The 2021 Rebirth of the ‘Estate Fiorentina’
After a pause in 2020 due to the pandemic, the 2021 Estate Fiorentina Florence Summer festival is back from June to September in a concentrated shorter version. This year’s edition promises to be exciting, comprising 15 festivals plus individual events, for a total of 146 happenings in all five neighborhoods (quartieri) of the city. With sponsorship from Gucci and Toscana Energia making up half the budget, Estate Fiorentina will be a mega platform for aspiring and established artists to make their mark on the city.
Florence councilman Tommaso Sacchi unveiled the upcoming schedule himself at a press conference. “The 2021 Estate Fiorentina Florence Summer Festival is one that is truly for the whole city — the protagonists are residents who can finally attend outdoor events after many months of Covid-induced isolation,” he said.
Held in the usual venues plus several new ones including the Cascine Amphitheatre, Piazza San Marco, the Mensola Park and the Rose Garden, the festival will focus on music, theater, dance, performance, film, and literature. First on the agenda, Secret Florence (June 10 – 23), lives up to its name with an innovative program throughout Florence which will often take place in places off the beaten track. Musica sui sagrati is a series of free, classical concerts by Toscana Classica held on the steps of churches in and around the city — the Duomo, Santo Spirito, Santa Croce, San Gaetano, Santa Maria Novella and even the Certosa di Galluzzo — from June 11 to August 28. A new location, piazza del Carmine, will host a new event, Oltrarno Libro Aperto, featuring presentations and conversations with authors between June 22 – August 8. Under the auspices of Fabbrica Europa, Festival au Dèsert will headline artists from Mali, North Africa, Mediterranean countries and the Middle East specializing in world music from June 30 to July 2 in the Grand Cloister of Santa Maria Novella and the Manifattura Tabacchi.
Screening film festival entries in addition to movie classics, the city’s traditional open-air Apriti Cinema (June 28 – August 8) will be set up in the square in front of the Uffizi. The Florence Dance Festival will showcase modern and contemporary choreographies from June 26 to July 25 in the Grand Cloister of Santa Maria Novella. Firenze dall’Alto will be held at panoramic venues in the city and above including the Rose Garden and Forte Belvedere. With the setting sun as a backdrop, participants will have the opportunity to watch theater, listen to music, or converse with guest speakers.
The Musart concerts (July 15 – 27) returns to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, featuring such artists as dancer Roberto Bolle, jazz musician Stefano Bollani, pop singer Fiorella Mannoia, singer/songwriters Vincio Capossela, Niccolò Fabri and Edoardo Bennato (the latter shares the stage with the Orchestra della Toscana). The sunrise performance will spotlight the talents of pianist Enrico Pieranunzi.
The end of summer brings the Lattexplus electronic music festival (September 1 – 20) in addition to the Cirk Fantastik (artistic circus acts, no animals) in the Cascine Park from September 6 – 21, and the Firenze Jazz Festival (September 9 – 12), a showcase for the smooth tones of jazz. Genius Loci, a free performing arts festival will take place in Santa Croce from dawn to dusk the week of September 21 – 25.
Events will also be held around pop-up bars at the Fortezza da Basso and Piazzetta dei Tre Re, the Lungarno Beach (Spiaggia sull’Arno), in addition to the Anconella Park, the Parterre, piazza Tasso, the Cascine Amphitheater and other venues.
ESTATE FIORENTINA PROGRAM
OPENING IN JUNE
June 10 – 23: Secret Florence takes the guest on an itinerary of less-frequented city venues
June 11 – August 28: Musica sui Sagrati, concerts in front of Florentine churches
June 22 – August 8: Oltrarno Libro Aperto
June 28 – August 8: Apriti Cinema, outdoor movie screenings in the Uffizi square
July 13 – July 24: Musart Festival in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, featuring star of classical dance Roberto Bolle and Italian singer-songwriters
July 25 – 29: Florence Folk Festival
June 30 – July 2: Festival Au Dèsert
JULY
Through July 25: Florence Dance Festival at Santa Maria Novella
July 15 – 27: Musart Festival in Piazza Santissima Annunziata
July through August: Firenze dall’Alto: musical events on some of the most beautiful terraces of Florence
SEPTEMBER
September 1 – 20: Lattex Plus electronic music festival
September 2 – 5: Copula Mundi performing arts festival at the Mensola Park
September 6 – 21: Cirk Fantastik contemporary circus
September 9 – 12: the Florence Jazz Festival, held in the Oltrarno
September 21 – 25: Genius Loci in Santa Croce
