Behind the Story: Marbled Paper in Florence

Research intern Hope Rehak realized she had a personal connection to a story in the March issue.

When I first read the article, I couldn't believe my eyes. A quick trip to the "street view" in Google Maps confirmed it: I had once happened upon Giulio Giannini e Figlio, the very same Florentine paper maker featured in our March issue (Authentic Goods: "The Magic of Marbled Paper," pg. 29).

In November 2009, I was on my semester abroad, studying in Copenhagen and traveling when I could. A good friend of mine lived in Florence, and I had finally been able to visit her during a two-week, mid-semester backpacking break from classes. The trip was supposed to last three days, but due to an unfortunate train strike in Paris, I'd missed my first flight to Italy.

Christina tried to help me make the best of my truncated trip by waking me up early the first day so I could walk with her to school across the city. Half-asleep, I got my first and only whirlwind tour of Florence: Ponte Vecchio, the Duomo, and finally Palazzo Pitti, just across the street from where she attended classes.  

Source: http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/intelligenttravel/2011/02/florence.html

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