Open day of the villas and gardens in Florence 22 May 2016

Those of you who are enthusiasts for the villas and gardens of Tuscany have a great opportunity on Sunday 22 May 2016 to visit a great many of the villas and gardens that are usually closed to the public. Entrance is free. I can't emphasise enough what a wonderful opportunity this is to see some splendid architecture and historical gardens.

Palazzo Corsini and its garden in Florence

Open gardens in the Florence historical centre – opening hours 10 am to 1 pm – 3 pm to 7 pm.

Garden San Francesco di Paola (piazza San Francesco di Paola, 3)
Garden Torrigiani (via dei Serragli, 146)
Garden Corsi Annalena (via Romana, 38)
Palazzo Guicciardini (via Guicciardini, 15)
Palazzo Frescobaldi (via Santo Spirito,13)
Palazzo Antinori di Brindisi (via dei Serragli, 9)
Giardino di Palazzo Rospigliosi Pallavicini (piazza del Carmine, 21)
Giardino di Palazzo Wagnière-Fontana Elliott (lungarno Soderini, 9)
Giardino Corsini sul Prato (via il Prato, 58)
Palazzo Ricasoli (piazza Goldoni, 2)
Palazzo Corsini (lungarno Corsini, 10)
Palazzo Rucellai (via della Vigna Nuova, 18)
Palazzo Antinori (piazza Antinori, 3)
Palazzo Bartolini Salimbeni (piazza Santa Trinità, 1)
Palazzo and garden Rosselli Del Turco (borgo Santi Apostoli, 19)
Palazzo Gondi (piazza San Firenze, 1)
Giardino Malenchini (via dei Benci, 1)
Giardino Vegni (via San Niccolò, 93)
Giardino degli Antellesi (piazza Santa Croce, 21)
Palazzo Pepi (via dei Pepi, 7)
Palazzo Pucci (via de’ Pucci, 4): the organic vegetable gardens on the terraces may be visited by small groups.
Palazzo dei Cartelloni (via Sant’Antonino, 11): exhibition of contemporary art.
Palazzo Ginori (via Ginori, 11): The courtyard can be visited by small groups.
Palazzo Gerini (via Ricasoli, 42)
Palazzo Grifoni Budini Gattai (piazza SS. Annunziata, 1):Open from 10 am to 3 pm.
Palazzo Ximenes Panciatichi (borgo Pinti, 68)
Palazzo Zuccari Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz (via Gino Capponi, 22)
Palazzo Pandolfini (via San Gallo, 74)
Palazzo dei Pittori (viale Giovanni Milton, 49)

Read my post on the Florence open day gardens I visited in 2015. 

Palazzo Antinori in Florence

Don't forget to visit my Tuscany Travel Guide! Up-to-date news on what to see and where to stay in Chianti and all of Tuscany. Tuscany Travel Guide

Holiday accommodations in Chianti

Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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Italian cured meats can now be imported into the USA - USDA lifts ban

Are you among the legions of American visitors to Italy who wanted to take home a whole prosciutto (or at least a good selection of salumi) but were disappointed to discover that the import of most Italian cured meats into the States has long been prohibited? Good news! It seems - note, seems - that from 28 May 2013, Italian cured meats can now be imported into the USA.

Italian cured meats - a new addition to what you can take home from Tuscany?

The USDA lifted its absolute ban on Italian raw, cured meat products in 1989, when prosciutto from Parma and San Daniele was allowed back into the USA after a 22-year absence. Now, according to ANSA, the Italian wire service, the USDA ban on the import of Italian cured meats from factories too small to support a full-time USDA inspector will be lifted starting on 28 May this year.

This is great news for visitors to Tuscany who now have the chance to extend their Tuscan experience by carrying back a good supply of their favorite Tuscan cold cuts. This also expands the options for convenient gifts for the folks back home - some salamini alla cacciatora here, a block of lardo toscano there. What could be a better way to share the experience? (And to "win friends and influence people" - it's not just the Napoleonic army that marches on its stomach!)

There is a huge array of Tuscan cured meats, many of them produced by small, artisanal outlets, that has never been available in the States. With a bit of luck, this will now change as importers move to fill what I believe is a true market void. In addition, there are good suppliers in Tuscany whose offerings can be ordered via the internet. 

HOWEVER, dear readers, the exact rules are still fuzzy and TUSCANY is NOT on the most recent list of Regions of Italy free of swine vesicular disease. Check back here - I will be updating as the USDA clarifies the new rules.

More about Tuscan culinary specialities.

Tuscan porcini mushroom - how to recognise, collect and cook them.

Bistecca all fiorentina - select and cook it properly.


Author: Anna Maria Baldini

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