Home / Events in Florence

Events in Florence


Calcio Storico

calcio-storico-fiorentino.jpg Calcio Fiorentino or Calcio in Costume - better known in Florence as Calcio Storico - is a traditional football game dating back to the 15th century. A violent mix of football, soccer, wrestling and perhaps boxing, the tournament is played in medieval costume every year from mid to late June. The final match is always held on June 24th, as a celebration of the city's patron saint, St. John the Ba... read more.

Carro Matto

carro-matto-piazza-duomo.JPG Carro Matto, which roughly translates to Crazy Cart in English, is the traditional Florentine festival held annually to celebrate the new wine harvest. The event is celebrated on September 29th, the feast day of Saint Michael, who is the patron saint of grocers and merchants. It has historical roots going back to the Middle Ages, and it's one of the many traditions that contribute to the rich cult... read more.

Ceramics Fair (Fiera della Ceramica)

ceramics-fair-fiera-della-ceramica-2023.jpg One of our favorite annual events in Florence is the Fiera della Ceramica (ceramics fair). Historically this event was held in Piazza Santissima Annunziata, but for 2023 the 24th edition will take place in Piazza Santa Croce on October 7th and 8th. The event is organized by the Arte della Ceramica. It is a wonderful market with so much unique work by a wide variety of European ceramists, with m... read more.

Children's Christmas Theater

One of our favorite English language bookstores, The Paperback Exchange, is hosting children's English language theater every Saturday until Christmas. At the bookstore (located near the Duomo on Via delle Oche), The Florence International Theatre Company will be presenting "Merry Christmas, Strega Nona" - a dramatization of the children's book by Tomie de Paola, directed by Amy Folkes (... read more.

CowParade preview in Florence

From ANSA: "Starting Monday, city residents and visitors here will get a preview of Italy's first CowParade, the now world famous public art charity event . Local artists worked throughout the summer preparing the life-sized, fiberglass cow replicas which will officially be on display from October 22 to January 20." More from ANSA here, official CowParade.it site here.... read more.


Desiderio da Settignano at the Bargello

I had a chance Sunday afternoon to see the new Desiderio Da Settignano exhibit (it opened last Thursday) at the Bargello so I took it. This is an important show, drawing on works from the Bargello's own collection, the Lourve, The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. and the Kunsthistoriches Museum in Vienna among others.... read more.

Donna Donne Art Exhibit

Donna Donne is a traveling exhibition of contemporary art, curated by Adelina von Fürstenberg and conceived by the NGO ART for The World on the occaison of the tenth anniversary of the Declaration of Peking. After Florence it will go on to Brussels and San Paolo. The 33 artists taking part, men and women from Italy and other parts of the world, focus on the principal aspects of the femal perce... read more.

Feast of St. Reparata

santa-reparata.jpg St. Reparata has her own niche to the left of the main center door of the Duomo, just one indicator to her importance to Florentine religious history Santa Reparata is celebrated as a saint of the Catholic Church and the co-patron saint of Florence annually on October 8th. The ancient Cathedral of Florence is dedicated to her worship due to the legend that she miraculously interceded on behalf of... read more.

Festa della Donna

mimosa-flowers-festa-della-donna.JPG Each year on March 8th, International Women's Day is celebrated throughout the world. The first International Women's Day was held in 1911. Thousands of events occur to mark the economic, political and social achievements of women. Organisations, governments, charities, educational institutions, women's groups, corporations and the media celebrate the day. Italian's call this day the "Festa della ... read more.

Festa della Liberazione, Liberation Day

Italy's Liberation Day (Festa della Liberazione) is a national Italian holiday commemorating the end of the World War II and the Nazi occupation of the country. There is usually a morning ceremony in Piazza dell'Unità  with Carabinieri marching band, war veterans and city officials, and a concert in the afternoon in Piazza Signoria. Wreaths are set out in the city in various locations, similar to ... read more.

Festa della Rificolona

rificolona-piazza-signoria.jpeg The Rificolona parade leaving Piazza Signoria September is a time for many Florentine and Tuscan events and festivals. One of our favorite nights of the year in Florence is the Festa della Rificolona, an evening parade of sorts through the streets of Florence, with children carrying paper lanterns lit with candles, while other children shoot the lanterns with pea shooters! (In the modern version ... read more.

Festival of the Annunziata

basilica-della-santissima-annunziata.jpeg The Festival of the Annunziata, also known as the Feast of the Annunciation, is a significant religious and cultural event celebrated in Florence, Italy. The feast commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus Christ. The festival typically takes place on March 25th, exactly nine months before Christmas, the day tr... read more.

Florence Biennale

They are gearing up for the Florence Biennale already (it is six months away - so put it on your calendar!): "The sixth edition of the Florence Biennale of Contemporary Art will take place at the historic Fortezza da Basso from 1st - 9th December, 2007. This year's edition will include, as honoured guests, the acclaimed artists Gilbert & George and from the White Cube Gallery London, Tim Marlow. ... read more.

Florence Biennale

More poor planning - the Florence Biennale is this week. We still have a few days to make it over there, it runs through December 11th.... read more.

Florence Chocolate Fair

This year's edition of "Fiera del cioccolato artigianale di Firenze" (artisanal chocolate fair) will take place from March 7th to 10th in Piazza Santa Croce. If you like chocolate, this event is a can't miss! Here are some photos from the event in past years: Piazza Santa Croce with the chocolate fair tent Chocolate Vendor Chocolate Kebab Chocolate covered cherries! Chocolate fries, cheese... read more.

Florence Gelato Festival

Here is the official site of the 2016 Gelato Festival - the final event of the season is September 1st to 4th, at Piazzale Michelangelo: THE FIRST TWO WINNERS FROM EACH STAGE OF THE TOUR WILL CHALLENGE ONE ANOTHER IN THE GRAND FINAL IN FLORENCE. 18 OF EUROPE'S MASTER GELATO MAKERS WILL ENTER THEIR OWN UNIQUE FLAVOURS IN AN EFFORT TO BECOME THE OUTRIGHT WINNER OF THE 2016 GELATO FESTIVAL PURCHAS... read more.

Florence Korean Film Festival

This event usually takes place sometime during the second half of March. You can always check their website for the most up to date information: http://www.koreafilmfest.com ... read more.

Florence statues to stay on show

From ANSA: Washington, November 12 - A Washington exhibition of recently restored stone masterpieces from Florence's Orsanmichele church has been extended due to huge demand. Visitors to the National Gallery of Art will now have until February 26 to admire the famed monumental sculptures by Lorenzo Ghiberti, Andrea del Verrocchio and Nanni di Banco. The show, one of the highlights of the fall e... read more.

Florence's Maggio Musicale

Florence's Maggio Musicale Opens With World Premiere of Fedele's Antigone "Opening night at the Teatro del Maggio Musicale features the world premiere of Antigone, the first opera by Italian composer Ivan Fedele. Michel Tabachnik conducts the Orchestra and Choir of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, along with a cast drawn largely from Italy's baroque music specialists: mezzo Monica Bacelli in the t... read more.

Florentine New Year

plaque-florence-new-year-declaration.jpg Up until 1750 Florence began the civic year not in accordance with the modern solar calendar on January 1st, but on March 25th, marking the start of the year from the religious "Festival of the Annunziata" (which also - surely not by coincidence - is near the first day of spring). There is a plaque (above) in the Loggia dei Lanzi commemorating the event: "Emperor Francis, Pious, Fortunate, Augus... read more.

German Christmas Market in Piazza Santa Croce

christmas-market-vendor.JPG Since Italians don't have Thanksgiving to interfere, they get right down to business and start thinking about Christmas in mid-November, by which time the shops are already decorated and pushing their Christmas wares. By December the streets in the center will be draped with lights and Piazza Repubblica and Piazza Duomo will put up their annual Christmas trees. But you really know Christmas is com... read more.

Ghiberti In America

From the NY Times: "The early-Renaissance sculptor Lorenzo Ghiberti spent 27 years creating the monumental gilded bronze doors for the eastern portal of the Baptistery in the Piazza del Duomo in Florence. And it has taken teams of conservators just about as long to restore them. Their 10 panels depict scenes from the Old Testament, intricately illustrated in high and low relief. When the three... read more.

Giambologna Exhibit

We are planning to go to the special Giambologna exhibit "Gods and Heroes" at the Bargello next week. I am very excited as this is supposed to be an excellent show from one of the greatest sculptors of the second half of the sixteenth century. The exhibit runs from March 2nd to June 15th. There is a very nice website set up in English and Italian. We will be reporting our impressions after we see ... read more.

Giambologna exhibit "Gods and Heroes" at the Bargello

Just a brief note about the Giambologna exhibit. We finally saw it last week - in a word, it is sublime. From a personal point of view I am not a huge fan of small bronzes, and there are many of them, but there are also many large works in marble which were amazing. My favorite piece was the medium size marble "Cesarini Venus" on loan from the US Embassy in Rome. The show looks great and is presen... read more.

Hidden Leonardo drawings unveiled

ANSA is reporting: "The hidden drawings which lie underneath one of Leonardo Da Vinci's most famous works were shown to the public for the first time in Florence this week . A bloody battle scene, a clutch of figures rebuilding a ruin and even an elephant were all sketched by Leonardo in detail in the preparatory 'underdrawing' for his 'Adoration of the Magi' . Yet in the version of the paintin... read more.

International Wine Auction

17th May 2007 7th Edition of Rare Wines, Stage Furnishings and Costumes Auction to support Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence Opera) MaggiodiVino Committee organizes the seventh edition of an auction of rare wines and scenery furnishings, that will will take place in Florence on the 17th of May at 7pm at Pagliere Medicee (an old medicean hay loft), Viale Machiavelli, 24. More infor... read more.

La Rassegna dell'Olio di Reggello

This annual event of the first pressing of Olive Oil from the town of Reggello is a great opportunity to get the full flavor of the spicy, green and gold Tuscan olive oil (our favorite!). And of course it is all for sale. For years they had set up in Piazza Santa Croce - but the info on their website has the festival taking place this weekend in Reggello (about a 45 minute drive for the center of ... read more.

Leonardo da Vinci at the Uffizi

The special Leonardo da Vinci Exhibit was scheduled to open yesterday. I am not sure if it did - we were there just last week and it seemed like there was a lot of work still to be done: Florence, March 27 - A famed study of the brain by Leonardo da Vinci is the star of a new show exploring the workings of the Renaissance genius' own mind . The brain and skull studies, preserved on the so-called... read more.

Margherita Leoni Exhibit

Among all the treasures of the Renaissance in Florence we stumbled upon an exhibition of new paintings by a young artist from Bergamo, Margherita Leoni. She is currently showing her meticulous works of Brazilian plants at the Accademia Georgofili, which is in the Uffizi complex. The paintings are akin to scientific studies, and hold an austere beauty and tranquility. I plan on going back again bef... read more.

Michelangelo's architecture focus of show

UPI is reporting a story they picked up from ANSA: A new show in Florence, Italy, is set to offer a glimpse into the "poetic" architecture that Michelangelo created during his famed career. The show is scheduled to open Dec. 16 at Florence's Casa Buonarroti, featuring original architectural sketches from the Italian Renaissance artist that represent Michelangelo's "poetic" style, said the news a... read more.

Mille Miglia

The official website of the 2015 Mille Miglia The Mille Miglia or the "thousand miles" has been called the "most beautiful race in the world". Initiated in 1927, the race was canceled for reasons of safety in 1957 and twenty years later was revived as a road rally. Every May over the course of three days, more than three hundred of the most important vintage racing cars (and some contemporary m... read more.

Mostra Internazionale dell'artigianato di Firenze

mida-logo.png The "Mostra Internazionale dell'Artigianato" or "International Handicrafts Market" welcomes artisans from all over the world as well as Italy. This is a unique fair, full of hand-made crafts from across the globe - clothing, furniture, carpets, jewelry, silverware, collectibles, gifts, wine, & food. It features traditional handmade products that are inspired by ethnic and classical history, and a ... read more.

Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato

funerary-statue.jpg If you are an antique art lover, this is a can't miss event to put on your calendar if you are in Florence, or maybe even a reason to come in itself - the Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato (Florence Antiques Biennial): The International Biennial of Antiques in Florence is one of the most important events dedicated to Italian art on the international scene, with over 28,000 visitors ... read more.

Museums free this weekend!

This weekend Italy is taking part in "European Heritage Days" which is part of a European wide event organized in part by the Council Of Europe. What this means: state museums, galleries and monuments are free to visit this Saturday and Sunday. More here, in Italian.... read more.

Mythologica et Erotica (Mythology and Eroticism)

At the Palazzo Pitti: Mythologica et Erotica (website in Italian only) (Mythology and Eroticism) at the Museo degli Argenti (Silver Museum) until May 15, 2006. The show features 213 works from Italian and foreign museums. The range of works on display is remarkably wide with paintings, murals, sculptures, ceramics, prints, jewellery, coins and various other precious items - all depicting erotic st... read more.

Notte Bianca

The Notte Bianca (check the link for up-to-date information) or "White Night" in Florence takes place on the evening of April 30th every year. The streets flow with people making rounds between food stalls, exhibitions, art installations, museums, dj sets, and live music and dance performances scattered throughout the center of Florence.... read more.

Plant & Flower Fair

This weekend is the "Piante e Fiori" show at the agricultural garden (the Giardino dell'Orticultura - site is in Italian only). There will be around 35 exhibitors, and we expect to see some of our friends from the Thursday flower market. October 7-8, 2006. From 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM - entrance is free. Giardino dell'Orticultura Via Vittorio Emanuele II 4, Villa Bolognese, 17 Firenze. Map... read more.

Rare Renaissance sketches on show

(ANSA) - Florence, Sept 13 - A rare collection of sketches and designs, including little known works by Renaissance masters, goes on display in Florence later this week. Preparatory drawings by Sandro Botticelli, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Lorenzo Costa and Filippino Lippi will be exhibited alongside a host of other names from 15th-century Italy. The exhibition, which opens on Friday, will showcase s... read more.

Siena's Palio

Another of the big summer events in Tuscany is the Palio in Siena. We were there for it in 1998. This is an ancient horse race in the piazza and is quite a site - there is a great new article about the Palio here.... read more.

Small Antiques Market, Fiesole

This information is out of date! A lot of people seem to find this page so we don't want to remove it, but there is nothing to suggest that this market has taken place in several years. There are several antiques markets in Florence, and throughout Tuscany. One reliable market is at the Fortezza da Basso, which takes place on the third weekend of each month (except for July and August). We'... read more.

State museums free Sunday?

We heard that the state museums (The Uffizi, The Accademia, The Pitti Palace, etc.) were free this Sunday, the 18th (tomorrow) - but I have not been able to find anything about it on the web anywhere. The Italian/Florentine museum websites are pretty notorious for not being up to date unfortunately. We are going to go over to San Marco Sunday anyway to see if it is true. Update: There is also a C... read more.

The Explosion of The Cart of St. John, Easter Sunday in Florence

If you want to witness one of the more strange, interesting and exciting rituals of Easter than the "Explosion of The Cart" or "Scoppio del Carro" (also known as "il Brindellone" or the "Cart of St. John") is a must see event on Easter Sunday in Piazza Duomo. It is an ancient tradition that dates all the way back to the crusades, and an elaborate event that has to be seen in person to be fully... read more.

The Mind of Leonardo

The special Leonardo da Vinci exhibit "The Mind of Leonardo, The Universal Genius at Work" is open now at the Uffizi and will run until January, 2007. We have not been to see it yet but I plan to before we leave for the summer. You can read some more about the exhibit here and the official page from the Uffizi is here (looks like they still have it in Italian only). If anyone who reads this sees t... read more.

The NY Times weighs in on the "Cow Parade"

It took them a little while to get around to it but the NY Times has an article about Florence's Cow Parade: Renaissance-era public art in this Medici stronghold gave the world Michelangelo's David and monumental sculptures by Donatello. These days, Florentines are sharing their cobbled streets with a colorful fiberglass herd that's part of CowParade, which is billed as the world's largest public... read more.



© 2005-2024 florence-on-line.com | About | Glossary | Newsletter | Site Map

Some links to external websites may be affiliate links (hotel bookings, guide books, activities, etc.). Using these services helps to support our efforts here with no additional costs to the user (you!).