As I stepped through the archway on the right side of the Piazzale degli Uffizi and onto Via dei Georgofili, I was not prepared for the quiet intensity of the place. On this street, on the night of May 27, 1993, Florence was shaken to its core by a devastating mafia attack. Five lives were lost, many others were injured, and priceless architectural and artistic heritage was damaged.
To transform this tragedy into a message of remembrance and hope, the Uffizi Galleries commissioned sculptor Roberto Barni to create a memorial on the 20th anniversary of the bombing. His work, I Passi d’Oro (“The Golden Steps”), is both striking and deeply symbolic.
Suspended about 20 meters above the street, on the left-hand side as you look toward the Arno River, Barni’s golden figure glimmers with a haunting grace. He seems like an angel or a celestial visitor emerging from the Gallery itself — light-footed, yet purposeful. Behind him, he carries five smaller figures, silent reminders of the lives lost. The sculpture floats, surreal and luminous, above a site once marked by horror.
Art has the power to hold memory, to elevate grief into beauty — and sometimes, to inspire across unexpected boundaries.
That is exactly what happened with Michelin-starred chef Max Alajmo. Struck by the visual and emotional force of Barni’s sculpture, he reimagined one of his signature dishes: a golden saffron risotto. He added a dusting of licorice powder — saffron to reflect eternal light and hope, and licorice to represent sorrow and darkness. It’s an elegant, sensory homage to Florence’s resilience.
If you ever find yourself in the Veneto region, visit Max Alajmo’s renowned restaurant, Le Calandre, in Sarmeola di Rubano, Padua — and treat yourself to his unforgettable saffron risotto. A dish that’s more than a meal: it’s a story on a plate.
Some might find the pairing of such a tragic event with a culinary creation unconventional. But for me, it’s a poetic way to process memory through both art and taste. If you’re curious how to prepare saffron risotto — licorice powder not included — I promise you a shimmering dish that captures a fragment of Florence’s complex soul. The recipe will be coming soon.
As promised, I’m now bringing you the recipe for my creamy saffron risotto…
Until then, walk under the golden steps. Look up. Remember. And allow beauty to speak — even when it rises from pain.