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 this November.
POPE/Francis in Florence!November 10Downtown Florence and Stadio Franchi
Habemus papam! We have a pope, indeed—coming to Florence in the flesh! Pope Francis will participate in the Italian Episcopal Conference from November 9 to 13 and will be about town on November 10, touching down at the Ridolfi stadium around 9.15am. Next he’ll move toward the baptistery, later going inside the Duomo and then having a lunch with the homeless at La Mensa di San Francesco Poverino in piazza Santissima Annunziata. Spot him on via dei Calzaiuoli and in piazza della Signoria around 3pm as he makes his way to Stadio Franchi for a mass with 50,000 faithful. Entry is free, but tickets are required via Arcdiocesi di Firenze. Catch the ‘chief cardinal’ on big screens in piazza Santa Croce and piazza della Signoria throughout his visit.
EAST/Contemporary China
Until November 17
Palazzo Medici Riccardi, via Cavour 3, Florence
Take advantage of a rare chance to see Chinese art in one of Florence’s Renaissance palaces: the 12th China National Exhibition of Fine Arts at Palazzo Medici Riccardi. Contemporary paintings, prints, sculptures, watercolors and mixed media works are on display, from the ground floor to the Galleria delle Carrozze to the Limonaia rooms. Comprising 65 masterpieces chosen from a pool of 24,000 competitors, the traveling exhibition has made stops in the United States, Japan and New Zealand, but Florence is the only European city on its worldwide tour. The exhibition will be open from 9am to 7pm Thursday through Tuesday.
SCHOLARLY/Collecting and Empires November 5–7, Istituto Lorenzo de’ Medici, via Faenza 43, Florence
This exciting international symposium explores how the creation and dissolution of empires have impacted art collecting and museums. Since very little has been written on the history of collecting from a non-European perspective, this three-day conference will take a look at the tradition through a global, inclusive approach, without sugarcoating Western colonialism through the centuries. Featuring scholars from India, the United States, Germany and beyond, the talks are all free and open to the public, with no reservation required. See the full program here.
VIDEO/VISIO. Next Generation Moving ImagesNovember 17–December 20Strozzina, piazza Strozzi, Florence
Organized in collaboration with Lo Schermo dell’Arte, this exhibition features work by a dozen video artists, all born in the 1980s and hailing from Germany, Greece, Cameroon, Nigeria, France and Holland, among others. The show takes a look at the numerous technological and cultural developments that these artists have witnessed and that their work reflects. Special events will take place every Thursday during the exhibition, featuring international guest speakers. For further information, see Lo Schermo dell’Arte’s website.
BORGO/TF Night: Beers and Bites November 14, 5–8pm
Vinoutlet and Goong, Borgo Ognissanti 70r, Florence
Never made it to Munich for Oktoberfest? In collaboration with The Florentine, Vinoutlet is bringing some Bavarian flavor to Borgo Ognissanti with a small-scale Novemberfest! The event will feature a Tuscan craft beer tasting, along with Korean delicacies from the new neighboring restaurant Goong, one of the few of its kind in Italy. Sample a range of robust and light beers from the Livorno-based label Clandestini. Wear your best beer-fest German garb and you just might win a prize! For more information, email events@theflorentine.net.
EAT/Food and Wine in Progress
November 8–10
Stazione Leopolda, viale Fratelli Rosselli 5, Florence
More than 1,500 Italian cooks, some 200 certified sommeliers and a whole lot of hungry visitors will fill up the Stazione Leopolda for Food and Wine in Progress. Over the three days of the fair, open to the public and trade professionals alike, visitors can explore the food and wine industry, from family-run operations to megabrands. In the ‘Barman Style’ section, Italian mixologists will show off their signature cocktails, while cooking shows with starred chefs and several sit-down meals round out the program. View further details here.
MUSIC/Of Monsters and Men
November 10, 9pm
Teatro Obihall, via Fabrizio de André 3, Florence
A slice of Iceland will come to Florence when Of Monsters and Men performs at the Obihall.This quirky quintet has a dreamy sound reminiscent of Mumford & Sons and the Lumineers. Back in 2011, they made a splash on the international airwaves with the chart-topping ‘Little Talks.’ The band will prove its alt-pop prowess with both fan favorites and tracks from new album, Beneath the Skin. Fellow Icelanders Mammút will open the show. Tickets are available via TicketOne.
POP/Back to the 2000s! November 21, 10pm Viper, via Lombardia (corner of via Pistoiese), Florence
A little alarmingly, the early aughts are now considered retro. The good news? Viper thinks it’s the perfect excuse to throw a giant theme party, taking you back to the days when Hey Ya! dominated the radio, Captain Jack Sparrow and Shrek first stepped onto the screen, and Gwen Stefani had just gone solo. Put on your peasant tops and shrugs, borrow a necktie to wear as a belt and break out your beaded wire chokers: there will be a photo booth for the occasion. Discounted pre-sale tickets are available here; call 347/1606599 for further information.
SCANDICCI/Zoom Festival November 4–15
Teatro Studio Mila Pieralli, via G. Donizetti 58, Scandicci
Scandicci’s steady renaissance continues this month with 10 days of music, theatre, and visual and experimental arts at the ZOOM Festival, which shines a spotlight on emerging artists under 35. Highlights include dance performances (Mara Oscar Cassiani with Super Bubble Justice, Barokthegreat) and the festival’s grand finale: the four-part artistic collective Dewey Dell, hailing from Cesena. Take note of more young Italian talent by checking out the sets for the shows, which were all designed by architecture students at the University of Florence. The full program is available on Teatro Studio Krypton’s website.
ph. Lollo FantiINSIDER/Live it Local!
November 11, 5–10pm
Palazzo Belfiore, via dei Velluti 8, Florence
Palazzo Belfiore is hosting the second Live it Local!, an eclectic showcase of Florence’s coolest ‘insider’ experiences offered by local businesses, from artisan studios and Oltrarno restaurants to tour companies and fitness venues. See what you’ve been missing in Florence during this free ‘tasting session’ of sorts: sip blended teas and fine wines, take a mini yoga class, or sample some neighborhood restaurants’ specialties. Before the crowds arrive, there will be kids’ activities organized by children’s hospital Meyer in collaboration with The Florentine (4.30pm, redazione@theflorentine.net to book). Live it Local! is open to the public, but reservations are mandatory: email info@residencebelfiore.it.
DIALOGUE/In The Language of the Other
Until January 31, 2016
Basilica of Santa Croce, piazza Santa Croce, Florence
Turn your eyes toward the East in this unprecedented exhibition, showcasing works by Giuseppe Castiglione, an Italian Jesuit missionary who worked in China, who later became known as Lang Shining. Although relatively unknown in Europe and throughout the western world, he was a beloved 18th century painter in the Far East, working within the court of the Quinlong Emperor, blending European and Eastern sensibilities. This exhibition will explore themes related to insecurities, everyday conflicts and difficulties that arise when we fail to recognize our connections to those who are different from us, viewing them only as foreign and ‘other.’ Learn more here.
RUN/Firenze Marathon
November 29This 42-kilometer challenge is far from your average footrace, simply by virtue of being in Florence: the route takes runners through the city’s signature landmarks, from piazza della Signoria to the scenic finish line in piazza Santa Croce. Whether you’re a registered athlete who’s been training for months or an eager sideline cheerleader, join The Florentine and our longtime columnist and marathon runner Suzi Jenkins in supporting Meyer, Florence’s children’s hospital, in our Run For Meyer initiative. To donate (or to participate in the marathon as a personal fundraiser), head here. T-shirts are available for a minimum donation of 15 euro from the Paperback Exchange (via delle Oche 4R). The Florentine will be organizing cheering points around the city. Follow our Facebook page for updates; see the Firenze Marathon‘s official website for more details on the race and registration.
Still from Francofonia, the opener at Lo Schermo dell’Arte film festivalFILM/50 Days of International CinemaUntil December 13Read our extended special on Florence’s full fall of films!
