this 15th-century orphanage in florence is now a kid-friendly museum - touch screen history

Tourists who first arrived in Florence in 1445 at opdale degley inocentti may not have spent much time enjoying the view --
It's a good one though.
Its large loggia and perfectly scaled pillars are considered the first examples of Renaissance architecture.
But you can forgive a newborn for not being so impressed.
The baby girl was left anonymously by someone who stuck her from the iron fence on the window.
So she became the ward of the "innocent hospital", a secular institution dedicated to caring for abandoned children.
When we got to the same place this summer, I told my toddler daughter that she had nothing to worry about.
For today's newcomers, this is a completely different experience, especially since the innuchin Museum opened in June.
The only thing that hasn't changed is that children are still free to enter.
Stefano philliponi, chief curator, explained that the museum was an ambitious decade.
Until the 20 th century, there was something that attracted people to the building, an orphanage (
And continue to be the center of the early days
Education and research for children).
Architecture lovers come to admire the groundbreaking design of Phillip brunelski, just a few blocks north of his most famous masterpiece --
The dome of Florence Cathedral.
History lovers look through the windows for babies until the passing of 1875.
Art lovers marvel at the top of the face, lined with Andrea de la Robia's beloved terra-
Cotta baby in wrapped clothes.
Until recently, however, all the people who could see it were a small gallery dedicated to the most important work of inoxinti.
The goal of the new museum is to tell a comprehensive and compelling story by interweaving architectural layouts, Art Collections and Archives.
You may think you're just curious about one aspect, "Filipponi said," but when you walk in, you're interested in other aspects.
"Tourists start from lower places
The horizontal exhibition area with modern gray corridor is the result of the international design competition.
This is a recognition of the roots of the Renaissance in this place.
Artists at the time often faced commission problems.
Therefore, this is the right place for the museum's "historical tour", which can be traced back to della Seta before 600 (Silk Guild)
Accepted the humanistic philosophy of providing places specifically for children and started working on brunelski's architecture.
One of the main challenges in showing the past is the lack of preserved items.
"When things are old, they take care of them," said philliponi . ".
Most of the rest is art, which is used to introduce individuals and beliefs that shape the development of the institution.
We saw the portrait of Don winssenzo begani, the predecessor of the hospital from 1552 to 1580, holding a book solemnly.
He is known for encouraging boys to pursue painting and sculpture. (The girls —
They have always been the majority of the population.
Instead, focus on "domestic science ". ”)
The gold-plated sanctuary of the Virgin Mary and the marble bust Image help us understand the changes that have taken place during the counter
The importance of religion has been magnified.
This material will not be immediately suitable for young visitors, as I know this when my friend Liz and I visit the place with her three children.
My toddler is too young to ask questions, but her 4-year-
"Why do parents leave their babies here ? "
"For these situations, thankfully, the audio guide provides separate recordings for adults and children. (
Like everything in the museum, it has two languages, Italian and English. )
Press the button to hear a lively voice explaining that the place is called a hospital because it provides "enthusiasm" for children who "cannot stay with their parents for one reason or another"
"Below each descriptive panel is a larger, simplified text for children. But the tech-
The savvy set may jump to the inviting interactive touch screen highlighting the details of the 17 th
The century mural of Bernardino pochetti.
The real deal is located as part of a building that visitors can't reach, so this is the only way to see the many daily life details of the images during that time.
In addition to describing the innocent extreme left of the King of Healy's massacre --
The name of this institution
"It's like a picture," says elonora Mazzocchi, music administrator and curator.
As a result, the screen will zoom in on each section and provide relevant information.
For example, a group of boys with high hats gathered around the table, accompanied by the fact: "The basic food is bread, and even the children drink wine.
"Another room is dedicated to storing beads, coins and other items left by abandoned babies.
The idea is that parents can describe these "markers" in order to identify their offspring in the future, although there are very few reunions.
Thanks to the improvement of 19 th century archival technology, more than 100 marks have been retained.
They are stored in a huge filing cabinet with the name of the child and the date of his or her arrival marked on the drawer.
Open one and light up the object inside. Liz's 10-year-
She recognized a date: the birthday of her best friend.
Even before 200).
She checked a small piece of white cloth bound by the upper half of the brown rope and the metal medal with stars on the edge.
Her sister has already sat down at the table next to her, which provides another way for her personal contact with inoxinti.
The staff recorded the situation when the baby got off the bus
Any information about the parents of the child, what they wear, what marks are left.
Over time, they added information about major life events and stored it all in a volume called "Balie e Bambini" translated as "wet
"Every touch screen on the table provides a virtual library of these books so that visitors can read the summary stories of 60 different babies over the centuries.
Of course, the first is the newborn who arrived on the day the hospital opened on February. 5, 1445.
Alas, later that year, Agata Smeralda died in hospital after being sent to three different wet nurses.
There are also some who are more fortunate, such as Lucia Cathrina, who left on March 23, 1446.
She was adopted by a leather merchant in Florence at the age of eight, and she offered a dowry when she got married in 1470.
Not having enough money to find a husband is one of the main reasons why girls are more likely to be abandoned than boys.
Through these examples, the museum is exposed to something more critical.
Such as the tenacious problem of how wet care works (or didn’t)
Why families sometimes leave legitimate children behind. The 10-year-
The old people thought it was all charming, so did I.
That's why a few days later, I spoke to Philip garvette, a professor of history at St. Louis University and author of the book Florence Renaissance charity and children.
"His research helps to further explain the social conditions that lead to the need for a hospital and the typical habits of babies who eventually come here: Upon arrival, they will be admitted soon
Until they can be placed with a nurse in the countryside.
Once the child is weaned, they will come back when they are about 2 years old.
Ideally, they will be raised by a family for several years.
The next goal is to adopt or place a job, which is much easier than a girl compared to a boy.
Living conditions have improved over the centuries, as museum visitors can enjoy the latest and innovative photos of that era taken in 1899.
Designed to resemble the album's touch screen allows us to browse the image of spickand-
Fresh air is available at the restaurant and on the terrace, along with an isolation ward with syphilis babies.
The sterilized milk was fed.
The last part of the historical exhibition will not be available until the end of the Year --
Although as a preview, the museum offers four adult video interviews about their inoxinti memories.
At least one of the most famous 20 is likely to be mentioned --
Century resident: Director Franco zefilelli moved in at the age of six after his mother's death. (
The filmmaker mentioned this in his semi-autobiography film "Tea with Mussolini. ”)
But there's a lot to see, starting with an internal observation of brunelski's building.
There is no audio guide to the reflection behind the building and how it fits the needs of the hospital, which is basically a stroll in two delightful courtyards and a break before going to the art gallery.
The collection has gorgeous works of celebrities including Botticelli, which is quite standard in Florence.
Mazzocchi explained that it was special because it was all made specifically for the agency.
Take the most respected masterpiece of innuchin, Domenico gillandayor's Magi worship, whose eyes await visitors at the end of the corridor --
Capture the tone of the gem.
The prospect is the two babies killed by King Healy.
One next to St. John the Baptist.
Patron saint of Florence)
The other is next to St. John the Evangelist (
Patron Saint of Alte de La Seta).
Just like this painting goes up to the altar of the innuchin church, this painting is above a predella that shows a series of scenes.
The one on the far right happened in the cool gallery of the building.
Finding these connections can be a great way to attract older children.
My age is the age she likes to point to the baby in the painting and say "Baby", which is almost how we feel when we visit the gallery.
We also passed by the picture of Mary nursing Jesus, bouncing on her lap and taking him away from the Angel (
The last one is Botticelli).
Showdella Robbia's Madonna and children is one of the earliest sculptures created in the glass Terracotta Warriors invented by della Robbia.
The two characters are depicted in a pure white color that looks glowing, staring out with affectionate expressions.
Mazzocchi said it used to be on the altar of the women's church where wet nurses and women abandoned children pray in front of the church.
Luca's nephew Andrea later used the same glass land.
Cotta technology created 10 parcel babies added to the building's facade in 1487 and immediately became a symbol of inoxinti.
They are still
The museum provides visitors with a booth where they can pose for photos.
My friend Rachel Boyd explained that the sculptures are of great influence and that she is working on a PhD paper at the dela Robia workshop.
They soon inspired similar decorations on Florence's buildings, and you can't miss them when you're walking around the city.
They are copied not only on tourist souvenirs in Italy, but also around the world.
In the United States, take the seal of the American Academy of Pediatrics as an example.
She believes that what attracts everyone's attention is that they look almost real and have unique poses and expressions that people like.
Despite the fact that for centuries, the only way to appreciate these "Puti --
As they said in Italian
Stand under the cool porch all the time and hang your neck to the sky.
That's why one of the coolest things about the opening of the museum is that the Puty Museum makes its debut at the height of its eyes.
This is just a temporary exhibition outside the Art Gallery.
In November, they will be back in their usual position, so there is only a short chance to get to know the details, such as the styling of their hair and the lines of their palms.
You already know how my daughter reacted to all this: "Baby! Baby! Baby!
"It feels right in this case.
We climbed up one more floor and came to Verone, an upscale, seateddown-
There is only a cafe on the roof deck, in a space used to dry clothes.
Nice view of the laundry room-
The cathedral rises on one side, and on the other side is the hills of FICO.
Chocolate cake is on the menu.
Obviously, the innuchin Museum has a certain understanding of taking care of children.
Hallett is a freelance writer living in Florence.