The Florentine’s staff has been busy coming up with a list of the most important events, exhibitions, fairs, markets and shows in Florence over the next six months so you can be sure not to miss a thing!
To celebrate the 400th anniversary of the invention of Galileo’s telescope, there are plenty of interesting events around town dedicated to the Tuscan scientist’s life and works. If theatre is your thing, then you’ll be pleased to see that both of Florence’s English-language theatre companies, FITC and FESTA, will be putting on exciting productions throughout the year. Also, don’t forget annual events like Danza in Fiera at the Fortezza da Basso in February, the Scoppio del Carro in April, the opening of the beautiful Rose Garden near Piazzale Michelangelo in May and Estate Fiesolana all summer long. In between, there are concerts, markets and fairs galore-so tear this page out, stick it on the fridge and start making your plans to enjoy all that Florence has to offer!
FEBRUARY
Worldwide Mardi Gras Carnival 2009
February 2 ? Piazza Ognissanti to Piazza della Signoria
www.comune.fi.it
Immagine Italia & Co. Textile Fair
February 6 to 9 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.immagineitalia.org
PLAY: The Kataklò Athletic
Dance Theatre Company
February 7 and 8 ? Teatro Puccini
www.teatropuccini.it
Il Mago delle Bolle di Sapone
(Visual theatre starring huge soap bubbles wielded by internationally famous Catalan artist Pep Bou)
February 11 to 15 ? Teatro di Rifredi
www.toscanateatro.it
Dolce Bere
February 14 to 1 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.firenze-expo.it
A fair dedicated to chocolate, tea, coffee, sweet wines
La Fura Dels Baus Presents Boris Godunov
February 18 ? Saschall Theatre
www.saschall.it
Danza in Fiera World of Dance
February 19 to 22 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.firenze-expo.it
Oasis ‘Dig Out Your Soul’ Tour 2009
February 24 ? MandelaForum
www.mandelaforum.it
Renzo Arbore in Concert
February 26 ? Teatro Verdi
www.teatroverdifirenze.it
Baci 2009 Balloon Arts Festival
February 27 to March 1 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.firenzefiera.it
MARCH
Britmania Florence UK Festival
March 6 ? Saschall Theatre
www.britmania.eu
The Vagina Monologues
(Florence International Theatre Company) March 7 and 8 ? Teatro di Cestello, Piazza Cestello
www.florencetheatre.com
Salone del Mobile Furniture Fair
March 7 to 15 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.firenzefiera.it
Galileo. Images of the Universe from
Antiquity to the Telescope in Florence
March 13 to August 30 ? Palazzo Strozzi
www.palazzostrozzi.org
Fortezza da Basso Antiques Fair
March 14 to 22 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.firenze-expo.it
Taste Food and Flavors Extravaganza
March 14 to 16 ? Stazione Leopolda
www.pittiimmagine.com/it/fiere/taste
Irlanda in Festa Irish Culture and Music Festival
March 17 to 21 ? Saschall Theatre
www.saschall.it
St. Joseph Festival
March 19 ? Piazza Santa Croce
Tel. 055/3283550
Franco Battiato in Concert
March 17 and 18 ? Teatro Comunale
www.maggiofiorentino.com
Ornella Vanoni in Concert
March 21 ? Teatro Verdi
www.teatroverdifirenze.it
Lenten Fair at the Cascine Market
March 23, 30, April 6, 13 ? Parco delle Cascine
Tel. 055/3283550
Feast of the Virgin Mary
March 25 ? Piazza Santissima Annunziata
Tel. 055/3283550
Baby With The Bath Water
(Florence International Theatre Company)
March 26 to 29 ? Teatro di Cestello, Piazza Cestello
www.florencetheatre.com
APRIL
Splash! International Visual Theatre
(Yllana Madrid Company)
April 2 to 5 ? Teatro di Rifredi
www.toscanateatro.it
Easter Sunday:
Scoppio del Carro Historic Procession
April 12 ? Piazza del Duomo
www.comune.firenze.it
Oltrarno Fair and Market
April 13 ? Piazza San Frediano
Tel. 055/3283550
Easter Fair
April 17 to 19 ? Historic center
Tel. 055/3283550
St. George Market
April 20 ? Piazza Santo Spirito
Tel. 055/697747
Tiziano Ferro in Concert
April 22 ? Mandela Forum
www.mandelaforum.it
Nel Mezzo Del Cammin:
Songs and Stanzas from Dante’s Inferno
April 23 and 24 ? Teatro di Rifredi
www.toscanateatro.it
International Handicrafts Fair
April 24 to May 4 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.firenze-expo.it
Springtime Flower Show
April 25 to May 1 ? Giardino dell’Orticoltura
Tel. 055/2625363
Antiques and Flea Market
April 25 and June 2 ? Piazza Mino (Fiesole)
Tel. 055/5978373
www.comune.fiesole.fi.it
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Opera,
Concerts and Dance
End of April to early July
Various locations throughout the city
www.maggiofiorentino.com
MAY
Genio Fiorentino Florence
Cultural Heritage Celebration
Two weeks in May
www.geniofiorentino.it
Opening of the Rose Garden
May to June
Giardino delle Rose (near Piazzale Michelangelo)
Tel. 055/2342426
Opening of the Iris Garden
and International Competition
May 2 to 20 ? Giardino del Piazzale Michelangelo
Tel. 055/483112
Mamma Mia International Tour
May 6 to 19
Mandela Forum
www.mandelaforum.it
Artigianato e Palazzo Master Artisans Show May 15 to 17 ? Giardino dei Corsini
www.artigianatoepalazzo.it
Spin Yourself: Zero Emission Vehicles
from Rollerskates to Electrical Buses
May 16 to 18 ? Limonaia di Villa Strozzi
Tel. 055/211201
Perfume, Toys and Bijoux
May 18 ? Fortezza da Basso
Tel. 055/3283550
www.firenze-expo.it
Promotional Trade Exhibition
May 22 to 24 ? Fortezza da Basso
Tel. 055/49721
www.firenze-expo.it
Mille Miglia Vintage Car Race
Saturday in late May
www.millemiglia.it
Cantine Aperte Cellar
Openings and Wine Tastings
May 24
www.movimentoturismo.it
JUNE
Estate Fiesolana Fiesole Cultural Festival
June 14 to August 4 ? Fiesole
www.estatefiesolana.it
Arts and Herbs Fair
June 15 ? Piazza Santo Spirito
Tel. 055/697747
Pitti Immagine Uomo Men’s Wear and Accessories Collections
June 16 to 19 ? Fortezza da Basso
www.pittimmagine.com
Festa di San Giovanni Patron Saint of Florence
June 24 ? Historic center
www.comune.firenze.it
JULY
Saints Philip and James’ Summer Products Fair
July 20 ? Piazza Santo Spirito
Tel. 055/697747
The King Stag
(Florence International Theatre Company) Date and location TBA
www.florencetheatre.com
Macbeth
(Florence English Speaking Theatrical Artists)
Date TBA
Bargello Museum
www.festatheatre.com
