Prato is home to one of the biggest Chinese communities in Italy at approximately 38,000 out of 193,000 residents, making the Lunar New Year celebrations a top draw to the Tuscan city, just 30 minutes from Florence. At 5pm on January 28, the sound of the bell at the Pu Hua Si Buddhist temple will mark the beginning of the festivities, welcoming the Year of the Snake, which symbolizes wisdom, cunning and intuition.
On February 8 and 9, a colourful parade will wind its way through the streets of the Macrolotto 1 and 2 areas, the heart of the Chinese community, on the Saturday before heading into the historic centre on the Sunday. The Dragon procession will start at the Buddhist temple and enter shops in keeping with the Chinese tradition that the fire-breathing creature drives away bad luck for the new year. The highlight of the February 9 procession will be in piazza di Santa Maria delle Carceri, where the spectacular Lion Dance will take place.
Other events include guided tours of the Buddhist temple, the photographic exhibition Xiuxi: At Ease! Rest: China from 1980-1984 at the medieval bridge house through February 15, and films Land and Dust and The Mystery Flows on the River shown in the original language with subtitles on February 7 and 8, in collaboration with the Mabuse Cineclub and Terminale Cinema.
Additionally, there will be opportunities to explore Chinese cuisine through food and wine tours, creativity workshops focusing on masks, comics, dance and Chinese pop songs. Plus, a traditional tea ceremony will be held at Teatro Metastasio on February 9.
Chinese New Year in Florence
Chinese chef extraordinaire Xin Ge Liu has joined forces with Gucci Giardino to celebrate the Year of the Snake with a creative Lunar New Year cocktail menu from January 22 to 29. Don’t miss the traditional Lion Dance and the art of Chinese calligraphy on January 28. At Il Gusto di Xin Ge.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with traditional children’s games, food and art in Florence’s via Sant’Antonino from January 31 to February 1, 2-8pm.