Via Tornabuoni
Via de’ Tornabuoni leads north from the Arno River to Piazza della Repubblica, the main square and, as a result, the forum of Florence at the times of the Roman civilization.
The celebrated fashionable street of the capital city of Tuscany takes its name from the Tornabuoni family, one of the oldest and most recognized Florentine families, which in 1444 became related by marriage to the Medici family.
It can be said that maybe the most interesting members of the Tornabuoni family were two women:
The first one was Lucrezia Tornabuoni, a notable noblewoman known for her outstanding ability in politic affairs and for her literary penchant, who married Piero de’ Medici, son of Cosimo de’ Medici, when she was nineteen years old.
Around 1480, Agnolo Poliziano (1454-1494) poet, academic humanist and one of the most relevant grammarians of his age wrote about the “laudi” (poetical hymns set to be sung), sonnets and “trianari” (narrative poems written in triplets) composed by Lucrezia Tornabuoni in vernacular language.
Some of her poems were published before her dead, occurred in 1482 ca. Later it was published an anthology of 49 letters written from 1446 to 1478 ca.
The other one was the aristocratic Giovanna degli Albizi, noted for her heavenly beauty, who married Lorenzo Tornabuoni, cousin of Lorenzo the Magnificent, when she was 17 years old.
The wedding, held in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore on June 15th, 1486, is mentioned in the Florentine historiography as one of the most sumptuous events of the age. Her wedding ring was given in presence of the Duke del Infantado, Grandee of Spain, Ambassador to the Holy Seat, who acted as a representative of Felipe I, King of Spain.
Giovanna degli Albizi died in 1488 and was buried in the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella, in the Tornabuoni’s Chapel. She was immortalized in its walls by Domenico Ghirlandaio. Giovanna can be identified close to Lucrezia Tornabuoni in the scene of the “Visitation”, dated 1490 ca, which is one of the episodes of the frescoes’ cycle depicting the life of S. John the Baptist.
Two years before, Domenico Ghirlandaio had already painted her in the marvellous portrait “Giovanna degli Albizi Tornabuoni”. The masterpiece is conserved in Madrid in the Musem Thyssen-Bornemisza.
In 1486 ca, Sandro Botticelli had included Giovanna degli Albizi as Venus in the fresco “Venus and the Graces offering gifts to a young man” which is hosted in the Louvre Museum of Paris.
So the most elegant street of Florence, which essentially hosts magnificent commercial establishments of Italian and foreign haute couture and jewellery, is not solely dedicated to that powerful Florentine family, but is hazardously paying tribute to those splendid Tornabuoni’s women.
The long Via de’ Tornabuoni and its neighbourhood streets hosts also some refined Hotels, high class coffee shops and restaurants, as well as the exclusive Jockey Club, all of them housed in the indoors of amazing Renaissance palaces
The Italian and foreign famous designers whose firms are located in the amazing architectonical setting of Via de’Tornabuoni are:
- Salvatore Ferragamo’ shop, and his outstanding Museum (free entrance) is within the whole 13th century Palazzo Spini Feroni, in Via Tornabuoni, no. 2-14, around the corner of Piazza Trinità.
- Gianni Versace (No. 13-15)
- Max Mara (No. 22)
- Tiffany (No. 25)
- Yves Saint Laurent (No. 29)
- Cartier (No. 40)
- Christian Dior (No. 48)
- Prada for women (No. 53) and Prada for men in No. 67.
- Bulgari (No. 61-63)
- Bucellati (No. 71)
- Gucci (No. 73)
- Giorgio Armani (No. 81)
- Roberto Cavalli (No. 83)
- Pomellato (No. 89-91)
- Tod’s (No.103)
In Via della Vigna Nuova, perpendicular to Via de’ Tornabuoni and parallel to Via degli Strozzi, there are located BP Studio (No.15) and Dolce & Gabanna (No. 27). In the adjacent Piazza Strozzi there is the Emporio Armani (No.16).
West Side of Florence
The Cathedrals : Basilica di Santa Maria Novella , Chiesa Santa Trinitá , Chiesa Ognissanti
Main Monuments :Piazza della Repubblica
Main Streets : Via Tornabuoni , Parco delle Cascine
Main Museums : Museo Marino Marini
Click here for compleate Florence Travel Guide
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