A Florence New Year’s Eve: Concerts & Cenone

Prepare to wrap up with an extra layer and embrace the cold to participate in Florence’s fabulous New Year’s Eve. On December 31, the city has prepared a series of free, outdoor concerts, light projections and family activities to say goodbye to yet another year and welcome a new one.

All evening, major squares will host live music, each exhibiting a different genre to satisfy a broad variety of audiences.

While New Year’s Eve Cenone dinner tradition in restaurants usually involves a fixed menu comprising a minimum of four courses and the customary lentil dishes – thought to bring good luck  – this year there are also many places in and around Florence offering alternatives.  Below are a few recommendations.

Keep in mind that on December 31 glass containers and fireworks will be prohibited in the city center between 6 pm and 3 am.  The ZTL traffic non-resident regulations will be in effect from 6 pm to 8 am; ATAF buses will stop running at 8:30 pm except for # 6, 11, 14, 17, 22 and 23, which will guarantee reduced service until 2 am.

MUSIC

Piazzale Michelangelo is the main musical stage, with a line-up consisting of three well-known artists: Ermal Meta, Morgan and Raphael Gualazzi (10:30 pm onwards).  Tuscan singer Lorenzo Baglioni, invited to participate in the 2018 Sanremo Music Festival, will be the host.

Shuttle bus service will be available from Piazza Beccaria at the Giovane Italia/Amendola stop to the concert venue (8 – 10:30 pm) and return (1:15 – 3 am).

Ermal Meta is a relative newcomer to the music scene, releasing two studio albums over the last couple of years. “Umano” debuted in 2016; later “Vietato Morire” was completed in 2017. The latter reached number one spot in Italian music charts and continued to receive great success after the single of the same title placed third in the 2017 Sanremo Festival.

In contrast, Morgan (the stage name of Marco Castoldi) is a singer-songwriter as well as a multi-instrumentalist. Working mainly in alternative rock and electronic, his songs have achieved great popularity in Italy. Morgan has recently featured as a judge on the Italian version of X-Factor, in which he was seen as a controversial figure.

Raphael Gualazzi is a singer as well as pianist from Urbino.  His career first began in 2005 after releasing the studio album “Love Outside the Window.” Gualazzi’s style is considered pop or jazz, having also recorded a cover of the well-known “Georgia on my Mind.” Many may recognize Raphael from the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 edition in which he finished second out of 43 participants.

Piazzale Michelangelo’s Ristorante La Loggia will also serve Cenone during the evening event.  Make the most of a generous meal (€180) showcasing a creative twist on many dishes. With a welcome aperitivo starter comprising sparkling champagne, buttery bread with marinated salmon and foie-gras mousse seasoned with aromatic herbs, the evening will follow with many offerings for guests, who afterwards are invited to dance the night away.

The set menu highlights seafood, from scallops and scampi to sea bass as well as mussels and clams, in addition to a delectable dessert of a dark chocolate dome filled with buffalo milk ricotta and mascarpone lightly sweetened with honey.  Wine, champagne, water and coffee are included in the cost; bookings required.

A drinks section will be available in the outside courtyard for guests at the Concertone open-air concert.

Those searching for slightly more classical and sophisticated sounds can head to Piazza Signoria, where Giuseppe Lanzetta will conduct the Vratza Phiharmonic Orchestra in a series of waltzes and polkas.

Piazza Santissima Annunziata will host the gospel music of Eric Waddell & The Abundant Life Singers.  Light and sound projections will transform the square into an outdoors multi-media space.

Family events will be concentrated in Gavinana’s piazza Bartali such as workshops and activities for the kids with the clowns, jugglers and fire-eaters of Cirk Fantastik as special guests (5:30 pm onwards).

The Oltrarno area, known for its ‘hipster’ and young vibes, will be perfectly linked to jazz, funk and Dixieland music. It will be the setting for a marching band in the classical New Orleans style.  Starting at 10:30 pm, follow the musical path from San Frediano and Santo Spirito to Piazza Pitti to discover what Oltrarno has to offer.

NEW YEAR’S EVE RESTAURANT CHOICES

Traditional Prix-Fixe Meal

Trattoria Antico Fattore (via Lambertesca, 3) with its high, wooden beam ceilings provides a genuine Tuscan dining experience. Since 1865, the restaurant has been the go-to-place for Italian painters, writers and food lovers and continues to be a venue for artists to meet one another, while welcoming foreigners and Florentines alike. This year for il Cenone, the restaurant is not parting with its traditional feel.

The sit-down meal will begin at 9:30 pm and will run through the evening (until 12 midnight). To welcome guests, waiters will serve an antipasto selection, canapé style.

Clients will be able to taste a wide range of dishes while soaking up the friendly atmosphere such as sea bass tartare with a cod mousse; buckwheat tagliolini topped with white truffle shavings; fish-filled raviolone nero in a light champagne and lobster sauce; filet of beef with a Brunello wine sauce and mashed potatoes.  Additional sides of grapes and the all-important lentils will be placed on tables as a wish for a prosperous New Year.

Make sure to leave room for the chocolaty ganache dessert, a decadent mousse decorated with orange sauce.

Comprised in the €90 charge per person are Nobile di Montepulciano or Libaio Chardonnay wine as is a glass of spumante to usher in the New Year.

Booking is highly recommended.

A Mix of Tradition & Contemporary

Offering Italian cuisine sourced seasonally for a great price (€65 per person) on New Year’s is L’Antica Trattoria Tre Soldi (via Gabriele d’Annunzio 4r/a). The evening will commence at 8:30 pm and run until late.

Guests can prepare to be taken care of from the moment they step through the door to the minute they leave.  They will be greeted with a welcome drink and a tri-platter containing bruschetta with herbs and creamy extra-virgin olive oil gelato; bean soup with breadcrumbs, whipped lard and blackberry ‘caviar’ as well as boiled eggs with pecorino whipped cheese and black truffle.

There is a choice of primo: ravioli filled with pork sausage, lentil purée and sage pesto or carnaroli risotto with Parmigiano cheese and Java pepper.

For the main course, customers can select between pork shank with acacia honey and lentils or filet of venison with BBQ potatoes and crisp speck.

Dessert brings two tantalizing sweets; the first is a honey and cinnamon apple tarte tatin with vanilla custard. The second is a chocolate fondant sponge with a raspberry center, served with lavender flavored ice cream.

Everyone will toast the New Year at midnight with a glass of champagne that is included in the set meal.

For an extra €15 per person, clients are entitled to four glasses of wine or spumante. With a wide selection, a few of the options are Syrah, Pinot, Riesling Classic champagne and a classic rosé.

Ristorante Accademia (piazza San Marco, 7), located in the heart of Florence’s city center offers local Tuscan-based meals prepared by expert chefs.

Owner Gianni Iacovitti’s start to festive evening comes at 8:30 pm with a welcome glass of spumante alongside a mixed mini platter including mushroom strudel with a delicate parmesan sauce; marinated filet of pork with fresh melon; artichokes lightly coated with herbs; roasted octopus served with saffron potato purée in addition to salmon accompanied by beet salad.

For the starter, main and dessert, customers will have several options.  The starter includes warm fennel soup with mussels, flavorful tortelli stuffed with pappa al pomodoro (bread-based tomato soup) topped with burrata cheese; tortellacci pasta filled with spinach and ricotta with a porcini and truffle sauce; paccheri pasta with a Tuscan pork and beef ragù; courgette (zucchini) and saffron risotto; and seafood cavatelli pasta served with a light, fresh tomato sauce.

Headlining the main course is the Florentine steak perfect for two people. Or try another of Accademia’s other delectables: sliced Tuscan beef topped with arugula salad, sliced parmesan and aged balsamic vinegar; filet of beef served with a reduction of brachetto wine sauce, juniper berries and glazed shallots; thin veal slices with fresh truffle; duck breast served in a delicate orange sauce or filet of Tuscan sea bass served on a bed of seasonal vegetables.

There will be an assortment of delicious desserts to choose from as well as complimentary coffee and spumante to bring the evening to a full circle (€80 per person excluding alcohol).

GLUTEN FREE

The Cenone at Quinoa (vicolo di Santa Maria Maggiore, 1) is a deal at an all inclusive €80 per person.  There are three starters:  an artichoke and quinoa quiche served with coriander sauce; chickpea hummus and squid; or a fennel and citrus salad that comes with wild boar salami and focaccia.

The first course prepared by chef Simone Bernacchioni highlights a selection:  truffle risotto; ravioli sauced with Chianina beef and juniper; Pad Thai (rice noodles) with shrimp, shredded vegetables, leeks and peanuts.

The main course headlines a choice of roast pork with chestnut purée and fruit mustard; caramelized octopus served with a sweet potato purée; and pumpkin fritters in a broccoli-yogurt sauce.

The entrée comes with Brut Gran Cuvée; the house wines are Montecarlo red and white from the Fattoria del Buonamico.

Dessert brings cheesecake made with goat cheese topped by chocolate fondue sauce.

New Year’s at a Pasta Restaurant

Ti Amerò (piazza Santo Spirito 11/r) is featuring focaccia with burrata cheese, fried cuttlefish, stuffed pasta with a mussel sauce, baccalà (codfish) and chocolate-hazelnut cake at €55 (excluding beverages except for mineral water).

Live jazz will accompany il Cenone at both Ti Amerò and The Golden View.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Located right by Ponte Vecchio on the Arno River, Golden View (via de’ Bardi 58/r) is offering New Year’s Eve dinner from 7 pm. The extensive menu offers a range comprising raw fish, antipasto, and first and second courses.

Those who love raw seafood are in luck: servings of three types of oysters; red Sicilian King prawns from Mazara del Vallo (€36 per head) or caviar (€39) can be ordered.

The head chef, who is from Barcelona, has blended tastes of both Italian and Spanish cuisine with the added touch of some Asian specialties in this New Year’s Eve-themed menu.

In the antipasto section, available are Jamón Iberico (cured ham, €28), artichokes with lemon thyme (€20) and anchovies sourced from the Cantabrian Sea with sweet and sour onions and three types of mayonnaise (€28).

For the primi (first dishes), there is a selection of handmade ravioli filled with sea bass (€32), caserecce pasta with venison ragout flavored with herbs (€28) and risotto with kale and Sicilian red king prawns (€34) among other options.

This can be followed by tuna tataki (tuna steaks lightly pan fried, covered with sesame seeds and seasoned with ginger), turbot in a pistachio nut crust with pan seared pak-choi cabbage; beef filet with foie gras and roast rabbit with a purée of carrots and liver paté (all plates are €38 per person except for the beef, which is €45).

Gourmet house desserts round out the festivities.

Please note: each member of a party must select at least two dishes at an average of €50 – €60 per person, excluding beverages.

Buon Anno!  (karen gee/additional reporting by rosanna cirigliano)