Flower Market & Santo Spirito’s ‘Floralia’

During the weekend of Oct. 6 -7, Florence’s autumn plant and flower market will take place in the Giardino dell’Orticoltura, via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 from 10:30 am – 7 pm. This is an opportunity to plan next season’s garden. An event held in a park, a setting dominated by a 19th century greenhouse, nursery owners will be exhibiting perennials, vases, seeds and bulbs, all of which can be purchased and taken home.

In a concurrent exhibition, through October 7, Villa Bardini (Costa San Giorgio 2) is hosting “Florentia,” a show of botanical illustrations.  The 80 beautiful watercolors are the work of artists from Italy, France, the U.K., Holland, Germany, Austria, Russia, Japan, Korea, Canada and the U.S.A. “Florentia” is open 10 am – 7 pm, closed Monday.

The Friends of Santo Spirito Association, to raise funds for the supervision of the church and to ensure the church remains open to the public at no cost, is hosting the third annual Floralia per Santo Spirito in Piazza Santo Spirito in the cloister of the church on Oct. 6, 10:30 am to 8 pm and Oct. 7, from 10 am to 7 pm.

The small market exhibition, decorated by horticulturists, will contain exhibitors who offer handcrafted jewelry, watercolors, terracotta, design objects for the home, fabrics, bags, glasses, jams and jellies, saffron, and more.

In addition, on both Saturday and Sunday, there will be guided tours of the Basilica and the wooden Crucifix by a young Michelangelo in the sacristy, whose restoration was financed by The Friends of Florence. The crucifix was carved in 1492 when the artist sought refuge in the friendship of the prior of Santo Spirito, when his father was opposed to his decision to become an artist. To enhance the event, Saturday at 5 pm, the conference “Fruit, vegetables, and medical herbs useful for cancer patients” will be held.  Reservations must be made by Friday, Oct. 5. For more information visit www.amicisantospirito.it.

The association made it their mission in 2007 to keep the church open to the public and the president, Agnese Mazzei continuously emphasizes that basilica is not part of the museum system with a mandatory admission fee.  (rosanna cirigliano & beatrice paolucci)