‘Florence Comes Alive’ with the Summer Festival

 

With the arrival of warm weather in Florence, l’Estate Fiorentina 2023 (The Florence Summer Festival) is immediately on the horizon. The festivities span nearly four months and feature projects encompassing music, dance, film, literature, and a variety of other live performances. The free outdoor events are hosted by a plethora of iconic venues around the city, both in the city center as well as the surrounding suburbs.

The venues are headlined by a dozen assigned summer spaces, sites dedicated to hosting at least one of the over 100 events included in this year’s Estate Fiorentina lineup. The 12 spaces include: Anconella Park, Piazza Tasso, San Niccolò, Rose Garden, Lungarno del Tempio (the pier), the Murate Literary Café , Fortezza da Basso, Garden of Horticulture, Lungarno del Tempio (la Toraia), Cascine Amphitheater, Niccolò Galli Garden and Piazzetta dei Tre Re. 

“Anatomia di una Repubblica” (Anatomy of a Republic) kicks off the jamborees with the 77th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Italian Republic. The event of course are scheduled on Festa della Repubblica (Republic Day), June 2. Workshops have been arranged throughout the morning of the festive day, and in the evening a free show will be held at Teatro della Pergola. The events commemorate both the vote in favor of the Italian Republic in 1946 that abolished the monarchy and the ensuing cultural and political results of said vote.

This year’s festival additionally features homages to two iconic Italian figures, Giorgio Gaber and Don Milani. Gaber, a Milanese singer-songwriter who defined Italian rock and roll, is being celebrated through “La Gaberiana,” (July 1-20) an exhibition honoring the 20th anniversary of his death. In addition, the central creative theme of the festival is “Com’è viva la città,” (How alive the city is) a line from Gaber’s famous song, Com’è bella la città. 

Milani, a Florentine writer, priest, and educator is being honored on the 100th anniversary of his birth through “I CARE. Don Milani 100” event. Milani notably wrote Lettera a una professoressa, which protested exclusivity in Italian education, formerly designed for the privileged.  His advocacy for accessibility in education is reflected through the 10-week event which features over a dozen separate affairs including book presentations, workshops, and film screenings. The events, organized by the Chille de la Balanza, take place on the premises and garden of the former city insane asylum at San Salvi, which hosts the theater company, as well as the Luzi and CaNova libraries.

Milani’s celebration isn’t the only event with a literary focus as “Le piazze dei libri” returns from June 27 – July 2 as a special event. From 7 to 9 pm members of both the domestic and international literary scene will meet, debate, read, and present in the squares of five different districts throughout the city. There are nearly a dozen bookstores confirmed to be involved and contributing as well. 

The returning events are certainly led by the “15 grandi festival”, (15 grand festivals) a group of recurring revelries that make their mark each year at Estate Fiorentina. The grand festivals include, but aren’t limited to ‘Secret Florence,’ the first of the 15, beginning June 5, which presents a variety of live performances with an emphasis on the unconventional hosting venues. The 24th iteration of ‘Italian Brass Week’ (July 23-30) will be held under the leadership and artistic direction of the renowned Luca Benucci. The grand festivals continue into September with the Firenze Jazz Festival (September 5-10, 13-17). The jazz fest will be hosted in some of the city’s most iconic settings such as Piazzale Michelangelo and the Santa Rosa Bistrot.

I Giardini della Poesia (The Gardens of Poetry) is runs from June 26-30.  The intiative features a variety of actors and performers who will present readings and commentaries regarding the lyrics of iconic Italian and international poetry. The setting for the readings, one of the main focuses of the event, will be five city parks: le Cascine, Villa Favard, Anconella, Villa Vogel e San Donato.

The special events for this year’s festival also include “Il Mondo in Santo Spirito – Musica e Parole,” (The World of the Santo Spirito ‘neighborhood’ – Music and Words) a review of shows and concerts celebrating culture from around the world.  As the name suggests the event will take place in the churchyard of the basilica of Santo Spirito. Taking place from July 1 – September 16, “Il Mondo” aims to counteract detrimental nightlife and degradation of Santo Spirito as a whole.

Estate Fiorentina 2023 is a stage of appreciation for the art and culture that defines the city of Florence. Extending over three months and covering all five districts of the city, the festival ensures a celebration that offers an option for everyone.  (jonah foster)

More information regarding the festival can be found at estatefiorentina.it.