RUN/Corri all’Alba
July 2, 4.45am meeting time
Starting point: piazzale Michelangelo
Is anything more magical than deserted Florence at daybreak? Witness the Renaissance city as it “rises” with the sun in the third edition of Corri all’Alba. Of course, you won’t exactly have the streets to yourself—some 1,300 runners are expected to participate—but the group will move as a unit, reveling in the rare, shared experience of a quiet Florence. The main route totals 8km, with a 4km option available to walkers. The race starts promptly at 5.35am; advance registration (15 euro) is recommended on the website.
USA/Independence Day Party
July 4, 6.30pm–midnight
Castello Acciaiolo, via Pantin, Scandicci
The Tuscan American Association teams up with Harding University and the Comune of Scandicci to host their annual American Independence Day celebration. Indulge in hot dogs, hamburgers and other typical US treats; listen to live music from the Scandicci Band, Rabarbari, Breathe Floyd and Nothing For Breakfast; and tote the little ones along without hesitation—this particular Fourth party is all about star-spangled family fun. Representatives from each of the organizations involved will make commemorative remarks. For more information, see TAA’s website.
CONTEMPORARY/Columbia Threadneedle Prize 2016
July 1–24
CCC Strozzina, piazza Strozzi, Florence
Contemporary figurative art takes center stage at this prestigious traveling exhibition: the Strozzina is its sole Italian stop. Works by 46 international artists will be on display, aiming to inspire discussion on the evolving role and heightened value of artistic images in an age shaped by constant digital dissemination. The artist lineup includes Nicholas Holmes, Coll McDonnell, Lewis Hazelwood-Horner, Laura Smith and Nicola Bealing, all competing for the Columbia Threadneedle Prize for excellence in figurative and representational art. For additional information, see Palazzo Strozzi’s website.
COMEDY/Quo Vado?
July 5 & 6, shows at 5.30 & 9pm both days
Odeon Cinehall, piazza Strozzi, Florence
This week, the highest-grossing Italian film of all time comes to the Odeon in four screenings specially designed for international audiences. The laugh-out-loud comedy Quo Vado? will be shown with English subtitles. The film tells the hilarious tale of Checco, a southern Italian and public service employee who desperately clings to bottom-of-the-barrel government positions in order to maintain his covetable posto fisso status. The film is part of a new Must-See Italian Movies series at the Odeon this summer, which will later feature screenings of Perfetti Sconosciuti. For more information, see the Odeon website.
CONCERT/Il Volo with Placido Domingo
July 1, 9.15pm
Piazza Santa Croce, Florence
Italian pop trio Il Volo returns to Florence for an extraordinary evening paying tribute to The Three Tenors. The boys will be joined by none other than Plácido Domingo, who was part of the original popular opera group, and the concert will celebrate the tenors’ legendary July 7, 1990 performance at the Baths of Caracalla in Rome. Palermo’s Orchestra del Teatro Massimo, conducted by Ramon Tebar, will perform with them. The evening’s set list will span Italian and international classics, plus opera, pop and musical theatre favorites. At publication of this article, tickets are still available via TicketOne.
