he could not let herself leave lightly the masterpiece. So it was that Ottaviano decided to deceive the Pope, asking him for permission to be able to take the picture to equip him with a more beautiful frame. In reality Ottaviano called in secret Andrea del Sarto to make a copy, a copy that had to be perfect. Andrea del Sarto performed it. The result is what we see in the photo: I challenge anyone to recognize it from the original of Raffaello. The “crust”, if you can speak of crust, was sent to Mantua. Among other things, Giulio Romano, ex-Collaborator, indeed, worked in Mantua, indeed, Raffaello’s right arm, who had also taken part in the drafting of the original picture. It seems that not even he realized that it was a copy, so much had been well performed by Andrea Del Sarto who was not for nothing, the “painter without errors” was nicknamed.