The sky above Piazza della Repubblica has been lit up for the holidays by the 16,000 decorative lights adorning a 15-metre tall Christmas tree donated to the city of Florence by Starhotels, in collaboration with the ‘Comitato Promotore Inverno a Firenze.’ The impressive tree, inaugurated last week, is said to boast as many lights as the one in New York’s Rockefeller Center, and will be on display until the conclusion of Pitti Uomo on Jan. 13, 2007. The sky above Piazza della Repubblica has been lit up for the holidays by the 16,000 decorative lights adorning a 15-metre tall Christmas tree donated to the city of Florence by Starhotels, in collaboration with the ‘Comi-tato Promotore Inverno a Firenze.’ The impressive tree, inaugurated last week, is said to boast as many lights as the one in New York’s Rockefeller Center, and will be on display until the con-clusion of Pitti Uomo on Jan. 13, 2007.
If this does not get you into the holiday spirit, for a more festive-feeling try the ice-skating rink in Parterre’s Piazza della Libertà. Last year, the ice rink boasted over 13,000 visitors, and organiz-ers this year expect even more given the growing popularity of the event since its inception in 1996. The entrance fee is 4 euros, and those who do not already have skates can rent them for 2 euros an hour. The ice-rink has a capacity of 200 people and is equipped with heating, back-ground music and colorful decorative lights.
The Heidelberg Market has returned again this year to Santa Croce and will run until Dec. 17. Forty wood huts have been set up in the piazza, offering Heidelberg’s most delicious typical foods and artisan products. Presepe and festive décor for the holiday season will also be on exhibit. For more information on the market please call 055 27681.
Finally, music aficionados can take advantage of the numerous Christmas concerts presented this year by the City of Florence, to be held in churches, bookstores and cultural institutions. The city’s extensive concert program, boasting over 40 events, commenced at the beginning of De-cember and will run until the Feast of the Epiphany (Jan. 6). Not to miss is the Christmas con-cert held at the Accademia Musicale Firenze or the archi concert in Palazzo Vecchio. Another must see is the entertaining theatre musical ‘Lettere alla cugina e Bastiano a Bastiana,’ which will be held at the Marino Marini Museum on Dec. 16 and 17. Additional Christmas concerts will take place at the Careggi Auditorium, at the Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi church, at the S. Salvatore al Monte church and at the Puccini and Goldoni theatres, to name a few. A complete Christmas concert program is available at the City of Florence’s website: www.comune.firenze.it.
