"florence" news and stories

Ah, Florence -- that beautiful Northern Italian city split snugly along the banks of the winding Arno River. After Rome and Venice, Florence is one of the biggest draws for international tourism in Italy. And it's with good reason that millions flock there every year -- between the art and the local cuisine, Florence offers endless options to the foreign traveler (myself included).

When I lived in Milan, I would occassionally take gastro-tourism trips to Florence to enjoy the rich Tuscan cuisine. I was lucky enough to have a couple of Italian friends who were willing to help me pick through extensive menus and wine lists to find the most authentic, or as the Italians say, the "tipica" foods of the region.

A new exhibit at the Civic Museum of Monsummano Terme, just north of Florence, explores the history of chocolate in Europe. The show pays particular attention to the ways in which the patronage of the Medici dynasty furthered the art of chocolate making in much the same ways it advanced the areas of art and architecture. Cosimo III de Medici commissioned new chocolate recipes in order to compete with those of the Spaniards and to impress other aristocrats. One of the results was a jasmine-infused chocolate drink, often presented to visiting dignitaries as an example of the Medici splendor. The exhibit, "Chocolate: from Spanish perfection to the exquisite courtesy of the Tuscan court" continues through April 30.

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