A lecture by Valdo Spini
In August 1944 the Allies advanced towards Florence from the hills of Chianti. Hitler had decided that the German occupation of Italian territory must be defended strenuously, inch by inch, so in anticipation of the arrival of the allied troops in Florence, on the night between 3 and 4 August German sappers blew up all the bridges over the river, including the one at Santa Trinita, a Renaissance masterpiece, to prevent the allied tanks from crossing the Arno. Only the Ponte Vecchio was spared. Valdo Spini, former government minister and president of the Fondazione Fratelli Rosselli, tells the story of what happened next … including a key role for the Vasari Corridor!
If you are in Florence and would like to attend the lecture in person at the British Institute Library, please register here or send an email to bif@britishinstitute.it
The registration fee is 12 Euro per person.
To join this lecture online, simply click on this link to register and receive the Zoom meeting invitation: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYkde6gqzguEtaVntniGEvLMiA3ghN9_3Fw
The virtual doors will open at 18:00 Italian time on Wednesday 6th March.
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There is no charge to attend the event on Zoom, but we ask you to consider making a donation to support the Institute and its beautiful library if you wish to attend an event.
This lecture is sponsored by Jonathan Mandelbaum in loving memory of his parents, Allen and Marjorie Mandelbaum.