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I-Florence by Dotflorence staff is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribuzione-Non opere derivate 2.5 Italia License.
Based on a work at www.i-florence.com
Posts Tagged ‘Arts’
Villa il Gioiello…the house of Galileo
Villa il Gioiello (“The Jewel”) is a villa in Florence, central Italy, famous for being one of the residences of Galileo Galilei, which he lived in from 1631 until his death in 1642. It is also known as Villa Galileo (not to be confused with the other homes of Galileo found in Florence, which are in Costa San Giorgio, as well as a villa in Bellosguardo).
The name Gioiello was given due to its favorable position in the hills of Arcetri, near the Torre del Gallo. It was an elegant home, surrounded by many acres of farmland with a separate house for workers. It is recorded in the cadastre of 1427 to have been owned by Tommaso di Cristofano Masi and his brothers, who later passed it on to the Calderini family in 1525, where it is first mentioned as “The Jewel”. The villa and its estate suffered damages during the siege of Florence in the years 1529 and 1530, whilst the entire area of Arcetri and Pian dei Giullari were occupied by Imperial troops. Calderini I sold it shortly thereafter to the Cavalcanti family, who rebuilt the home with its original simple lines, preserving its elegant look to the present day.
This rented residence with its fields, adjoined the monastery where his daughter, Sister Maria Celeste (born Virginia) was a nun. » Read more…
Florence Crafts and Florence Art
Florence is renown for its top quality craftrnanship, handed down through centuries of tradition, and for its elegance and good taste in creation.
Typical are Florentine straw products, original articles of clothing and furnishings as well as the finest leather, known for its exquisitely refined workmanship; ceramics and glassware; wood and metal crafts, furniture and bric-a brae, in other words, a host of Florentine artisan crafts are available at convenient prices to suit all tastes and all ages. Tailoring and fashion in Florence have a particular graceful look that is totally unique, especially intimate apparel and embroideries.
Much sought after – in the city that devotes Christmas to Benvenuto Cellini - are the siIver and goldsmiths, jewelers, filigree, mosaics and precious stones.