Saturday 8 – Monday 10: TASTE. Fortezza da Basso. Open to the public Saturday and Sunday 2:30 – 6:30 pm. Admission for the public: €25; free to ages 12 and under. The festival of food and drink, TASTE, returns to Florence again for three days. This weekend, foodies from all over Florence are invited to a culinary experience of all the regions of Italy just under one roof at the historic Fortezza da Basso. The [...]
The second half of the highly-anticipated Amici della Musica (Friends of Music) chamber music season kicks off this month and will run until mid-April. Audiences can look forward to a fantastic array of performances, styles, and distinguished guest artists at concert venues including Teatro della Pergola, Teatro Niccolini and the Murate Art District on via Ghibellina. The next several months will feature a number of cycles dedicated to a specific instrument and a [...]
January 14 – 17, 2025: PITTI UOMO 107. Fortezza da Basso, Florence. Open daily 9 am to 6 pm; last day, 9 am to 4 pm. Entrance restricted to buyers and the press. Florence is always home to cultured and well-dressed individuals, but in the second week of January, the city reflects a new energy. People walk the streets in their best and most contemporary clothes, aspiring to blend in with the models and designers of [...]
A legal holiday in Italy (banks, stores and offices are all closed although the major museums will be open), Epiphany commemorates the arrival of the Three Kings in Bethlehem bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh for the Christ child. January 6 is also the day of la Befana, when gifts are exchanged marking the end of holiday festivities. La Befana is an aged, witch-like woman, who knows which children have been good [...]
New Year’s Day in Florence offers two traditional concerts: one in the morning by the Fiesole Music School orchestras (11 am) at the Teatro del Maggio, and the other in the afternoon by the Orchestra della Toscana (5 pm) at Teatro Verdi. In addition to the two performances, for museum-lovers, the Medici Chapels will be exceptionally open from 11:15 am to 6:50 pm. Three ensembles will take the stage in the morning concert. [...]
Even though many Florentines enjoy celebrating New Year’s Eve in a cozy, homey setting, some prefer outdoor activities, which are not to miss this year either. Exciting events and activities on the last day of 2024 may be a perfect choice for city residents and visitors. This New Year’s Eve will be filled with music throughout the streets and squares. The free events will be spread across the city center, with roaming bands [...]
Many Christmas Week activities have been organized for Florence residents and visitors; below are the highlights. CHRISTMAS EVE CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERT Teatro Verdi (via Ghibellina 99) is hosting the traditional Christmas Eve performance (5 pm) by the Orchestra della Toscana conducted by Diego Ceretta. The musicians will interpret Wagner’s Siegfried Idyll, first presented to the public on Christmas Day, 1870, in addition to the German composer’s Traume, followed by a rendition of Beethoven’s [...]
For this year’s Christmas season, the city of Florence is offering many exciting activities, perfectly complementing the magical winter atmosphere. As the city becomes even more beautiful, decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and garlands, various events and initiatives are set to begin. The Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce is taking place through December 23. Visitors can not only shop for a variety of crafts but also enjoy eating delicious food, including [...]
Friday, Dec. 6 (2 – 6 pm), Sat. 7 & Sun. 8 (10 am – 6 pm): AILO CHRISTMAS BAZAAR. Tepidarium, via Bolognese 17/A. This annual Christmas bazaar, organized by the non-profit American International League of Florence onlus offers a joyful holiday experience while supporting various local charitable associations. The Bazaar will feature live Christmas music and a special visit from Santa Claus and his elf helpers, who will treat children to [...]
Shortlisted for the 2024 Apollo Awards, The Madonna di Pietrapiana (c. 1450-1455) – a relatively recent purchase by the Ministry of Culture has found its home in Florence’s Bargello Museum. The terracotta by master Renaissance sculptor Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, better known as Donatello, was only attributed to the artist in 1986. The original location of the relief was a tabernacle on the facade of a building at Via Pietrapiana 38 [...]