Palazzo Medici Riccardi in Florence was the home of Cosimo de Medici, the Elder, and Lorenzo di Medici, the Magnificent. It was built in 1445. It was designed by Michelocco di Bartolomeo, the Renaissance, Florentine architect. The Medici family sold it to the Riccardi family in 1659. The new owners did a lot of changes in Baroque style but the frescoes stayed. Benozzo Gazzoli pained the chapel and the famous Procession of the Magi. In the painting Lorenzo, the Magnificient is presented

Château de Malmaison has been home to Josephine Bonaparte, the Empress of France. She lived there, on and off, for 15 years. The Château is beautifully restored and shows Napoleon's rooms as well as Josephine's rooms. The second floor shows a collection of the Empress's wardrobe and many household things. Her coronation dress is there as well. The intimacy of the museum is extraordinary. It is about 15 km from Paris. I am a storyteller. True or not this is my story. Nina