Podcasts about florentines

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Unexpected Encounters: Love Blossoms by the Duomo Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-06-10-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: La piazza del Duomo brulicava di vita quel pomeriggio di tarda primavera.En: La piazza del Duomo was bustling with life that late spring afternoon.It: Luce calda e vibrante cadeva sulla facciata intricata del Duomo, creando un gioco di ombre che pareva danzare al ritmo del via vai dei turisti e dei fiorentini.En: Warm, vibrant light fell on the intricate facade of the Duomo, creating a play of shadows that seemed to dance to the rhythm of tourists and Florentines hustling by.It: L'aria era impregnata dal profumo invitante delle trattorie vicine.En: The air was filled with the inviting aroma of nearby trattorie.It: Luca, con un blocco da disegno sotto il braccio, osservava il Duomo, cercando di catturare l'essenza delle sue curve e dei suoi dettagli gotici.En: Luca, with a sketchbook under his arm, observed the Duomo, trying to capture the essence of its curves and gothic details.It: Era un giovane studente d'arte, attento ai particolari, ma spesso distratto dalla bellezza che lo circondava.En: He was a young art student, attentive to details but often distracted by the beauty surrounding him.It: Nel frattempo, Sofia passeggiava per la piazza, alla ricerca di qualcosa che spezzasse la monotonia della sua routine.En: Meanwhile, Sofia strolled through the square, searching for something to break the monotony of her routine.It: Fiorentina di nascita, adorava la sua città, ma sentiva il bisogno di una boccata d'aria fresca.En: A native Florentine, she adored her city but felt the need for a breath of fresh air.It: Giorgio, il venditore di gelato, osservava con sguardo divertito da dietro il suo banco.En: Giorgio, the ice cream vendor, watched amusedly from behind his counter.It: Era un uomo affabile, noto tra i locali per il suo gelato gustoso e i suoi commenti spiritosi.En: He was a friendly man, known among the locals for his tasty ice cream and witty remarks.It: Quel giorno, notò Luca e Sofia dirigersi contemporaneamente verso un cono gelato non reclamato.En: That day, he noticed Luca and Sofia heading simultaneously for an unclaimed ice cream cone.It: Le loro mani si incontrarono sopra il fresco dolce e, colti alla sprovvista, si scambiarono un sorriso.En: Their hands met above the cool treat, and taken by surprise, they exchanged a smile.It: “Mi sa che abbiamo lo stesso buon gusto,” disse Luca con un sorriso timido.En: “I guess we have the same good taste,” said Luca with a shy smile.It: Sofia rise, decidendo in un lampo di dar voce al suo interesse per questa interazione inaspettata.En: Sofia laughed, deciding in a flash to give voice to her interest in this unexpected interaction.It: “Forse dovremmo dividerlo e scoprire cosa altro condividiamo.” Giorgio, che aveva seguito la scena, offrì loro due coni al prezzo di uno, strizzando l'occhio.En: “Maybe we should share it and discover what else we have in common.” Giorgio, who had witnessed the scene, offered them two cones for the price of one, winking.It: “Godetevi il mio gelato con il Duomo sullo sfondo,” disse con un sorriso largo.En: “Enjoy my ice cream with the Duomo in the background,” he said with a broad smile.It: Luca portò a termine il suo disegno con uno sguardo di rammarico, ma capì che l'occasione di conoscere Sofia valeva una pausa dal suo progetto.En: Luca completed his drawing with a look of regret, but he understood that the opportunity to get to know Sofia was worth a break from his project.It: Così i due si incamminarono per le strade di Firenze, parlando di arte, sogni e tutto ciò che stava nascendo tra loro.En: So the two strolled through the streets of Firenze, talking about art, dreams, and everything growing between them.It: Dopo una passeggiata nei vicoli ombreggiati, Sofia condusse Luca verso un bar nascosto su un tetto, un luogo che conservava per momenti speciali.En: After a walk in the shadowy alleys, Sofia led Luca to a hidden rooftop bar, a place she reserved for special moments.It: Da lì, la vista della città era mozzafiato.En: From there, the view of the city was breathtaking.It: “Non porto mai nessuno qui,” confessò Sofia, confidando nell'istinto che la guidava.En: “I never bring anyone here,” Sofia confessed, trusting her instincts.It: Luca la osservò, meravigliato dalla semplicità e dalla bellezza di quel momento.En: Luca watched her, amazed by the simplicity and beauty of the moment.It: “Penso che sto scoprendo qualcosa di più bello della stessa città,” disse, avvicinandosi un poco.En: “I think I'm discovering something more beautiful than the city itself,” he said, moving a little closer.It: Con il calar del sole, i due si scambiarono un piccolo dono: Luca le regalò un disegno del Duomo, mentre Sofia tolse un braccialetto dal polso, offrendoglielo come segno della loro nuova amicizia e di una giornata da ricordare.En: As the sun set, they exchanged small gifts: Luca gave her a drawing of the Duomo, while Sofia took a bracelet off her wrist, offering it to him as a token of their new friendship and a day to remember.It: “Domani sarò di nuovo qui,” disse Luca.En: “I'll be here again tomorrow,” said Luca.It: “Se vuoi, possiamo esplorare un altro angolo nascosto di Firenze.” Sofia acconsentì, i suoi occhi brillanti di una nuova luce.En: “If you want, we can explore another hidden corner of Firenze.” Sofia agreed, her eyes shining with a new light.It: Si salutarono, ognuno portando a casa un pezzo di quello che avevano trovato l'uno nell'altra: un equilibrio tra lavoro e amicizia per Luca, e la gioia della spontaneità per Sofia.En: They said goodbye, each taking home a piece of what they had found in each other: a balance between work and friendship for Luca, and the joy of spontaneity for Sofia.It: Così, la piazza del Duomo, testimone di tanti avvenimenti, accolse il loro primo incontro, promettendo a entrambi nuove avventure e un amore nascente tra le sue antiche pietre.En: Thus, the piazza del Duomo, witness to so many events, embraced their first meeting, promising both new adventures and a budding love among its ancient stones. Vocabulary Words:square: la piazzalife: la vitaafternoon: il pomeriggiofacade: la facciataintricate: intricatashadow: l'ombratourist: il turistanative: il fiorentinoaroma: il profumosketchbook: il blocco da disegnoessence: l'essenzagothic: goticoroutine: la routinebreath: la boccatavendor: il venditorecone: il conounclaimed: non reclamatotreat: il dolcesurprise: la sorpresagift: il donobracelet: il braccialettofriendship: l'amiciziabackground: lo sfondobarkeeper: il baristahidden: nascostomoment: il momentorooftop: il tettobreathtaking: mozzafiatoinstinct: l'istintobalance: l'equilibrio

Fluent Fiction - Italian: Hidden Treasures: An Evening at Boboli Gardens Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/it/episode/2025-04-04-22-34-02-it Story Transcript:It: Nel cuore della primavera, i Giardini di Boboli inondavano Firenze con il profumo dolce dei fiori appena sbocciati.En: In the heart of spring, the Giardini di Boboli inundated Firenze with the sweet fragrance of newly blossomed flowers.It: Lorenzo, Valentina ed Enzo camminavano tra le piante e le sculture, immersi in un mondo di bellezza e storia.En: Lorenzo, Valentina, and Enzo walked among the plants and sculptures, immersed in a world of beauty and history.It: Lorenzo, con un sorriso pieno di orgoglio, raccontava storie antiche ad ogni passo.En: Lorenzo, with a smile full of pride, recounted ancient stories at every step.It: "Questa fontana," diceva, indicando la Fontana dell'Oceano, "è stata progettata da Giambologna."En: "This fountain," he said, pointing to the Fontana dell'Oceano, "was designed by Giambologna."It: Valentina ascoltava, schizzando nel suo taccuino, cercando di catturare l'ispirazione nelle sue linee.En: Valentina listened, sketching in her notebook, trying to capture inspiration in her lines.It: Enzo, invece, seguiva allegramente, godendosi la compagnia dei suoi amici e il tepore del sole di primavera.En: Enzo, on the other hand, cheerfully followed, enjoying the company of his friends and the warmth of the spring sun.It: Tutte queste meraviglie li avevano fatti perdere la nozione del tempo.En: All these wonders had made them lose track of time.It: Mentre il cielo iniziava a tingersi dei colori pastello del tramonto, le campane della città suonavano l'ora.En: As the sky began to be tinged with the pastel colors of sunset, the city's bells chimed the hour.It: Enzo sbadigliò e disse, "Forse dovremmo tornare."En: Enzo yawned and said, "Perhaps we should head back."It: Ma quando giunsero al cancello principale, si resero conto che era chiuso.En: But when they reached the main gate, they realized it was closed.It: Erano rimasti bloccati.En: They were stuck.It: Lorenzo, determinato a dimostrare il suo valore, disse, "Non preoccupatevi.En: Lorenzo, determined to prove his worth, said, "Don't worry.It: Conosco questi giardini come le mie tasche.En: I know these gardens like the back of my hand.It: Troveremo un'altra uscita."En: We'll find another way out."It: Il trio si addentrò nei sentieri intrichi dei giardini.En: The trio ventured into the intricate paths of the gardens.It: Il crepuscolo li avvolgeva insieme a un'inaspettata sensazione di avventura.En: Twilight enveloped them along with an unexpected sense of adventure.It: Sotto il cielo che si faceva sempre più scuro, Lorenzo li guidava con sicurezza, raccontando aneddoti sui Medici e sulle feste rinascimentali.En: Under the increasingly darkening sky, Lorenzo confidently guided them, telling anecdotes about the Medici family and Renaissance festivities.It: Ad un certo punto, mentre seguivano un sentiero tortuoso, sentirono delle risate e intravvidero delle luci in lontananza.En: At a certain point, while following a winding path, they heard laughter and glimpsed lights in the distance.It: Avvicinandosi, scoprirono un gruppo di fiorentini eccentrici, occupati in una caccia al tesoro pasquale clandestina.En: Approaching, they discovered a group of eccentric Florentines engaged in a clandestine Easter treasure hunt.It: Colorati uova di Pasqua erano nascoste tra le siepi e sotto le panchine.En: Colorful Easter eggs were hidden among the hedges and under the benches.It: "Che sorpresa!En: "What a surprise!"It: ", esclamò Valentina, mentre un uomo con un cappello di paglia li invitava a unirsi alla festa.En: exclaimed Valentina, as a man with a straw hat invited them to join the festivity.It: Enzo saltò sull'occasione: "Che ne dici, Lorenzo?"En: Enzo jumped at the chance: "What do you say, Lorenzo?"It: Inaspettatamente, Lorenzo accettò.En: Unexpectedly, Lorenzo agreed.It: Si unirono al gioco, dimenticando la loro situazione e godendosi la compagnia di nuovi amici.En: They joined the game, forgetting their situation and enjoying the company of new friends.It: Risate, colori e uma calorosa ospitalità riempivano la sera.En: Laughter, colors, and warm hospitality filled the evening.It: Alla fine delle celebrazioni, uno degli organizzatori offrì loro una via d'uscita.En: At the end of the celebrations, one of the organizers offered them a way out.It: Attraverso un passaggio segreto, guidò Lorenzo, Valentina ed Enzo fuori dai giardini.En: Through a secret passage, he led Lorenzo, Valentina, and Enzo out of the gardens.It: Mentre camminavano verso casa, Lorenzo si rese conto che l'esperienza aveva superato le sue aspettative.En: As they walked home, Lorenzo realized that the experience had exceeded his expectations.It: "Forse," rifletté ad alta voce, "è più importante vivere il momento che mostrare le proprie conoscenze."En: "Perhaps," he reflected aloud, "it's more important to live in the moment than to show off one's knowledge."It: Valentina ed Enzo annuirono, sorridendo sotto la luna brillante.En: Valentina and Enzo nodded, smiling under the bright moon.It: Avevano iniziato la giornata come turisti e l'avevano conclusa come avventurieri, con nuovi amici e una lezione importante sul valore delle esperienze condivise.En: They had started the day as tourists and ended it as adventurers, with new friends and an important lesson on the value of shared experiences. Vocabulary Words:the heart: il cuoreto inundate: inondarethe fragrance: il profumoto blossom: sbocciarethe sculpture: la sculturato immerse: immergerepride: orgoglioancient: anticoto recount: raccontareto sketch: schizzarethe notebook: il taccuinoinspiration: ispirazioneto capture: catturarethe dusk/twilight: il crepuscoloto envelop: avvolgereintricate: intricatothe anecdote: l'aneddotothe festivities: le festewinding: tortuosolaughter: le risatethe distance: la lontananzaeccentric: eccentricoto glimpse: intravvederethe treasure hunt: la caccia al tesoroto engage: occupareclandestine: clandestinothe straw hat: il cappello di pagliathe hospitality: la calorosa ospitalitàthe secret passage: il passaggio segretoto exceed: superare

Send us a textThe Court of Lorenzo de' Medici Part 1: Lorenzo the Magnificent To engage Lorenzo de' Medici's court in Florence, there is no better topic to introduce the subject than the man himself. This episode takes a glance at the life of Lorenzo as the quintessential "Renaissance Man." In his lifetime, not only was he a devoted head of his family, but a clever statesman, a patron of art, literature, and philosophy, and an exceptional architect and poet. More masterfully, Lorenzo had to combine all of these to create decades of cultural production which made concrete the fledgling ideas of his grandfather Cosimo into what we define today as the Renaissance. Through his civic engagement, Lorenzo inspired a generation of patronage that would not only inspire Florentines, but the wider world of European nobility. Central to Lorenzo's narrative is the bloody drama of the Pazzi Conspiracy, the graceful beauty of large-scale mythological painting, and the revival of carnal and evocative vernacular poetry. Follow us/shop/watch: https://linktr.ee/italian_renaissance_podcastGet additional content by becoming a Patron: patreon.com/TheItalianRenaissancePodcast Support the show

From a game for fearless young aristocrats il CALCIO STORICO FIORENTINO was also played on the frozen Arno Rive it became a manifesto for freedom. On February 17, 1530, Florence was besieged by one of the most powerful armies of that time, that of Charles V of Habsburg, the emperor on whose lands, it was said, the sun never set. And while the threatening drums of the besiegers beat, the Florentines, contemptuous of danger, staged in Piazza Santa Croce, well in sight of the enemy, a football match to celebrate Carnival, although the city was exhausted by hunger. This became an event that the historical Florentine memory sculpts and sanctifies. From a game into history, for centuries the defining moment of a collective mood that is not only transmitted through stories, but that every Florentine holds within, was replayed. In the ''Cerimonia del Saluto'' you will hear all the words that bring back the respect for the opponent. When the arena of Calcio shouts the phrase VIVA FIORENZA at the top of its lungs, the emotions are expressed in their fullness and every time a deep affection for Florence is born inside each of us. UNESCO listing: Historic Centre of Florence Recorded by Cristina Italiani and Luca Romagnoli.  IMAGE: Comune di Firenze - http://www.comune.firenze.it/viverefirenze/itinerario3/tratti/tratto1.html Comune di Firenze ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world's most famous sights. Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage

Friends of the Rosary,Today, February 27, the Church honors the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. They were seven noble Florentines who, in the thirteenth century (1240), banded together to penance and meditation on the sorrows of our Lady in the passion of our Savior.Continuing with yesterday's reflection, we were revealed that material goods don't satisfy the hunger in our souls, as we are created to rest in God.Moreover, when we place material things in the center of our concerns, we find ourselves caught in an addictive pattern.We are wrongly convinced that we need more of them and work tirelessly to get more nice things — cars, homes, TVs, clothes — until we find that those don't satisfy us.When we are unattached to material goods and indifferent to them, we remove our anxiety and find the joy and hope of ChristJesus, I Trust In You!Come, Holy Spirit, come!To Jesus through Mary!+ Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New YorkEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play• ⁠February 17, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ETEnhance your faith with the new Holy Rosary University app:Apple iOS | New! Android Google Play

27 Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?Tunc respondens Petrus, dixit ei : Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et secuti sumus te : quid ergo erit nobis? 28 And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.Jesus autem dixit illis : Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secuti estis me, in regeneratione cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis suae, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel. 29 And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.Et omnis qui reliquerit domum, vel fratres, aut sorores, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxorem, aut filios, aut agros propter nomen meum, centuplum accipiet, et vitam aeternam possidebit.Seven noble Florentines founded in 1233 the Order of Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Servites led an austere life, meditating constantly on the Passion of Our Lord and venerating the Blessed Virgin as Our Lady of Sorrows.

Here we talk about the impact the Fall of Constantinople had on Europe as well as learn about the new economy created by the Florentines. Then we jump to other events happening around the world on the 15th century.

Louise Rutkowski in conversation with David Eastuagh https://louiserutkowski.com/ At 19, Louise was signed to CBS Records, recording three singles and an album with soul producer Pete Wingfield with the band Sunset Gun. Prior to forming this band with sister Dee and keyboard player Ross Campbell, Louise, along with sister Dee, performed as backing vocalists for Bourgie Bourgie; a band created by legendary Postcard Records' boss Alan Horne. As part of the This Mortal Coil collective, Louise's distinctive voice can be heard on the Filigree & Shadow and Blood albums, and as lead vocalist on The Hope Blister's critically acclaimed 1998 Smile's OK album, all of which were released on the 4AD Records recording label.

Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?Tunc respondens Petrus, dixit ei : Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et secuti sumus te : quid ergo erit nobis?  28 And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.Jesus autem dixit illis : Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secuti estis me, in regeneratione cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis suae, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel.  29 And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.Et omnis qui reliquerit domum, vel fratres, aut sorores, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxorem, aut filios, aut agros propter nomen meum, centuplum accipiet, et vitam aeternam possidebit. Seven noble Florentines founded in 1233 the Order of Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Servites led an austere life, meditating constantly on the Passion of Our Lord and venerating the Blessed Virgin as Our Lady of Sorrows.

We follow the life of mystic, prophet and monk, Gerolamo Savonarola, who came to have a great moral influence over Florence, particularly after the expulsion of the Medici. His increasing fiery denunciation of the immorality of the Florentines and then the church and pope Alexander VI made him more and more enemies, ready to pounce on him the […]

We follow the life of mystic, prophet and monk, Gerolamo Savonarola, who came to have a great moral influence over Florence, particularly after the expulsion of the Medici. His increasing fiery denunciation of the immorality of the Florentines and then the church and pope Alexander VI made him more and more enemies, ready to pounce on him the moment his popularity waned.

When we started out this podcast, back in February 2021, our main mission was to tell you everything about the lesser known parts of our beloved region, those places you won't find on the cover of your travel guide. While we still try to stick to our original vision, we also love to help out any tourist to get the most of his time in Tuscany. Look for example at one of the most famous landmarks of this land, a bridge that is very quirky and exceedingly popular. I'm sure that the millions of tourists that wander on its cramped road are completely unaware of its incredible history and the many curiosities on this very special place. While it is true that tis bridge is very old, it took many centuries before it was able to withstand the wrath of the notoriously mercurial Arno river. Back in the day it was a much more lively place but also very messy and not particularly reputable. It took a powerful man to turn it into the boutique collection that we see nowadays and make it one of Europe's most sought after shopping place. This place is full of curious things, anecdotes and details that most tourists will never figure out. That is why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to Florence to tell you everything there is to know about the amazing Ponte Vecchio, a bridge that is both very famous and exceedingly quirky.If you listen to the full episode, I will tell you about its troubled history and how, since the time of the Romans, bridges here usually didn't last more than a few years before being swept away by one of the notoriously devastating floods of the Arno. It took a pupil of the famous artist Giotto to figure out the right structure that would allow the bridge to survive even the most destructive of floods and cement its place in Florentine history. The bridge was popular but a bit crass, with noisy shops and very strong smells, something that Grand Duke Ferdinand I found utterly disgusting. It was his decree that evicted the traditional shops and allowed only goldsmiths and jewellers to set up shop there. Now the relationship between Ponte Vecchio and gold is so strong to have become almost symbiotic. While this has kept the venerable bridge alive, it also has some drawbacks. In September 2022 when an upscale bag maker opened a shop on the bridge, it caused a veritable feud that will end up in court soon. Florentines are dead serious when it comes to defending their traditional shopping streets, even if it's turning downtown into an open air museumIn the final chapters I will tell you many curiosities about this famous bridge, from the crazy reason why it's not exactly straight to the curious sun dial that is hidden there to the reason why you will find many small locks under a bronze bust to much much more. If you're in Florence with your significant other, I'll tell you the best place for a memorable snapshot and the best way to experience the bridge from a brand new perspective. Last but not least, I will tell you about an incredibly exclusive restaurant that is not open all the time and allows you to dine quite literally on top of the bridge. This unique experience is all about extreme luxury and comes with an eye-watering price tag: more than 6.000 Euros per couple. For this outrageous price, you will get a menu that is so refined to be filled with real gold. While the scenery is great, you definitely don't need to spend a fortune to enjoy this incredible bridge. It is a bit a monument to consumerism but it's also the heart and soul of this amazing city. Next time you're there, make sure you pay it a visit. It's been around for almost a millennia and is still going strong. Long may it live.Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://associazionepontevecchio.it/storia-del-ponte-vecchio/https://www.firenzetoday.it/social/ponte-vecchio-storia-orafi.htmlhttps://turistipercaso.it/diari-di-viaggio/e-alla-fine-ne-restera-solo-uno-ponte-vecchio.htmlhttps://www.055firenze.it/art/220107/Firenze-prorogato-fino-al-2026-il-Regolamento-Unesco-per-la-tutela-del-centro-storicohttps://corrierefiorentino.corriere.it/firenze/notizie/vivitoscana/15_gennaio_25/ponte-vecchio-cena-mozzafiato-terrazzino-dell-orafo-ae46890c-a4b8-11e4-8530-6130dfbb15a2.shtmlBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Inova - SeamonsterAlmightyZero - AetherialTavs - ControlIncompetech - Leopard Print ElevatorMountswift - AmethystPipe Choir - Almost Time (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/inova-seamonsterhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/almightyzero-aetherialhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/tavs-controlhttps://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500077https://soundcloud.com/argofox/mountswift-amethysthttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-almost-time-instrumental-creative-commonshttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

From Dante To Gallileio. This week we give you an introduction to Renisance Florence, and some famous Florentines who lived in the city of Florence. What made Florence such a giant in the renaissance? Find out this week on "Well That Aged Well". With "Erlend Hedegart»PS: You will hear some music in the background. I apologize for this, but the sound you will hear is clocks that are tuned to chime at diffrent times in the hour in the house of professor Bartlett. It was regrettably nothing we could do anything about, and I apologize from that. Other than this I do hope you enjoy this episodeSupport this show http://supporter.acast.com/well-that-aged-well. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Es ist Mittwoch. Hurra! Das bedeutet eine neue Folge auf eure Öhrchen. Heute zum ersten Mal mit einer Gästin. Florentines ältere Schwester Carolin Florentine... Ja, ihre Eltern haben einfach den Zweitnamen von Florentine für Florentine recycelt. Sowas hinterlässt Spuren. Einen weirden Aschenputtel-Komplex zum Beispiel. Es wird gelacht, historisch zitiert und ein Gewinnspiel ausgerufen. Also bleibt bis zum Ende dran. Es lohnt sich.

In the 2 1/2 years we've spent telling you the stories of this incredible land, we've hardly ever talked about the river that made it what it is. That's not a coincidence as with rising urbanisation and pollution, Tuscans have lost the primal connection to our mother river. While nowadays people only think about the Arno when it becomes dangerously high, things weren't always like this. Up until not many years ago, when people had less disposable income and travelling was much harder, people of the interior spent their summers by the river. The relationship of Florence with its river was much more complex and is now only recovering after the devastating 1966 flood and several decades of neglect. This is why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you by the river to tell you everything there is to know about how Florentines loved their river very deeply.If you listen to the full episode I'll talk about how, from the 1700s, many establishments sprung up on the banks of the Arno. You had a bit of everything: posh places where you had barbers and hairdressers on call and more rowdy spots where furious gossiping often degenerated in wild brawls. The youngsters used the river to prove their prowess, in races that sometimes became quite dangerous. The problem became so serious that the Chamber of Commerce offered a substantial reward for every life saved, only to back down when people started faking drownings. The relationship with the Arno was so deep that, until the 1960s, the famous Rari Nantes waterpolo team used to train and play their games on the river. In the final chapter, I will tell you how Tuscans are rediscovering the Arno, pointing you to several interesting river mini-cruises and even what they call the "Florentine Gondola". There are also trips you can take all along the course of the river, from Pisa to my hometown of Pontedera. Next time you come visit us, why don't you get to know the Arno a bit better. It's got a nasty temper, but it's still a very fascinating river.Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://www.conoscifirenze.it/come-vivevamo-a-firenze/126-Bagni-in-Arno-uno-stile-di-vita..htmlhttp://www.archivi.toscana.it/visti-da-vicino/percorsi/una-citta-e-il-suo-fiume-firenze-e-la-vita-lungo-larno/divertirsi-in-arno-i-bagnihttps://ilpopolopisano.it/1595-bagno-in-arno?amp=1https://www.trattoriazaza.it/larno-non-solo-dargento/https://www.larno.it/2022/03/21/quando-larno-era-una-grande-e-bella-piscina-e-un-campo-da-gioco/https://www.turismo.pisa.it/place/le-piagge-e-san-michele-degli-scalzihttps://www.quinewsfirenze.it/amp/firenze-nel-1950-i-fiorentini-nuotavano-in-arno.htmhttps://www.firenzetoday.it/eventi/battello-crociera-arno-gita-costo-come-fare.htmlhttps://townsofitaly.com/it/firenze-toscana/crociera-imbarcazione-tipica-fiume-arnoBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Aerocity - Love LostWayne John Bradley - SummercycleProfound Beats - Lo-fiEzaOne - SupernovaWayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/aerocity-love-losthttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/summercycle-original-indie-style-instrumental-creative-commonshttps://soundcloud.com/profoundbeats/profound-beats-lo-fi-free-downloadhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/ezaone-supernovahttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

One of the most challenging things we face while trying to explain what makes this land so special is that we constantly have to fight stereotypes. Whenever people think about Tuscany, a series of images of outstanding beauty, art and refinement come to everyone's mind. While it is true that, sometimes, our motherland can offer such peaks of astonishing beauty, the reality is quite far from this picture-perfect image. Take our capital, for example. You might have the impression that once you've seen the greatest hits, the stuff everyone knows and cherishes you feel you know what this city is all about. You couldn't be more wrong. Florence is nowhere near as polished and refined as its incredible landmarks make you believe. Its soul is much more complex, steeped in centuries old traditions and not without a mean streak. If you want to know more about how this remarkable city really works, you're in luck as this week will offer you one of the best ways to get a glimpse into its very soul. That's why What's Up tuscany will bring you back to Florence to tell you everything there is to know about its most beloved festival, the Festa della Rificolona.If you listen to the full episode you will learn how this festivity was born centuries ago around a Catholic holiday and the pilgrimage that brought many people from the countryside in town. I'll tell you how, according to some sources, the weird name would come from a very unpleasant nickname that Florentine youngsters would use to describe a rather prominent physical feature of the ladies coming from the countryside. You will also learn how the name was then used to describe the very colourful paper lanterns that turn downtown Florence into a veritable festival of light but also used to describe a woman that shows poor judgement when it comes to selecting her clothes. That's Florence in a nutshell, I suppose. Very poetic, beautiful but also rather mean, prone to excessive and relentless mocking. On the night of September 7, children love to show their paper lanterns while teenagers go around with blowpipes trying to burn them down. In the last part I'll tell you the many different events organised in and around Florence that will be able to turn that evening into a remarkable experience for you and your children. A final word: if Florentines mock you, don't take it personally. It's not that they don't like the way you look or talk: they just can't help themselves. We still love them and so will you, if you give them a chance.Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://www.toscanainside.com/it/aneddoti-e-curiosita/post/la-rificolona-un-buffo-nome-frutto-dello-scherzoso-spirito-fiorentino/http://www.villalariflorence.com/it/la-festa-della-rificolona-tradizione-e-devozione-fiorentina/https://www.firenzetoday.it/eventi/rificolona-firenze-2023.htmlhttps://www.visita-firenze.it/eventi-e-folklore/festivita-fiorentine/la-rificolonaBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - WaitingPipe Choir - Children of the Son (Instrumental)Incompetech - Leopard Print ElevatorPipe Choir - A Midnight on JaquayWayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commonshttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-children-of-the-son-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500077https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-a-midnight-on-jaquay-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

In this episode we add another entry into our book club bake-along. We also recreate handshake winning Florentines, and try out another cinnamon roll recipe. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/procrastibakingpod/message

In der neuesten Folge BlumenHohl hat sich Moritz Unterstützung von StandUp Comedian Florentine Osche geholt. Gemeinsam sprechen sie über die peinlichen Umstände ihres ersten Aufeinandertreffens und warum Moritz bezüglich seiner Sexualität lügt. Außerdem erfahrt ihr Florentines dunkelstes Geheimnis und werdet live Zeuge davon, wie Moritz ihr ungefähr 57 Mal ins Wort fällt. Auf die Ohren, fertig, los. Viel Spassss, ihr Zuckerschnuten.

Summer in Tuscany is a truly glorious season, even if sometimes it gets really hot and muggy. If you're lucky enough to be in this neck of the woods, you'll be spoilt for choice between many fairs, events that are sometimes quite quirky. Last year we talked to you about the Gioco del Ponte, the reverse tug of war on one of Pisa's most famous bridges, an event so unusual that baffles foreigners since the Middle Ages. Up the Arno, the main rival of the city of the Leaning Tower had plenty of particular events, but no one is as crazy as the tournament that dominates one of its most beautiful squares at the end of June. This very ancient version of football is, frankly, an acquired taste. What makes it weird? Well, let's start by saying that literal fighting on the pitch is pretty much ignored by the referees. Despite being so brutal, Florentines adore it, so much that it's almost integral to the city identity. That is why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to Florence to tell you everything there is to know about the wonderfully bonkers "calcio storico".If you listen to the full episode, you will learn how the origins of this game are quite unclear, possibly dating back to the Roman Empire and how, especially in the Renaissance, Fiorentini loved it so much that it was played in almost every street. It wasn't just regular people: heirs of the most powerful families, like the Medici, played in Piazza Santa Croce. It took a long siege and a crazy act of defiance to consolidate its place in the heart of every Florentine. After being banned for a couple centuries, since 1930 the tournament is held every year following the rules written back in 1580 by a famous scholar. In the final parts I will explain to you the not so crazy rules of this game and try to convey what makes it so close to the hearts of many Tuscans. It is not to everyone's taste, many people find it abhorrent, brutal, unnecessarily violent but by looking at how the players and fans get so crazy that you can have a look into the real soul of this land. It may be bonkers, but it's much more genuine than many others events that seem catered only to tourists.Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://sportgang.it/calcio-storico-fiorentino/https://www.vanityfair.it/sport/altri-sport/2017/07/09/calcio-storico-fiorentino-rispetto-polizia-campo-zenahttps://www.intersport.it/get-inspired/calcio-storico-fiorentino-storia-regoleBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Everous & Canonblade - GleamCatmosphere - Candy-Coloured SkyRender - PrismPipe Choir - Gemini (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/catmosphere-candy-coloured-skyhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/render-prismhttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Pipe_Choir/SGONS_Instrumentals/Pipe_Gemini_Instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

In this episode, we learn about how the Medici family came to power in Florence, and how their efforts gave a place to thrive for the geniuses who called Florence home. We will discuss some of these famous Florentines: including Donatello, Botticelli, Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Amerigo Vespucci. But of course, that would be impossible without discussing the Medici family and its two most famous scions: Cosimo and Lorenzo, who will be the focus of this episode. Sources Florence | Italy, History, Geography, & Culture | Britannica History of Florence and Of the Affairs Of Italy, by Niccolo Machiavelli (gutenberg.org) Medici Bank - Wikipedia House of Medici - Wikipedia --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/douglas-archibald6/support

After a few weeks we come back to talk about the amazing history of this land, one that Tuscans are generally very fond of. While it's true that many other places can boast about a rich past, what makes this place different is that ancient events always find a way to sneak into everyday life. There are Tuscans squabbling about battles happened centuries ago! Despite this, many of the more interesting events about this land are unknown to many. Few people, for example, know that up until the 17th century, Pisa had a different patron saint, Saint Sixtus. Even fewer people are aware that behind the choice of Saint Rainier there was the not-so-subtle land of Pisa's sworn enemy, the Medici family. That's why this week "What's Up Tuscany" will bring you back to the city of the Leaning Tower to tell you everything there is to know about this remarkable tale of faith, superstition and political intrigue.If you listen to the entire episode, you'll know about the remarkable history of the unfortunate Pope that is one of the few saints celebrated by both the Catholic and the Orthodox church. I'll tell you also about the very odd reason that made him so close to the hearts of the Pisa faithful and how a devastating defeat broke this special relationship. In the final chapters, we will explore how the fight between the Emperor and the Pope gave rise to the figure of Saint Rainier and why, several centuries later, it was the Florentines that pushed to have him as the patron saint of their arch-rival so that people forgot about their proud past. This is truly a special story that speaks volumes about how history is never far from this land. It always come back to haunt you.Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)http://www.stilepisano.it/leggende/leg(g)ende_pisane_N20_sanranieri_26feb2018.pdfhttps://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_di_San_Sisto_(Pisa)https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papa_Sisto_IIBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - SummercycleAerocity - Cold Weather KidsWayne John Bradley - WaitingCityfires - Blood Problems (Instrumental)Pipe Choir - Children of the SonWayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/summercycle-original-indie-style-instrumental-creative-commonshttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/aerocity-cold-weather-kidshttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/waiting-original-uplifting-indie-pop-style-instrumentalcreative-commonshttps://soundcloud.com/ljayofficial/blood-problems-instrumentalby-cityfireshttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-children-of-the-son-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

Friends of the Rosary: Today, the Catholic Church honors the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary. They were seven noble Florentines who in the thirteenth century (1240), in the midst of a civil war, and disregarding their wealth and birth status, founded together a community with a special purpose: Cultivate the spirit of penance and meditate on the passion of Christ and Mary's Seven Sorrows. The Blessed Mother appeared to each of them individually and urged them to begin a more perfect life. They accomplished great things and benefited millions by arousing devotion to the Mother of Sorrows. Ave Maria! Jesus, I Trust In You! + Mikel A. | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • February 17, 2023, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET

Florentines heutige Gästin ist Ziné. Sie war auf TikTok Deutschland die erste, die sich in sogenannten Study with me Sessions beim Lernen gefilmt hat. Mittlerweile hat sie eine große Community, die sie zum Lernen motiviert. Doch was motiviert sie selbst?

Although the commission was originally given to Michelangelo in 1508, the eventual carving of the sculpture fell into the lesser hands of Baccio Bandinelli. Symbolic of the new authoritative Medici regime and rule over the city, the sculpture was a strong man image intended to warn Florentines of the consequences of revolt. It is also a prime example of the new Mannerist style which dominated Florentine art in the 16th century.

If us Tuscans have a superpower, it would be the ability to turn anything, even the cheapest and least loved ingredient into a masterpiece. Need some proof? Just look at the street food that has captured the heart of Florence. At first sight it doesn't look like much: cow entrails in a simple panino, not particularly appealing. Try asking Fiorentini what they think about it and prepare to be overwhelmed by their love. They adore their poor man's meat, enough that people consider it the unofficial symbol of the city. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to Florence to tell you the story of the lampredotto, the street food you absolutely need to try.If you listen to the entire episode you will learn how this great panino was born, how Florentines learned how to turn these low quality leftovers into the perfect to-go food and how it needed German bread to become really special. On top of that, we will tell you the three places where you can get a perfect lampredotto next time you're in town. Until you get to Florence, you can use our proven recipe to cook it yourself. It won't be as good as the real deal but it's still pretty good.When we're not swamped with work or other chores, we post quite regularly on Twitter. That's the best way to keep in touch and learn a lot of quick travel tips to help you plan your next visit. If you follow us there, we will be soon providing extra content. You can also have your say on the future of this podcast. Drop by, we'd love to know you!Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://magazine.lorenzovinci.it/recipe/lampredotto-di-firenze-cose-calorie-ricetta-e-storia/http://www.festadellampredotto.it/2019/08/09/origini-del-lampredotto/https://www.toctocfirenze.it/cultura-fiorentina-storia-lampredotto/https://www.iltrippudio.it/storie-di-trippa/storia-del-lampredotto/https://aaaaccademiaaffamatiaffannati.blogspot.com/2015/02/lampredotto.htmlhttps://www.vice.com/it/article/4awyk9/lampredotto-piu-antico-firenzehttps://www.vice.com/it/article/qjddqv/migliori-lampredotti-firenzeBACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)Romos - HeliosCatmosphere - Candy-Coloured SkyIncompetech - Leopard Print ElevatorCityfires - Blood Problems (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/romos-helioshttps://soundcloud.com/argofox/catmosphere-candy-coloured-skyhttps://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1500077https://soundcloud.com/ljayofficial/blood-problems-instrumentalby-cityfireshttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/history

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literary-studies

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/italian-studies

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Jana Byars talks to her PhD advisor Guido Ruggiero about his latest monograph, Love and Sex in the Time of Plague: A Decameron Renaissance (Harvard University Press, 2021) over the meaning of love in the early Renaissance. As a pandemic swept across fourteenth-century Europe, the Decameron offered the ill and grieving a symphony of life and love. For Florentines, the world seemed to be coming to an end. In 1348 the first wave of the Black Death swept across the Italian city, reducing its population from more than 100,000 to less than 40,000. The disease would eventually kill at least half of the population of Europe. Amid the devastation, Giovanni Boccaccio's Decameron was born. One of the masterpieces of world literature, the Decameron has captivated centuries of readers with its vivid tales of love, loyalty, betrayal, and sex. Despite the death that overwhelmed Florence, Boccaccio's collection of novelle was, in Guido Ruggiero's words, a "symphony of life." Love and Sex in the Time of Plague guides twenty-first-century readers back to Boccaccio's world to recapture how his work sounded to fourteenth-century ears. Through insightful discussions of the Decameron's cherished stories and deep portraits of Florentine culture, Ruggiero explores love and sexual relations in a society undergoing convulsive change. In the century before the plague arrived, Florence had become one of the richest and most powerful cities in Europe. With the medieval nobility in decline, a new polity was emerging, driven by Il Popolo, the people, fractious and enterprising. Boccaccio's stories had a special resonance in this age of upheaval, as Florentines sought new notions of truth and virtue to meet both the despair and the possibility of the moment. Jana Byars is the Academic Director of Netherlands: International Perspectives on Sexuality and Gender. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After reading from one of the least known pages of Tuscan history, we go back to our favourite pastime: telling you the little myths and legends that make this land really unique. Instead of scouring the region in search of small hamlets in the middle of nowhere, we will just take a leisurely walk in the centre of the most famous Tuscan city: Florence. While its charm and beauty is known all over the world, the city of the Duomo has a fairly substantial dark side. If you scratch a little under its shiny surface, you will find all sorts of very interesting little mysteries, made all the more colourful by the unending popular imagination. We will tell you three of these small myths that Florentines are rightfully proud of. From the curious whirlwind of the main square in town to the very odd presence on the wall of an ancient bell tower, to the folk tale that sits behind the exceedingly curious name of an alley downtown, this is the hidden Florence that many tourists don't even know it's there. This week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to the capital, a city that is just as weird as it is beautiful. Florence has so many other little quirks and places that would very well deserve your attention. If you're interested in hearing more about them, drop us a note or an email. Remember that we're your go-to place for everything Tuscany. We'll be more than happy to help you in any way we can!Email: podcast@larno.itFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyLINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)https://www.florencecity.it/la-storia-del-rifrullo-del-diavolo/https://francescarachelvalle.com/2015/09/03/la-vera-storia-della-testa-pietrificata-la-berta-e-cecco-dascoli/https://www.florenceparking.it/chi-e-la-berta/https://www.florencecity.it/la-leggenda-di-via-della-mosca/BACKGROUND MUSICPipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)The Passion HiFi - BuriedProfound Beats - Lo-FiPipe Choir - Mapping the Stars (Instrumental)Pipe Choir - A Midnight on Jaquay (Instrumental)Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original InstrumentalAll released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licensehttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/freehiphopbeatsforyou/free-the-passion-hifi-buriedhttps://soundcloud.com/profoundbeats/profound-beats-lo-fi-free-downloadhttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-a-midnight-on-jaquay-instrumentalhttps://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commonshttp://www.pipechoir.com/

Homemade rum and raisin ice cream with Florentines

Following the death of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Bishop David Walker remembers the life and legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate who helped end apartheid in South Africa. Actor and activist Michael Sheen tells William about the transformative encounters that led him to give away a large chunk of his earnings and turn himself into a social enterprise - a not-for-profit actor. Champion baker David Atherton shares his recipe for Florentines and talks candidly about growing up gay in a conservative evangelical Church. He tells William how winning the Great British Bake Off connected him to others struggling to reconcile their sexuality with their strict Christian upbringing. As the Christmas film classic It's A Wonderful Life turns 75, we hear about its religious meaning and how it's taken on the power of a modern-day myth. And we meet the faith groups plugging gaps in local services by providing an army of volunteers - from stewards at vaccination centres to cooks at homeless shelters and shelf-stackers at food banks. Volunteers tell us what motivates them to help their local community. And, with government finances under more pressure than ever, we find out how the relationship between faith groups and the state is changing. Producers: Louise Clarke-Rowbotham and Carmel Lonergan Editor: Helen Grady Christmas Florentines Ingredients • 1 egg white (approx. 40g) • 50g icing sugar • ½ tsp vanilla extract • ½ tsp mixed spice • Zest of an orange • 100g flaked almonds • 30g dried fruit and seeds (your choice) Method 1. Preheat oven 160C. 2. Line a baking tray with a silicone mat, or greaseproof paper (and rub in 1 tsp of vegetable oil). 3. Mix the egg white, icing sugar, vanilla, spice and orange zest until smooth. 4. Mix through the almonds and your dried fruit/seeds. 5. Put a 10cm biscuit cutter onto your tray and add a spoon of the mixture. Press this around and remove the cutter so you're left with a perfect disc. Continue until you've used up your mixture. 6. Bake for 12-14mins until golden brown then allow to cool before lifting gently. 7. You can add melted dark chocolate as a decoration if you wish.

Is it hard, even in the Church, when sharing a building? Yes! We will read about the difficulties with the new space the Florentines built for St Philip and his men. St Philip realized that borrowing this church and house left them less free to do the work the Lord wanted.

We read about the offer by the Florentines to build a new space for St Philip's growing Congregation. This new space allowed for greater numbers of men to hear the sermons and music at the Oratory.

Did all the earliest Oratorians have the same exact background? By no means. We will read about the other early disciples of St Philip who began to live together at the church of the Florentines in Rome. These men differed in age and background. They had different family histories. Like the Apostles, the early Oratorians were a diverse group. But what they had in common was a desire to live under St Philip's direction. Last episode, we heard the interesting way the Oratory of St Philip got its beginnings. The Oratory is a way of life for priests and brothers who live together without any external bonds or vows, but simply out of the inner bond of charity. They believe that God has called them together. St Philip reestablished in Rome the practice of secular priests living together without vows, but with a community life. When St Philip first gathered some spiritual sons into a community, he did not have any grand ideas in mind. He was simply responding to the requests of Divine Providence. By his fidelity, God did greater things than were first imagined possible.

How would this work of St Philip as a priest be prolonged in the Church? By a new congregation. We read about the providential beginning of the Congregation of the Oratory. St Philip never thought he was starting a new group in the Church. But one day, after he recovered from his first great serious illness, Philip was asked to take over the Church of the Florentines in Rome. In agreeing to staff the church, he asked three disciples to be ordained priests. From those three men, a remarkable new congregation would develop. We call it the Oratory of St Philip Neri. Last episode, we read about the importance of female disciples of the Lord. One of St Philip's most devout penitents was a woman who brought many others to Christ by her example and words. We need priests. But the Church also needs people in the world, especially women!

When wandering around Florence, if you're observant, you may notice little nooks in the sides of buildings in the shape of a tiny door or window. Present for centuries, this building feature was not only pretty but practical. These Medieval curiosities were a way for Florentines to buy their supply of wine.  Well over 150 wine windows or buchette del vino have been identified in Florence. Our guest, sommelier and photographer Robbin Gheesling, joins us to share the stories and myths around this unique architectural feature, where to find them and how they've been adapted into the life of modern Florence. Want information about the places mentioned and full show notes for this episode? Head over to: https://untolditaly.com/92Support the show (https://untolditaly.com/shop)

OSLT - Laurent Binet - Lectures florentines by RMF Radio

For our 50th episode, we take a stroll down memory lane, going back to a special time in the history of Florence when the city, as a result of an international city, became the capital of the newborn Kingdom of Italy. What was thought as a permanent solution in order to avoid the fact that Rome is the seat of the Catholic Church, lasted only six years and caused massive upheavals to the cradle of the Renaissance. While the first move was accompanied by riots in Turin, the Florentines weren't particularly fazed when the crowd of diplomats and public servants left to move to Rome in 1871. The city was changed beyond recognition, though, as many of its Medieval features were razed to the ground. The fact that the Crown refused to contribute to the massive public works that had been ordered to make Florence a proper capital caused the city government to go into bankruptcy. The mayor, who had been one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the renovation, decided to fall on his sword and paid most of the debts with his own money, ending up penniless. Follow us into this controversial chapter of Tuscan history. Let us know what you think by joining the conversation on our social media platforms:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.itTwitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscanyI LINKS ALLE FONTIhttps://www.lanazione.it/cronaca/almanacco-del-giorno-15-settembre-1864-convenzione-verso-firenze-capitale-1.6797533https://www.tuscanypeople.com/firenze-capitale-ditalia/https://mole24.it/2020/11/14/spostamento-della-capitale-da-torino-a-firenze/http://www.palazzospinelli.org/architetture/itinerari-scheda-dettaglio.asp?Id=10http://www.storia-toscana.it/1865/BACKGROUND MUSICTitle: Children of the SonAuthor: Pipe Choir RecordsLicense: Creative Commons AttributionLinks: https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-children-of-the-son-creative-commons-instrumental

The three, naked, oiled, burned, hairless Florentines revolve in front of the pilgrim, Dante, and Virgil. One of them starts to speak. And what a speech! Such gorgeous rhetoric! The sort he used when he was a Guelph leader in Florence. The sort all three used. The sort all politicians love. The sort that adds up to nothing. Join me, Mark Scarbrough, as we listen to Jacopo Rusticucci tell the tale of these three military and political heroes. More than that, they're Dante's heroes. And damned. They put an end to Dante's political hopes. Here are the segments of this episode: [01:02] My English translation of this passage: Inferno, Canto XVI, lines 28 - 45. If you want to follow along, you can find this translation on my website, markscarbrough.com, under the header "Walking With Dante." [02:44] Jacopo Rusticucci speaks for the group--and with such a flourish. He first starts by offering to abase himself (and the other two) in front of the pilgrim, Dante. Such fine manners! [07:25] Who are these three guys? They're Guelph military and political heroes. They're Dante's heroes. They're Guido Guerra, Tagghiaio Aldobrandi, and Jacopo Rusticucci. Florence wouldn't be Florence without them. But then what is Florence these days? [15:26] Rusticucci is a great orator. His speech is pitch-perfect. Also, empty. [17:20] Rusticucci blames his damnation on his "bestial wife." What does that mean? [21:31] Tegghiaio and Rusticucci have already come up in COMEDY. Way back with Ciacco in Canto VI. Ciacco made no bones about them: "the blacker souls." So what's going on in this passage in which they seem so noble? Support this podcast

ODC Writer in Residence Sima Belmar talks with the artists responsible for ODC's first full-length film, Up For Air/Decameron: Brenda Way, Kimi, Okada, and Kate Weare. (NB: The fourth choreographer, KT Nelson, could not join us for the conversation.) The film features members of ODC/Dance and Kate Weare Company, and is inspired by Bocaccio's 14th-century novel Decameron. (No need to have read it to enjoy the film!) The novel is about the retreat of ten young Florentines seeking to avoid the plague of 1385. The work touches on the combustible nature of love, the need for connection and those values that help us survive catastrophic times: humor, resilience, and grace. Find out more at odd.dance/upforair.

The Tuscan sun may play a part in producing some of the best wine in the world . And with Florence being surrounded by these vineyards, you can only imagine the wine list at the local restaurants. Florentines take pride in their cuisine and respect the flavor of their regional produce. Hence, simple ingredients without too much fuss, make for a memorable meal. Every single day!

This incredibly beautiful city is one of the most visited in all of Europe, for good reason. Florentines take such pride in their city's role in history and the achievements of their fellow artists, philosophers, scholars and architects. The car free historic center allows you to roam the streets and feel as though you were sharing the sidewalk with Michelangelo...well, during the off season anyway!

Avocado toast isn't the first hipster craze in the City By The Bay, oh no! This week, Kevin and Jason whip up the scrambled story of the Egg War of 1863, wherein a boatload of mercenary Florentines made a hash of a completely avoidable egg shortage in young San Francisco. Omelet the guys take it from here.

From decorations and crisp to flavor and technique, biscuit week (aka cookie week for non-Brits) is a serious challenge! Lacey, crispy Florentines are a tough technical challenge. Who ends up departing? Who gets to bake another day? Listen in as Allison and Lisa check out all the biscuits.Connect with us:https://soggybottomgirls.comFollow us on social media:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soggybottomgirlsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/soggybottomgirls/

Let's celebrate the festive season with a sweet treat. Lulu Williams tells Noni Needs how to make her favourite sweet treat - Florentines.  And why she goes to the trouble of making large circular ice cubes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Facing famine, plague, an unending war, and an economic recession, the Florentines resort to handing the keys over to a French nobleman with a glamorous but mostly empty title. Meanwhile the Medici, although still lurking in the shadows from our point of view, manage to establish themselves as populists during the chaos and violence to come.

Florentines are a little finicky to make, but are some of the most delicious biscuits that you’ll ever eat. Whilst some modern recipes include flour, the classic version is a…

Florentines are a little finicky to make, but are some of the most delicious biscuits that you'll ever eat. Whilst some modern recipes include flour, the classic version is a simple caramel mixed with fruit and nuts, and then backed…

It's biscuits week on The Great British Bake Off, and our plucky group of bakers must concoct Florentines, macaroons, and some manner of biscuit-based table setting. It's not as much of a disaster as week 1, but there are still some major misses (and major successes too!) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Biscuit week is a difficult one to have grandstand bakes for. But they tried. With place settings for memorable meals. Come for the Florentines, stay for complaints about ingredients and how they test bakes between filming. #WorthTheCalories Recipe for Coconut Macaroons Subscribe to our RSS feed here Subscribe on Apple Podcasts here Subscribe on Google Podcasts here We're on Spotify Eloquent Gushing is 100% supported by listeners like you. If you'd like access to exclusive content, please visit us on Patreon. Get in touch! If you have thoughts about the episode or want to suggest something for a future episode, you can comment on this post at eloquentgushing.com, you can email us at podcast@eloquentgushing.com or find us on Twitter. If you want to talk to us, leave us a message on Speakpipe. Our music is "Cheery Monday" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Snap, Crackle and Pop! The Band (Ross, Harry AND Sean) are back together to discuss Biscuit Week! There's Florentines, there's Dominos and there's a big old delicious plate of butter. Nom, Nom, Nom.Baking Bad: The Bake Off Podcast is part of The Jerk Store.Follow us on:Facebook: http://facebook.com/thejerkstorecomedyInstagram: http://instagram.com/thejerksto.reTwitter: http://twitter.com/TheJerkSto_reTwitter: http://twitter.com/RossDrummondTwitter: http://twitter.com/HarryMonaghan

In this week's In The Mix: The Great British Bake Off Podcast, Greer is once again joined by the Biscuit King of Hereford and Worcester Phillip Stoneman who updates us on his latest biscuit recommendations and solves the age old question of whether the Chocolate is on the top or the bottom of a Digestive. They discuss over ambitious Florentines, how to properly handle large nuts and speculate what they would have created for Biscuit Week's showstopper challenge. In The Mix is a podcast all about the Great British Bake Off on Channel 4. Hosted by Greer Riddell and starring different weekly guests, we take a comedic look at the latest GBBO news. In The Mix is part of January Media Production.

Savonarola meets with King Charles VIII of France in Pisa, calling himself a prophet of God and telling Charles that he was the instrument of God's divine plan. Then he returns to Florence where the Medici have been kicked out and he congratulates the Florentines on a bloodless revolution. But, he says - there is still more work to be done to get back into God's favour. Shortly after, the King arrives in Florence with 9000 troops - and announces he wants them to bring back Piero de Medici. The post #100 – Savonarola Part 7 appeared first on The Renaissance Times.

Savonarola's predictions that God was going to punish the Florentines seem to be coming true when, in 1494, King Charles VIII of France invades Italy to take control of Naples. On his way south, he also threatens to attack Florence. When Piero de Medici tries to negotiate a settlement, it's a complete failure. So the Signoria send Savonarola to meet with the king instead. The post #99 – Savonarola Part 6 appeared first on The Renaissance Times.

August 13, 2020 Proximity Paradox Kiirsten May and The Foundation of a Successful Life Florentines

After Lorenzo de Medici's death in 1492, Botticelli gave up painting, abandoned his humanist studies, and became a hardcore fundamentalist Christian. As did a lot of Florentines. The reason? They all fell under the spell of the original fire and brimstone preacher. He wasn't rich. He didn't have an army. He wasn't of the nobility. He wasn't sent by the pope. In fact, the Pope hated him. But he managed to do what so many rich men with armies had failed to do for decades. He overturned the government of Florence, kicked out the Medici family, and took control of the city. And... to top it off, he was a precursor of the Reformation. He is famous for the Bonfire Of The Vanities. His name was Girolamo SAVONAROLA. The post #94 – Savonarola Part 1 appeared first on The Renaissance Times.

In 1911, the Mona Lisa disappeared from the Louvre. After an extensive investigation it made a surprising reappearance that inspired headlines around the world. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the painting's abduction, which has been called the greatest art theft of the 20th century. We'll also shake Seattle and puzzle over a fortunate lack of work. Intro: A hard-boiled egg will stand when spun. What's the largest sofa one can squeeze around a corner? Sources for our feature on Vincenzo Peruggia and the theft of the Mona Lisa: Noah Charney, The Thefts of the Mona Lisa: On Stealing the World's Most Famous Painting, 2011. Martin Kemp and Giuseppe Pallanti, Mona Lisa: The People and the Painting, 2017. Andrea Wallace, A History of Intellectual Property in 50 Objects, 2019. Monica R. DiFonzo, "'Think You Can Steal Our Caravaggio and Get Away With It? Think Again,' An Analysis of the Italian Cultural Property Model," George Washington International Law Review 44:3 (2012), 539-571. Niels Christian Pausch and Christoph Kuhnt, "Analysis of Facial Characteristics of Female Beauty and Age of Mona Lisa Using a Pictorial Composition," Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research (2017), 1-7. Donald Capps, "Leonardo's Mona Lisa: Iconic Center of Male Melancholic Religion," Pastoral Psychology 53:2 (2004), 107-137. Joseph A. Harris, "Seeking Mona Lisa," Smithsonian 30:2 (May 1999), 54-65. Simon Kuper, "Who Stole the Mona Lisa?", Slate, Aug. 7, 2011. Terence McArdle, "How the 1911 Theft of the Mona Lisa Made It the World's Most Famous Painting," Washington Post (online), Oct. 20, 2019. Jeff Nilsson, "100 Years Ago: The Mastermind Behind the Mona Lisa Heist," Saturday Evening Post, Dec. 7, 2013. Sheena McKenzie, "Mona Lisa: The Theft That Created a Legend," CNN, Nov. 19, 2013. "Unravelling the Mona Lisa Mystery," Irish Independent, Aug. 5, 2017, 20. John Timpane, "'Mona Lisa' Theft a Century Ago Created Modern Museums," McClatchy-Tribune Business News, Sept. 7, 2011. "Noah Charney: Art Theft, From the 'Mona Lisa' to Today," Lima [Ohio] News, Aug. 23, 2011. "Mona Lisa Thief Honored With a Play in Italian Hometown," [Beirut] Daily Star, Aug. 22, 2011. Mary Orms, "Steal My Painting!", Toronto Star, Aug. 21, 2011, IN.1. Jori Finkel, "Little-Known Facts About the 1911 Theft of Famed 'Mona Lisa,'" [Charleston, W.V.] Sunday Gazette-Mail, Aug. 21, 2011, F.9. Alastair Sooke, "A Century of Mona Lisa, Superstar," Daily Telegraph, Aug. 20, 2011, 21. "100 Years Ago, the Mona Lisa Vanishes," Times of Oman, Aug. 20, 2011. "Mona Lisa: Still Smiling 100 Years After Being Stolen," Saudi Press Agency, Aug. 19, 2011. "Mona Lisa Mystery," Atherton [Queensland] Tablelander, Jan. 5, 2010, 13. Greg Callaghan, "A Short History of ... the Mona Lisa," Weekend Australian Magazine, Oct. 10, 2009, 8. Jonathan Lopez, "The Tale of an Unsophisticated Criminal Convicted of Single-Handedly Stealing the Mona Lisa," Boston Globe, May 17, 2009, K.6. Dwight Garner, "No Smiley Faces the Day the Lady Left the Louvre," New York Times, April 30, 2009. Nick Morrison, "The Art of Lifting a Masterpiece," Darlington [U.K.] Northern Echo, Aug. 29, 2003, 12. Helen Holmes, "Jodie Foster Will Direct a Movie About the Famous 'Mona Lisa' Heist," Observer, Jan. 31, 2020. Miriam Berger, "Theft of German Treasures Joins Ranks of Brazen Museum Heists — From the 'Mona Lisa' to a Solid Gold Toilet," Washington Post (online), Nov. 28, 2019. Terence McArdle, "How the Mona Lisa Became World-Famous," [Nairobi] Daily Nation, Nov. 2, 2019. "Italy Alarmed by Art 'Sales,'" New York Times, Jan. 24, 1926. "'Mona Lisa' Thief Gets a Year in Jail," New York Times, June 6, 1914. "Trial of Perugia Begun," New York Times, June 5, 1914. "Tried to Sell 'Mona Lisa,'" New York Times, Dec. 27, 1913. "Three More Held in 'Mona Lisa' Theft," New York Times, Dec. 22, 1913. "'Mona Lisa' Goes to Rome," New York Times, Dec. 20, 1913. "Thinks Perugia Had Aid," New York Times, Dec. 17, 1913. "Florentines in Riot Over 'Mona Lisa,'" New York Times, Dec. 15, 1913. "Perugia's Eye to Business," New York Times, Dec. 15, 1913. "Perugia Loved Girl Like 'Mona Lisa,'" New York Times, Dec. 15, 1913. "Reading Mona Lisa's Riddle," New York Times, Dec. 15, 1913. "Mona Lisa' on View to Public To-Day," New York Times, Dec. 14, 1913. "Find 'Mona Lisa,' Arrest Robber," New York Times, Dec. 13, 1913. "Thief's Story of His Crime," New York Times, Dec. 13, 1913. Listener mail: Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Daniel Keith Ludwig" (accessed May 23, 2020). Anderson Antunes, "Was Eike Batista's Dream of Becoming the World's Richest Man Just That, a Dream?", Forbes, April 17, 2013. Eric Pace, "Daniel Ludwig, Billionaire Businessman, Dies at 95," New York Times, Aug. 29, 1992. Brian Nicholson, "End of U.S. Owner's Dream in the Amazon Jungle," UPI, Jan. 23, 1982. Wikipedia, "Jari Project" (accessed May 23, 2020). Jim Brooke, "Billionaire's Dream Founders in Amazon Jungle," Washington Post, May 31, 1981. "Seahawks' KamQuake Rattled Seattle, but Beast Quake Still Rules," NBC News, Jan. 9, 2015. Wikipedia, "Beast Quake" (accessed May 23, 2020). Mike Triplett, "Beast Quake Remembered: Epic Run by Marshawn Lynch Still Reverberates in Seattle," ESPN, Dec. 24, 2019. John Vidale, "One Year Ago, Seattle Seahawks 12th Man Earthquake," Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, Dec. 31, 2011. Greg Bishop, "NFL Odd Jobs: The Seismologists Who Measure 'Fanquakes' at Seahawks Games," Sports Illustrated, Jan. 10, 2017. Alan Boyle, "Seismologists Register 'Fan Quakes' From the Seattle Sounders' Stadium Crowd," GeekWire, Nov. 10, 2019. Steve Malone, "SoundersFC Soccer Shake Experiment," Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, Nov. 8, 2019. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Ian Hauffe. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

Author of Table Tales: The Global Nomad Cuisine of Abu Dhabi, Hanan Sayed Worrell loves to bring people together to tell their stories over food, and the lockdown hasn’t stopped her from doing just that. During the pandemic she launched “The Distant Social Dinner Society” where guests get together for a dinner party over zoom, with the concept evolving in Ramadan to become Iftar from Afar. She created this in collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi Professor Jonathan Shannon, and they actually modeled the idea on Boccaccio’s Decameron, in which ten Florentines fled to the hills to escape the ravages of the plague in 1348, each of them telling stories over the course of their 10 day “sheltering in place,” and in the same way, the Table Tales Distant Social Dinner Society consists of ten diners sharing a virtual meal, telling stories of and about food and community. Sally was guest at this week’s Iftar from Afar, along with a diverse group of people who were invited to break bread virtually, including Asma Sedeeq Al Mutawa, the founder of the Multaqa Cultural Salon, CNN’s John Defterios, and two professors from the American University of Sharjah who are originally from China, Professors Shaojin Chai and Yuting Wang, who is the author of Between Islam and the American Dream: An Immigrant Muslim Community in Post-9/11 America. With cuisine from all over the world including Indonesia, Yemen, Iraq, Palestine, Morocco, Sudan and more, find out what each guest shared at the virtual Iftar table! Listen to #Pulse95Radio in the UAE by tuning in on your radio (95.00 FM) or online on our website: www.pulse95radio.com ************************ Follow us on Social. www.facebook.com/pulse95radio www.twitter.com/pulse95radio www.instagram.com/pulse95radio

For 40 years, the Duomo or Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, sat fully constructed barring a dome. The Florentines had become so embarrassed by their failure to complete the dome announced a contest for the ideal dome design, with a handsome prize of 200 gold florins—and a shot at eternal fame. Leading architects of the age flocked to Florence and presented their ideas. This week, Utsav takes you to Florence and uncovers the story of the man who did the impossible, and why we all have it in ourselves to do it.You can reach out to our host Utsav on Instagram: @whywetravel42(https://www.instagram.com/whywetravel42)You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the IVM Podcasts app on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios, or any other podcast app.You can check out our website at http://www.ivmpodcasts.com/

DrRon and Linda have an overseas cappuccino conversation with good friends Giovanni and Valeria about how Italians and Florentines are coping with Coronavirus and their forced isolation as they are sheltered in place for weeks with no end in sight. Join us for a very interesting and informative discussion on Italian “Talking While Married.”

DrRon and Linda have an overseas cappuccino conversation with good friends Giovanni and Valeria about how Italians and Florentines are coping with Coronavirus and their forced isolation as they are sheltered in place for weeks with no end in sight. Join us for a very interesting and informative discussion on Italian “Talking While Married.”

#4 Why Florentines are called Beans-Eaters? by Radio Big World

Doc and Nina are holed up in their own houses right now. And while COVID-19 has different effects on their productivity levels, both of them have found time to record an episode on The Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio. This is a series of 100 short stories told by ten young Florentines hiding out in a country house, hoping to escape the worst of the Black Plague. Nina and Doc will share their favorite stories from Day 2 of the book (the theme of “misadventures that end happily”). Doc and Nina also get into a discussion about why some of these stories are crueler than others. Show Notes: Nina’s Recommendations for “Sheltering in Place”: Stardew Valley (https://www.stardewvalley.net/) The Decameron – 3rd Day, Tenth Story Doc’s Recommendations for “Sheltering in Place”: Virgin Territory (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0437954/) vs. The Little Hours (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5666304/) Icarus by Nina MacNamara -that’s Nina!- (https://books2read.com/Icarus-MacNamara) and From A to Zombie by Prof. Awesome -that’s Doc!- (https://books2read.com/From-A-to-Zombie)

Wherein there’s a small brown animal, some giraffe anatomy 101, and some of what Jordi suggested. We discuss chocolate ice-cream on a stick, Florentines, Rolos vs MilkDuds, MB’s illness - doctor conversations. Also; repairs vs new, Kevin Smith’s drug trajectory, a Road Rage story from today. And: Puppy stories, “you all look alike to me”, 20 questions about $81, MB’s car has a lock-in, remote vs radio control. Plus: MB and DI are gross (depending on your perspective), we meet Freddie, schedules are discussed (Hi DanT), Bojack Horseman. www.trcduo.comwww.domitaliano.comwww.mattbradshaw.comemail: podcast@trcduo.comFB: facebook.com/trcduoFB: facebook.com/MattyBBradshawFB: facebook.com/dom.italiano.7Instagram: instagram.com/trcduoTwitter: twitter.com/trcduo

When the Florentines attack the town of Lucca in 1430, Milan sends mercenary Francesco Sforza to their defense. The Florentines, outmatched militarily, do what rich people always do when they get in trouble – they bribe their way out of it. The post #47 The Rise Of The Medici (part 9) appeared first on The Renaissance Times.

Jim Florentine (That Metal Show, Comedy Metal Midgets) and his son Luke show us that rants and roasting are in the blood, especially when Richie Castellano (Blue Oyster Cult) gets roasted by Luke. 

Anyway – governors of Florence may have had a more immediate reason for selecting this story. The climax of the story emphasizes divine intervention, and we must remember that the Florentines were facing a series of threats from outside forces – we'll discuss them in later episodes – and had just had another dose of […] The post #29 Ghiberti & The Doors II appeared first on The Renaissance Times.

It's biscuit week! From crisp savory crackers to sweet and fruity Florentines and all the elaborate cookie dragons in between, we dish on what we loved and hated about Episode 2. Episode: US Collection 1, Episode 2 - Biscuits. Talking Points: Chaotic Cookie Monster, Nancy's Agenda, Luis the Artist

Florence birthed the Renaissance. Enjoy its soaring church dome, famous statues, lazy river, and world-class gelato. Walk the same narrow streets as Michelangelo, the Medicis, and Florentines today. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map at https://www.ricksteves.com/audiotours.

Florence birthed the Renaissance. Enjoy its soaring church dome, famous statues, lazy river, and world-class gelato. Walk the same narrow streets as Michelangelo, the Medicis, and Florentines today. Don't forget to download the handy PDF companion map at http://www.ricksteves.com/audiotours.

Andy Staples of Sports Illustrated joins us at the last minute to take Jason's spot. Where is Jason? Jason was at Disney World, and needs several weeks to recover from the experience. This seems like a paltry amount of time for this, but he's a soldier and we can't keep him away from the front lines for long. Topics covered include: --The time Andy yelled "IRON" in Italian at terrified Florentines until someone finally sold him one for 19 euros --How to care about anything in what might be the driest, most boring offseason college football has ever known (A: you can't, really) --Why the Department of Justice has solved every major issue facing this country --A brief discussion of how USC might be one of the most incompetent athletic departments in the country and yet still get bailed out by resources, beautiful surroundings, and UCLA never caring enough to be good --Which conference will be the first to construct a giant monster truck made entirely of Mini Coopers? (Texas, it's gonna be Texas.) --Yet more epic tales of poor and stupid living from Alachua County --The unveiling of the Andy Staples Perpetual Motion BBQ machine --The first and only edition of "Joel Osteen or Mack Brown?"

This 85th episode of CS, is titled, Dawn.I want to take a brief moment here at the start to say “Thank you” to all those who've spread the word about CS to their friends and family. We've had a significant bump in subscribers and lots of new likes on the FB page. So—Kudos to all who've spread the word.As most of you know, iTunes is by far the major portal for podcasts. So, if you use iTunes, a review of CS is a great way to boost our rating – and ratings usually translate into new subscribers. Why do we want more subscribers since there's no commercial interest in CS? Because information and knowledge about history are crucial to a well-rounded worldview. I'm convinced an accurate view of history is crucial to overcoming prejudice, to tearing down the walls that divide people. That is when we discover not just WHAT people believe but WHY – it helps puts things in perspective and disabuses us of errant opinions.Anyway, that's my hope.As I've learned about different groups, I've revised my opinions. Traditions almost always have some origin in history, in some ground that at the time seemed perfectly reasonable to the people who created them. We may not agree with them today, hundreds and even thousands of years later, but at least we can respect those who originally framed them; and if not respect, gain a modicum of understanding for the complexities they wrestled with.Okay, back to it …We've come now to one of the most significant moments in Church History; the Reformation. Since it's considered by many the point at which the Protestant church arose, it's important to realize a couple of things.First – The student of history must remember almost all those who are today counted as the first Protestants were Roman Catholics. When they began the movement that would later be called the Reformation, they didn't call themselves anything other than Christians of the Western, Roman church. They began as an attempt to bring what they considered to be much-needed reform to the Church, not to start something new, but to return to something true. When the Roman hierarchy excommunicated them, the Reformers considered it less as THEY who were being thrust forth out of the Church as it was those who did the thrusting, pushed them out of the true church which was invisible and not to be equated with the visible religious institution HQ'd in Rome, presided over by the Pope. It's difficult to say for certain, but you get the sense from the writing of some of the Reformers that they hoped the day would come when the Roman church would recognize in their movement the true Gospel and come to embrace it. Little did they envision how deep and wide the break between them would become, and how their movement would shatter and scatter into so many different sects, just as the Roman hierarchy worried and warned.Second - There'd been groups that diverged from Roman Catholicism and its Eastern cousin the Orthodox Church, for a long time. We've already considered the Nestorian Church which dominated the Church in the Far East for hundreds of years and didn't lose its place of prominence until the Mongol invasions of the 13th C. There were little communities of what can be called non-aligned Christians scattered throughout Europe. And we'll consider some of those as we turn now to the Reformation.Long before Luther nailed his list of 95 topics for discussion to the chapel door at Wittenberg, others had sniped at the theological position of the Roman church.  There'd always had been some who didn't agree with its teaching, and many had broken off into separate religious communities.By way of review …Peter Waldo was one of the most effective of the pre-Reformers. A wealthy merchant of Lyons, France, moved by Matthew 19:21, he was convinced that poverty in the service to Christ was the path to heaven. So three centuries before Martin Luther, he sold his estate and gave the proceeds to the poor. Within a year, he was joined by others, both men and women, who called themselves the “Poor Men of Lyons,” and took on an itinerant ministry of preaching repentance and living from handouts. These were an early form of what came to be the mendicant monks.Thinking themselves to be good Roman Catholics, they appealed to the Third Lateran Council in 1179 for permission to preach but were refused because they were considered ignorant and unlearned laymen. But they were convinced they were like the first followers of Jesus and should obey God rather than men. So, Peter and his followers continued to preach.In 1184, Pope Lucius III excommunicated them for their disobedience. Contrary to what we might expect, this brought numerous supporters, and the movement spread into southern France, Italy, Spain, the Rhine Valley, and Bohemia. That they gained such support after being drop-kicked by Rome leaves the impression the Church's reputation wasn't so grand, at least in the regions where the Waldensians lived and worked.It's hard to know if all those called “Waldensian” were really followers of Peter Waldo or if contemporary opponents just used that term as a blanket description for the many disaffected individuals who opposed the Church. It's possible as well that many smaller groups of non-aligned Christians emerged from hiding to join the Waldensians.Whatever the case, they took the New Testament as a rule of life and used it in what we might call a legalistic sense. They went about 2 by 2, wearing simple clothing, preaching repentance, frequent fasting, and living from the gifts of others. They rejected the doctrine of purgatory, masses and prayers for the dead, and promoted the necessity for translations of Scripture in people's native language. They insisted on the right of anyone to preach, man or woman—but they did have some organization among their clergy, with bishops, priests, and deacons.While Peter Waldo never embraced the doctrines we'd call genuinely evangelical, his emphasis on Scripture as the basis of faith and practice opened the door for his followers to become so.The Waldensians were persecuted harshly for centuries. Part of the reason for their widespread distribution in Europe was that they were driven from their homeland. In Bohemia, they ultimately became part of the followers of Jan Hus. In their mountain retreat of the Alps between France and Italy, their homeland by the time of the Reformation, they met with representatives of the Swiss Reformation in 1532 and adopted the theology and government of the Swiss Reformers. Then, in 1545, about 4000 were massacred in Provence, France. It wasn't until 1848 that they won recognition. Today they number about 20,000, the only medieval separatist group to survive to the present.That brings us to the next pre-reformer, the Englishman JOHN WYCLIFFE, who we've already looked at.John Wycliffe lived about 200 yrs after Peter Waldo. Like Waldo, Wycliffe was determined to derive his theology, both theoretical and practical, from Scripture. Like the Waldensians, Wycliffe encouraged the translation of the Bible into the common language and that anyone ought to be able to preach, not just sanctioned and licensed clergy.Though he personally translated or supervised the translation of parts of the Bible, the version given his name wasn't completed until after his death. Its widespread use had an influence on the development of the English language. Wycliffe was educated at Oxford and later became a master of Balliol College there. For a while chaplain to the king, with access to Parliament, he was able to reach some of the upper-class English. But he also sought to reach the common people, sending out lay evangelists to instruct them.After 1375, Wycliffe's reforming views developed rapidly. Pope Gregory XI condemned him in 1377 for his efforts, but he was protected by some of the nobles and the powerful John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and son of Edward III. These were the days of the Hundred Years War between England and France, when it was unthinkable an Englishmen would surrender one of their most outstanding countrymen to a pope at Avignon, under the domination of England's French foes.To Wycliffe, Scripture, which he interpreted literally, was the sole authority for the believer. Decrees of the pope were not infallible except as based on Scripture. The clergy were not to rule, but to serve and help people. He concluded that Christ and not the pope was the head of the church; in fact, the pope, if he were too eager for worldly power, might even be regarded as the Antichrist. Ultimately, Wycliffe repudiated the entire papal system. He also attacked transubstantiation, the Roman doctrine that the bread and wine of Communion become the actual body and blood of Christ in the Mass.  Wycliffe condemned the doctrine of purgatory, the use of relics, pilgrimages, and indulgences. For all this, he's called the Morningstar of the Reformation.Wycliffe's followers were forcefully suppressed in 1401. Those who held his views went underground and helped to prepare the way for the British Reformation a century later. Bohemians studying at Oxford in Wycliffe's day carried his ideas to their homeland, where they influenced the teachings of Jan Hus, another pre-reformer we've already looked at, but whom we'll consider again now in this set up for the Reformation.Hus was the professor of philosophy at the University of Prague and lead preacher at Bethlehem Chapel.  Historians used to think Hus transported Wycliffe's views to Prague but it seems clear now that while Hus was later influenced by Wycliffe's views, his reforms ran tandem to what was happening in England.Hus's approach was similar to Wycliffe's but his influence in Europe was greater than that of the Englishman's. Luther was greatly impressed with the work of Jan Hus. His greatest work was titled On the Church. He said that all the elect are members of Christ's church, of which Christ, rather than the pope, is head. He argued against simony, indulgences, and abuses of the mass. He demanded a reform in the lives of clergy, and the right of laymen to take both the bread and wine in Communion.Hus became the leader of a reform movement that spread across Bohemia. Almost the entire realm supported him, in spite of being excommunicated by the pope. After Hus's death the reform carried on, and in the middle of the 15th Century the Bohemian Brethren rose out of the embers of the fire Hus lit. They still exist as the Moravians.The 4th pre-Reformer was Savonarola who lived in Florence, Italy in the late 15th C. He was a fiery preacher against the worldliness and corruption of church and society. A Dominican, he was transferred to the priory of San Marco in 1482 and rose in influence and power in the city. His studies in the OT prophets and the book of Revelation made him a powerful preacher against the evils of a decadent society.Savonarola served as the spiritual leader of the political party that came to power in Florence when the Medicis fled the city in 1494. Exercising a virtual dictatorship, he tried to reform both the church and state. But over time, the people of Florence found his rule too strict and used his criticism of the Roman Church as the excuse to remove him from office. Pope Alexander VI's excommunication of Savonarola in 1497 was all the Florentines needed to arrest and try him for sedition and heresy. He was cruelly tortured then hanged in the piazza before the city hall, not far from where Michelangelo's David would stand just 5 years later.Although Savonarola demanded reform in the church, he never took the more advanced position of Wycliffe and Hus. He had no quarrel with the teachings or the organization of the church but seems to have believed in justification by faith.At the same time, Wycliffe and Hus were leading their attempts at reform, a mystical movement flowered in northern Europe. Known as The Brethren of the Common Life, they emphasized Bible reading, meditation, prayer, personal piety, and religious education. The main aim of the Brethren was to secure a revival of practical religion. They gathered in homes rather than monasteries, held property in common, worked to support themselves, and avoided the ill-will of the communities in which they lived by not seeking tax-exempt status or begging. They had good relations with the townspeople but sometimes incurred the suspicion and opposition of the clergy and monks. They attended parish churches and had no peculiar doctrinal positions.The Brethren were committed to education. They established several schools in the Netherlands and Germany that were outstanding for scholarship and piety. Four of their best-known students were Nicholas of Cusa, Erasmus, Luther, and Thomas à Kempis, who's credited with writing the widely distributed Imitation of Christ.Europe was a seething kettle by 1500, ready to boil over. In the realms of economics, politics, education, and religion, the time had come for change. All that was needed was someone who could mold these explosive elements into a single movement. Such a movement could, and eventually would cover Europe.There are a couple of reasons that need to be stated for why the Reformation succeeded—besides the obvious one many Protestant Christians would note first > It was God's Will.The more pedantic reasons are two-fold:First – The Great Papal Schism had left a bad taste in the mouth of many Christians in Europe. How could the Pope, the Vicar of Christ not be able to keep the Church together? And how could the Pope become such an obvious tool in the hand of secular rulers? The corruption of the Church was so obvious, so blatant, even the most devoted churchmen were embarrassed and wrote impassioned pleas for reform.And that leads us to the second reason the Reformation occurred; this was the age when the nation-states of Europe were emerging. Kings and regional governors were coming out from under the thumb of the Church hierarchy. Instead of Popes being king-makers, kings made popes. And some kings decided they didn't want to play Rome's game at all. They wanted to take their ball and go home to start their own game. If only someone would write some new rules.Enter: Martin Luther.In central Europe, the Holy Roman Empire which was essentially a German entity, had an emperor check-mated by numerous states with only slight allegiance to him. Muslim armies knocked at the doors of the empire not long after Luther tacked his theses to the church door at Wittenberg. After toppling Constantinople in 1453, the Ottoman Turks strolled across Eastern Europe until they stood at the gates of Vienna in 1529.What really happened was this. Charles, a Hapsburg with holdings in central Europe and king of the Netherlands and Spain, was elected in 1519 as Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. Francis I of France, surrounded by Charles' territory and defeated by him in 1525, made an alliance with the Ottomans in 1526 to apply a pincer movement against Charles. The Emperor needed the help of all his German vassals to defeat the Muslims. When some of the German princes became supporters of Luther, Charles was no longer able to put religious pressure on them. If he did, they'd withhold aiding him politically and militarily. So Charles wasn't able to force Luther's political covering, the powerful Frederick of Saxony, to surrender Luther when the Pope demanded his head on a pike.This is all very fun, isn't it?Now consider this à Just a few years after Luther's birth, Columbus reached the New World in 1492 and launched the Spanish Empire in the West. Shortly after Luther posted his theses, Magellan's expedition sailed around the world. At the same time, the Portuguese were establishing outposts of empire in Brazil, Africa, India, and the Far East.Did you know Columbus and Luther were contemporaries?Let's not forget as well that a whole new world of thought had come in with the tide of the Renaissance. Rediscovering the literature and thoughts of the classical age, contributed to a greater secularization of life.Humanism was one of the main features of the Renaissance, involving a new emphasis on man and his culture and an effort to make the world a better place in which human beings might live. The pull of the future life was not so great for the true child of the Renaissance as it had been for his ancestors during the Middle Ages. As has been said, the Renaissance man would rather eat his pie now than have it in the sky by and by.In harkening back to the literature of the Classical Age, humanists put renewed emphasis on the study of Greek and Hebrew in an effort to read the classics in the original languages. The greatest of all ancient documents was the Bible, and the renewed emphasis on ancient languages led many to the Scripture.The literary humanists included a good deal of biblical study in their academic diet, and it was in the north that the Reformation gained the most headway, among scholars like Zwingli, Calvin, Melanchthon, and Erasmus.Erasmus was a great satirist of the evils of the institutional church and society. That he got away with it and was so popular proves that criticism of Romanism by Renaissance leaders contributed to the success of the Reformation.Adding to the effectiveness of the Reformation was the Renaissance spirit of individualism, which paved the way for Luther's emphasis on the priesthood of the believer and its attendant ideas of the right of believers to go directly to God and to interpret the Scriptures for themselves.Another important ingredient of the intellectual development of Europe on the eve of the Reformation was the invention of movable type and the spread of printing. Without it the Reformers would not have had the same impact. The tremendous literary activity of the Reformers was largely responsible for building the printing trade.Lastly, an important phenomenon of the period was the rapid growth of universities, which provided education for a larger number of people, fostered a critical spirit, and provided a means for leaders of the emerging generation to be reached with Reformation principles.As we end this episode, I wanted to let you know that the donation feature is once more active on the CS site. We had to block it for a while because fraud did a lot of damage. You've heard reports of identity theft. It seems once crooks snag a bunch of credit accounts, they check to see if they're still valid by using sites like CS to post a bogus donation of 1 to $5. If it goes through, they know the accounts good and make real charges. Problem is, EVERY time my account gets one of these bogus donations, the bank charges me a transaction fee. Let's just say, 10K bogus donations made for a hefty cost to the CS account. So we had to block the donation feature until the proper security could be installed. That's done now thanks to the excellent work of Dade Ronan at Win at Web. Thanks, Dade. You're a genius!So, if you'd be so kind, a donation to keep the site up would be marvelous.

This is the 4th episode in a mini-series we're calling “The Long Road to Reform.”It was late Spring of 1490 when a Dominican friar stood at the gates of Florence. This was not the first time the 33 year old Girolamo [ger-all-a-mo] had made the 160 KM / 100 miles trip from his native Ferrara to the city of the Medici's. He'd lived for a spell in the city. The Florentines admired his scholarship but were put off by the vehemence of his preaching. They had a hard time adapting to his accent. But now he returned at the invitation of Lorenzo de Medici; Lorenzo the Magnificent, who virtually owned Florence, and to whom he'd been recommended by the famous philosopher Mirandola.Girolamo Savonarola joined the monastery of St. Mark and began a series of lectures for his fellow friars. Soon others joined the sessions causing them to relocate to the main hall. The lectures turned into sermons. By the Lenten Season of 1491, Savonarola's growing fame saw him invited to preach at the main church in Florence. Short on tact, Savonarola lambasted the decadence of the city's rich, of which there were not a few. Lorenzo de Medici was especially displeased. Who did this upstart think he was? He'd only come to Florence at Lorenzo's invitation. This was no way for a guest in HIS city to act. Medici hired another preacher to attack Savonarola. It failed since the people sided with Savonarola. He'd become their champion in decrying the exorbitant luxuries of the wealthy.The mercenary preacher refused to accept defeat. He went to Rome to plot his revenge.Savonarola was then elected prior of St. Mark's and within a short time, reformed the life of the community so thoroughly, the people of Florence all remarked on how holy the order had grown. Savonarola sold off some of the monastery's estates and gave the proceeds to the poor.Savonarola's reputation was unimpeachably. Though bitter enemies, when Lorenzo lay dying, he asked for the prior to come bless him. Lorenzo's successor was Pietro de Medici, who promptly lost all respect from the Florentines. The French King, Charles VIII, was on his way to claim the rule of Naples. Instead of organizing the defense of Florence as he ought, Pietro tried to buy him off. The Florentines were furious and sent their own embassy under Savonarola. They expelled the now hated Pietro and settled with the French by becoming allies. Though Savonarola was technically just a monastic prior, he'd become the civil leader.  The Florentines asked him to design a new government. He recommended a republic and installed reforms to heal the ailing economy. He gathered a good part of the gold and silver of the many city churches and sold it to feed the poor. This was the high-water mark of his term.History regards Savonarola as a religious fanatic & ignorant monk. He wasn't. He was simply someone who understood that the Church and Italian society had gone far from the Biblical ideal. What Savonarola was, was an anti-politician. That is, he had little to no capacity for compromise; doom for anyone engaged in civil politics. Savonarola was unable to distinguish between rules and principles; between non-negotiables and his own opinions. As a result, he was on a collision course with the very people who'd put him in power.Savonarola believed study ought to be at the center of reformation. So the friars at St. Mark's studied Latin, Greek, Hebrew, Arabic, and Aramaic. He railed against the luxuries of the wealthy, placing them all under the rubric “vanity.” These vanities, he railed, were a distraction that weakened the soul and made it prone to sin. So, at his urging the people of Florence regularly gathered to pile such vanities up and set them ablaze. First, a large pile of wood was erected in the main square. Under it was placed straw and kindling sprinkled with gunpowder. Onto of the pile people put their vanities; frilly dresses, jewelry, wigs, and ostentatious furniture. Amidst singing and ceremony, the thing was set on fire – a Bonfire of the Vanities. These bonfires replaced the traditional celebration of carnival just before Lent, something else Savonarola had banned.His reforms were echoed in surrounding cities. When Florence's rival republic of Siena  requested Savonarola's assistance, he went with twenty fellow monks. They arrived in Siena and went to work with their reforms. First order of business was to clear house in the monastery there. When some of the expelled monks resisted the reforms, Savonarola decided if they weren't going along with his plans, he'd leave. He had more luck at Pisa and the monasteries scattered round Tuscany.As we might expect, Savonarola's downfall came about because of his inability to play the political game.Alexander VI, one of the worst of the popes, made an alliance against France that included a good part of Italy, Germany, and Spain. The smart move was to join the pope's party. But Savonarola insisted on keeping his promise to the French. The pope responded with severe measures against Savonarola personally, then against all Florence. These measures were largely economic in nature. When the Florentines realized they'd lost a great deal of trade because their pastor was being stubborn, opposition grew. The City became increasingly fractured between supporters and opponents. On the opponent's side were most of the wealthy. His supporters declared Savonarola a prophet and demanded he perform miracles. When something he foretold came to pass, they grew even more enthusiastic. But when he failed to perform the required miracles, they turned on him.A mob marched on St. Mark's to apprehend him. Savonarola refused to defend himself. He forbade friends resisting the mob lest an innocent be harmed. He was hauled to the City Square where he was beaten and turned over to the authorities, some of whom had longed for this day for years.This was it; the civil showdown. The authorities had to find something damning to accuse him of. To elicit a confession, he was tortured for days. But the most they could make him confess to was something he'd never claimed to begin with; being a prophet.The pope sent legates to assist in the trial. These also tortured Savonarola. All they could obtain was an admission he'd planned to appeal to a church council. Savonarola admitted he'd been too proud in his call for reform, saying, “Lord, if even Peter, on whom you had bestowed so many gifts and graces, failed so thoroughly, what else could I do?”Despairing of finding charges severe enough to execute him, the judges condemned Savonarola and two friends as “heretics and schismatics,” without identifying what heresy they espoused. They were turned over to the civil authorities to be executed, for again, the Church must not kill. The only mercy Savonarola received was that he and his friends were hanged before being burned. Their ashes were then thrown into the Arno River flowing through Florence. This was considered the height of infamy. By scattering one's ashes, there was nothing left of them to remember; no place people could mark a memorial and keep their name alive. In spite of this, there were many of Savonarola's supporters who kept his relics.I've been to Florence and stood at his little memorial on the paving stones of the Main Square.Years after his death, when Rome was sacked by the Germans, some saw it as the fulfillment of Savonarola's prophecy. To this day, there are those in the Roman Church who argue Savonarola was a saint, and that his name should be added to the official list.As we end this episode, I wanted to take a quick moment to say thanks to all the new CS subscribers and the many of you who've liked us on FB, or written a review on iTunes.