THE CHAPEL OF THE MAGI: Florence, Palazzo Medici

Welcome on Florence, where history and art combine to bear witness to the past, in exceptional way. You can go with me inside special site, where we can see the Renaissance in Medicean Florence, into the Chapel of the Magi (in Palazzo Medici-Riccardi). We can admire one special chapel – secret and precious – imagining the religious heart of one distant family life. We can enter inside a room dedicated to the Journey of the Magi, looking for paintings covering the walls, by Benozzo Gozzoli. The three walls frescoed by benozzo (from left to right, east, south and west). http://www.visitflorence.com/

On the right, we can admire the Medici family tree from Chiarissimo to Grand Duke Cosimo I. We need to remember that the Magi were patrons of kings and horsemen, but also of sages, merchants (like Medici family), travellers and pilgrims. Do you like – on the right wall of the Chapel – the brilliantly coloured cortege accompanies Caspar, the young Magus? Looking on the end (south9 wall, there are the middle-aged Magus, Balthazar, escorted by lancers and pages. Now, on the left (west), we can also see Melchior, the aged Magus. Before him, the cavalcade winds out of sight, behind the hill. http://www.palazzo-medici.it/eng/home.htm

On the left of the family group ride a stern, supercilious Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, portrayed almost in profile, his head bare, astride a superb sorrel, and the handsome adolescent Galeazzo Maria Sforza, his gaze dreamy andblue and gold jewel dangling on the forehead of his white horse. You need to remember that the evocation of Medicean power is made explicit in the fresco, by the presence of family symbols (such as the bezants andthe diamond ring with the plume, and the motto “Semper”, on the caparisons ofthe mounts ridden by Cosimo and Piero. Yes, not just a fable. You are in Florence, where where anything can happen. http://www.palazzo-medici.it/eng/home.htm

For our dinner, I booked a table for two, at restaurant “Cantina Barbagianni”, with traditional Tuscan cuisine and Creative cuisine. Antipasto toscano (assorted cured meat and mixed crostini); risotto with Trevisan red chichory, crunchy Tuscan bacon and Morellino wine; bistecca alla Fiorentina (Grilled T-bone Steak) – with vegetables; Florentine style peas; Grnad marnier crème brûlé. Buon appetito!http://www.cantinabarbagianni.it/en/index.php