The don’t miss list – Nov 24 to Dec 15

The don’t miss list – Nov 24 to Dec 15

Here's our best of Florence events for the week of Nov 24 to Dec 15 2011.   HOLIDAYS Thanksgiving in Florence November 24, around Florence   For our American readers who wish to celebrate Thanksgiving but don't have an oven large enough for a whole turkey, we've

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Fri 25 Nov 2011 1:00 AM

Here’s our best of Florence events for the week of Nov 24 to Dec 15 2011.

 

HOLIDAYS

Thanksgiving in Florence

November 24, around Florence

 

For our American readers who wish to celebrate Thanksgiving but don’t have an oven large enough for a whole turkey, we’ve compiled an online list of special dinners around town: http://tinyurl.com/thanksgivingfi.

 

Festa della Toscana

November 30, around Tuscany

 

This local holiday (sadly, not deserving a day off work or school) recalls the abolition of the death penalty on November 30, 1786, by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo. Today it is an opportunity to reflect on peace and justice. The 2011 theme is One history, much diversity, and there are various conferences around Tuscany, as well as concerts and special museum programs. For a full list of events, see http://tinyurl.com/cqsgt6b.

 

Festa dell’Immacolata

December 8, across Italy

 

This Catholic holiday celebrating the Immaculate Conception is a national holiday. In Florence, the centre of celebrations is at the church and piazza of Santissima Annunziata, one of the city’s most important Marian shrines. In Prato, see the solemn display of the Virgin’s belt from the pulpit outside the Duomo (see TF 141); for information, see www.comune.fi.it.

 

Christmas at Palazzo Strozzi

December 8, 3 to 6pm, Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi 1, Florence

 

Santa Claus is coming to town! He will be visiting the courtyard at Palazzo Strozzi from 3 to 4pm. Other fun activities include the chance to forge your own florin. After the special ticket for the day (adults 8 euro, kids 4 euro), all activities are free. The fun continues in the evening, from 6 to11pm, with Palazzo Strozzi’s regular Thursday Squared activities. For more information, see www.palazzostrozzi.org.

 

Christmas market in Piazza Santa Croce

November 30 to December 18, Piazza Santa Croce, Florence

 

‘Tis the season for bratwurst, sausages and mulled wine. The annual German Christmas fair fills the piazza with food stands and booths selling gift items of every sort. Open until late each night, it is a fun place to meet up with friends, have some German food or pick up Christmas gifts and souvenirs. Open daily 10am to 10pm.

 

Charity Market/AILO  Christmas Bazaar & Lottery

December 8, 10.30am-6pm, Le Pagliere (ex Scuderie Reali), Viale Machiavelli 24

American International League members have been working on this fair all year to make a really fun day out for you. For sale there are clothes, books, hand-made items and Christmas decorations, baked goods, bric-a-brac, and toys. For the kids there is entertainment and a BBQ. There’s also the big lottery extraction at 2.30pm. The profits of the
fair are divided between chosen charities in Florence or the province of
Florence and the checks are distributed in a very moving ceremony in
the Sala dei Cinquecento next Spring.

 

 

Art/Florence Biennale

December 3 to 11, Fortezza da Basso, Florence

 

The Florence Biennale gets better every year, with over 600 artists expected for 2011. This edition’s Career Prize goes to José Luis Cuevas, contemporary painter, sculptor and writer, whose works will be on display in a dedicated section. Another special area will showcase 40 dresses by designer Agatha Ruiz de La Prada, who will be honoured on December 6 with a performance by dancers from MaggioDanza. The event moves out of the Fortezza and into the streets with the Sit-in Florence project, in which chairs decorated by high school students will be placed in various locations in the city center. For details, see www.florencebiennale.org.

 

 

Photography/Through My Window

December 1, 2011 to January 8, 2012, Museo Alinari, Piazza SM Novella 14a/r, Florence

 

Korean organic farmer-turned-photographer Ahae encourages us to stop and look out our windows to see the beauty in everyday scenery. Lucky for him, outside his window, from which he takes about 2,000 photos a day, there seems to be a plethora of attractive animals and landscapes. The exhibit has toured the world, from Kew Gardens to Moscow and New York, and is now Florence. See www.alinari.it for more information.

 

 

More Photography/Firenze
150

December 1 through 11, Palazzo Giovane, vicolo S. Maria Maggiore 1

And January 5 through 29, Ideal Firenze, via il Prato 4b

The
Florentine photographer Alberto Sarrantonio presents an exhibit of his images
of Florence. The photos will be auctioned on January 5 at Ideal and and all
proceeds go to the Foundation for the Meyer Childrens’ Hospital.

 

 

Music/MUV Festival

December 3 through 10, various locations around Florence

 

The annual MUV Music and Digital Art Festival, usually held in June, was cancelled at the last minute this year. Now organizers have set up this four-day special edition in December. Expect live performances and great DJ sets featuring the latest in European and international electronic music. The daily programme and details will soon be online at www.firenzemuv.com.

 

 

Food/Artusi week

December 3 to 7, various locations in Florence

 

A week of events celebrating the centennial of the death of Artusi, the cookbook author whose recipes united Italy (see TF 58 and TF 151). On December 6, learn about the Sangiovese grape (6:30pm, free, Chiesa di San Carlo dei Barnabiti, via Sant’Agostino 23, reservation required). On December 7, enjoy a hunting-themed meal at Trattoria Da Burde on via Pistoiese based on recipes by Artusi (reservations at tel. 055/317206). And on Friday, December 9, take in a theatrical presentation (in Italian) about Artusi (8:30pm, free, Convento ex Leopoldine, Piazza Tasso, reservation required). To reserve for the free events listed here and for further information, please call 055/6587304.

 

 

Sport/Skating Rink

November 26 to January 8, 2012, Parterre, Piazza della Libertà, Florence

 

Strap on your rental skates (6 euro) and show these Italians how cold-climate dwellers fly on frozen water! Florence’s annual winter skating rink is open from late November through the first week of January. If you want to skate after January 8, head out to Sesto Fiorentino’s attractive city center rink, open November 25 through February 26, 2012. For info call 335 6749849.

 

 

Sport/Ponte Vecchio Golf Challenge

December 16 to 18, Ponte Vecchio, Florence

 

This annual international golf tournament has one of the most improbable settings: Ponte Vecchio. Golfers tee off from the bridge, aiming for floating targets on the Arno. This is a professional competition, but you can sign up to tee off as an amateur, too. Information will soon be online at www.pontevecchiochallenge.it.

 

 

Out of Town/The Silk Road

Until Jan 31, 2012, MUST, Palazzo Guinigi, via Guinigi, Lucca

 

Learn the story of the millennial trade between East and West, Italy and China through the 130 textile masterpieces on display in this exhibit. Part of the celebration of the Cultural Year of China in Italy, this exhibit is in collaboration with the National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, which has lent some truly beautiful works to Tuscany. For details, go to www.comune.lucca.it.

 

 

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