2018 Florence Summer Festival’s Outdoor Magic

The weather is heating up and that can only mean one thing: the Florence Summer Festival (Estate Fiorentina) is back to take the city by storm. The celebrated event, which will occur from June to early October, will fill the entire city with music, dance, theatre, film, literature, and live performances.  Also including venues in Florence’s suburbs, the festival is one of a kind due to its emphasis upon creativity and innovation.

The program will be held in both familiar and hidden locations, from the Piazzale degli Uffizi, Visarno Arena, and Cascine Park to the tramway, the converted industrial space of a former tobacco factory (Manifattura Tabacchi), and the Cascine amphitheater. Even some of the city’s most famous church sites will play a role, including the complex of Santa Maria Novella, which will serve as the backdrop for the Florence Dance Festival from July to August 7. Genius Loci, an exploration into “the spirit of a place” through readings and musical performances, will be held at the Church of Santa Croce from September 20 – 22. The Basilica of San Miniato will also be hosting events that also mark the 1000th anniversary of its founding.

Music aficionados can mark their calendars for the Italian Brass Week concert from July 22 – 29. This edition of the festival is themed “A Crescendo of Emotions” to illustrate the four elements of Florence: water, gold, nature, and art. The concert schedule consists of masterclass workshops, evening concerts, and matinees. Italian musicians will be joined by international performers hailing from the United States, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Columbia. Talented young musicians will have the chance to learn from and play alongside international professionals.

Rockin 1000 That’s Live is unlike any other rock music concert: a record 1000 rock musicians will be playing 17 songs simultaneously at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence on July 21. As if a band of 1000 artists was not enough, the concert will also feature a not-to-be-missed performance by award-winning American singer Courtney Love.

The Nextech Festival of electronic music, one of the city’s longest running electronic music festivals, will wow the crowd with music by artists Ilario Alicante and Voiski on September 20 – 22. Those who prefer a more mellow musical experience can look no further than the Florence Folks Festival on July 26 – July 29, an exquisite medley of local food, handmade crafts, and live music by artists such as Ginevra di Marco, Ugandan Dj Rachael, Chariot, and Giancane. Alternatively, relax and unwind to the rhythms and beats of jazz that will flow throughout the Oltrarno during the Florence Jazz Fringe Festival from September 5 – 9.

Where there is music, there must also be dance. Founded in 1992, the Virgilio Sieni Dance Company will be one of five acts that will be a part of the Secret Florence, a strategic project that will involve performances in various unconventional locations around the city from June 9 – June 16. The company, which is based in Cango in Florence, infuses choreographic elements from Greek tragedy and the woods of fairy tales to produce a unique dance aesthetic, and prides itself on the art of gesture. Fabbrica Europa will also be returning to Secret Florence.

Among the cinema selections is the fifth edition of Cannes a Firenze at the Teatro della Compagnia, which will preview films on July 2 – July 18 from the Cannes Film Festival, only 14 days after the French event’s closing night. Those who enjoy open-air showings will also appreciate screenings in the Uffizi courtyard from June 23 – August 11 and Pocket Cinema, a presentation of outdoor movies in the suburbs from July 16 – August 10.

Literature lovers can also expect events at the Oblate Library through June 15. For fans of poetry, an International Festival of Poetry with the theme “Distant Voices, Sister Voices” will take place in the Casa del Popolo in the hills of Settignano from June 5 to 20 and from September 12 to 27.

Works by Eliseo Mattiacci, a member of the Arte Povera movement, will be exhibited at Forte Belvedere on June 2 to October 14. Mattiacci is famed for his use of raw materials to construct large-scale contemporary works and installations. Aside from the visual arts, a range of stirring art performances are sure to dazzle and impress. Among the performers are Cirk Fantastik, a group founded by the Aria Network. Cirk Fantastik consists of volunteers of migrant cultures who showcase their cultures and tell a unique story through contemporary circus acts such as extreme acrobatics, theater, cabaret, and dance, held in September in the Cascine Park. Fosca in Tepidario is another artistic vision that explores culture, the contemporary arts, and identity at the Giardino dell’Orticolture (via Vittorio Emmanuele).

Thanks to a 38% increase in new associations since 2017, Estate Fiorentina 2018 is bound to have something for everyone. The events above are only a taste of what to expect. More information and programs can be found at www.estatefiorentina.it.