Towers & Torture: San Gimignano

One of my favorite places in Italy is San Gimignano—a Medieval Tuscan city with 14 preponderant towers that was settled by the Etruscans in the 3rd century BC.

This morning, I made the drive with the director of Varna International to plan a side excursion for the musicians that will join the music festival tour this summer.

The name of the hill-top city is derived from Saint Germinianus, who defended the city against the Huns in the 10th century.

San Gimignano rises high above the Tuscan countryside with its preponderant towers, which, at one time, number 72 in all.

Within the city walls, there are several museums of torture, which drive home the point of human brutality.

San Gimignano—a wealth of history for the interested traveller. Enjoy the shots here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

Chianti—Under the Tuscan Sun!

Today the director of Varna International and I drove from Venice to the Tuscany region of Italy. Our goal was to organize a wine tasting tour for the musicians that will be performing throughout Italy next summer.

We arrived to Florence and immediately set out for Chianti—not the bottle of wine but the region! Situated between Florence and Siena, there is a wine producing area in Tuscany called Greve in Chianti.

Many people are familiar with the variety of wine called Chianti, but what they fail to realize is that it comes from an area called Chianti.

Besides the breathtaking countryside, which is studded with medieval castles and villas, many wine cellars that offer wine tasting can be found.

One of the most exciting sites for me is the Museum of Wine located in the center of the city.

Settled by the Etruscans and later owned by the Romans, the city became a monastic settlement in the 11th century—and there is a logical reason why!

Chianti wine dates back to about the 14th century, while viticulture dates back to the Etruscans in the 8th century BC and then onto the Roman period.

After the fall of the Roman Empire, monasteries carried on the tradition of wine production, which was later passed onto aristocrats and merchants.

Chianti was first white and, then red.

Italian explorer of North America, Giovanni da Verrazzano, also comes from Greve in Chianti.

Taste the passion here.

Photos Copyright Men’s Fashion by Francesco.

The Florence Contribution to Men’s Fashion

Florence is often associated with the rebirth of culture, having become the cradle of the Renaissance. As I read 4,000 pages of Machiavelli in college, I have always held a certain fascination with this city.

Despite all the lessons of medieval diplomacy and Renaissance politics, what I did not learn in college was the Florentine influence on menswear!

Already by the 12th century, the great-grandfather of the 3-piece suit had appeared on the scene in the form of a long doublet—the snug-fitting buttoned jacket. This garment was donned with a mantel and leggings (tight-fitting hose).

By the Renaissance, the doublet had become shorter, exposing the leggings, which made Florentine menswear scandalous to the outsider! Oftentimes, this look was accompanied by long hoods.

In the 14th century, silk made its way to Italy and Florence emerged as the fashion capital of the world. Drawing from the French Gothic influence, the Florentine look was elongated and sumptuous.

By the 15th and 16th centuries, tunics were no longer popular. If worn, however, they were tight and short like a shirt with a belt tied around the waist.

Now, Florence is home to one of the most prestigious menswear trade shows in the world: Pitti Uomo.

Photo Public Domain.