June 17 – 20, 2025: PITTI IMMAGINE UOMO 108. Fortezza da Basso, V.le Filippo Strozzi, 1. Open to buyers and the press Tuesday – Thursday 9 am – 6 pm, Friday 9 am – 4 pm. The 108th edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo trade fair will return to Florence’s Fortezza da Basso (Basso Fortress) this summer. The important bi-annual event is hosted in the city centre each January and June and celebrates [...]
This year marks the 19th iteration of the Premio Gregor von Rezzori– Città di Firenze, a literary prize awarded for the best work of foreign fiction published in Italy, and for the best translation into Italian. The prize is awarded at Florence’s annual Festival degli Scrittori (Writers’ Festival) and organised by the Santa Maddalena Foundation. The festival is a four-day event taking place from June 10 – 13, 2025 and will comprise [...]
Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day), celebrated every year on June 2, is a legal holiday in Italy, and businesses and many shops will be closed. Free admission will be granted all day at the Academy Gallery (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); the Uffizi Gallery (8:15 am – 6:30 pm); the Bargello National Museum of Renaissance Sculpture (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); the Medici Chapels (8:15 am – 6:50 pm) and the Orsanmichele church [...]
This year marks the 32nd anniversary of the via dei Georgofili bombing, a terrorist attack carried out by the Sicilian Mafia on May 27, 1993 outside Florence’s Uffizi Gallery. In memory of the victims of the tragedy, (a family of four, including a baby, and a student) Florence will be holding commemorative events on May 26 and 27. The 1993 attack was carried out in retaliation for the arrest of Mafia boss Salvatore [...]
Sun. 25: CORTILI E GIARDINI APERTI (Open Courtyards and Gardens). Locations accessible from 10 am – 1 pm, 3 – 7 pm. Free admission. To experience and learn more about Florence’s centuries-old, private properties, plan to attend some of the special openings on Sunday, May 25. Unless otherwise indicated, most venues require a reservation. In a once-a-year opportunity, the hidden beauty that draws attention and tourists to Florence will be highlighted, with access [...]
NYU Florence’s annual artistic festival, The Season, is returning for the 19th year between May 20 and July 1. Hosted at the stunning Villa la Pietra (via Bolognese 120), study abroad campus home of New York University, a multitude of cultural and creative events will take place in English. The Season will showcase original theatre productions, engaging book talks and classical and jazz performances in the three venues: its indoor Limonaia, open-air Continuum [...]
After nearly a year of meticulous restoration and refurbishment, the Salone di Donatello at the Bargello National Museum (via Ghibellina) has reopened its doors to the public, returning to visitors the masterpieces of Renaissance sculpture it holds. At 18 metres high and 445 square metres in area, the Salone is the most impressive room in the Palace. Known as the heart of the Bargello, it is a true symbol of Renaissance art. The [...]
Until May 1: INTERNATIONAL CRAFTS FAIR. Fortezza da Basso. Open daily from 10 am to 8 pm. Admission: three-day pass for €14, single day entrance €8, children under 12 free with accompanying adult. Adjacent parking. Just as the tulips and wisteria bloom and spring jumps into full force, the Fortezza da Basso, commissioned by Duke Alessandro de’Medici in the 16th century, hosts the annual International Crafts Fair. Celebrating its 89th edition, this year [...]
Mark your calendars! The 25th of April brings one of the most important holidays of the Italian calendar, as the nation comes together to celebrate the anniversary of its liberation from fascism on April 25, 1945. This year is particularly special, as it represents the 80th anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, the city of Florence will play host to a broad range of activities and ceremonies, as it celebrates its liberty and pays [...]
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) [...]