Florence’s 2024 Artisanal Chocolate Fair

  March 7 – 10: FLORENCE ARTISANAL CHOCOLATE FAIR. Piazza Santa Croce, 10 am – 8 pm daily.  Free admission. The sugary festival brings together master chocolatiers from across Italy to exhibit their delicious bars, ganaches, pralines, and pastries, available for purchase. Spend your weekend wandering about the piazza trying all types of chocolate – dark, white, and milk – with creative combinations including spices, fruits, nuts, and liquors.  Most of the vendors [...]

‘Romeo & Juliet’ Costumes at the Zeffirelli Foundation

In a celebration of artistry, Florence’s Zeffirelli Foundation (piazza San Firenze 5) hosts a tribute to the work of Florentine director Franco Zeffirelli. Hailing from the extensive collection of the Cerratelli Foundation, 30 costumes used to create Zeffirelli’s magic in the film “Romeo and Juliet,” accompanied by photographs, sketches, and other unique artifacts, are on display through February 25 (open 10 – 6 pm, closed Mondays; admission €12). Danilo Donati won an Academy [...]

Buy Vista, Florence & Tuscany: Proceeds to Viva Vittoria

Proceeds from the sale of the current issue of Vista, Florence & Tuscany will be given to support women who have been victims of violence, specifically the shelters and organizations that help them through the Viva Vittoria. This is also a special “Women in the Spotlight” issue, interviews with and profiles of notable women in Florence, and timely coverage of the   of the Florence’s Artemisia refuge and safe home.  Also included are articles [...]

‘Back to Bach’: Free Jazz Performance in the Duomo

Following the success of last year’s “Altissima Luce” concert, the Cathedral of Santa Maria Fiore (aka the Florence Duomo) is hosting yet another genre-transcending concert at the Duomo in the form of “Back to Bach.” Last year’s headliners, renowned trumpeter Paolo Fresu and esteemed bandoneon player Daniele di Bonaventura, will be joined onstage with pianist and composer Uri Caine and the Italian Virtuosi orchestra on October 26, 2023, at 9:15 pm. Between Caine’s [...]

Rificolona Paper Lantern Festivities 2023

Thurs. 7:  RIFICOLONA (Paper Lantern Festival) History underlies Florence’s annual Rificolona festivities which take place annually on September 7. Before the 21st century, Tuscan farmers and shepherds would arrive in Florence on the evening of Sept. 7 from the Casentino and Pistoia mountains in addition to San Piero in Campo (Elba).  Often traveling from the countryside and mountains at night, lanterns provided visibility for their path. The pilgrims would congregate in Piazza Santissima Annunziata (Holy [...]

Fourth of July Festivities in Florence, 2023

Tues. 4:  INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS.  Great Cloister of Santa Maria Novella; access from Piazza Santa Maria Novella 18.  6:30 – 11 pm. The 4th of July celebration, starting at 6:30 pm, offers an opportunity to commemorate the American Independence Day in an unexpected setting. Visitors can enjoy a diverse line-up of entertainment, including musical performances and a dance show. The evening’s program features two musical acts: The Railroad Acoustic Duo will take the stage at [...]

A New Life for the Santa Rosa Tabernacle

Conservation work on the tabernacle of Santa Rosa, located near to Porta San Frediano in the Oltrarno district, has recently been completed under the direction of the Fine Arts Department of the Municipality of Florence, and overseen by the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape for the city of Florence. Built in 1856, the tabernacle – a canopied niche – is situated within the city’s fortification walls, which date back to the 14th century. [...]

A Vision of Restoration at San Miniato

  Restoration work at San Miniato al Monte (11th c.), the Florentine basilica near to Piazzale Michelangelo, has just been completed. The project, which began in 2017, was funded by the Friends of Florence, an American association founded in 1998 with the vision of preserving Florentine and Tuscan heritage; continual support and donations from its members across the world have seen this project through to the end. Restorations were overseen by the Superintendency [...]

Coronation Celebrations in Florence

    Friday, 5 and Saturday, 6: EVENTS FOR THE CORONATION OF CHARLES III  The coronation of Charles III is fast approaching, scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 6. The Royal Family has always occupied a central place in British life and news about their public and private lives (recently increasingly indistinguishable) is commonly front-page news. For those who do want to engage in the King’s coronation while here, there are a [...]

‘Women Artists in Grand Tour Florence,’ Lecture in English

Women around the world are celebrated every year on March 8 for International Women’s Day. Named La Festa della Donna in Italy, the day honors women for their political, economic and social accomplishments which have brought females around the world to where they are now. On Wednesday, March 1 at 6 pm, The British Institute of Florence will be hosting a lecture focused on female artists featured in Florentine museums through the 18th [...]