This year we are celebrating 500 years of the publishing of the master work, The Prince written by Niccolo Machiavelli. Machiavelli is one of the most famous people in the history of Florence, so if you walk in town you might see his image sculpted in one of the niches of the Uffizi loggia. He lived at the end of the 15th century and was a writer, philosopher, playwright and Secretary of the Republic of Florence. He was involved in politics in a very crucial moment in political history, when Tuscany wasn’t yet unified, and all the little towns close to Florence were finding powerful allies to fight the Town of the lilly in order and mantain their freedom.
With the help of Charles V, after 18 years of the Republic, the Medici family returned to Florence with an iron fist. Machiavelli was dismissed and put into exile in his beautiful property at San Andrea in Percussina, located about 10km from town. In this period he wrote “Mandrake” and “The Prince”. The latter is a treatise on how a prince should develop some specific skills to govern a state well… The most famous phrase, “the end justifies the means” has become an Italian saying.
To celebrate the event I propose a beautiful itinerary, a day hike on the hills of Florence, along the ancient pathways heading south. We will wak through backroads, finishing up at the Machiavelli Villa. Here not only can you feel Machiavelli’s ghost walking through the vineyards but you can taste a yummy country meal and wash it down (of course) with a little Chianti wine and the best focaccia bread of the area. Afterwards we can return to Florence any way you wish- by foot or by bus.
See on italianfootprints.com
via Tumblr http://italianentertainment.tumblr.com/post/42992890747