A special guide Florence told to the Chinese
The International Studies Institute, also called ISI Florence, prestigious Florentine college run by Prof. Stefano U. Baldassarri, has recently hosted the presentation of a Florence guide in Chinese, edited by Zhang Zheng Ying and Francesco Vossilla (Edizioni ETS, 2015). In the presence of Giovanni Bettarini, Councilor for the Economic, Touristic, Metropolitan City Development, Carlo Francini, Historic Center Bureau - Unesco, Florence Municipality and Wang Fuguo, General Counsel of the Chinese Republic in Florence, the two authors have discussed the setting of the guide and talked about the significance of this editorial project: “it covers around 8 itineraries (7 in the center of the city and 1 outside, towards Fiesole).



In the presence of Giovanni Bettarini, Councilor for the Economic, Touristic, Metropolitan City Development, Carlo Francini, Historic Center Bureau – Unesco, Florence Municipality and Wang Fuguo, General Counsel of the Chinese Republic in Florence, the two authors have discussed the setting of the guide and talked about the significance of this editorial project: “it covers around 8 itineraries (7 in the center of the city and 1 outside, towards Fiesole). There are walking itineraries that tell the story of the city through what can be seen on the streets, instead of elaborate descriptions about the museums’ interiors, although of course references about the heritage of Uffizi, the Academy and Bargello are made, mentioning the iconic masterpieces for the Chinese; historic exercises are also signaled, allowing to maintain the concept of a typical purchase alive, or of a local dish, in order to overcome the globalization of taste; the reader can psychically follow the indicated itinerary avoiding the sensation of disorientation”. Zhang Zheng Ying is a journalist and writer of Taiwanese origin, who wrote various articles about Italy and has translated Moravia in Chinese and together with Vossilla, they are also the authors of the first guide in Chinese about Santa Croce. Professor Francesco Vossilla concludes “The guide is published thanks to the interest shown by Palazzo Rucellai and Stefano Baldassarri that have understood for some time now, more than others, the necessity to review the ways and means needed to actively disseminate the Florentine or Italian culture in general. Hence, the openness towards the East and China, reservoirs filled with potential beneficiaries of our culture through the more traditional filter of the American universities in Florence”. 





