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Dinner in Florence: Pizzeria del Caffè Italiano

Entrance to Caffè Italiano

By Paige Gherardi

For a couple months I had been walking by this pizza place that always has a line of Italians out the door. I passed by the Osteria del Caffè Italiano where I have had great meals before, but the Pizzeria del Caffè Italiano is separate from the main restaurant and is always full. Last Saturday we decided to try it. The pizzeria does not take reservations and patrons write their names on a list to get a table then wait outside until their name is called. Looking in from Via dell’Isola delle Stinche, a small room of tables and a station complete with a pizzaiolo and a wood fired oven invite guests to try their pizza napoletana that both looks and smells delicious. There is also another room behind what you can see from the door, but just to give an idea of how popular it is, there was a line of 10 people waiting with every table full at 7:30 PM on a Saturday night – and that’s early for most Florentines! After waiting about 20 minutes for a table, my fiancé and I were seated and served very quickly. There was no menu as the pizzeria has three selections each night. Our choices were a traditional margherita (tomato sauce, mozzarella, and a basil leaf), marinara (marinara sauce with herbs), or Napoli (tomato sauce, mozzarella, anchovies, capers, and oregano). We ordered a margherita and a Napoli. Our order was placed immediately since we were within earshot of the pizzaiolo who never takes a break. When I took my first bite of pizza I was glad we waited for a table. It was delicious! The pizza had the perfect balance of sauce and cheese with a crunchy and chewy crust. It was by far the best pizza I have ever eaten in Florence. Each pizza at Caffè Italiano costs €8, but drinks and dessert can make your bill add up. If you’re in the mood to try some great pizza and don’t mind waiting for it, head to Caffè Italiano.

Real pizza napoletana

Note: The Osteria del Caffè Italiano has excellent Tuscan cuisine. Try their “tagliere” appetizer of mixed cold cuts that are sliced when you order. I had the risotto with pecorino cheese and mint and loved it. 

Location: Via dell'Isola delle Stinche, 11/13R

Get there early to avoid the pizza line! 

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Vino Florentino

Marcello Mastroianni famoso per "LA DOLCE VITA"
davanti ad un fiasco di Chianti

By Rocío de León Herrero

Los vinos Florentinos y Toscanos son extremadamente famosos en todo el mundo, gracias a la producción vinícola que se encuentra alrededor de la ciudad de Florencia. La más famosa: el Chianti.

Dos de las principales familias nobles de Florencia, Antinori y Frescobaldi, empezaron la produción de vinos hace 8 siglos, y entre ellos, siempre hubo una relación de extrema rivalidad.

En Florencia podrás visitar una "Cantina" para gozar de degustaciones de vinos como:Chianti Clasico, Brunello di Montalcino, o el famoso Ornellaia; o una "Enoteca" para hacer un tour de la producción de vino.

Para gozar del buen vino en Florencia, encontrarás un "vinaino" que son pequeños puestos donde puedes degustar el buen vino acompañado por algun aperitivo.

Los Florentinos suelen quedar para tomarse un vino ya que es costumbre aquí y suelen ir a los "Vinaino" y pasar las horas con amigos bebiendo vinos buenísimos a un precio muy económico.

Take Italian at ISTITUTO EUROPEO

 

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Cursos de italiano Istituto Europeo Florencia. Entrevista de Italiano a la estudiante Mexicana Aranea

Aranea a la izquierda, Rocio a la derecha

ESTUDIOS DE ITALIANO – ARANEA KURI

Realizado por Rocio de Leon Herrero

¿Por qué decidiste venir a Italia para realizar tus estudios de italiano?

·         Porque me encanta el idioma y no hay nada como venir al país de la lengua madre para aprenderlo entre otras cosas como lo mucho que me gusta la comida italiana, la cultura y la belleza del País.

¿Cómo conociste el Istituto Europeo?

·         Estuve buscando escuelas en Internet que tuvieran la opción de estudiar Italiano a la vez que clases de canto y piano, y esta fue la que mas me atrajo porque era la que mejor plan de estudios tenia a la vez que un precio accesible y el personal respondió a todas mis dudas muy amablemente.

¿Por qué quieres estudiar italiano? ¿Estudiabas Italiano en México?

·         Porque me gusta viajar y aprender nuevos idiomas, especialmente el Italiano.

·         Empecé a estudiarlo en México pero mi grupo de italiano cerró y comencé a estudiarlo vía internet.

Cuéntame un poco sobre tu experiencia en el Istituto Europeo… ¿Como la clasificarías? Buena, mala… etc.

·         Soy persona de pocas palabras pero lo que si puedo decir del Istituto Europeo es que es un centro de muy alto nivel, el cual te motiva y te involucra en el estudio de italiano por el ambiento que hay en el mismo.

·         Por lo tanto mi experiencia aquí ha sobre pasado mis expectativas.

¿Qué te parecen los profesores y su técnica de enseñanza? ¿Cambiarias alguna técnica?

·         Sinceramente lo que más me ha gustado de este centro, es la manera de enseñanza que tienen aquí ya que me he sentido muy cómoda y motivada. Los profesores tiene mucha paciencia y  te alientan de forma muy positiva que es algo que no había encontrado en los diferentes cursos de italiano que he realizado.

¿Te cuesta entender a tus profesores?

·         No me cuesta entenderles ya que hablan muy despacio y vocalizando  y se asegura que lo hayamos entendido.

¿Qué te parece Florencia como ciudad? ¿Cómo te estás adaptando?

·         Me parece una ciudad muy tranquila y romántica y se me hace excelente para venir a aprender música e italiano.

·         Los primeros días fueron difíciles por el cambio clima, de horario y en general porque siempre cuesta adaptarse a una cultura diferente.

¿Qué te parecen las comodidades que el Istituto Europeo te ofrece?

·         Tengo accesibilidad a todo lo que necesito como aulas para estudio e internet y una secretaria que siempre está dispuesta a ayudarte.

ISTITUTO EUROPEO Study Abroad: Florence Tram Making Progress

By Paige Gherardi

The first line of the Florence tram linking the Santa Maria Novella Station to Scandicci has been a great success. And this Saturday construction on the second tram line will finally begin – a project that is starting 2 years later than expected. Connecting the Peretola airport with Piazza dell’Unità, there is high demand for the second tram line to be finished. The Florence community is hopeful that construction will be quick and smooth, unlike the 7 year project for the first line full of obstacles and delays. Mayor Matteo Renzi will also unveil plans for an underground tram on Saturday. Both underground lines are projected start at the Santa Maria Novella train station and pass through Piazza della Repubblica. From there the line would branch with one track extending through Piazza San Marco and Piazza della Libertà to finish in Campo di Marte. The second branch would continue to Piazza Santa Croce and pass through Viale Europa and South Florence to end at Bagno Ripoli. Right now the estimated costs for these underground tram lines is roughly 40 million euros per kilometer with an estimated finish date of 2020. It is a project long anticipated by Florentine citizens who are growing more wary on whether the tram system will ever be fully realized.

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ISTITUTO EUROPEO Study Abroad: The Return of Ghiberti's Golden Door

By Paige Gherardi

Ghiberti’s infamous Porta del Paradiso is finally nearing the end of a 21 year restoration. The door depicts 10 stories from the Old Testament in equal squares. This masterpiece is one of the first works that took in the aspect of perspective when working with gold and bronze and took Ghiberti 26 years to compete from 1425-1452. It remained in Piazza Duomo for hundreds of years exposed to harsh weather conditions and threats of destruction by war. In the 1700s the gold was completely covered by a dark varnish to lessen the luminosity of the door – something typical of the neoclassical style. In 1943 the Porta del Paradiso was removed from the Baptistery when World War II arrived in Florence. The door and several other treasured works were transported out of Florence and were returned in 1948. Then the flood of 1966 threatened to ruin the door when violent flood waters pushed it open and caused 6 of the 10 golden squares fixated to the door with bronze to fall. Seemingly a tragedy for the Porta del Paradiso, it proved to be a blessing for restoration methods in that the squares could be screwed on to the door. Now each scene could be worked on separately and the intricate door frame could also be better taken care of. In the 1980s researchers found that humidity between the gold and bronze of the door created an oxide that contributed to corrosion. For this reason it became more urgent to remove the door from the extreme weather conditions it could endure in Piazza Duomo.     

The weathered golden door was removed from the Baptistery in 1990 and replaced by a bronze replica. Since then only two people have worked on cleaning and restoring tarnished parts of the door. Methods of preservation in the past had done more damage than good from the use of acids that were traditionally used to clean marble. While the 6 squares that had fallen off during the flood were an easier task for restoration, but it proved to be much more difficult to approach the task of restoring the other 4 squares and the other 46 elements of the frieze. Experts first tried to use a metal frame attached to the various parts of the door to remove the pieces. In this method they were able to remove the remaining 4 squares and 8 elements of the frieze. In 2000 it became possible to use a laser method to detach the remaining elements of the door. Now all that remains is to transport this magnificent piece of history to its new home in the Museo dell’Opera del Duomo.

Source: http://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/arte_e_cultura/2011/29-ottobre-2011/ritorno-paradiso-1901985397398.shtml

ISTITUTO EUROPEO Study Abroad: Halloween in Firenze

Old Stove Signoria decorated for Halloween

By Paige Gherardi

While Halloween isn’t a traditonal Italian holiday, its popularity is growing in Florence. From costume parties to themed dinners, the historic center will host many different Halloween events tonight. Most pubs and discos are already adorned with pumpkins, spider webs, and even human limbs to kick off their Halloween parties. The Old Stove Signoria will have a live band and costume party. The Odeon is showing the Rocky Horror Picture Show with audience participation. YAB, Central Park and Otel are having Halloween parties. Just about every angle in Florence will have something themed around Halloween or All Saints Day. If you’re thinking about celebrating, it’s not too late to find a costume either. The Dreoni toy store on Via Cavour has lots of options, and most 99 cent stores are stocked with wigs, accessories, and masks. Check out the following websites for more information about tonight’s events:

http://www.firenzenotte.it/

http://www.toscanaetirreno.com/it/blog/halloween-toscana-lista-completa-con-tutte-le-feste-halloween-firenze-pisa-siena

http://english.firenze.net/turismo/cm_dettaglio.wbs?id_contenuto=268530&id_categorie=92

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