Our events listing keeps you up-to-date on the latest and greatest in culture, music and other English-friendly entertainment. This is a selection of the best of them.
KIDS/Disney on
Ice
November 22-25, Nelson Mandela Forum, via
le Paoli 3, Florence
See more than 50 of your favourite Disney
characters skate their way along a magical, musical journey. Children will be
invited to take part as fairy tales come to life before their eyes, complete
with beautiful choreography, costumes and sets. See www.mandelaforum.it for times and
details.
ART/Embodiments
December 1-January 31, 2013, Museum of
Natural History La Specola, via Romana 17, Florence
Medicine, Metaphor and Metaphysics:
travel through space and time with New York artist Janice Gordon whose art
focuses on the elements, both medical and metaphorical, that make up the human
body. Explore the perceptions of the body through her beautiful anatomical
sculptures, made using everything from shells and old dolls to catheters. For
details, visit www.janicegordon.net.
RUN/Florence
Marathon
November 25, Florence city centre
Race the whole 42 km through the centre
of Florence, or opt for one of several shorter walks or jogs, including the
Ginky Family run for kids. For details or to register, visit www.firenzemarathon.it or call
055/5522957.
BEATS/Nextech Festival
December 7, 8pm, Fortezza da Basso,
Florence
This dynamic electronic music is sure to
keep you grooving till the early hours. With beats from some of the best
international electronic artists, such as Jeff Mills, Joseph Capriati and
Speedy J, this is an unmissable event for lovers of techno, IDM (Intelligent
Dance Music) and revolutionary modern sounds. See www.nextechfestival.com for
details.
SCRUM/Rugby test
match
November 24, 3pm, Stadio Artemio Franchi,
Viale Manfredo Fanti 4a, Florence
The Italian and Australian rugby teams
are coming to Florence’s Franchi Stadium in what will surely be the Azzuri’s toughest
test match before the start of the Six Nations. Firenze Rugby has organised a
whole day of activities to mark the game. Starting at 9am at the Padovani
stadium (on viale Paoli, next to the Franchi stadium) expect a street and food
market, shows for kids, rugby matches and the opportunity to win the chance to
meet Italy captain Sergio Parisse. See www.firenzerugby1931.it for more
information, and visit www.federugby.it to buy tickets.
CULTURE/Aperitifs
and art
Every Friday until February 1, 2013 Palazzo
Davanzati, via Porta Rossa 13, Florence, 7pm
Sip a glass of wine in the historic rooms
of Palazzo Davanzati, the current site of Aperitivo ad Arte evenings (previous
sites in the rotation were the Uffizi and Bargello). Explore the museum after
hours and even take part in some historical re-enactments. Reservations are
recommended; call 055/294883.
TF EVENT/Vasari
Tour
November 30, 3pm, Vasari Corridor, Uffizi
Gallery, Florence
Back by popular demand! Visit the Vasari
Corridor and experience one of the world’s most renowned collections during an
unforgettable tour with TF editor-at-large and licensed guide Alexandra
Lawrence, and receive a copy of the latest book from The Florentine Press, Art
by Women in Florence: A Guide Through Five Hundred Years, by Jane Fortune and
Linda Falcone (see TF 169, 171). For more information and to reserve a place,
e-mail a.lawrence@theflorentine.net or call 333/8689458.
CHRISTMAS/What to
do
The days are getting shorter, the weather
chillier, Christmas lights are starting to appear in the streets and Florence
and Tuscany are the site of many events to celebrate the festive season.
Christmas fairs and markets
British Institute: Books
and hand-made goods for sale, a raffle to win a Fortnum & Mason’s Christmas
hamper, and festive competitions for best cake and best Christmas wreath.
November 30, 3-6pm, British Institute of Florence, lungarno Guicciardini 15, Florence,
www.britishinstitute.it
German Market: Warm up with an apple strudel and a steaming mug of mulled wine, and buy some
handmade gifts from all over Europe. November 28-December 16, piazza Santa
Croce, Florence, www.vetrina-toscana.it
AILO: The annual Christmas Bazaar held by the American International League of
Florence, supporting charities across the city. See page 2 for details.
December 8, 10am-5pm, Le Pagliere, viale Machiavelli 24, Florence, www.ailoflorence.org
FILE: Gourmet products and gift ideas, with proceeds going toward FILE’s palliative
care support. December 8, 10am-7pm, Palazzo Corsini, lungarno Corsini
8, Florence, www.leniterapia.it
For Kids
Santa’s House: Clowns, puppet shows, jugglers, face painting, wood and play dough workshops,
letter writing and a Village of the Elves. November 24-25, the Castle of Terme
Temerici in Montecatini Terme, www.lacasadibabbonatale.it.
Palazzo Strozzi:
An afternoon for the family in the courtyard (free) and buildings (ticketed) of
Palazzo Strozzi, piazza Strozzi, Florence, December 8, 3-6pm, www.palazzostrozzi.org.
Christmas concerts
Teatro Goldoni: Music by Weber and Mendelssohn played by the Orchestra della Toscana and the
choir of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. December 20, Teatro Goldoni, via Santa Maria
15, Florence, www.goldoniteatro.it
Gospel: Festive songs from
Lucca’s Canticum Novum Gospel Choir in Pescia’s Castelvecchio (PT). December
2, from 4.30pm, free entry, www.comune.pescia.pt.it
Nativity Scenes
Christmas in the
World: A collection of over a thousand nativity scenes from all over the
world, displayed in San Giovanni Valdarno’s Basilica di Maria Santissima delle
Grazie (piazza Masaccio). December 8-January 6, 2013, www.natalenelmondo.it.
DISCUSS/Digital
Memory
December 11-12, Auditorium di Santa
Apollonia, via San Gallo 25, Florence
The world is facing a little-known
threat: that of losing our digital memory. After more than 2,000 years we can
still read stone inscriptions, but after only 30-50 years we may no longer be
able to read any of the documents in our digital archives. The steps that have
already been taken, and future actions in this field, will be discussed in the
conference Trusted Digital Repositories & Trusted Professionals (to be held
in Italian and English). See www.rinascimento-digitale.it for details.
