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Neighborhoods of Florence, Italy: Exploring Quartiere di San Giovanni with Kate Bolton-Porciatti
Learn with Kate Bolton-Porciatti

Neighborhoods of Florence, Italy: Exploring Quartiere di San Giovanni with Kate Bolton-Porciatti

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Can't make this time? A video recording will be sent to all participants after the seminar.

The city of Florence was divided into four distinct neighborhoods in the mid 13th century, and each one has preserved its own unique character and identity to this day. These four virtual tours – partly recorded on location in the city – offer first-hand insights into each area. 
During our time together, we’ll explore how the quarters have evolved and developed over the centuries, thanks to their different geographical locations, historical and political events, economics, and religion - all of which have indelibly shaped their distinctive personalities and cultural traditions. 
With the help of maps, videos, and photographs, we will tour each neighborhood, stopping en route to reflect on their artworks, social and cultural traditions. We (virtually) meet the great families that shaped each quarter, visit the towers, palaces, churches, and monuments they patronized, and explore the city’s artisan workshops and culinary traditions. Finally, we’ll reflect on how local Florentine communities have been created, and how they might be preserved in the future. 
Our first installment will focus upon the San Giovanni Neighborhood – named after the majestic 11th-century Baptistery, one of the oldest buildings in the city, and also home to Florence’s most famous monument: the Duomo. Historically, this was the quarter of the Medici whose imprint remains on the great Renaissance Medici-Riccordi Palace, the frescoed convent of San Marco, and the monumental complex of San Lorenzo where members of the dynasty are buried in tombs sculpted by Michelangelo and adorned with ‘commesso fiorentino’ – a form of stone inlay work and one of the city’s great artisan skills, which we also explore. Today, this neighborhood is alive with traditional leather stalls and the impressive food market of San Lorenzo where we sample typical Florentine culinary traditions. 
Led by an expert on Italian culture and history, Kate Bolton-Porciatti, this Conversation will bring the neighborhoods of Florence to vibrant life. Designed to inform curiosity as well as future travels, participants will come away with an increased understanding and appreciation of the city and its many personalities.
This seminar is part of a multi-part series that virtually explores the charming neighborhoods of Florence Italy. For more information, please click here.

Kate Bolton-Porciatti is a professor of Italian cultural history and music at the Istituto Lorenzo de'Medici in Florence, where she teaches BA and MA courses in the humanities. She also lectures at the British Institute, Florence, and at the Chigiana Music Academy in Siena. Kate has published extensively as an academic and a journalist; she is a music critic for BBC Music and a travel writer for The Daily Telegraph, UK. Before moving to Italy permanently in 2005, she was a senior producer and broadcaster for BBC Arts & Classical Music in London and has won prestigious Jerusalem and Sony Awards for her programs. She did her M.Phil. thesis in Italy, exploring the musical culture of early Renaissance Florence.

This conversation is suitable for all ages.

90 minutes, including a 30 minute Q&A.

Customer Reviews

Based on 28 reviews
89%
(25)
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Rebecca Kulik (Tirana, AL)
Fabulous Deep Dive Lecture

This was an absolutely fantastic experience. The host was very knowledgeable and gave a terrific mix of historical and practical information about this quarter of Florence. Her presentation was also lovely and polished, with seamlessly integrated video spotlights on local artisans and certain locations. After this lecture, I went and signed up for all the rest of her Context Conversations!

N
Nancy Knechtel (Tonawanda, US)
Great tour of Florence neighborhood!

Kate's presentation was wonderful with excellent information and suggestions. It was lively and well illustrated with beautifully done videos. I am signing up for more!

K
K.M. (Yonkers, US)
Fascinating!

Guest did not leave comment

S
Suzanne Hannay (Heath, US)
So Much More to See! We’re Going Back

We’ve just returned from four days in Firenze and we knew as we left that we needed more time. Seeing Kate’s lecture this afternoon made it patently obvious that we probably need to move there. So much information ! So many hidden details that we overlooked! And we’ve been to Firenze many times before.

C
Camilla Galluzzo (New York, US)
Wonderful understanding of San Giovanni quartiere

It was so filled with interesting facts and locations.
Dr. Bolton-Porciatti just knows how to zero in on the hood and the facts. Taking her other three courses to inform myself on all the quartiere of Florence for my future stay.

123

Customer Reviews

Based on 28 reviews
89%
(25)
7%
(2)
4%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
R
Rebecca Kulik (Tirana, AL)
Fabulous Deep Dive Lecture

This was an absolutely fantastic experience. The host was very knowledgeable and gave a terrific mix of historical and practical information about this quarter of Florence. Her presentation was also lovely and polished, with seamlessly integrated video spotlights on local artisans and certain locations. After this lecture, I went and signed up for all the rest of her Context Conversations!

N
Nancy Knechtel (Tonawanda, US)
Great tour of Florence neighborhood!

Kate's presentation was wonderful with excellent information and suggestions. It was lively and well illustrated with beautifully done videos. I am signing up for more!

K
K.M. (Yonkers, US)
Fascinating!

Guest did not leave comment

S
Suzanne Hannay (Heath, US)
So Much More to See! We’re Going Back

We’ve just returned from four days in Firenze and we knew as we left that we needed more time. Seeing Kate’s lecture this afternoon made it patently obvious that we probably need to move there. So much information ! So many hidden details that we overlooked! And we’ve been to Firenze many times before.

C
Camilla Galluzzo (New York, US)
Wonderful understanding of San Giovanni quartiere

It was so filled with interesting facts and locations.
Dr. Bolton-Porciatti just knows how to zero in on the hood and the facts. Taking her other three courses to inform myself on all the quartiere of Florence for my future stay.

123