PHILADELPHIA, PA – Philadelphia will be the site of Splendor of Florence, a cultural festival celebrating artists and artisans of the Medici, from September 15-23. For nine days Dilworth Plaza, adjacent to City Hall, will be transformed into a Florentine "Piazza" and home to artisan workshops, a photography exhibition and two Tuscan-style restaurants.

Throughout the Festival, visitors will have the chance to experience a glittering array of Florentine art, culinary, film, educational and musical events in the city, centered around a group of eight celebrated artisans who will demonstrate their extraordinary hand crafts.

Splendor of Florence was originally presented in Providence, R. I. in 1999. According to Festival founder and executive director, Joyce Acciaioli Rudge, Philadelphia was a natural choice to host this year’s Festival as it has had a sister-city relationship with Florence since 1964.

"We’re delighted to introduce the city to the ancient techniques and artistry found in these wonderful Florentine handcrafts," said Acciaioli Rudge.

Drawing upon Philadelphia’s historical and architectural charm, Splendor of Florence will suffuse the city and its guests with the cultural heritage of Florence.

• The Gala Concert – A Gala Concert at the Academy of Music will kick-off the Festival on September 15, with opera singers selected by the famous Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino joining local singers from the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia and musicians from the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia in a performance of classic arias from well-known Italian operas.

• The Artisans – Gifted Florentine artisans will craft silver, glass, ceramic, leather, marble, iron, paper and wood handcrafts in Dilworth Plaza, using tools and equipment from their own workshops, shipped to Philadelphia for the Festival. Free to the public.

• Tastes of Tuscany – Florentine chefs will hold wine and olive oil samplings, conduct cooking lessons and prepare Tuscan culinary specialties at Dilworth Plaza for breakfast, lunch and dinner at The Artisans’ Café and Trattoria.

• Power and Glory: Medici Portraits from the Uffizi Gallery – A special exhibit at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts will showcase a collection of 16h and 17^th century portraits on loan from the famed Uffizi Gallery, featuring European royalty and aristocracy collected by the powerful Medici family. Free to the public during the Festival. Exhibit will be open through December 9, 2001.

• The Alinari Photographic Exhibition – A collection of original 19^th and 20^th century photography from the 150 year old Alinari Archives in Florence will be on display at Dilworth plaza, depicting the ancient Ponte Vecchio and the grand Arno River, mixed with scenes of 19^th century markets and artisans at work. Free to the public.

• Curtis-Fiesole Exchange – Young musicians from the Fiesole School of Music in Florence and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia will study and perform together during the Festival.

• Focus on Florence – A Series of Italian films, using the city of Florence as a backdrop, will be screened at the Prince Music Theatre, in conjunction with the Center for Italian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania.

• Discover Florence – The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, the Please Touch Museum, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art will host educational workshops, demonstrations and tours for families, teachers and school children to acquaint them with the art and culture of the Renaissance.

The Splendor of Florence Festival is a production of Florentine Festivals USA, a not-for-profit organization founded by Joyce Acciaioli Rudge. The Philadelphia Festival is presented in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia’s Mayor’s Office, the City of Philadelphia’s Commerce Department ¾ City Representative Office of Arts and Culture, Ceremonial and Special Events, the City of Philadelphia’s Managing Director’s Office and the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Public Property.

Florentine Festivals USA thanks the following sponsors for their kind and generous support of the Splendor of Florence Festival: City of Philadelphia; Castello di Verrazzano; Comcast; Commerce Bank; Cozen & O’Connor; Delaware River Port Authority; Ernst & Young; Fattoria Lilliano; Firenze.net Citylife S.p.A; The Honorable Vincent J. Fumo; Goldman Sachs; GUCCI; Independence Blue Cross; MetroMarket; Miller Downey Spevak Kaffenberger, Ltd.; SEPTA; TDI; WHYY, Inc.; Wolf, Block, Schorr & Solis-Cohen.

Photography is available upon request.