CitySiesta Blog

Attention all chocolate lovers from around the world! If you are traveling to Florence in February, you are in for a tasty treat.

From Febrary 4th to 7th 2010, Tuscany’s capital will host one of the sweetest and most delightful fairs in Italy: the Artisan Chocolate Fair. This is an annual event where tourists and locals are looking to get their chocolate fix surrounded by countless flavors and smells: almond, walnut, lavender, pistachio and peperoncino bars, spirits and are just a few of the products that you can sample.

Tuscany is actually Italy’s second most important region for chocolate production and the first for historical tradition. However, the fair is not only a celebration of Italian chocolate: the event, indeed, will also host international maître chocolatiers, who will graciously display both their traditional and out-of-the-ordinary creations to the public.

The fair takes place in Piazza Santa Croce and the program includes sampling, games, shows and live music. Also, in previous years, there has been photography workshops and other interactive events. There is basically something for everyone.

If you wish to visit the city, and at the same time, to enjoy the Artisan Chocolate Fair, make a reservation now in one of our Florence apartments. Don’t miss the opportunity to indulge yourself. This is cocoa paradise!

For more information on the Artisan Chocolate Fair visit the Firenze Turismo website.

Ah Florence! This romantic Italian paradise is one of the most beloved cities in the world. It represents the birthplace of the Renaissance, the famous cultural revolution that paid homage to the spirit of ancient Greece. It’s the home of Dante, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and the Medici, just to name a few.

Its countless breathtaking works of art can be found in every corner on the old city and the beautiful architecture is full of rich history: museums, cathedrals, galleries and ancient buildings all tell a story of greater times. This is paradise for all the art lovers.

And if you are in fact an art lover, you know you can’t miss the famous Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore. The Duomo is one of the most impressive works of art of all times. This cathedral, built between the 13th and 14th centuries, was designed by Filippo Brunelleschi and it was considered a symbol of wealth and power of the Tuscan capital.

But beware of the Duomo’s mesmerizing beauty – or any of the magnificent architectural structures for that matter-. If you let yourself be overpowered by the greatness and beauty of any work of art, you can suffer from “Stendhal’s Syndrome”. This rare illness was named after the famous French author Stendhal (1783 -1842), when, visiting the Church of Santa Croce, was dazzled by its beauty and was unable to walk.

Florentine doctors treat hundreds of cases each year of people who experience rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucination in some cases when being exposed to art.

Sounds crazy, right? But this rare condition can also be suffered in the natural world, when witnessing any of mother nature’s wonders (and I’m not referring to the 7 Wonders of Nature).

So be careful when visiting Florence for the first time, it could take your breath away, literally!

Wine & Fashion Florence is an annual festival where Tuscan wine and fashion houses come together for a one-of-a-kind gastronomic and cultural experience.

For the 9th time, fashion, food and wine become the leading stars of this 5-day event. From December 8th to 12th, both locals and tourists will have the chance to taste the unique and irresistible proposals from renowned local chefs while enjoying the finest Tuscan wine. 

The main goal of this event is to  highlight the quality of work produced by local craftspeople and to develop and enhance the area’s international profile in relation to the strategic markets of Germany, Japan and the USA. The exhibition organized and promoted by the Florence branch of the National Confederation of Craft Industries and brings together  top Italian wine estates and fashion designers.

Exclusive designer collections from the most respected artists will be presented in the upscale location of the Uffizi, during 5 days of glamour, fine eating and aperitifs. Ermanno Scervino, Braccialini and Consorzio Centopercento are just some of the houses that will take pride in presenting their fabulous creations to the public.

The wines will be on display in the historic corridor of the Uffizi, within crystal cases, among the most famous sculptures and paintings of the world to be admired by visitors will be able to understand the history and passion behind every single bottle.

For more information and full programme visit the Wine & Fashion Florence official website.