A couple of questions have come up this last week, as we dodged the rainstorms and planned a trip to Florence for potential students. I remember helping to organise a similar visit about 13 years ago, in which we had booked a tour along the Vasari Corridor. It's an amazing place to see, as it spans a length of about a kilometre above the busy city of Florence from the Uffizi gallery to the Pitti Palace, crossing the river Arno by way of the Ponte Vecchio.
The corridor passing above the Ponte Vecchio , with windows to pause and gaze along the Arno.
It was designed to allow the Medici family who ruled Florence at that time to be able to go from 'home to the office' untroubled by the peasants in the streets. I read that, despite this amazing construction, the Medici still had all the butchers' stalls removed to another part of town because of the smells wafting up to their lofty and secret passageway. On that trip many years ago we had had to cancel our visit, and I felt that now would be a good time to go, as it has been used to house an eclectic collection of self portraits, including Vasari's himself.
Now here comes the question. Many people had spoken about it being quite hard to get into the corridor because of the rather old-fashioned booking system, but no-one had prepared me for the price, the cheapest ticket seems to be around €100 and the standard price €150 per person, bookable ages in advance and cancellable at short notice by the Ufizzi if they haven't got enough people for each visit.
So my question is, simply, why?
Next. I was in a small town the other day and came across this in the main square. There was no-one around to ask what it was and there is presumably a very simple explanation to its purpose, but I like to title my photographs...
So, any ideas?
The stupidest thing I did yesterday.
Thinking I might need a little, light lunch before my first ever Thanksgiving dinner, hosted by a genuine American and his genuine Italian wife.
And, on that subject, Happy Thanksgiving! (albeit a bit late)
Ah, yes. This is an Italian lottery board. You remember the short story, "The Lottery" don't you? Every year they pick a number and the people that are that age get the axe! It looks like they've already done away with everyone over 69! brrrr! Very eerie, indeed.
Merry Christmas!! haha
Posted by: maryann | December 08, 2008 at 07:31 PM
It's a fantastic photo. I love it, but I'd also love to have the real thing! Wouldn't that be beautiful?
Can't help thinking that if the Uffizi lowered the price - say 30 euros maximum - they'd have enough people to run the tour once a day and still make a profit!
Posted by: casalba | December 03, 2008 at 03:14 PM
OK OK. I admit it's probably a tombola/bingo thingy, I was just hoping it was for something else more weird and exciting. Although, come to think of it, tombola is quite weird and exciting!
Posted by: amanda nightingale | December 02, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Excellent photo indeeed. Tombola!
Posted by: Michelle | Bleeding Espresso | December 02, 2008 at 10:08 AM
I was going to say it looks like you can choose your own street address and take your number home with you, but tombola makes more sense.
I guess with the corridor, you still have to be royalty not to have to walk with the peasants!!
Posted by: diana | December 02, 2008 at 08:48 AM
Tombola...Bingo... you need a velvet bag the Wooden numbers and paper cards its played immediately after all the food for Christmas dinner is done and the dishes have been put away ...Its coffee, biscotti and tombola.
Julian IN the US of A every thing is done on a large scale. The Bird the pie the mashed potatoes the yams the collard greens the Peppercorn squash it goes on and on that is why most men pass out in a stupor on couches and watch football games with their pants undone and unzipped...Its the start of the holidays. Not much better up here in Canada.
Posted by: Antonina | December 02, 2008 at 02:44 AM
That is so fascinating about the corridor for the Medici's, I had never heard about this before. But oh my that price is crazy!
Posted by: Brit' Gal Sarah | December 01, 2008 at 11:59 PM
regardless of what it is... it's a great photo. A framer!
Posted by: joe@italyville | December 01, 2008 at 11:01 PM
It looks like every old tombola board I have ever seen. You get to play along as soon as you are 60.
Posted by: Judith in Umbria | December 01, 2008 at 08:20 PM
The image looks like a public bingo (the Italian Tombola) played traditionally during winter holidays. This is probably the ancestor of the electronic screens..more eco friendly too!
Posted by: Grazia | December 01, 2008 at 03:57 PM
I wonder if that is a board that they use to show "called numbers" in a Bingo hall.... what ever it is it is fantastic!
Posted by: Julie Prichard | December 01, 2008 at 03:52 PM
I will be coming back for answers especially to question number two. I curious what that could be.
Posted by: nyc/caribbean ragazza | December 01, 2008 at 03:48 PM