Florence

The Gonzaga wanted visitors to recognize that their authority rested on generations of distinguished ancestors.

And like the Medici in Florence, they understood that this palace would communicate political power as effectively as any written declaration.

What makes Savionette especially interesting is that Vespasiano was not only creating a family monument, but an entire capital city around his vision of power and prestige.

Next, we'll visit Palazzo Giardino.

Of course, Rome means ancient ruins.

Then you have Florence, which is Renaissance art.

Naples, of course, means pizza.

And while Capri, that's more glamorous boats and expensive sunglasses.

And for LGBTQ plus travelers, Italy is interesting because the travel experience can feel welcoming while the legal picture is still a bit more complicated than in other countries like Spain or Portugal.

So we're getting into both sides of it, the history and must sees the queer scene and current laws, where to go out, what to eat, what to book ahead and which tourist mistakes are easiest to avoid.

And we'll explain why we picked Rome, Florence, Naples, and Capri for our upcoming Spring 2027 Gay Group Trip.

Four destinations, three very different cities, one island, and a lot of pasta.

So welcome to another episode of the Future of Luxury podcast.

And today we are in a very special place in Florence on one of the most historic places even in the world on Ponte Vecchio.

and this place does not only have an incredible history, but there are today really beautiful stores, a lot of jewelry stores, and we are here in a very, very special place at Cassetti, Cassetti Jewelry and Watches, and I have the huge pleasure to introduce Maria Grazia Cassetti, the owner of Cassetti Jewelry Watches together with her brother Andrea Cassetti and also Lorenzo Cassetti.

You are the third generation of the family.

in silver and because before the market was very big now unfortunately is not anymore because you know after almost 100 years yes silver is almost past talking about you know the request and this kind of thing but before it was very strong there was a high demand on silver so our Our main business was silver and I enjoyed the company when I was 17 in this business.

I am the owner, with my brother Andrea, of six shops, four on the bridge and the other two on Porte dei Marmi in Prato.

i am the owner with my father we own four shops in ponte vecchio one in florence in via strozzi very close to hermes store just opening last last year then we have one in in prato very big city very important city very close to Florence, and we have Rolex as well.

And then we have the most beautiful shop in Forte Remarmi, very important, with high jewelry and Tudor and Vacheron and other brands.

So welcome to another episode of the Future of Luxury podcast.

And today we are in a very special place in Florence on one of the most historic places even in the world on Ponte Vecchio.

And this place does not only have an incredible history, but there are today really beautiful stores, a lot of jewelry stores.

And we are here in a very, very special place at Cassetti, Cassetti Jewelry and Watches.

I am the owner, with my brother Andrea, of six shops, four on the bridge and the other two on Porte dei Marmi in Prato.

I am the owner with my father.

We own four shops in Ponte Vecchio, one in Florence in Via Strozzi, very close to Hermes store, just opening last year.

Then we have one in Prato, very big city, very important city.

It is.

But I would probably say Florence, Italy is my favorite city in the world.

Yeah.

Personal connection there.

I mean, that's That's it.

You talk about the Renaissance, there you go.

But yeah, I'd probably say Florence, Florence, Italy.

Nice.

I don't think Leonardo da Vinci existed in the form that we're told he is.

I think what he actually represented was the Platonic Academy of Florence.

Now, the Platonic Academy of Florence were some of the greatest minds in Florence at the time.

They weren't quite a secret order, but you were only welcome if you were one of the greatest minds, such as a poet or a philosopher, scientist, geometer.

You had to be the best at what you did.

So what happened is these, um, the alchemical books started to come into Cosimo de' Medici's lap, basically.

And Marsilio Ficino at the time was, um, he was starting to decode Plato's books for Cosimo de' Medici.

And he said to, he said to Mi- uh, Ficino to stop what you're doing with, with, um, with the Platonic solids and with Plato's works, and start focusing on this alchemical knowledge, to which he did, and he started transcribing these books for Cosimo de' Medici, and there basically formed what is known as the Platonic Academy of Florence.

I want to talk about that.

I just want to tell you a quick story because I was recently in Florence, Italy, visiting my daughter who was studying abroad there.

And she said, oh, there's a really cool bar around the corner from where I live.

And they play music.

I don't travel nearly as much as either of you, but a few years back for like a wedding anniversary, we went to Europe and to a couple countries.

And I remember Florence was, in Italy was like, it felt like a mosh pit.

I mean, it felt completely overrun.

And that was different from the 10 years prior, which would have been the last time I was there.