Piazza Pitti is the place to be this New Year’s Eve in Florence. For the first time in Florentine history, the square with the stately backdrop will host the end-of-year celebrations.
Florentine singer songwriter Francesco Ricci, Roman artist Alessandro Mannarino, local favourite Irene Grandi and X-Factor contestants Street Clerks will be headlining the NYE 2016 party in piazza Pitti, while other new venue, piazza San Lorenzo, will welcome Brit Sarah Jane Morris and Nico Gori’s Tentet Swing.
The party continues in piazza della Signoria with Viennese waltzes by the Chernivtsi Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Giuseppe Lanzetta. Piazza Santissima Annunziata will set the stage for the One Voice Gospel Singers and the Cleveland Gospel Singers.
Out of Florence, in Scandicci, dance 2016 in with the Brazilian beats of Forrò Mior, the folk sounds of Modena City Ramblers and Cocò djette. The party in piazza della Resistenza begins at 10pm.
There’s a charitable dimension to the New Year’s celebrations, too: the City of Florence is participating in the UNICEF Children in Danger campaign. Donations can be made by phoning 45594 or sending an SMS.
Transport
The city’s trams will run every eight minutes on the night of December 31 and early hours of January 1.
Additional bus services have been added from 8pm on December 31 to2am on January 1. There will be four free shuttle buses connecting Santa Maria Novella station with Novoli, Galluzzo-Le Gore, Sorgane and Coverciano-via Novelli.
Line 14 will run (ticket costs apply) from via della Ripa to piazza Dalmazia, via Vittorio Emanuele II; line 17 (ticket costs apply) from viale Verga-piazza Puccini and ending at the Rinuccini stop in via del Ponte alle Mosse.
For more information, see www.ataf.net.
