Florence Historians Launch Walk of Renaissance Science

Leading Florence walking tour company introduces a unique exploration of the role of science and hum

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. October 14, 2008

FLORENCE, Italy, July 10, 2008. Taking another step off the beaten path, Context, the network of scholars who lead critically-acclaimed walking tours around the world, announce the launch of a walk focused on science during the Renaissance. The walk, organized as a seminar and led by historians attached to some of the major research institutions in Florence, centers on two key sites: the Museum of the History of Science, famous for its collection of scientific instruments including those of Galileo, and the Old Sacristy of San Lorenzo, the Medici family church that is filled with astronomical and astrological material.

"Science was as important to the Renaissance as art," notes Megan McDonnell, Context's manager in Florence. "The Medici family, who ruled Florence at the time, encouraged research and experimentation especially in the sciences. And so this walk provides valuable context to understanding the radical changes taking place in Florence in the 15th and 16th centuries, and their impact on the rest of the world."

Led by a group of Renaissance specialists living, teaching and researching in Florence with such institutions as the Medici Project and the American universities based here, the walk will pay particular attention to the figure of Galileo who took refuge in Florence under the protection of the Medici family after being put on trial in Rome for heresy. The walk will linger in the astounding collection of the Museum of the History of Science where various tools and instruments used by Galileo and his contemporaries are on display.

"This is the perfect walk for the curious and careful traveler," says Context founder Paul Bennett. "It's emblematic of our contextual approach to travel, and should help visitors gain a deeper understanding of Florentine humanism."

Science in the Renaissance will run every Monday, a day when most museums are closed in Florence and tourists are often at a loss. It lasts three hours and costs 50 Euros per person exclusive of tickets to the Museum of the History of Science.

Founded by National Geographic writer Paul Bennett and Lani Bevacqua, Context is a network of English-speaking scholars and professionals-including art historians, writers, architects, and gastronomes-who organize and lead didactic walking seminars across seven cities: Rome, Naples, Florence, Venice, Paris, London and New York. In May 2007, Travel + Leisure named Context one of the top European tour companies for its innovative approach to travel and the depth of its programs. To learn more about Context Florence visit its website at: www.contextflorence.com