Designed and built by Vasari in the second half of the 16th century at the request of Cosimo I de’ Medici, the Galleria degli Uffizi is in the Palazzo degli Uffizi, which originally housed the city’s administrators, judiciary and guilds. It was, in effect, an office block (uffizi means offices). Vasari also designed the private corridor that links the Palazzo Vecchio and the Palazzo Pitti. Known as the Corridoio Vasariano, it is, at the time of writing, lined with paintings and can be seen only on a guided tour. Cosimo’s successor, Francesco I, commissioned the architect Buontalenti to modify the upper floor of the Palazzo degli Uffizi to house the Medici’s growing art c ... continue

For 6 servings:

• 300 g plain flour
• 200 g corn flour
• 200 g peeled almonds, roughly choped
• 200 g sugar
• 150 g butter or lard
• 2 yolks
• a small glass of Anise seed liqueur or Sasolini
• salt
• butter for the tin

In a bowl or on a clean kitchen surface, mix all the ingredients into the flour, with a pinch of salt. Knead until you obtain a dry crumbly mixture. Butter a round baking tin and drop the dough in small lumps into the tin about 1 inch thick. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 350° F / 180° C / G4 for an hour, remove from th ... continue