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.
SPORT/Florence Bike Festival
March 1–3. Fortezza da Basso, Florence
Like to bike? The world of two wheels takes centre stage at this must-go event for cycling fans. With new products and technologies on display, the chance to test bikes and accessories, bike jumping, exhibition spaces, workshops on bike repair, training sessions, conferences, lectures and a host of events for kids and families, bike owners and enthusiasts are sure to be entertained and discover new possibilities in the world of bicycles. See www.bicifi.it for the full programme and to book tickets.
SPANISH/Norma e Capriccio
March 5–May 26. Uffizi Gallery, piazzale degli Uffizi 6, Florence
The Uffizi is hosting a first-ever exhibition focused on the prestigious Spanish artists who came to Italy in the early 1500s, inspired by the thriving artistic culture of Florence, Rome and Naples. The exhibit features several works by Alonso Berruguete, who was greatly influenced by the Florentine tradition, and Pedro Machuca, who studied in Raphael’s workshop, as well as the ‘mannerist’ statuary of Bartolomé Ordóñez and Diego de Silóe.
Visit www.unannoadarte.it for details.
THEATRE/The Vagina Monologues
March 8 and 9, 9pm. Tasso Hostel Theatre House, via Villani 15, Florence
Based on playwright Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 200 women, this award-winning play celebrates women’s sexuality and strength with humour and grace. The production will be in both English and Italian, with proceeds going to Artemisia, a Florence-based association combating violence against women. See our review on page 16; click http://tinyurl.com/VMfirenze for details on the plays; and see www.artemisiacentroantiviolenza.it to learn more about Artemisia.
EQUALITY/Women’s Day
March 8. Across Italy and Florence
International Women’s Day is a day to raise awareness of women’s struggle for equality across the world and women’s rights. While it originated in the United States, it has become less significant in most Western countries but retains huge popularity in Italy. Women are traditionally given yellow mimosa flowers and the evening is spent celebrating with a ‘girls night out.’ In Florence, the civic museums will be free for women during the day – this includes the museum of Palazzo Vecchio, Museo Stefano Bardini and the church of Santa Maria Novella. The Brancacci chapel and Arnolfo tower on Palazzo Vecchio can also be visited free with a reservation. Email info.museoragazzi@comune.fi.it or call 055 2768558 for details.
CONTEMPORARY/Artour-O
March 7–10. Villa La Vedetta, viale Michelangelo 78, and other locations in Florence
Experience contemporary art with a difference at this four-day event. This temporary exhibit includes installations in the villa’s rooms and gardens, evening tastings of ‘food art’ and trails through the city to discover the best of contemporary art in Florence’s historical contexts. This year there will also be events on the ongoing legacy of Leonardo da Vinci. Some parts of the exhibit will continue until June.
See www.artour-o.com or call 389/5126874 for more information.
TOUR/TF Walks & Visits
Various places in Florence Throughout March
So you think you know Florence? Discover some of its lesser-known treasures and take an in-depth look at some old favourites on The Florentine’s series of guided tours, which continue with four visits promised for March. Together with licensed guide and TF’s editor-at-large Alexandra Lawrence, discover the complex of Santa Maria Novella, 16th-century masterpieces at the Accademia, Perugino’s Crucifixion at Santa Maria Maddalena dei Pazzi and the Badia Fiorentina.
See http://tinyurl.com/TFVisits for days and times, and email a.lawrence@theflorentine.net or call 333/8689458 for more information or to book a place.
LISTEN/2cellos
March 8, 9pm. Obihall, via F. De Andrè/Lungarno Aldo Moro, Florence
Cello playing as you’ve never heard it before. This talented duo have arranged and recorded cello-only covers of everything from Michael Jackson’s ‘Smooth Criminal’ and Coldplay’s ‘Clocks’ to Elton John’s ‘Candle in the Wind’ and Rihanna’s ‘We Found Love.’ Luka Šulić from Slovenia and Stjepan Hauser from Croatia stretch their cellos’ capacity to the max, creating harsh, soaring, whispering or passionate sounds depending on the piece, resulting in a varied performance that keeps both audience and players on their toes.
See www.obihall.it for details and to buy tickets.
ST. PADDY’S/Irish festival
March 12–14. Obihall, via F. De Andrè/Lungarno Aldo Moro, Florence
Celebrate all things Irish in the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day: learn Irish dancing or tickle your taste buds on the whisky trail and listen to Irish music from a variety of Italian and international bands, such as the Sangineto Ensemble, the Hungarian Dalriada and the harp and fiddle duo Chris Stout and Catriona McKay. Food, fun and festivities for the whole family. SAVE THE DATE! TF will also be holding a St.Paddy’s event on March 21: check Tf 179 for details!
Details at www.obihall.it
DRESSES/Roberto Capucci
Through 2013. Villa Bardini, Costa San Giorgio 2, Florence
Fashion designer Roberto Capucci creates strikingly colourful and fluid garments. Using fabrics ranging from silk, taffeta and velvet to organza and georgette, Capucci experiments with the ways materials can be formed, draped and sculpted so that they glide over the body or form stiff waves, swirls, frills and pleats. This exhibit displays 27 of the Italian designer’s best creations.
See www.fondazionerobertocapucci.com for more.
Information in this article was updated online on March 1.
