by Valentina, age 9, asks La Befana do Italian children get presents from both you and Babbo Natale?, about the Arno River, and Florence’s role in the Renaissance
Dear La Befana,
My name is Valentina and I am 9 years old. I live in Florence, Italy, where every January sixth my whole street waits for the old woman on the broomstick, and I always leave my stocking hanging by the window just in case.
First, do Italian children get presents from both you and Babbo Natale?
Second, a geography question: what river runs through Florence?
Third, a school question about my country: why is Florence considered the birthplace of the Renaissance?
I left you a slice of ricciarelli and tea.
Love, Valentina, age 9, Florence, Italy, Florence, Italy
From the Desk of La Befana
Dear Valentina, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Do Italian children get presents from both you and Babbo Natale?
Very often, yes. Babbo Natale handles December 25th, and I take care of January 6th, so Italian children get two wonderful mornings of gifts each season.
What river runs through Florence?
The Arno River winds right through Florence, beneath the famous Ponte Vecchio bridge lined with little shops, and the whole city glows warmly along its banks on a clear winter night.
Why is Florence considered the birthplace of the Renaissance?
Florence became the center of a great flowering of art, science, and learning starting in the 1300s and 1400s, called the Renaissance, home to artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci and powerful patrons like the Medici family. That burst of creativity helped shape art and thinking across the rest of Europe for centuries afterward.
Buona Epifania, Valentina.
Ho ho ho, La Befana
