Flower: Cultural Events in Piazzale Michelangelo

Until Sept. 30: Flower.  Piazzale Michelangelo. 

Flower, a cute cafe-style space overlooking Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo, is the venue for three simultaneous series running from now through September: Radio-style talk shows; book presentations; and live jazz concerts. All events will be run in a sustainable fashion, attempting to leave absolutely no negative environmental impact. Flower’s 100% Tuscan menu, enjoyed under a view of Michelangelo’s David, complements the experience.

Controradio, a Florentine radio station founded in 1975, is the sponsor of the Monday-evening talk shows. Each meeting will take the time to discuss environmental issues, and visions of how a sustainable future for the city can be achieved. Marco Impotente, director of the station, believes that the meetings are about combining culture, quality entertainment, and aesthetic beauty in conversations about Florence and its future. August 5th’s encounter will feature, in Prohibition-era American style, a “speakeasy” event with a swing and blues trio.  

On Wednesday evenings will be Book Flower, a series of book presentations sponsored by la Nottola di Minerva, a cultural association dedicated to the promotion of literacy. The initiative intends to create a space for today’s writers to participate in discussions with the public, with live music serving as background ambiance. The selection includes Ester Viola, author of novels about divorce, focusing on narratives about romantic relationships. 

Sunday Night Jazz, intended to spice up an otherwise uneventful night of the week, is sponsored by the Collettivo per l’Arte del Suono. Each soirée begins at 7:15 pm, takes a break from 8:30-9:30 pm, and ends with an improvisational “jam session.” Lovers of Latin music will rejoice on August 18th, when duo Claudio Valastro & Giovanni Cifariello serenade guests with popular Brazilian music. 

Thursday, August 8th, above all, is not an evening to miss. At 7:30 pm, viewers will be treated to a musical show about the history of Tuscan music, spanning from medieval times through the Renaissance to the late 1800’s. Most intriguing, though, is that there will be surprise guests sprinkled throughout the performance.

More information about all three Flower initiatives can be found on the EstateFiorentina website. (emma hempstead)