Florence blog

The technology which is upon us today cannot compare with the technology from 500 years ago. It might be an obvious point, but the concept of technology has existed in all ages, from the appearance of fire and the wheel to the development of the first weapons and transport vehicles, as well as space ships and Facebook. Each time goes hand in hand with the technology it requires and which generates itself with the passing of time. Men are prepared to die. Technology is left as a trace of the cultural advance of humanity, in spite of man himself, with the contradictions of some of our inventions. However, geniuses are necessary, because they bring important solutions to our lives. Leonardo Da Vinci was definitely a forerunner with vast knowledge.

In everyday life we’re overcome with the effects and uses of technology which with, above all, we communicate in this day and age. The almost omnipresence which the social networks facilitate in such broad aspects of communication, from video transmission, image and text, to the transfer of information to unimaginable distances in real time, make us even bigger participants of the course of technology and the way that it affects us. Whether we believe it or not, our bodies and minds are conditioned to the new artifacts that we produce and, in this way, life seems to be more practical, maybe more profitable and useful. And the risk is, of course, to allow technology to take us over. The future is already written in many films and novels.

Leonardo Da Vinci was undoubtedly one of the writers of contemporary future, writers in the way that in both their art and their dedication to the creation of new objects and artifacts make them a vanishing point to understand the vision of the future or the desire of the future which they had in the past. From ways to fly, submarines or war machines, as well as different studies on the human body and even his already vegetarian character, with a unique dignity and respect towards animals, define him as a central figure of modern culture. The impact of many of his inventions is in the artifacts that we use today. It’s difficult to image what Leonardo would have thought on the advances of our technology of today, he might have been horrified.

To get to know more about this fabulous work and its impact on our technology, visit the Galleria Michelangelo in Florence, which today has the biggest private collection of machines of the great Leonardo. The prices are relatively cheap, and you can make group visits. Also, Florence presents some of the best museums in Europe, an essential point to understand the Renaissance and contemporary culture. For more information visit the following webpage: http://www.macchinedileonardo.com/

Alexa Ray

Get apartments in Florence and discover a bit more about its fabulous history, as well as the life and work of the great Leonardo Da Vinci.

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Translated by: aleixgwilliam
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Laurel, oregano, garlic, and chamomile, are plants that we use daily in our kitchen and are essential ingredients to some of our tasty recipes. A good sauce for spaghetti normally includes some bay leaves, a Neapolitan pizza has some ground herbs and dried oregano and we all know it’s good to drink a chamomile tea as a digestive after a good dinner. However, despite knowing about the culinary uses of plants there are other lesser-known applications that could change our assessment of these plants and their value in our lives.

Our kitchen is full of wonderful, magical and medicinal plants that have been used by different cultures throughout history and, of course, have served to do more than give a good flavour to soups or improve digestion.

Here is some more information about the medicinal and magical properties of some plants used in our homes:

Garlic: Medicinal Properties: Digestive, antiseptic and blood purifier. A small piece of a garlic clove with a glass of water should be taken in the morning.

Magical properties: Protection Spells. Hang a braid of garlic in the doorway of the house or kitchen. To deal with dangerous situations carry a clove of garlic in a linen bag.

Chamomile: Medicinal Properties: Digestive, anti-inflammatory and helps heal skin.  Make an infusion of 4g chamomile in 100 ml of water, to drink or wash the affected skin.

Magical properties: Prepare the mind and body to perform magic spells by drinking an infusion of just the flowers to purify your spiritual energy.

Laurel: Medicinal Properties: Helps digestion. It is used in tonics.

Magical properties: Favours fame and success and protects you from bad energy. Perform a spell to attract good energy with a laurel branch in your right hand and a laurel wreath on your head.

Oregano: Medicinal Properties: Drink an infusion of oregano leaves for headaches, cramps and intestinal pain.

Magical properties: This herb accompanies the dead on their journey to the afterlife in many cultures, and its magic helps us to cope with profound changes in life. It must be burnt in a silver cup when a relationship ends or someone dies.

Wormwood: Medicinal Properties: Opens the appetite, eases stomach pain, muscle relaxant. The leaves are used in infusion.

Magical Properties: The herb of the traveller:  Put some leaves in a bag and take it with you for a safe and happy holiday.

Finally to have a perfect holiday, apart from carrying a bag of wormwood, you should drink a cup of Melissa, a soothing herb very fashionable today and has the magical power to soften the wounds of love. With these recipes to improve your life, you only need to rent beautiful apartments in Florence and enjoy the magic of Italy, a land full of ancestral traditions.