Il Centro UNESCO di Firenze Celebrates the Radio!

UNESCO has long-promoted the radio as an essential tool for global communications. As a cost-effective, simple device, the radio has enabled interaction for a gamete of users ranging from amateur individuals to multinational corporations. To celebrate the importance of this invention, the Florence office of UNESCO, in tangent with the RAI organization, held a conference during the city’s annual culture week at Palazzo Medici Riccardi. The event drew an international crowd, analyzing the role of the radio in the fields of science, education, and culture. To further appreciate the importance of the radio in all aspects of life, visit the UNESCO website at:

UNESCO World Radio Day

Gelato Tasting- Learn How to Make it at Home!

Perchè No?

The UNESCO Center of Florence is holding a fundraiser at the incredible gelateria Perchè No. This fundraiser will raise money for our project in Thailand, strengthening education and preventing sexual tourism

This ongoing fundraiser is a great chance to taste and learn how to make homemade gelato, and learn how to tell the difference between factory made and the delicious Italian hand-crafted gelato.

There are two options available:
Option 1: A tasting along with a brief explanation on how to make gelato, which 10 euro per person. This tasting will last about 15 minutes.

Option 2: An hour long session where you can learn how to make handmade gelato, and participate in a tasting for 16 euro per person.

Perchè No will be opening its doors just for us Monday-Sunday 10am-11am, and Tuesdays 10am-12pm. Since they have been extremely generous and have dedicated so much time to us for this amazing fundraiser, we are asking all interested parties to please email us at ufficioprogetti@centrounescofi.it with the amount of people they would like to bring, along with 2 options for times. We will then email you back with a confirmation of the date and time of your gelato tasting.

This is a truly amazing opportunity, and Perchè No is one of the best gelaterias in all of Florence, so be sure to take advantage!

International Jazz Day

UNESCO is celebrating the first annual International Jazz Day in 2012! Italy celebrates this great genre of music on April 30th, 2012 in Rome with UNESCO hosting a free concert at Auditorium Parco della Musica, Sala Petrassi (Roma) at 20:30. Tickets can be acquired through  Parco della Musica Infopoint.


The international celebration of jazz is ‘intended to raise awareness in the international community of the virtues of jazz as an educational tool, and a force for peace, unity, dialogue and enhanced cooperation among people’. UNESCO intends to 'bring together performers, educators, governments, experts, and fans alike, as they explore together the history, meaning, impact, and legacy of jazz music throughout the world.'


Jazz was selected because of the following impacts:

• Jazz breaks down barriers and creates opportunities for mutual understanding and tolerance;
• Jazz is a vector of freedom of expression;
• Jazz is a symbol of unity and peace;
• Jazz reduces tensions between individuals, groups, and communities;
• Jazz fosters gender equality;
• Jazz reinforces the role youth play for social change;
• Jazz encourages artistic innovation, improvisation, new forms of expression, and inclusion of traditional music forms into new ones;
• Jazz stimulates intercultural dialogue and empowers young people from marginalized societies.

To read the full press release by Director-General Irina Bokova, click here.

Springtime Aperitivo

Beautiful weather has finally arrived in Florence, and restaurants have opened their doors and set up outside.  Some of the best places in the city are offering aperitivo specials, in some of the cities best historical sites.  Aperitivo is a part of Italian culture, where you can meet new people and try different foods in different places.

Stop by Florence's biggest greenhouse, the Tepidarium for a special aperitivo surrounded by butterflies.  The exhibit lets you interact with nature, inside the greenhouse and surrounded by the beautiful horticultural gardens.  The aperitivo is open Wednesday through Sunday at 7pm, and each night has a theme: Wednesday is tango night, Thursday is lounge music, Friday dance to live DJ sets, Saturday improve your mood with 'happy music', and Sunday get ready for a stressful week with relaxing music.

Oibo is just a few steps away from Santa Croce, and with the outside seating area you get a perfect view of the church.  Take advantage of their aperitivo bar from 6:30 to 9:30 every day, in a sleek and modern bar, full of young Florentine.  With a creative drink menu and a wide range of finger foods, there is no way you can leave unsatisfied.

Also be sure to check out the Frescobaldi Wine Bar and Restaurant, located right in Piazza Signoria.  Attached to the restaurant is an elegant wine bar with great outdoor seating and great selection of tapas.  At the bar, you can  choose from a selection of fresh cured meats and cheeses,  and a proper wine pairing.

A Chocoholics Dream

Florence annually hosts what is easily one of the most exciting events of the year: A Chocolate Festival.  Most people might disagree with this bold statement, and say that a chocolate festival probably isn't that cool. But really, what can be better than 20 vendors selling different kinds of chocolate goodness, or fruit covered in chocolate, or chocolate kabob shavings, or chocolate cake swimming in hot chocolate!?  Absolutely nothing is what I say!

The festival was filled with eager people, sampling any kind of chocolate they can, also justifying their massive amounts of chocolate eating by covering fruit with it (or at least that's what I did!)  While some items were a bit expensive, in general, everything was very well priced, and definitely worth a trip to Santa Croce.

The festival typically is hosted in the Spring, with varying dates and locations.  This is the perfect opportunity to buy a giant heart-shaped chocolate Valentine for someone special.  Go out for a special date-night and try some chocolate beer or chocolate liquor. Everything you could ever want is right at your fingertips!

For more information on upcoming chocolate festivals and dates in Florence, visit http://www.fieradelcioccolato.it/

A Day in a Vintage Market

Florence hosts an incredible vintage market, filled with beautiful clothes, shoes, bags, jewelry, and people.  The 5 Euro cover charge is well worth the experience, as one can spend hours simply walking through the entire market that looked as though it might never end.  Just off the main section of the market is a cafe, serving delicious looking sandwiches, espresso, and old fashioned Coca-Cola bottles.  

There are also a variety of secret rooms, hidden away with some of the best jewels of the market.  Markets like this don't come around very often, so for all of you that have the opportunity to go, the experience will be fantastic!  For those of you not so lucky, don't worry.  Many of the vendors at the market have similar items in stores throughout Florence, as well as  in Siena, Pisa, and Assisi.  Take a look below for some pictures of past events, and also for a list of most of the vendors and where you can find their 
amazing items. 


Upcoming Vintage Events

Fiesole

Fiesole is a town and comune of the Province of Florence, located on a scenic height above the city.  Fiesole was probably founded in the eighth or ninth centuries BC, because it was an important part of the Etruscan confederacy, as can be seen in the remains of the ancient walls around the city.  Fiesole was independent for several centuries in the early Middle Ages, and it almost held the same power that Florence did.  However, many wars arose between Florence and Fiesole, and in 1010 and 1025 Fiesole was ransacked by Florentine’s.   Fiesole was then conquered by Florence in 1125, and its leading families began to form residences in Florence as well.  By the 14^th century, wealthy Florentine families had villas in Fiesole. 

Fiesole has many beautiful sights.  Evidence of the Etruscan and Roman settlements can be found in the Area Archeologica, which is located east of main square, Piazza Mino da Fiesole.  It has a well preserved Roman amphitheatre, Roman baths, a Roman temple and some sixth century BC Etruscan ruins.  From the piazza, you can climb Via San Francesco for beautiful panoramic views of Florence below.  The Museo Bandini has ivories, ceramics, and paintings on display, while the church of San Domenico, dating from the 15th century, is home to Madonna with Saints and Angels by Fra Angelico.  The Fiesole Cathedral, a Romanesque structure just off of the main square, is dedicated to Saint Romulus of Fiesole.  It contains a shrine to Saint Romulus, rumored to be the first Bishop of Fiesole. 

At the foot of the hill where Fiesole stands is the Badia or ancient cathedral of St. Romulus.  The Badia was built in 1028 by Bishop Jacopo Bavaro with materials taken from several older structures.  This cathedral is supposed to cover the site of the martyrdom of St. Romulus.  The old cathedral became a Benedictine abbey, which then passed into the hands of the regular canons of Lateran. At one point in its history, it was home to a valuable library, but has long since been dispersed. The abbey was closed in 1778.

The European University Institute also stands on the foot of the hills of Fiesole.  Many of its buildings are historical, notably the Badia and Villa Schifanoia.  Villa Il Poggiolo houses the Historical Archives of the European Union which are attached to the Institute. The Historical Archives conserve and offer access to the original documents of the European institutions. The Archives will have a permanent home in the near future in Villa Salviati, which is another Tuscan landmark.

Our Recommendations

Take city Bus 7 from Piazza San Marco to reach the top of Fiesole.  We highly recommend taking the climb up Via San Francesco for some striking views of Florence.  A ticket for the Area Archeologica, the Museo Civico Archeologica, the Museo Bandini, and the Chapels of San Iacopo costs €6 for students up to 25 years old.  Spend a gorgeous summer day roaming the quiet and clean city, admiring the views and the quaintness of this city, it is truly magnificent. 

Ristorante Perseus is located at Piazza Mino da Fiesole 9.  Fodor’s guide book says that this is one the best places to try out bistecca alla fiorentina.  Bistecca alla fiorentina is a favorite Tuscan dish, which consists of a T-bone or porterhouse steak ,grilled over a wood or charcoal fire, and seasoned with salt and, sometimes, black pepper, and olive oil. Thickly cut and very large, steaks are often shared between two or more persons, and it is served very rare at most restaurants.