Florence’s San Giovanni Celebrations 2025
Florence’s celebration of its patron saint is on June 24, bringing time-honored events to celebrate the feast day of St. John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista), the Florentine way.
Festivities in Florence include a final match for a traditional Florentine sport (Calcio Storico Fiorentino), a boat race, historic costume parades, and a fireworks display overlooking the Arno. June 24 is also a legal holiday within city limits.
The celebration kicked off two days prior to the feast day on June 22, with the coronation of the Marzocco, located in Piazza della Signoria, and followed by a flag-throwing presentation by the flag-bearers of the Uffizi. The Marzocco is a lion sculpture created by Donatello to symbolize Florence. Local Florentine master goldsmith, Paolo Penko, made the crown that the Marzocco will receive. The coronation is preceded by a parade; afterwards the mayor of Florence and the president of the Society of San Giovanni Battista will place the crown on the Marzocco’s head.
The formal San Giovanni festivities on June 24 will begin at 8:30 am with the Corteo degli Omaggi, a procession from piazza Peruzzi to Piazza Signoria. At 9 am, the flag-bearers of the Uffizi will perform a flag-throwing show. There will also be a second procession with candles which will end at 10 am in piazza del Duomo (Cathedral square), where candles will then be given to the archbishop.
At 10:30 am, a high mass will be held at the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore to honor San Giovanni Battista.
Also on the 24th, Forte Belvedere, Florence’s fortress of architectural wonder will reopen on a permanent basis after nearly 10 years. The landmark will now give free access to residents of the greater Florence metropolitan area, which includes: Bagno a Ripoli, Calenzano, Campi Bisenzio, Fiesole, Firenze (Florence), Impruneta, Lastra a Signa, Scandicci, Sesto Fiorentino and Signa and other towns located in the former province of Florence. Non-residents can purchase tickets for €5 or at a reduced price of €3. On June 24, Forte Belvedere will host an activity, Forme di città, focusing on the architecture of the fortress, as well as Florence’s architecture, which the building overlooks, open to families with children at 5 pm, to adults at 6:30 pm. Prior registration is required to attend the free event by emailing info@musefirenze.
Guided visits are also offered to the Porta San Frediano gate on June 24 on the half hour between 5 and 8 pm; to reserve a ticket (€6 for ages 8 and up), use the email or phone contact above.
To continue the festivities, the Palio Remiero di San Giovanni, a rowing race on the Arno, will take place starting at 6:30 pm. The four historic neighborhoods of Florence participate in the semifinal and the final. Starting at the Società Canottieri (Lungarno Anna Maria de’ Medici), the four rowers of each boat, encouraged and directed by the cox at the helm, will paddle furiously all the way up to Santa Trinita bridge and return back to the club near Ponte Vecchio for the finish line and the grand prize.
The final match of Florence’s iconic medieval sport is also held on the night of the 24th: Calcio Storico is a combination of soccer, rugby and wrestling. Played in Florence since the 16th century, Calcio Storico pits athletes from the city’s central, traditional neighborhoods. This year, the players of San Giovanni (Greens) and Santa Maria Novella (Reds) will compete against each other in the final match, beginning at 6 pm in the Piazza Santa Croce, which will kick off with a historic pageant at 4 pm.
One of the most beloved traditions on the feast day of San Giovanni Battista is the “Fochi” fireworks display from the Piazzale Michaelangelo, starting at 10 pm. The marvelous display can be observed from numerous spots across Florence, and it has become a staple for Florentines and visitors to stay out and watch it. While waiting for the fireworks to begin, the public is invited to attend the musical intermezzo put on by the Clem Saxophone Quartet in collaboration with the Cherubini Conservatory on Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia. The performance starts at 9 pm.
Throughout the entirety of June 24, the Music School of Fiesole will be holding all-day performances from 9:15 am to 8:30 pm. The concerts will feature the talents of the school’s professors, as well as their students from their classes, who comprise different groups spanning multiple age levels. The day-long jam session is dedicated to the renowned pianist, Maria Tipo, who once taught at the school. The Music School of Fiesole, which is located at Villa La Torraccia, Via delle Fontanelle 24, can be reached by taking bus 7 to San Domenico. The festival is free of charge.
The feast day of San Giovanni is a wonderful opportunity to experience all the city has to offer to celebrate its patron saint. (Mia Schaeperkoetter/additional reporting by Rosanna Cirigliano)
