Florence Cocktail Week is an incredibly fun and immersive event that started this past September 20th and will run through September 26. There are 45 participating spots ranging from a more casual cocktail bar to hotel bars to a more classy bar and each location has their own unique creation that allows the bartenders to display their mixology skills. Try them all or pick a route to get to all the ones that [...]
Saturday, Sept. 25 & Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021: EUROPEAN HERITAGE DAYS This weekend, Florence museums will participate in European Heritage Days by offering special hours and events — in addition to free and €1 admission — across the city. Within Italy, the festival is coordinated by the Ministry for Patrimony with the aim of emphasizing the central role of cultural heritage in Italian society €1 ADMISSION Accademia Gallery, Saturday from 7 – 10 pm [...]
Until Sun. 19: ARTIGIANATO E PALAZZO CRAFTS FAIR. Corsini Palace and Garden. There are two entrances: via della Scala 115 and via il Prato 58. Open 10 am – 7:30 pm. Admission: €10, reduced, and no admission is charged for children under 12. Free catalogue included. Small lemon trees, manicured hedges and neoclassical statues line the path that leads to the Artigianato e Palazzo show where a select group of artisans from all over Italy annually display [...]
Sept. 2 – 26: FIRENZE DALL’ALTO FESTIVAL. Various venues. Summer nights. Stunning spots. Spectacular experiences. The second edition of “Florence from Above” (“Firenze dall’Alto”) brings life to the rooftops and terraces of Florence. The initiative is full of concerts, talks, performances and guided tours. The venture, which began in July, will conclude in September with the final four nights. Events begin at 7 pm. Admission is free, but reservation is required. For more [...]
This summer, a cocktail hour with live music outdoors with free admission returns to Florence. The Synagogue gardens (via Farini 6, in the Sant’Ambrogio neighborhood) will once more be transformed on Thursday nights during August into a Balagan Café—Hebrew for “merry chaos,” in the spirit of the temple’s foundation. In the 19th century, an appointed commission chose one Jewish architect and two Catholic architects to build the splendid, Moorish-style synagogue, which was inaugurated [...]
The Ferragosto summer vacation period, which is in honor of the Assumption of Mary on August 15, is the official break between Easter and Christmas in Italy. The holiday, does however, offer exhibitions, outdoor events and dining for those still in town. Below is what’s going on. SHOWS In Florence’s city center, the exhibition American Art 1961 – 2001, with works on loan from the Walker Art Center of Minneapolis, is open daily [...]
August 11 marks the date of Florence’s liberation in 1944 from the retreating German army and Fascist sympathizers during World War II by the Tuscan resistance fighters (partigiani) with the arrival of Allied forces. On that day, members of the Comitato Toscana di Liberazione Nazionale (the Tuscan Committee for National Liberation) had established a new city government in Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Earlier, on night of August 3 and early hours of August 4, all [...]
Three brass ensembles will be serenading audiences from historic boats on the Arno the evening of August 7. The event is free and can be enjoyed from the historic Ponte Vecchio, Ponte Santa Trinita and the roads along the river starting at 7:30 pm. The concert is part of Florence’s International Brass Week, which offers a series of performances – some free – in out-of-the-ordinary settings, including the church of Santa Maria Novella, the Bargello [...]
The terrace of Forte Belvedere, a favorite Florence vantage point accessible from the Costa San Giorgio, will host two free music performances on August 4 and 5. The first event, at 8:30 pm on Wednesday, August 4, will be dedicated to the iconic tango rhythms of Italian-Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla (1921 – 1992). Accompanied by a modern take offered by Daniele di Bonaventura, the concert incorporates a multimedia presentation with photos by Pino [...]
The ‘Green Pass,’ also valid for travel within the EU, will be needed for indoor restaurant dining, working out at the gym, attending movie screenings, concerts at theaters, exhibitions and museums in addition to entering sports and music events in stadiums, as announced in a July 23 government decree effective on August 6. Also included for accessibility are fairs held outdoors and hot spring resorts. The ‘Green Pass,’ which can be downloaded by [...]