WHICH FLORENTINE ICON ARE YOU, ACCORDING TO YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?
ARIES: Aries are known for their bold and courageous nature, often fearlessly pursuing their goals. So did early Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, one of the first women to make a name for herself in the male-dominated field. And, like an Aries, she wasn’t afraid to cut someone’s head off if they got in her way. (See Gentlleschi’s Judith Slaying Holofernes for proof.)
TAURUS: Tauruses know all about treating themselves: retail therapy is one of the love languages of these bulls. Lucrezia Tornabuoni, a Florentine noblewoman, knew a thing or two about luxuriousness and it is after her family that Florence’s designer shopping street is named.
GEMINI: Niccolò Machiavelli most famously debated whether it’s better to be feared or loved–and this is a question Geminis grapple with on a daily basis. These dualistic signs are pros at balancing compassion and ruthlessness. Machiavelli should’ve taken a cue from them!
CANCER: Cancers are fiercely loyal and devoted to their loved ones. Both mother and queen, Caterina de’ Medici was deeply protective of her family and kingdom and was known for her keen emotional intelligence (another Cancer trait!) and ability to navigate complex political situations.
LEO: Everybody knows Michelangelo’s David. There’s a whole museum (the Accademia) practically dedicated to him, and much of Florence’s tourist complex revolves around him. Well these lions are just as commanding as the celebrated statue and don’t even need a rock-hard physique to draw attention!
VIRGO: Like these earth signs, architect Filippo Brunelleschi was known for his meticulous approach, paying close attention to details and precise measurements. His Virgoan perfectionism can easily be seen in his namesake Dome.
LIBRA: Flirty Libras find their match in Botticelli’s Venus, which you can see at the Uffizi and which depicts Venus arriving on shore atop a shell with her long hair blowing in the wind. These romantic air signs are total aesthetes: who better to represent them than the goddess of love and beauty?
SCORPIO: Like Medusa, Scorpios have a unique ability to see beyond surface-level appearances and uncover hidden truths, making them perceptive and insightful individuals. Caravaggio’s depiction of the famed Gorgon, on display at the Uffizi, captures the moment of her transformation and is as epic, tough, and untameable as these water signs.
SAGITTARIUS: Idealistic Sagittariuses will go to the ends of the earth to find truth and meaning. Well, Dante Alighieri went through nine circles of hell in The Divine Comedy to understand the nature of sin, redemption, and the order of the universe.
CAPRICORN: Okay, so he was born in Pisa, what was then part of the Duchy of Florence, but Galileo Galilei is as Capricorn as they come. With a practical and pragmatic approach to problem-solving, Capricorns (and Galileo) are not afraid to call a spade a spade (or declare that the Earth orbits the sun).
AQUARIUS: Driven by a strong sense of social justice and a desire to improve the world, Aquarians are the humanitarians of the zodiac–just like Leonardo da Vinci, who set out to better society with his art and inventions.
PISCES: These water signs know how to go with the flow, adapting to and romanticizing whatever life throws their way. Bacchus, Michelangelo’s statue of whom is on display at the Bargello, represents the changing seasons and the cycles of life. He, and Pisces, know how to welcome life with open arms.
WHAT FLORENTINE FOOD ARE YOU, ACCORDING TO YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?
ARIES: Cantucci con vin santo. These fire signs can be tough cookies, but once you sweeten them up a bit, you’re in for life.
TAURUS: Sensual, down to earth, and cozy, these bulls are the pappa al pomodoro of the zodiac.
GEMINI: Crostini di fegatini is the magical marriage of two extremes–overly salty, sometimes metallic liver and saltless, flavorless bread–just like the Gemini twins. It doesn’t get much better than the two combined.
CANCER: Tough and meaty on the outside, soft as pureed potatoes on the inside. Tortelli al mugellano.
LEO: These fire signs are super generous–and so is bistecca alla fiorentina, a dish that easily feeds a crowd!
VIRGO: These earth signs never let any detail get past them. Efficient always, they appreciate a waste-nothing dish: il bollito Toscano.
LIBRA: Luscious, luscious Libras are like torta al cioccolato, soft, dreamy, and total pushovers.
SCORPIO: Lampredotto, off-putting when you first hear about this cow’s fourth stomach, but unexpectedly addicting. Plus, the sandwich is loyally on every street corner when you need it.
SAGITTARIUS: As honest as they come: you can’t get more genuine than ribollita, a recipe as flexible as these archers.
CAPRICORN: Total powerhouses of personality, though you might not expect it at first. Fagioli all’uccelletto is one of the most underrated Tuscan dishes.
AQUARIUS: Aquarius isn’t a sign that will filter, change, or temper their personality for anyone else. Uber-peppery peposo is a dish that’s just as unabashedly itself!
PISCES: Creative and romantic, these water signs add a little bit of fairy dust to everything: schiacciata alla Fiorentina, a cake that always comes with a generous powdering of sugar and a giglio embellishment.
Piazzale Michelangelo
WHICH FLORENTINE PIAZZA ARE YOU, ACCORDING TO YOUR ZODIAC SIGN?
ARIES: Piazza Santa Croce, especially during the calcio storico. These fire signs are hoping it’s a tumultuous one this year.
TAURUS: Piazza dei Pitti. The palace’s imposing facade and gravelly piazza is as tough as these bulls’ stubbornness.
GEMINI: These busy bees always have something going on and so does Piazza Santa Maria Novella: there’s a church! And a museum! And kids skateboarding! And a train station 10 meters away!
CANCER: Piazza Beccaria is one of the main entries to the city center and yet it’s completely charming–just like Cancers, a bit tough around the edges, but sweet as Gelateria De’ Medici gelato once you’re in.
LEO: These lions love basking in the greatness of being the center of attention: Piazza Duomo always.
VIRGO: Renaissance perfection in every corner. Oh how Virgos wish to stand on a pedestal with the rest of the statues in Piazza Signoria, judging those walking by.
LIBRA: Libras are people pleasers with a little something for everyone. Piazza della Passera, where you can get one of the best gelatos, one of the best schiacciate, and one of the best trippas.
SCORPIO: Scorpios always have something to say, and so does Piazza Santo Spirito. Day to night there’s always something happening, and the church’s unadorned facade is as formidable as these water signs.
SAGITTARIUS: These adventurous air signs need a piazza with easy access out of town: Piazza Liberta, a square named after freedom, a value of utmost importance to a Sagittarius.
CAPRICORN: Work hard, play hard Caps can be found in Piazza Repubblica, where you’ve got bureaucratic post offices shoulder to shoulder with underground clubs.
AQUARIUS: Young, hip Piazza Tasso is perfect for these big-time visionaries. You can always find people here debating about culture, politics, and where to find the best panino in Florence.
PISCES: Piazzale Michelangelo, with a view overlooking all of Florence, a place that has its head in the clouds as much as a Pisces.
