Easter week in Florence brings time-honored traditions: a dessert treat baked in the shape of a dove (colomba, pictured above); the ORT Easter concert and the Scoppio del Carro (Explosion of the Cart) in piazza Duomo on Easter Sunday (April 21). The Easter colomba is a leavened sweet bread containing chunks of candied orange and lemon peel with an almond and sugar topping, decorated with whole almonds. The Orchestra della Toscana (ORT) [...]
After a one-year sabbatical, Florence Cocktail Week returns for its 8th edition from April 7 to 13. The week-long event will highlight Tuscany’s cocktail craftsmanship and the region’s vibrant community of bartenders. Under the creative direction of Paola Mencarelli, and with the support of the Municipality of Florence and the Destination Florence Foundation, this year’s FCW features 60 participating cocktail bars and hotel bars across the city. These establishments will offer a [...]
This coming weekend, 142 houses in 19 Italian regions will open their doors to visitors as part of the initiative of the National Association of Houses of Memory. The two days will be dedicated to the places that guard the memory and legacy of great personalities who once lived in Florence. After three editions dedicated to the House Museums on Italian soil, the Association has extended its range by launching the International [...]
In a city known for centuries-old, red terracotta rooftops, winding streets, and shuttered windows on the sides of ancient palazzi, one of the most unique pieces of local heritage can only be seen once every year. On March 25, Florence celebrates the ‘Capodanno Fiorentino.’ This is the continuation of a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, when the Annunciation, marking the Angel Gabriel’s announcement to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive Jesus [...]
The Fondo Ambiente Italiano (FAI), Italy’s National Trust, invites residents and visitors of Florence to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the foundation with the return of its annual FAI Spring Days, schedule for March 22 and 23, 2025. The weekend offers a rare opportunity to explore some of Italy’s most treasured but otherwise inaccessible historical landmarks, with all the sights open to the public only once a year. Four locations will be [...]
This spring, Florence will be hosting two exhibitions that will take visitors on a journey through time and art: Tracy Emin: Sex and Solitude, and Caravaggio and the Twentieth Century. From Emin’s deeply personal explorations of trauma and identity to the scholarly revival of Caravaggio’s legacy, these exhibitions invite guests to explore the work of two unique artists. Tracy Emin: Sex and Solitude, curated by Arturo Galansino, offers an intimate exploration of one [...]
International Women’s Day (Festa della Donna), celebrated on March 8, is a day honouring the political, economic, and social achievements of women worldwide. In Italy, the holiday is observed by passing time together or by sharing meals with one another. It is also tradition for men to gift women small yellow mimosa flowers, a custom which dates back to WWII. Florence is set to honour the occasion by granting free entry to state-run museums for [...]
TESTO (How to become a book) literary fair returns for its fourth edition at the Stazione Leopolda from February 28 to March 2, 2025. The fair, organised by Pitti Immagine, is dedicated to contemporary publishing and its protagonists. Designed to bring book lovers together for three days, Testo has over 200 events which will allow visitors to understand the mechanisms of all things related to publishing. The fair will be open from [...]
Friday, February 21 – Sunday, February 23: DANZAINFIERA dance fair. Fortezza da Basso. Open 9 am – 7 pm. Admission to the general public: €20 per day; €14 for 6 – 12-year-olds; free for children 5 and under and members of the disabled community with a companion; €10 per day for dancers or those participating in at least one event; €15 for buyers and is valid for all three days. Danzainfiera returns to [...]
The Royal Apartments of the Pitti Palace complex has reopened its doors after five years of meticulous restoration, offering the public the opportunity to participate in a guided tour of the 14 rooms on Tuesdays to Sundays from 10 am – 6 pm, with the last tour starting at 5 pm. Admission to the Pitti Palace museums costs €16, and visitors must sign up at the Palatine Gallery to participate in a [...]