Florence Nightlife Limitations, May 1 Rules

In order to curb social gatherings facilitating transmissions of the Covid-19 virus, Piazza Sant’Ambrogio, Piazza Repubblica, Santo Spirito and adjacent streets have become zones where it is now forbidden to stand and drink on weekends.  Mayor Dario Nardella signed the new city ordinance on April 29 concurrently with the regulations for the May 1 Labor Day national holiday.

May 1 Guidelines in Florence and Tuscany

Governor Eugenio Giani has announced that large supermarkets and outlets throughout Tuscany can open the morning of May 1, but close no later than 1 pm in order to limit contacts during the current health emergency.  Not affected by this latest regional ordinance are drug stores, newsstands, tobacco shops and florists.  Also exempted are bars, restaurants, pubs, pizzerias, shops selling fresh pasta and gelaterie in addition to smaller food shops.  Deliveries can take place all day.  Markets can be held outdoors as usual.

FLORENCE NIGHTLIFE RESTRICTED

Now that Florence is back in the “yellow” zone, restaurants, bars, pubs, cafés and gelaterias with outdoor seating are able to serve lunch and dinner, keeping in mind the 10 pm curfew.  This has been a difficult adjustment as over 50 percent of the venues do not offer patio dining.  Since take out is permitted up to curfew, and delivery 24/7, many people are congregating in public spaces with food and beverages to chat after months of isolation.  To discourage this behavior, residents will not longer be able to hang out — if not seated at a table — in the following areas:  Largo Annigoni, Sant’Ambrogio and Borgo La Croce; Piazza Repubblica, via Pellicceria and Piazza Strozzi; and above all, piazza Santo Spirito.  In the case of the latter, the front of the church of San Spirito will be gated or roped off to prevent people from sitting on the steps.  Access to the religious edifice, however, will continue to be permitted for church-goers and visitors.  The municipality of Florence has also asked the government in Rome to provide 800 thousand euro to restore the church, which was designed by Renaissance great Filippo Brunelleschi.

On April 29, 1,052 new Covid-19 infections as well 27 deaths were reported in Tuscany. (rosanna cirigliano)

To read more in Italian, visit Florence’s La Repubblica news site.