Florence is a city that prides itself on a long history of religious celebrations–one such summer tradition is the annual Feast of San Lorenzo on August 10. The festivities take place throughout the day, culminating in a shared meal outside the patron saint’s basilica, which in fact is the city’s earliest cathedral having been consecrated in 393 AD. The celebration includes parades, church events, a free dinner for all comers and live [...]
Florence is host to the Re-Imagine Peace Festival from Friday, July 10 to Sunday, July 12, a three-day gathering centered around unity and cross-cultural understanding organized by Israeli singer Noa, Arabic-Israeli singer Mira Awad, Israeli guitarist Gil Dor, and Israeli filmmaker Tamar Tal Anati. The festival includes a series of free concerts, film screenings, and talks that highlight Palestinian and Israeli activists. Known as an epicenter for re-birth and artistic vision of the [...]
One of Florence’s most unique attractions is once again opening after dark. Beginning July 3, the Uffizi Galleries will bring back special evening tours of the Vasari Corridor, giving visitors the chance to experience the historic passageway at sunset and after nightfall. Through November 20, the corridor will be open every Friday evening for guided visits. In total, 21 evening openings are planned, with tours taking place between 7 and 11 pm. Last [...]
With the arrival of June in Florence, the city is preparing once again to celebrate San Giovanni Battista, St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence, with four days of traditions, cultural events, sports, and the beloved “Fochi” fireworks display. Running from June 20 to 24, the festivities honor one of Florence’s oldest traditions and bring together residents and visitors for celebrations that combine history, religion, and community spirit. June 24, the [...]
Summer evenings in Florence are once again set to be filled with films under the stars as Apriti Cinema returns to Piazza de’ Pitti for its 15th edition. Running from June 15 through July 26, the festival transforms one of the city’s most iconic squares into an open-air movie theater. It offers 43 nights of free screenings in the heart of Florence. Part of Estate Fiorentina 2026, Apriti Cinema is organized by Associazione [...]
Until June 29: THE SEASON. Villa La Pietra Via Bolognese 120. Reservation required by sending an email to lapietra.reply@nyu.edu or calling 055 5007210. This summer, Villa La Pietra will once again come alive with music, dance, film, theater, and other cultural events as New York University Florence celebrates the 20th edition of its annual arts festival, The Season. Set throughout the stunning 37-acre La Pietra campus, performances and events will take place in the gardens, Limonaia, and outdoor theater spaces. This year’s program [...]
As summer arrives in Florence, the city’s streets and piazzas are once again preparing to turn into open-air stages for music, film, dance, and art. returns from June 1 through September 30 with four months of cultural events designed to bring people together through creativity, entertainment, and conversation. This year’s program, titled Summer Days, includes festivals, performances, talks, and artistic projects taking place across every Florentine neighborhood. From historic squares and gardens to [...]
Sun. 24: CORTILI E GIARDINI APERTI (Open Courtyards and Gardens in Florence). Locations open from 10 am – 1 pm, 3 – 7 pm. Free admission; reservations necessary through https://www.associazionedimorestoricheitaliane.it/ Walking down the timeless streets, attention is often drawn to a majestic doorway, barred windows with a faint view of frescoed ceilings, and wisteria vines climbing the balconies of a private courtyard. All this and more will be visible to the general public in the space [...]
Florence is hosting a historic visual retrospective at the Villa Bardini until October 18, 2026. “Firenze ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s” offers a rare look into three decades of the city’s history, from post-war recovery to the growing complexity of urban life in the 1970s. The exhibition features 150 curated images from the renowned Foto Locchi Archives. The Photographer’s Eye The Foto Locchi agency, founded in 1924 by war photographer Tullio Locchi, brings a [...]
Thursday 7 & Friday 8: FESTIVAL OF WRITERS Since the 14th century, Florence has been a hub for Italian literature, producing literary icons such as Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio and Machiavelli. Timeless stories and even the foundations of the Italian language were shaped in Florence, paving the way for the rest of Italy. Today, in the 21st century, Florence is an international crossroads of languages, ideas and cultures. Continuing its long literary legacy, [...]
