Madam of Florence: Marie de Valois

In the Italian middle ages an exceptional female figure left an important mark on history: Marie de Valois, daughter of King Charles of France. Her life offers us a fascinating portrait of that transitional era that would later lead to the explosion of the Renaissance. This book tells us about her life, how the French princess moved to Naples and then later found herself in the heart of Tuscany. In these pages, we explore her youth at court, her marriage to the Duke of Calabria Charles of Anjou in 1324, and her stay in Florence. In the Tuscan town, Marie found herself attending the marvelous celebrations for the feast of San Giovanni in June. The Florentines gathered to celebrate fervently this occasion, considering this saint 'a symbol of political correctness and moral rectitude'. The streets of the city turned into a stage for sumptuous festivities with papier-mâché candles on processional floats, creating a magical and enchanting atmosphere, with art and culture dancing together in a symphony of splendor and magnificence. Marie immersed herself in this new culture, embracing the beauty of Florentine life. Pierpaolo Tavino