Though the summer season officially begins on June 21, over the last
weeks the city of Florence has been feeling the heat. What better way to cool
off in the evenings than by having dinner al fresco, attending a concert or
watching a live dance performance in a Florentine piazza near home? The city
comes alive this season with a wealth of al fresco events.
Have World Cup fever? The 2010 FIFA World Championships in South Africa
will surely draw residents outdoors in the evenings. Games will be on TVs in
most bars and pizzerias, and several big screens have been set up throughout
the city. Catch matches in the following
places: Franchi Stadium (see ‘Fifa 2010 in Florence’ in TF 124), piazza
Dalmazia (next to Cafè de Paris); Largo Damiano Chiesa in Campo di Marte; the
internal courtyard and square of the Polo Universitario di Novoli; piazza del
Mercato Centrale in San Lorenzo; piazza Beccaria; piazza Bartali in Gavinana;
La Loggia del Pesce in piazza dei Ciompi; Argingrosso Park; Las Palmas in
piazza Ghiberti, piazza Poggi (in front of the San Niccolò); and the Easy
Living riverside beach (under piazza Poggi).
Many Florence piazzas will ‘light up’ this summer with a wide range of
events. Until September 25, the Luci alla notte initiaive, part of the citywide
Firenze Estate 2010 programme, bringsa host of free events, such as lectures,
dance performances and concerts, to five of the city’s major squares-piazza
Dalmazia, largo Damiano Chiesa, the internal courtyard and square of the Polo
Universitario di Novoli, piazza del Mercato Centrale and piazza Beccaria-from
7pm to midnight. As noted above, each square will screen FIFA matches as well
as informational clips by the National Tumor Association and videos that
promote, among other things, driving safety. All shows start between 9 and
9:30pm and are open to the public.
The Loggia del Pesce cultural association brings to piazza dei Ciompi
musical events and film screenings until 10pm. The Aurora Association in Piazza
Tasso has organized shows for children, adolescents and adults to encourage
neighbors to socialize. The Nothing cultural association is offering dance and
theatre performances, exhibitions and live music, day and night, in the
Fortezza da Basso-Vasca dei Cigni Gardens. The Amici dell’Isolotto cultural
association is offering day and evening events in the Argingrosso Park,
complete with a bar, chairs and umbrellas and entertainment. Shows, music and
film screenings will take place in Piazza Bartali, Gavinana. The Senza Confini
association comes to piazza SS.Annunziata this summer with live music three
evenings a week, film retrospectives, and a range of dance performances.
Don’t miss the fourth edition of Nottarno on June 26, the all-night
event in the Oltrarno, with open shops, churches and museums, street
performances, painting exhibits, live music and small markets. The Giardino del
Buon Vino in Piazza Demidoff will offer concerts, performances, recitals and
tastings of local wine and food products. Wine is the focus at the Wine Ponte
Vecchio stand at Palazzo Tempi, Piazza Santa Maria Soprarno, offering food and
wine tastings from 11am to 12pm. Aperitifs and live music will be organized all
summer, from 7pm onward, at the Le Murate complex, located between via dell’
Agnolo and via Ghibellina on viale della Giovine Italia.
Lastly, the Il Centro, Io Lo Vivo initiative returns again this year,
during which over two kilometers of city streets in the historic centre will be
lined with tables for open-air eating. Until October 25, al fresco dinning is
offered at more than 40 restaurants in 25 streets every Thursday through
Saturday, from 7pm (or 8pm in some streets) to midnight. New this year, tables
will adorn Piazza Santa Croce and via Martelli every night, all summer long,
from 11pm on.
For more information any of these events, see www.firenzestate.comune.fi.it/secondafase or www.comune.fi.it
