Florence, rediscover it in the history of Caterina De ‘Medici
Caterina De ‘Medici he lived a rather troubled life, from his earliest years of life. Very soon the orphan of both parents, the young heir of the Medici family was assumed over the years to the position of queen of France, giving birth to three kings (Francis II, Charles IX and Henry III). This did not prevent her from leaving a profound imprint on her in her youth as well as in adulthood Florence and on Florentine history.
Daughter of Lorenzo De ‘Medici, Duke of Urbino and of the French noblewoman Maddalena de La Tour d’Auvergne, Countess of Boulogne, Caterina was born on April 13, 1519. She lost her mother to the consequences of childbirth and just a month later she also died father, suffering from syphilis. For the young woman Caterina Maria Romula by Lorenzo De ‘Medici his difficult childhood begins.
The object of contention between the King of France Francis I and Pope Leo X, the child was brought to Rome and entrusted to her paternal grandmother Alfonsina Orsini, only to later pass into the hands of her aunts Clarissa De ‘Medici and Maria Salviati. On the death of Leo X she became Pope Adrian VI, who expropriated her of the duchy of Urbino. Vatican throne which passed in a short time (in 1523) a Clement VIIto the century Giulio De ‘Medici.
The return to Florence and the revolt against the Medici
The latter sent her to Florence, making her lodge in Medici Riccardi Palace. The pontiff’s alliance with the king of France, however, led to serious consequences. The French sovereign lost in the battle of Pavia against Charles V of Habsburg: this not only led to the Sack of Rome (1527), which forced Clement VII to take refuge in Orvieto, but triggered a revolt in Florence against the Medici family. Until the age of eleven (1530) Caterina was held hostage in various Florentine cloistered monasteries, mainly in that of Santa Lucia.
The French wedding and the flower of love for Florence
In 1533 her marriage to Henry of Valois was consummated, who would become king of France in 1547. Here, too, life at court did not reserve only joys for Catherine, but allowed her to bring much of her Florence to Paris. Starting with the perfumes, a real essential element for a Florentine noble of the time. Even today it is possible to visit the ancient perfume-pharmaceutical workshop near Santa Maria Novella, which shortly before Caterina’s departure dedicated the scent “Water of the Queen”.
Catherine hosted in France many Florentine exiles, who fled from the duchy of Cosimo I (considered by her to be a usurper), as well as recalling many Florentine cooks. It can also be said that different dishes at the basis of current French cuisine are actually the Florentine legacy of Caterina De ‘Medici.
We are talking, for example, of “fois gras”, derived from Tuscan livers, or of “zuppa a l’oignon”, a dish that is the symbol of French cuisine and actually originated from the Tuscan “Cipollata”. Likewise it is from crepes Florentine style which seems to derive the much celebrated French “crêpes”.
A’culinary heritage which can still be found in various points of Florence, including the Palazzo Medici Riccardi itself. Why not, maybe even tasting the Florentine zuccotto you lack, the famous “Catherine’s helmet”.