![\"Piazzale](\"http:\/\/www.ishotel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/IO-al-piazzale-1024x683.jpg\")
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A collaborator of IsHotel<\/a><\/strong>, Costanza Barlondi<\/strong> is a tourist guide in her hometown of Firenze<\/strong>. Together with Emiliano Cribari<\/a>, <\/strong>she skilfully and meticulously researches the most picturesque and less known parts of the city. An exciting interdisciplinary journey that offers a novel viewpoint on the city that never stops surprising you.<\/p>\n Hi Costanza, if we had to meet in Florence, what place would you choose?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Chiostro dello Scalzo<\/strong>, a wonderful cloister housing 16th-century frescoes by Andrea del Sarto<\/strong>, and often unknown to Florentines themselves. I\u2019d choose it for two reasons. First, because it is a peaceful and beautiful oasis in the midst of the city centre; and second, because people often forget that Florence offers way more than just the Galleria degli Uffizi<\/a><\/strong> and David di Michelangelo<\/strong> There\u2019s so much more to discover: hidden art treasures, culinary traditions, local handicrafts\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n Several cities in the world are nicknamed \u201cThe Magic City\u201d. How magic is your hometown of Florence, and why?<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Florence is a magic place to me because, even though I\u2019ve always lived here, there are so many things that keep surprising me, such as the light at sunset, something in the window of an artisan workshop, or finding some new detail in a work of art that I have seen many times\u2026 And I find myself taking photos, like a tourist (but I will never join the selfie stick craze!)<\/em><\/p>\n I think that one of the best things about art history is that it is an interdisciplinary subject. By studying the Medici collections, for instance, I have found myself learning about porcelain manufacturing techniques, the invention of the piano, cartography and the systems of measurement used at the time, the history of the great European dynasties \u2026 Subjects that at first sight may seem unrelated, but which come together like the pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle whose scope extends from Florence to the rest of the world – and which I will probably never complete. But after all, the fun is over once the puzzle is complete, right?<\/em><\/p>\n Florence is synonym with \u201cUffizi\u201d, a very popular destination for mass tourism and, no wonder, one which is often overbooked. Despite having been associated with \u201cslow tourism\u201d, our sector, too, runs the risks of becoming an object of touristic consumerism. Do you feel you are part of the solution to this problem?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n I believe that being a tourist guide means, among other things, being an ambassador of your city. The guide is often one of the few local people with whom tourists interact, so I feel the responsibility to represent my hometown in the best possible way and, as an expert on Florence, to guide visitors through places that do not feature on standard itineraries but embody the essence of the city.<\/em><\/p>\n We are well acquainted with Emiliano and the \u201cobjective\u201d he pursues. What the two of you offer is more than just an educational approach. How would you describe the experience of touring Florence with the two of you?<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n We think that the added value we bring to this tour lies in the fact that Emiliano<\/a><\/strong> and I are both Florentines who love Florence. We aim to show our customers some of the lesser-known corners of the city, to reveal to them the secrets buried in the walls of Florence\u2019s churches and palaces, and to help them discover the workshops where artisans still create the excellent products that have made Florence famous all over the world, including leatherwork, marbled paper, and perfumes.<\/em><\/p>\n How many days do you recommend to spend in Florence in order to really understand it, or at least to get a correct impression of the city as a whole?<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n I have noticed that tourists often stay for just a couple of days, or even 24 hours. Considering that over ten per cent of the Italian cultural heritage is located in this city, I would recommend at least five days, not only in order to admire the artistic beauties of Florence, but also to try and understand the personality of its inhabitants: like the old palaces, they may appear to have a stern, rough fa\u00e7ade but, if you try to go beyond first impressions, will reveal their cheerfulness and their proud love for their hometown.<\/em><\/p>\n The City of the Lily is famous also for its surroundings and its villas\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I always recommend visiting the villas in the countryside: it is a great way to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and, for instance, discover the 150 varieties of citrus fruits in the garden of the Villa di Castello<\/strong> or the magnificent furnishings of the Villa La Petraia<\/strong>, commissioned all over Italy by king Vittorio Emanuele II<\/strong> for his Rosina\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Firenze](\"http:\/\/www.ishotel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Costanza2-1024x683.jpg\")
Your profession as a \u201cguide\u201d and art historian entails an extensive and detailed knowledge of the city. Have you concluded your research or do you still have a lot to discover?<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n![\"Costanza-Barlondi-villa-tolomei-firenze\"](\"http:\/\/www.ishotel.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Costanza-Barlondi-1024x683.jpg\")
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