Religious/Easter + Scoppio del Carro
April 24, 11am, Piazza Duomo
Before sitting down for Easter lunch
and shattering that chocolate egg, grab your earplugs and watch this odd, loud
tradition unfold: an ornate cart carrying a lit candle is pulled through the
city by two white oxen, leaving from Porta al Prato and ending at Piazza Duomo.
The Archbishop blesses the flame and then the colombina (the fuse, in the shape of a dove) is
lit and, in a display of pyrotechnics, ‘blows up’ the cart.
Sacred Girdle
Easter Sunday and May 1 at 6pm in Prato
The Sacred Girdle (sacra cintola) is one of the most sacred relics in the Catholic tradition. Housed in
Prato’s Duomo, it is taken out for display or ostensione five times a year: on Christmas, Easter, May 1, August 15 (Assumption of
the Virgin) and September 8 (Nativity of the Virgin). The belt of green camel
hair is displayed inside a gold and glass reliquary container from the pulpit
on the exterior of the cathedral during a special mass, the rest of which takes
place inside the Duomo. Prato’s bishop holds it up for public view in three
directions, three times. This belt is believed to be that passed from the
Virgin Mary to Saint Thomas during her ascension to heaven. Although this is a
religious service, the display of the relic outside the Duomo is a cultural
event worth attending.
Special Events/Festival d’Europa
May 6 to 10, Around Florence
Exciting exhibits, concerts, shows, lectures and conferences
celebrating the European Union and pondering its future.
See our feature on page 18 or http://www.festivaldeuropa.eu for more information.
Art/Festival Fabbrica Europa
May 3 to 28, Stazione Leopolda
In conjunction with Festival d’Europa, Fabbrica Europa will highlight
the wide variety of contemporary art in Europe today, dedicating entire
‘islands’ within the Leopolda to the international artists who are shaking up
the ‘contemporary scene’ by mixing media and experimenting with new concepts
and techniques. Very highly recommended (how often do you get to see
cutting-edge contemporary work in this town?). For more information, see http://www.ffeac.org.
Maggio Musicale/Opening of the 74th
Season: Aida
April 28 (show continues May 3, 7, 8, 10 and 12),
Teatro Comunale
The heart-wrenching tale of undying
love between an Ethiopian princess turned slave and Egyptian military
commander, both of whom must choose between their national loyalties and love
for each other. A perfectly dramatic way to inaugurate Florence’s Maggio
season. For more information, see http://www.maggiofiorentino.com.
Fair/Mostra dell’Artigianato
April 30 to May 8, Fortezza da Basso
Need accessories? Look no further: the annual
international handicrafts fair that descends upon Fortezza da Basso is back,
and every nook and cranny will be full of handmade goods, from pots to pins,
rings to rugs, hookahs to hats. It’s the year of unity, so the mostra is dedicated to Italian excellence (think coats from Casentino, glass
from Murano). For more information, see http://www.mostraartigianato.it.
Concert/Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha
May 20, Salone dei Cinquecento, Palazzo Vecchio,
7:30pm
Although the opera won’t premiere in
Florence until June 30 at Saschall, the touring cast of Treemonisha will perform
a concert featuring excerpts. Treemonisha, a modern opera in three acts by
famed African American ‘King of Ragtime,’ Scott Joplin, is considered the first
opera featuring typical American characters and characteristics. The drama
focuses on an African American child found under a tree on a plantation in
Arkansas by Ted and his wife, Monisha. A wonderful opportunity to reflect on
America’s social foundations while enjoying the swaggering and moving sounds of
this masterpiece. In English with Italian subtitles, reservations required
(call 055/2313240 or email chiantilirica@chiantilirica.it). For more
information, see http://www.chiantilirica.it.
The Florentine events/KnitLounge by
BettaKnit at Le Murate
Thursday April 28, 7 to 10pm
Le Murate, on via dell’Agnolo, is the city’s new
‘creative space,’ and this is one of the first of many events in a series that The
Florentine will host in the coming months. Open from noon to
midnight daily, Le Murate will offer a rich calendar of talks, activities,
performances and more. The Florentine’s events are geared for a mix of Italian and English speakers.
Our first event is on Thursday evening, April 28, when
some friends of TF will gather for a creative evening out. Called KnitLounge or
Maglia e Musica in Italian, the young Pratese company BettaKnit is going to
teach us how to knit! We’ll be using one of BettaKnits’ attractive kits, which
contain everything necessary to make a beautiful cotton pillow that you’ll be
proud to have made all by yourself! The kit (25 euro) is easy enough for
beginners but fun for advanced knitters, too. If you already knit, feel free to
bring your own project and join us (it’s free!). Another option is creating a
necklace with BettaKnit’s unusual yarn and vintage buttons. To make the evening
lively, there’s an aperitivo from our
sponsor American Salad Co. and relaxing lounge sounds. For more information and
to sign up go to http://bettaknitmurate.eventbrite.com/,
call 055/2306616 or visit http://www.facebook.com/bettaknitworld.
Photography/Gypsy Interiors
Until May 22, Tethys Gallery
The prize-winning photographic collection of Carlo
Gianferro, who reveals the inner world of gypsies from Moldavia and Romania in
portraits and snapshots of their home interiors: an entire society largely shrouded
in myth and secret suddenly exposed in bright photographs that unveil the
surprisingly modern lives of this people. For more information, see http://www.tethysgallery.com.
