Best events in Florence in June 2020

REOPENINGS/ Museums + more

 

 

Breathe in the fresh air of a new start and breathe out a sigh of relief. Many of Florence’s museums open their doors again this month. Many exhibitions that had been placed in limbo have now resumed their run. Among them, Inside Magritte at the Cattedrale dell’Immagine, Chiesa di Santa Stefano al Ponte wows with an immersive experience within the works of the surrealist master René Magritte every weekend in June. Another highly anticipated re-opening is Tomás Saraceno’s Aria at Palazzo Strozzi until November 1. The Museo Galileo has also reopened its door, reservations recommended but not mandatory. A nature-based exhibition to check out this June is The Greatness of the Universe in the Art of Giovanna Garzoni. Hosted in the Andito degli Angiolini space at Palazzo Pitti, the show encompasses 100 floral compositions, still lives and miniatures by the Baroque painter friend of Artemisia Gentileschi. In Prato, Palazzo Pretorio unveils the glorious After Caravaggio exhibition once more, viewable until January 6, 2021. After months without museums, we’ll be going to them all!

 

 

DIGITAL/ Mediateca Toscana 

 

 

A recently launched multimedia and digital library online awaits your click. You’ll be drawn in to an incredibly rich resource specializing in cinema and audiovisual sources where you can engage in educational programmes and delve deep into the history of cinema. This intriguing and exciting collaboration between Lanterne Magiche, Cinema La Compagnia, the Toscana Film Commission and Manifatture Digitali Cinema, with the support of Fondazione Sistema Toscana, makes cinema courses freely available and grants access to an archive, ensuring endless filmic fodder. With 350 cinema magazines available to consult, 3,700 documentaries and over 10,000 films, not forgetting vinyl, books, posters as well as 25,000 titles from the Festival dei Popoli, true film fanatics won’t be able to resist.

 

 

EXHIBITION/ La Meraviglia

 

 

The six artists of the artist residencies at Manifattura Tabacchi, a project by Sergio Risaliti, share the fruits of the six-month project on the theme of wonder in an innovative multidisciplinary exhibition. On display will be works by Davide D’Amelio, Anna Dormio, Bekhbaatar Enkhtur, Esma Ilter, Giulia Poppi and Negar Sh, mentored by the artist Paolo Parisi. The artists from Mongolia, Turkey, Iran, Emilia-Romagna, Puglia and Molise exhibit an artistic output as varied as their geographies. Head to Manifattura Tabacchi to experience the creations. From Monday to Friday, booking is required by emailing info@manifatturatabacchi.com. Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, free entry, 10am-8pm. The exhibition will also be available online.

 

 

CULTURE/ River to River Chai Time

 

 

Ahead of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the popular River to River Florence Indian Film Festival, which will be held from December 3 to 8 at Cinema La Compagnia, the River to River Chai Time series brings relaxation to your week with an interesting discussion about Indian culture, varying from cuisine to travel and engaging international Indian experts. Speakers include Pierpaolo Di Nardo, author and travel designer, and Marco Restelli, journalist and indologist. Sessions will take place on the River to River YouTube channel on Thursdays at 3.30pm and links can be found at www.rivertoriver.it.

 

 

FILM/ Cinema La Compagnia + Odeon Cinema

 

 

While we wait for the reopening of cinemas on June 15 (according to information at the time of going to press), online platforms fill the void with exclusive releases and numerous presentations, interviews and insights. Odeon Cinema’s MioCinema platform features all of the above with daily releases until June 30. See the soon to be revealed in-person calendar on the Odeon’s website and get watching the online selection at www.miocinema.it. Cinema La Compagnia’s contribution to satiate our cultural needs is Più Compagnia (www.cinemalacompagnia.it). With thrilling titles from the spheres of cinema, theatre, dance, music and literature, there’s more than enough to keep us entertained until we can once again savour the popcorn and unique atmosphere of a proper screening experience.

 

 

GREEN/ Giardino dei Semplici
via Pier Antonio Micheli 3, Florence

 

 

The intoxicating scent of flowers and the comforting feel of the sun warming your skin will never be under-appreciated again after so many months indoors. Make the most of the seasonal delights at the Giardino dei Semplici by the Sistema Museale dell’Ateneo Fiorentino. The historic botanical gardens have been producing medicinal plants and rare species since 1545 when the garden was created by Cosimo I de’ Medici. Book your ticket by calling 055 2756444 or emailing edumsn@unifi.it, and enjoy a nature-filled day out in the gardens. Open Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-6.30pm. Tickets cost 3 euro, reduced 1.5 euro, or support the university museum complex, 6 euro. See more here.