FONDAZIONE INTERNAZIONALE MENARINI FIRENZE PIAZZA

FONDAZIONE
INTERNAZIONALE
MENARINI
FIRENZE
PIAZZA DELLA CALZA
and
CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
Pain and Cough
March 19-21, 2015
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FIRENZE PIAZZA DELLA CALZA AND CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
FONDAZIONE
INTERNAZIONALE
MENARINI
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A brief history
With the Symposium “Pain and Cough”, Fondazione Internazionale Menarini returns back home
to Florence to present this medical event in the historical Convitto della Calza in piazza della
Calza 6. The prestigious structure dates back to the 14th century and includes the church of San
Giusto and the former convent of San John the Baptist, wich was originally seat of the
homonymous hospital and later of a religious site. Although the building is characterized by a very
simple and severe architecture and an unadorned simplicity to remind its ancient role of
hospitality, it is historically and artistically relevant and full of charme and atmosphere.
It is located beyond the river Arno, in the popular artisan's Oltrarno district, called Diladdarno for
its position on the left bank of the river. It is the district that writer Vasco Pratolini chose as setting
for his famous novel The Girls of San Frediano. The entire area represents the most typical
expression of the Florentine old identity as it is home to still active artisan's workshops, to
goldsmiths, to gilders, to restorers, to carpenters, to metal craftsmen, to antique dealers. Moreover
the area is full of historical trattorias and food shops offering Tuscan specialities and traditional
local cuisine.
The Convitto is located inside the still visible
old city walls of 1300, next to the magnificent
Boboli Gardens and not far from Palazzo
Pitti, the residence of the Grand Dukes of
Tuscany and later of the King of Italy. In front
of the Convitto are located the former royal
stables of Palazzo Pitti hosting the local
School of Arts and Crafts and the Gipsoteca
which conserves the most interesting
collection of 3000 plaster models of Tuscan
Renaissance art.
Just a stone's throw away, on via Romana, is located the ancient Royal Museum of Physics and
Natural History of Pietro Leopoldo di Lorena, founded in 1775. It houses a rich zoological
collection of living and extinct animals and the Tribune of Galileo containing the statue of Galileo
and a series of lunettes and frescoes depicting events in scientific history relating to Florence. It is
the oldest scientific Museum of Europe and is worldwide known for its collection of medical
instruments and for its 1400 wax anatomical models from the 18th century. Prominent among
them is the famous “spellato”, the skinned man created to teach anatomy without having to
directly observe a cadaver.
Just a few meters away from the Convitto opens the elegant avenue viale dei Colli realized by the
architect Giuseppe Poggi during his 19th century urban reconstruction of Florence. Two sculptures
are placed on either side of the avenue: the lion Marzocco, symbol of the Florentine Republic,
and the lupa Capitolina, symbol of Rome from ancient times. It connects the east part of the city
to the west passing through the famous piazzale Michelangelo which offers one of the most
amazing views of the entire city.
The Convitto overlooks the small square of piazza della Calza
that can be easily reached by passing through the imposing
gateway of Porta Romana located at the confluence between
via dei Serragli and via Romana. Outside the gate attracts
attention the big statue of 1984 named Dietrofront by the
artist Michelangelo Pistoletto. The ancient gate was designed
by Jacopo Orcagna and built in 1326 as a part of the last and
outermost city walls by the architect Arnolfo di Cambio. Its
original name was San Pier Gattolini due to the nearby 14th
FIRENZE PIAZZA DELLA CALZA e CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
FONDAZIONE
INTERNAZIONALE
MENARINI
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century church of the same name, later called Serumido
after being rebuilt. Porta Romana was originally much
higher but, in 16th century, it was cropped down in
order to make it less vulnerable to artillery attacks. It still
retain the original wooden leafs with iron nails,
complete with all ancient doorlocks. In the lunette,
above the inside vast vault, is a fresco by Franciabigio
depicting the Madonna with Child and Four Saints. On
either sides of the central arch are two Latin incriptions
commemorating the thriumphal entry in Florence of
pope Leone X in 1515 and of the Emperor Carlo V in
1536 to install his son-in-law, Alessandro de' Medici, on
the ducal throne of Florence.
The facade of the house facing Porta Romana offers a vaste and modern mural by the Florentine
artist Mario Romoli (1908-1978) painted in 1955
entitled The life in Florence. It portraits the most
illustrious Florentine artists: Dante, Giotto, Masaccio,
Leonardo, Lorenzo il Magnifico, Cosimo I, Rosai,
Papini, Primo Conti, the Mayor La Pira, the artist
himself and many others. The work replace a previous
fresco made around 1617 by the Florentine painter
Giovanni da San Giovanni (1592-1636) which was now
worn away by time and detached. It represented the
allegory of Florence, Queen of Tuscany, seated on a
throne between Siena and Pisa and receiving gifts from
Flora.
This part of Florence is the southermost point of the old city centre, at the beginning of the route
leading to Siena and Rome. During the Middle Age it was crossed by a multitude of pilgrims and
merchants coming from north Europe to Rom to visit the tomb of Saint Peter and to Gerusalem.
The route crossed the city and was called “route of the charity” becouse 30 hospitals were built on
the way providing the dual function of hosting pilgrims and treat and care the sick. One of these
hospitals was the Convitto della Calza standing on the west side of the Piazza della Calza.
It was born in 1362 as an oratory used as small hospital entitled to St. John the Baptist and under
the patronage of the Knights of Malta. In 1373 a church and a hospice for pilgrims, dedicated to San
Niccolò and Donato dei Frieri, were built here with funds provided by Bindo di Lapo Benini. The
Benini coat of arms can still be noticed today above the door of the church with its crossed
vermilion chains on the gold background.
In 1392 the whole structure passed to the nuns of the Gerosolimitane Order, also called Cavalleresse
di Malta, who run it for two centuries and converted it into a convent with the name of St. John
the Baptist. They enriched it with the large trapezoidal cloister and commissioned many frescoes and
the representation of the Last Supper by Franciabigio. As a result of the 1529-30 siege of Florence by
the Emperor Carlo V, they had to leave their convent. The Gesuati Friars of San Giusto alle Mura
replaced them coming from the destroyed convent near Porta Pinti. The very long hood they wore
on theyr left shoulder similar to a stocking (calza) gave name to the actual square and the hospitality
structure and the friars were called “the friars of the calza”. They were well known for
manufacturing and tinting the artistic stained glass window, called “pinti”.
In 1689 moved here the Congregazione dei Sacerdoti di San Salvatore al Vescovo and then the
entire complex became the seat of the Convitto Ecclesiastico to prepare the young seminarians for
the priesthood. Since year 2000 it has been converted in an hotel and congress centre after a fine
restructuring that has preserved its original charachteristics.
FIRENZE PIAZZA DELLA CALZA e CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
FONDAZIONE
INTERNAZIONALE
MENARINI
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CENACOLO of
SAN GIOVANNI BATTISTA DELLA CALZA
Among the hidden treasures of the former convent there is a suggestive fresco representing the Last
Supper painted in 1514 by the Florentine Renaissance artist Francesco di Cristofano Bigi, called
Franciabigio (1482-1525). It celebrates the sacred moment when Jesus shared his last meal with the
apostles before being crucified. The decoration covers an entire wall of the former Cenacolo which
is still used today as a dining room and common area of the hotel.
Cenacolo comes from the word "cena" for supper and was the monastic name for the refectory.
It was the place for religious rites, where the nuns ate, meditated, prayed and received important
guests. Since ancient times the Religious Orders had them decorated by local artists who painted the
central themes of Christianity, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection.
In the city of Florence still survive ten visitable Cenacoli and one in Passignano, near Tavarnelle Val
di Pesa, all covered with frescoes of the Last Supper painted between 1300 and 1600.
The Renaissance artist Franciabigio trained under the artist Mariotto Albertinelli (1474 – 1515), who
was greatly influenced by Raphael. After his year long apprenticeship there, Franciabigio joined the
“painter without errors” Andrea del Sarto in opening a studio in the Piazza del Grano. Collaborated
with him at the frescoes in the forecourt (Chiostrino dei Voti) of the Basilica of Santissima
Annunziata in Florence realizing The Wedding of the Virgin. Thanks to his experience and skill, a
year later in 1514, Franciabigio executed his Last Supper fresco for the nuns at the Convento della
FIRENZE PIAZZA DELLA CALZA e CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
FONDAZIONE
INTERNAZIONALE
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Calza. For this mural painting he closely studied anatomy and perspective taking inspiration from
the Florentine Cenacolo of San Salvi made by his friend Andrea del Sarto and from the Last Supper
in Milan by Leonardo da Vinci.
Franciabigio paints here an accurate and very original work, remarkably dynamic in composition as
no one figure is motionless. He represents the characters in the instant when Jesus says “Truly, I say
to you, one of you will betray me!”. The apostles are shown caught up in discussion or about to rise
from the table. St. John rests his head with calm intimacy on Jesus shoulder, St. Peter appears
surprised touched by Christ's words, Judas is so troubled that he appears about to upset the salt
cellar and knock over the stool on which he is sitting. Dynamism, emotions and impetus are fully
represented. On the background are panoramic views from the convent and it seems to feel the
wind blowing when we look at the slamming windows shutters. The dining table is covered with
dishes and jugs decorated with the Cross of Malta, coat of arm of the Cavalieresse, and the symbol
of the Abbess of the convent from the Medici family.
This remarkable Renaissance work is really enchanting and important point of reference in the art
history of the city and really worth visiting it.
Chronological list of the the old Cenacoli in Florence open to the public:
Cenacolo di Santa Croce
Cenacolo di Santo Spirito
Cenacolo di Sant'Apollonia
Cenacolo della Badia a Passignano (Tavarnelle Val di Pesa)
Cenacolo di Ognissanti
Cenacolo di San Marco
Cenacolo del Fuligno
Cenacolo della Calza
Cenacolo di San Salvi
Cenacolo di Santa Maria del Carmine
Cenacolo di Santa Maria Novella
FIRENZE PIAZZA DELLA CALZA e CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
FONDAZIONE
INTERNAZIONALE
MENARINI
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How to reach the congress venue at
CONVITTO DELLA CALZA
By Car
From Highway A1 Autostrada del Sole:
exit to Firenze Impruneta coming from the south or Firenze Aeroporto coming from the north.
Follow the signs direction to city centre and drive through via Senese until you arrive to Porta
Romana square (Piazzale di Porta Romana). Drive across the ancient gate and you arrive in piazza
della Calza.
Car parking
Parking lot Parcheggio Oltrarno in piazza della Calza. All guests to the congress are entitled to a
discount of 30% on standard fees. Daily rate 20 €.
By Train
The main railway station is Firenze SMN (Santa Maria Novella) situated in the city centre and very
close to the major tourist attractions. It is approximatly 1.6 km away from the Convitto della Calza
i.e. 20 min walking distance. Taxi fare to the congress venue is approximatly 15 €. City buses to
reach the Convento are number 36 or 37 in 12 minutes.
By plane
The Amerigo Vespucci international airport is located 4km north from Historical Center. It is
connected to the center of Florence by shuttle bus and taxi. The shuttle bus Volainbus connection
operates every 30 minutes to the city main railway station SMN at a cost of 6 € and takes 20
minutes. Taxi rate to the centre costs approximately 20 €.
From the train station take then the city buses 36 or 37 to reach piazza della Calza in about 12
minutes.
Arriving at the international airport of Pisa, 70 km away, you can use either shuttle bus or train to
reach the main railway station of Florence SMN in 1hour trip and at a cost of 5 €.
Florence Taxi:
055 4242;
055 4390;
055 4798
Fondazione Internazionale Menarini
Edificio L - Strada 6 Centro Direzionale Milanofiori 20089 Rozzano (MI)
Tel. +39 02 55308110 Fax +39 02 55305739
www.fondazione-menarini.it - www.facebook.com/fondazionemenarini