One of the most common gripes that foreigners have about us Tuscans is that we're so proud of our rich history to never miss the chance to sneak it into any conversation. While this has some merit, it would be quite difficult to act any differently. You see, history for us is not a distant thing, something you read in a book. It's literally everywhere around us, sneaking up on you when you least expect it. Need an example? Let's talk about the odd hospital that is just a stone throw's away from the Leaning Tower in Pisa. No matter how impractical and old-fashioned, Pisani love it so much to have delayed for decades its transfer to a more modern facility. They love it so much because it's possibly the oldest in the world, founded almost eight centuries ago. Not only it's very old, but it's the only one in the world that was born out of a massive naval battle and the clash of two giants of European politics who just hated each other. People in Pisa don't care much about the other hospitals in London or Paris that claim to have been around even longer: as far as they're concerned, the Santa Chiara is the template that was used all over Europe to create hospitals as we know them today. That's why this week What's Up Tuscany will bring you back to Pisa to tell you the fascinating story of the hospital born from a battle and why it became an integral part of Pisan identity. Remember it next time a Tuscan will bore the hell out of you with yet another anecdote from a long gone age. History never dies around here - and this is also what makes this land so unique. Let us know if you like this kind of episode or if you'd rather have us talk more about food, wine or the many hidden corners of this land only locals know about. Remember: we're at your service. Drop us a note at the links below: we'd be glad to hear from you!
Email: podcast@larno.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/larno.it
Twitter: @arno_it / @WhatsupTuscany

LINKS TO SOURCES (ITALIAN ONLY)
http://www.stilepisano.it/leggende/leg(g)ende_pisane_N48_battaglia_giglio_19_nov2018.pdf
http://www.stilepisano.it/leggende/leg(g)ende_pisane_N49_nascita_ospedale_20_nov2018.pdf
https://www.lanazione.it/cronaca/santa-maria-nuova-l-ospedale-pi%C3%B9-antico-del-mondo-compie-732-anni-1.5245465

BACKGROUND MUSIC
Pipe Choir - Bom Bom Breakthrough (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - A dark Blue Arc (Instrumental)
Pipe Choir - Children of the Son
Pipe Choir - Talk to Me
Pipe Choir - Mapping the Stars
Profound Beats - Lo-Fi
Wayne John Bradley - Blues Rock Original Instrumental
All released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-bom-bom-breakthrough-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-a-dark-blue-arc-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pc-one-children-of-the-son-creative-commons-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipechoir-talk-to-me-instrumentalwav
https://soundcloud.com/pipe-choir-2/pipe-choir-mapping-the-stars-instrumental
https://soundcloud.com/profoundbeats/profound-beats-lo-fi-free-download
https://soundcloud.com/ayneohnradley/blues-rock-original-instrumentalcreative-commons
http://www.pipechoir.com/