International Women’s Day, Florence 2026

 

From CaraDonna: the message is The Female Gender is a Gift

Sun. 8: FESTA DELLA DONNA (Women’s Day). 

It is common for women in Italy to observe the holiday by passing the time together or by sharing meals with one another. However one chooses to observe La Festa della Donna, it remains undisputedly, a day of recognition for the political, economic, and social achievements of women worldwide.

There is free admission for women to the Uffizi Gallery all day on March 8, from 8:15 am – 6:30 pm in addition to other state-run museums, including: the Palazzo Pitti complex (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); Boboli Gardens (8:15 am – 5:30 pm); Galleria dell’Accademia (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); Bargello Museum (8:15 am – 6:50 pm); and the National Archaeological Museum of Florence (8:30 am – 2 pm) in addition to the Medici Villas at La Petraia, Castello, Cerreto Guidi and the Villa Il Ventaglio park (8:30 am – 5:30 pm).

Local state-run museums are offering no cost entrance to women as well on March 8, including Palazzo Vecchio (9 am – 7 pm); the Arnolfo Tower (9 am – 5 pm, not accessible in case of rain); the Brancacci Chapel (1 – 5 pm); the Novecento Museum of 20th and 21st Century Art (11 am 8 pm); the Bardini Museum (11 am – 5 pm); the Salvatore Romano Fondation of Antique Art (10 am – 5 pm); and Palazzo Medici Riccardi (10 am – 1 pm).

Also in Florence, the CaraDonna project organizes photo shoots of women, each of whom choose a feminist message to be inscribed on their body, together are immortalized in a picture portrait.  This year’s collection will open as an exhibition of displayed works (and messages) at the Libi Liberi Bookshop, via San Gallo 25/r on March 13.

At the Mercato Centrale, premier chocolatier Andrea Bianchini (voted the best in Italy), has created a special Women’s Day chocolate, available from Friday, March 6.

Those who ski at Abetone during International Women’s Day will receive a voucher for a free ski pass that will entitle a woman to one day of free skiing Monday through Friday during the rest of the season.

The Bunker Art Gallery is hosting a display of Tunisian ceramics created by women (inauguration: March 8, via San Gallo 108/r).  The vases, animal sculptures and containers made exclusively by hand by artisans of Sejnane represent a tradition that has been recognized by UNESCO as part of Humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.

ATT (The Tuscan Cancer Association) has organized a fashion show of pieces of the Florence brand of designer Giulia Carla Cecchi, followed by a party, on Sunday, March 8 at the Palazzo Spiga, Piazza Vittorio Veneto 1.  Entrance is minimum €15 with bank transfer to the Tuscan Cancer Association, Bank IFIGEST, IBAN IT52B0318502801000010010007.

Historically, March is laden with much political significance for women. On March 25, 1911 in New York City, a fire broke out in the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory killing over 140 immigrant workers, nearly all of them young women. Due to the inadequate fire safety precautions, the workers were unable to escape from the ninth floor of the building. This tragedy brought to light the unsafe working conditions at that time and sparked social protest especially among women. Seven years later in Russia on March 8, a group of women would stage a protest against food shortages and World War I.

The significance of the day has evolved much since its inception. The previous heavily political nature of the holiday has given way to a more light-hearted sensibility. Presently La Festa della Donna in Italy is marked by the gifting of a bouquet of small, yellow flowers—mimosa—to women symbolizing solidarity with women all over the world. The custom of giving mimosa can be traced back to WWII Italy.

Named for two flowers inextricably connected with women, the rose and the mimosa, the Rosamimosa race, which is the oldest women’s running competition in Italy, will be celebrating its 39nd year the day before International Women’s Day, March 7, at 4 pm.

The competitive race consists of an 8km (5 mi) run open only to women and a 5km (3 mi) sport walk for women and (for the first time) for men beginning at Bruno Betti sports center in Via del Filarete (Soffiano). The scenic 8km run will move up through the hills near Boschetto, Bellosguardo, and Marignolle, and then back again to Soffiano.