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 events in Florence and Tuscany.
ART/Garbage Revolution
January 22–26
Stazione Leopolda, Florence
Maremma-based artist Rodolfo Lacquaniti makes art out of garbage. Discarded bomb encasements, scrap metal, cassette tapes and irrigation tubes become a kind of spooky army that marches towards… what? Find out at his first installation in Florence at Stazione Leopolda during Vintage Selection. See www.rodolfolacquaniti.com
HISTORY/Robert Capa in Italy 1943–44
Until February 23
MNAF, Alinari National Museum of Photography, Florence
An exhibition dedicated to the great Hungarian photojournalist, Robert Capa, displays a selection of 78 black-and-white photographs of Italy taken during World War II. Although not a soldier, Capa spent much of his time on the battlefields and covered five major conflicts during his career, including the Second World War. See details at www.mnaf.it.
PHOTOGRAPHY/Facewall
Until April 30
Various locations in Prato
The photo project comprises 100 images of two people of different nationalities, who are committed to doing something together in Prato, such as living, working, playing, doing sport or loving each other. Each photo tells a story and will be printed on 10,000 fabric banners, given out free-of-charge to residents in Prato, to display them throughout the city. More at www.facewallprato.it
SPORT/Buti’s Palio
January 19
Race begins 2.30pm, Buti town centre
The first Palio held in Tuscany every year, Buti’s Palio, sees the town come alive with celebrations. The horse race itself is preceded by a host of events including dinners in the streets, theatrical performances and a pageant in historical costume. Spectators can enjoy the competition from seated platforms and on large screens. For a full summary of events www.paliodibuti.org
ICY/Skating sensations
January 25–26
Mandela Forum, Florence
Florence’s Mandela Forum will host one of the world’s biggest ice-skating events, the World Skate Awards, for the fourth consecutive year. On January 25, the top four skaters in the men’s, women’s, couples and dance categories will perform to a panel of judges. On January 26, live music and singing will accompany the skaters and acrobats for a performance called ‘Emotions’. For tickets, see www.boxol.it
VINTAGE/Vintage Selection
January 22–26
Stazione Leopolda, Florence
Retrogaming is the theme of this year’s edition, now in its 23rd year. In addition to clothing and accessories, enjoy photography exhibitions from Vintage Tour and Lampimposa and a food and drinks section, which is new to the fair. For more information, go to www.stazione-leopolda.com
CONTEMPORARY/Moataz Nasr
Until February 9
Pisa and Santa Croce sull’Arno
Contemporary art is an international language and a shared experience to make different sensibilities and cultures meet and mix. The exhibition, A bridge between Pisa and Santa Croce sull’Arno, stems from this sentiment and is dedicated to Moataz Nasr, one of the most renowned Arab artists on the international contemporary art scene. See www.villapacchiani.wordpress.com and www.comune.pisa.it.
AULD LANG SYNE/Burns’ Concert
January 28, 6pm
Harold Acton Library, The British Institute of Florence
A concert celebrating Robert Burns, regarded as the national poet of Scotland, who often collected and adapted folk songs, perhaps one of his most famous being Auld Lang Syne, traditionally sung at New Year. Soprano Rebecca Dinwiddie, accompanied by Andrea Trovato on the piano, will perform a selection of Burns’ songs. See details at www.britishinstitute.it
FASHION/From Armani to the Renaissance
Until March 16
Villa Bardini, Florence
This exhibition features more than 200 of Aldo Fallai’s photographs, shot between 1978 and 2013 as part of Giorgio Armani advertising campaigns. The images portray beautiful and impeccably dressed men and women, straight from the billboards and pages of the world’s glossiest fashion magazines. See www.bardinipeyron.it
OPERA/Nabucco
January 21–31
Teatro Comunale, Florence
Nabucco is an Italian opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi. This opera established Verdi’s reputation as a composer and follows the plight of the Jews as they are defeated and subsequently exiled from their homeland by the Babylonian king, Nabucco. See www.maggiofiorentino.com
