Celebrate the two loves in your life: the city of Florence and your mum. With Mother’s Day falling on Sunday, May 13, the same day as the monthly event to celebrate the city, Un Bacione a Firenze, Palazzo Vecchio is holding a special ladies’ programme. Entrance to Palazzo Vecchio is free all day (until midnight!) for residents of the province of Florence, with special visits to the Duchessa Eleonora’s apartments, as well as activities to learn about the dresses, habits and tastes of her time.
Indeed, with the Serie A soccer season over in mid-May, it’s time to turn off your TV, get out and enjoy springtime in Florence! Take advantage of the many cultural options the city has to offer.
This year’s Notte Blu is sure to be a crowd-puller. Celebrating the European Union and its many member states, Notte Blu falls on May 12 to 13 and features non-stop activities throughout the city, including sports events (see page 3), as well as art exhibitions, music and dance and movement performances, from samba in Santa Spirito to martial arts in piazza Santa Maria Novella.
From May 11 to 13, see artisans at work during Artigianato e Palazzo in the beautiful Corsini gardens, and visit the Boboli Gardens from May 17 to 20 for the annual Profumi di Boboli fair dedicated to fragrances.
An event for culture-loving night owls is Notte dei Musei. On May 19, this Europe-wide initiative features special nighttime hours and free events overnight in museums around the city.
Foodies can tickle their taste buds at the annual Florence Gelato Festival from May 23 to 27, featuring demonstrations, workshops and, of course tastings, in piazza della Repubblica, piazza Santa Maria Novella and piazza Strozzi.
Reservations for the Un Bacione a Firenze event at Palazzo Vecchio are mandatory, and free for residents of the Florence province. Entry requires valid ID or a membership card, which you can pick up free at the Ufficio relazioni con il publico. See www.unbacioneafirenze.net for more details. For more information on these and other events, flip to pages 8 to 12.
[This article was revised on May 11, 2012 to reflect the following: entry to Palazzo Vecchio during Un Bacione a Firenze is free only for residents in the province of Florence.]
