Our events listing keeps you up to date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly entertainment. This is a selection of the best events in Florence for the summer, through Ferragosto and beyond.
Events with an asterisk (*) are part of the extensive Estate Fiorentina programming. Follow the summer on their website.
TRIO/Musart Festival*
July 19–23
Piazza Santissima Annunziata, Florence
Franco Battiato e Alice
Art, music and food are the cornerstones of this festival, a piazza-wide party held on the heels of the Innocenti Museum’s reopening. The nightly concerts are preceded by buffet dinners (at an additional cost) and free visits to select area monuments and museums. The star-studded musical lineup includes opener Malika Ayane; Franco Battiato e Alice; Ludovico Einaudi and Max Gazzè. Set your alarm early for the grand finale: a sunrise concert by pianist Remo Anzovino (July 23, 4.45am; free with required booking). Breakfast will follow at the Innocenti Museum’s top floor café. For more information, see the website.
COOL/Yelp #FirenzeGelatoChallenge
+ TF Gelato Break
July 15, 4pm + July 18–28
My Sugar, via de’ Ginori 49r + all gelaterie in Florence
Ph. Georgette Jupe Pradier @girlinflorence
Prize-winning gelateria My Sugar celebrates its first birthday by offering free samples of its newest flavor, named after The Florentine! Then, from July 18–28, Yelp Firenze wants YOU to record your gelato experiences on Instagram. Eat, photograph, geotag the gelateria and use hashtags #FirenzeGelatoChallenge and #YelpFirenze to help style a list of the top shops in Florence to be published in The Florentine! See details here.
SHINY/Italian Brass Week*
July 17–24
Various venues in Florence
Under the artistic direction of Luca Bennucci, principal horn for the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, this “bom-brass-tic” concert series brings the most illustrious international orchestras to Florence. Mark your calendar for the world premiere of Francesco Traversi’s “A Flood of Sounds”: a full orchestra will perform from the Ponte Vecchio as soloists ride downriver in Renaioli boats (July 21, 7.30pm). Another highlight will be the debut of “Requiem for the 1966 Florence Flood” (July 22, 8.30pm, piazza del Duomo). For the full program, see the website.
TRADITION/Festa di San Lorenzo
August 10
Piazza San Lorenzo, Florence
Awaking from a quiet August, the San Lorenzo neighborhood comes to life every year on the 10th for a celebration of its namesake saint. Concurrent with the Perseids meteor shower and Calici di Stelle, an Italy-wide wine event that marks the occasion, piazza San Lorenzo hosts a dance and dinner party after a morning parade. Beginning around 7pm, locals dish out free pasta (likely lasagna) and watermelon. At the dance party that follows, expect a fun mix of families, confused but captivated tourists and the few Florentines who’ve spurned the beach and stayed in the city.
SUMMER/August all’aperto*
July, August and beyond
Various venues in Florence
Di Cultura in Piazza
Staying in the city this August? Though the local calendar is always reliably lighter, if there’s one thing Florence doesn’t lack, it’s outdoor summer venues. Key players this year are Di Cultura in Piazza, with its packed-to-the-brim program of cultural events and family fun (piazza del Carmine); Easy Living on the Arno beach, a sandy spot for catching rays or catching up over a drink (piazza Poggi); Serre Torrigiani in Piazzetta, a “secret urban garden” with street food and extensive programming in English during August (between piazza della Repubblica and via dei Calzaiuoli); and LIGHT–Il Giardino di Marte, the summer hub near the stadium (viale Fanti). Learn more about each venue’s seasonal schedule in a forthcoming article from The Florentine.
SLAM/Settembre in Piazza della Passera*
September 6–9
Piazza della Passera, Florence
Ph. Fabio Venni
Hidden between the Buontalenti fountain and the bustling streets by Palazzo Pitti lies a little-known piazza where most tourists rarely trek. Every year, the always-charming piazza della Passera closes out the summer with a free series of open-air poetry readings, live music and performance art, Settembre in Piazza della Passera. The whole neighborhood gets involved in the nightly festivities, from Sdrucciolo de’ Pitti to via dello Sprone. At press time, the program for this year is still being defined: follow The Florentine’s website and social media channels for updates, along with the Facebook page “Piazza della Passera”.
STAR/Cat Power*
September 7, 9.30pm
Anfiteatro delle Cascine, viale Aeronautica, Cascine Park, Florence
Sonic Youth- and Liz Phair-endorsed songwriter Cat Power will bring her blend of bluesy punk-folk and soul to Florence in this standout Estate Fiorentina event. Emerging in the early ‘90s as a guitarist on the Atlanta scene, she’s built a successful solo career with songs and stylings frequently drawn from her Southern upbringing. Her live style is spontaneous and unrefined, so fans can expect a rather intimate performance, despite the size of the venue. Tickets start at 25 euro and are available via Boxol and TicketOne. For additional information, visit Le Nozze di Figaro’s website.
