A Florence Ferragosto 2019
The Ferragosto summer holiday, which is in honor of the Assumption of Mary on August 15, is the official break between Easter and Christmas in Italy; as Italians across the country head to the beach, it will be challenging to find open shops and restaurants. Unless, of course, you’re looking in downtown Florence.
A Florence Ferragosto offers free admission to the San Marco museum (piazza San Marco 3), where guests can admire the beautiful early Renaissance frescoes by Beato Angelico (1395 – 1455). The museum’s holiday hours are from 8:15 am to 4:50 pm. The Bardini Garden is also accessible at no charge between 8:15 am and 7 pm.
Museums which can be visited by paying the the regular entrance fee during Florence Ferragosto include the Galleria dell’Accademia, home to Michelangelo’s David, accessible between 8:15 am and 10 pm (the ticket office closes at 9:30 pm). Additionally, the Uffizi (8:15 – 6: 50 pm), the Pitti Palace museums (8:15 am – 6:50 pm) and the Boboli Gardens (8:15 am – 7:30 pm) will be open on Ferragosto along with the Bargello National Sculpture Museum and the Palazzo Davanzati Museum of the Renaissance Home (both from 8:15 am to 1:50 pm).
Several city-run museums will be open as well, including Palazzo Vecchio (9 am – 11 pm) and its tower known as Arnolfo’s tower (9 am – 9 pm); Santa Maria Novella (12 noon – 6:30 pm); the Novecento Museum of 20th Century Art (11 am – 8 pm); and Forte Belvedere (11 am – 8 pm).
Other select events — some of them for free — will be occurring around the city, so be sure to keep your eyes open! (rosanna cirigliano)