I Medici – Masters of Florence: Fall back in time when Cosimo Medici ruled the clan!
The Beginning of the Medici Clan in Florence
I started watching “I Medici” on Rai 1, and right away I found myself immersed in its captivating story. After watching the first four episodes of this eight-part series, I’m completely hooked! The story takes us back to the consolidation of Medici power under Giovanni de’ Medici, the great-great-grandfather of Lorenzo the Magnificent. We’re in the late medieval period, the early 1400s, when half of Florence’s population had been wiped out by the plague and before the cathedral had its famous dome. Part of the charm of this series, for me, is seeing the incredible reconstructions of how Florence must have looked during this time.
Who Were the Medici? A Dynasty That Shaped History
The Medici were key figures in Florence’s history from the 15th to the early 18th century, particularly during the Renaissance. A family that seemed to emerge from nowhere built a fortune through banking, became rulers of Florence through political intrigue, and transformed into one of Europe’s most powerful dynasties. The Medici family tree includes numerous cardinals, two popes, two queens of France, and seven Grand Dukes of Tuscany.
Patrons of the Renaissance: The Medici’s Artistic Legacy
The Medici are remembered as the greatest art patrons in history, champions of the Florentine Renaissance. Among the artists who worked for them are Filippo Brunelleschi, Donatello, Filippo Lippi, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Giorgio Vasari, and Benvenuto Cellini.
Intrigue and Power: The Plot of “I Medici”
Giovanni de’ Medici, played by Dustin Hoffman, is the patriarch of the powerful Florentine family. After his sudden and mysterious death, his son Cosimo (played by Richard Madden) becomes the heir and leader of the family’s bank and Florence’s governing council, the Signoria. Cosimo suspects that the family’s enemies, the Pazzi and Albizzi, are involved in his father’s death and begins an investigation.
Recommended! A Creative Take on History
I’m enjoying this new series. The sets and costumes are delightful. The international cast, featuring English, American, and Italian artists, brings new life to these historical characters. However, it’s worth noting that this is a fictionalized story, with some creative liberties and historical inaccuracies
Read the novel that was inspired by Lorenzo de’ Medici!
Dreaming Sophia
Dreaming Sophia is a magical look into Italy, language, art, and culture. It is a story about turning dreams into reality and learning to walk the fine line between fact and fantasy. When tragedy strikes, Sophia finds herself alone in the world, without direction and fearful of loving again. With only her vivid imagination to guide her, she begins a journey that will take her from the vineyards in Sonoma, California to a grad school in Philadelphia and, eventually, to Italy: Florence, Lucca, Rome, Verona, Venice, and Val d’Orcia. Through dreamlike encounters, Sophia meets Italian personalities—princes, poets, duchesses, artists, and film stars— who give her advice to help put her life back together. Following a path that takes her from grief to joy, she discovers the source of her creativity and learns to love again, turning her dreams into reality.
