9 paths between the artistic treasures of Florence

The jewels forgotten Oltrarno, the Roman Florentia and routes out of town are the theme of 9 Match-itineraries which in February, under the guidance of 'Enjoy Florence' and organized by Cooperativa Archaeology will lead to the discovery of artistic treasures of Florence and Tuscany, a journey among the masterpieces hidden and less known, in the company of experts and archaeologists.

The events range from classical paths within the museums of the city, as the Bargello, to admire some of the most important Renaissance sculptures (1 February), or the Accademia Gallery, which houses the famous David by Michelangelo (1 February), the Uffizi and the Vasari Corridor (21 February), visits to discover the architectural wonders forget, with "Jewels forgotten Oltrarno: Holy Spirit and the Carmine with the Brancacci Chapel " (28 February), through a journey into the Dominican complex of Santa Maria Novella, where you can learn about the work of the greatest Florentine artists of the '300 and' 400, da Giotto all’Orcagna, Masaccio to Domenico Ghirlandaio, Brunelleschi (22 February).

A lesser known Florence, Roman and early Christian, will be the focus of the itineraries Santa Maria del Fiore, A window on the religious history of Florentia (7 and 14 February) and Discovering Florentia (15 February).

The first will take visitors inside the church's most important cities, the Duomo, highlighting the historical continuity of a place that from the first century BC saw the move from area to area homes religious, with the foundation of the church of Santa Reparata, one of the oldest in the city, demolished in 1379 to make way for the new cathedral.

The second, recently inaugurated, develops into the basement of the Palazzo Vecchio, where archaeological excavations have uncovered the remains of the theater of Florentia, and will start right from the excavations of the Roman theater to travel then the perimeter of the Roman walls found on the current route of the city.

During the tour you will visit the archaeological remains beneath the Tower of Pagliazza related to a domus of imperial age, to finally reach the Republic Square, the site of the Forum and where crossed the thistle and the decumanus maximum.

The program is enriched by two routes out of town, to be held on 15 February, on the occasion of the feast of Tell, organized by Unicoop Florence and cooperatives cultural Tuscan Legacoop.

The first is the construction site of the Ancient Ships of Pisa, the excavation from 1998 returned the wreckage of at least 30 boats from the Roman era, cargo ships to small river boats, through a guided tour that leads, from the extraordinary story of the discovery, to visit the archaeological and restoration work in progress.

The second includes the Museum of the Collegiate and the Church of Santo Stefano in Empoli, treasures of works of art like the Pietà by Masolino, Enthroned Virgin Filippo Lippi (within the Collegiate) and the remains of frescoes by Masolino da Panicale, Table of Bicci Lorenzo with St. Nicholas of Tolentino that protects Empoli from the Plague and paintings of the seventeenth century Fiorentino (inside the Church of Santo Stefano in Empoli).

Admission fee for visits, reservations required at 055-5520407 and to turismo@archeologia.it.

For more information www.enjoyfirenze.it, or write to turismo@archeologia.it

Nicola Nuti

By the number 50 - Year II 04/02/2015