STAGE/Cirque du Soleil
October 26–30
Nelson Mandela Forum, piazza Enrico Berlinguer, Florence
Global phenomenon Cirque du Soleil, the world’s largest theatrical production company, lands in Florence for five nights of Varekai, a new show now on its first Italian tour. Set on a volcano peak in a hidden, magical forest “where all things are possible,” Varekai tells the tale of one man encountering mystical creatures and exploring beyond the confines of reality. Known for its elaborate, finely costumed, character-driven productions, Cirque du Soleil is sure to be a sellout. Watch the Varekai trailer and book your tickets on the Mandela Forum website.
CONTEMPORARY/Grand reopening of Prato’s Pecci Center
October 16
Head here for our full special on the art event of the year!
CRAFT/Florence Creativity
October 27–30
Fortezza da Basso, viale Filippo Strozzi, Florence
DIY if you dare! Just in time for pre-Halloween crafting, Florence Creativity decks the halls at the Fortezza da Basso, with stands selling supplies for both dabblers and professionals. Dozens of exhibitors from around Italy will bring new goods for your craft room, from sewing threads and textiles to scrapbooking and decoupage kits. After browsing the booths, watch an artist demonstration, take part in a wide variety of workshops or learn how to build bijoux with the best of ‘em. For the full program, see the website.
DANCE/La Democrazia del Corpo
October 8–December 28
CANGO and various venues in Florence
Body language takes center stage in this interdisciplinary and international showcase, which brings together choreographers, visual artists, dancers and art world influencers. Dance performances make up much of the October program, with the local Virgilio Sieni Company—headquartered at CANGO—spearheading that side of the festival. But the event will also include site-specific art installations, choreography workshops and talks, including down-the-line discussions with Fabio Cavallucci of Prato’s Pecci Center (November) and Arturo Galansino of Palazzo Strozzi (December). For the full program, see the Virgilio Sieni Company website.
LITERARY/TheFLR launch party
October 28, 7pm
La Cité, borgo San Frediano 20, Florence
It’s here at last! The Florentine is proud to present its hot-off-the-press publishing project, TheFLR. Italy’s only bilingual literary review featuring six original short stories penned by contemporary Italian authors, lovingly translated into English and illustrated by emerging artist Viola Bartoli. TheFLR editor Alessandro Raveggi will talk us through how his brainchild came into the world. Join us for this celebration of today’s Italian literature and purchase your copy! For full information, see the Facebook page TheFLR.
RESTORATION/The Woman Who Paints
October 20, 6pm
Santa Maria Maddalena de’ Pazzi, Borgo Pinti 58, Florence
A portraitist for Grand Tour travelers in 18th century Florence, Violante Siries Cerroti secured coveted commissions from the powerful Medici and Gondi dynasties. Her masterwork was damaged by the Arno flood of 1966, and was recently restored by the Advancing Women Artists Foundation. This celebratory evening will provide a glimpse into the artist’s life and the recovery of her work, and will include a presentation of the book and short documentary The Woman Who Paints: Violante Siries Cerroti. Admission is free. (Event in Italian). For more information, write to linda@advancingwomenartists.org.
WORLD/Musica dei Popoli
Until November 11
Auditorium FLOG, via M. Mercati 24b, Florence
The long-running Musica dei Popoli festival is a world music showcase unrivaled across the region. This year’s theme is “Auditory Destinations,” with a program taking concertgoers all over the planet: highlights include Welsh “harp queen” Catrin Finch, Senegalese kora player Seckou Keita, Noureddine Khourchid & the Whirling Dervishes of Damascus (Syria) and Italian duo Musica Nuda. New Orleans great Al McKay—formerly of Earth, Wind & Fire—will give the festival’s only fuori-sede performance at the Obihall on October 21, with tribute band EW&F Experience. View the full program here.
COMEBACK/Reopening of the Botticelli rooms
October 18
Uffizi Gallery, piazzale degli Uffizi, Florence
A rebirth of Venus! Just two days after the grand reopening of the Pecci Center in Prato, Florence will have a big reveal of its own: Uffizi visitors can see Botticelli like never before as the restored rooms 10 through 14 reopen to the public. This gallery section famously houses masterpieces like Primavera (c. 1482) and the Birth of Venus (c. 1484). Since closing a little over a year ago, the halls have undergone an extensive restoration and refurbishing, made possible by a sizable donation from nonprofit foundation Friends of Florence. Consult the temporary Uffizi website for additional information.
MUSIC/PJ Harvey
October 24, 9pm
Obihall, via Fabrizio de’ Andre (lungarno Aldo Moro), Florence
Genre-defying, eccentric English musician and singer-songwriter PJ Harvey brings her sound to the Obihall on the heels of her ninth studio album, The Hope Six Demolition Project, released on Island Records in spring 2016. Harvey’s style varies dramatically from album to album, with Pitchfork calling her latest effort a departure from “siren-like catchiness” and a return to “the swamp-tarnished filth of her classic first three records.” For more information and to purchase tickets, see the Obihall website.
DANTE/The Divine Comedy of Venturino Venturi
Until February 26, 2017
Villa Bardini, costa San Giorgio 2, Florence
In the early 1980s, Tuscan artist Venturino Venturi teamed up with hermetic poet Mario Luzi, re-interpreting The Divine Comedy in a series of 54 illustrations, intended for a 1985 edition of Dante’s masterpiece, to be published by Edizioni Pananti Firenze. These never-before-displayed works are juxtaposed with multimedia installations, creating a full, immersive experience of the Supreme Poet’s universe. Actor Pierfrancesco Favino is the exhibition’s narrator, reading some of the most iconic passages from each canto and lending the show even more contemporary edge. For more information, see the website or call 055/20066206.