From site "firenzetoday"
Caterina de 'Medici was born in Florence on April 13, 1519, daughter of Lorenzo de' Medici Duke of Urbino and Caterina Maria Romula de 'Medici, and future queen of France. In her honor, the city is literally invaded by events, exhibitions, installations and performances not to be missed!
On April 13, in honor of the 500th anniversary of her birth, the small temporary exhibition "Homage to Catherine" will be inaugurated at Palazzo Medici Riccardi, to commemorate the bond she had with the family palace until her move to France in 1533 when, at just fourteen, she was given in marriage to Henry, Duke of Orleans. However, this is just one of the many events scheduled in Florence throughout 2019.
In September, once again at Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the evocative event of the farewell to the city, which Caterina organized in the Medici rooms in the company of Florentine ladies. While in October, coinciding with the wedding date of Caterina and Enrico - on the 28th of the month - the Institut Français will host the convention-tasting on the wedding banquet, in collaboration with Enoteca Pinchiorri. An intelligent and cultured woman, Caterina is curiously also remembered for her gluttony. In fact, she imported the best Tuscan cooks to Paris, giving way to "French cuisine".
Nevertheless, that's not all: for the entire year, the city will also be swarming with lectures and exhibitions at the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno and at the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore.
Among the most famous “Florentine Madonna’s" in the world, that of Catherine is a controversial and undoubtedly fascinating figure. Crowned queen at just twenty-eight, after the premature death of Henry II, in 1559, she did not resign herself to the role of inconsolable widow. A woman with a fine intellect and skillful strategist, she actually ruled the kingdom for 15 years, during which time she served as tutor to the three sons who quickly succeeded to the throne.
