FILM/ La merendacinema
Every Tuesday until September 29
A guided tour of the wine cellars, a picnic put together by Le Tre Rane Ruffino with wine included, and a cinema screening with rolling vineyards all around you. The perfect summer evening series will be held every Tuesday at 8pm at Poggio Casciano right through until the end of September. You can find the line up here. Cost 25 euro. Booking required by emailing hospitality@ruffino.it or calling +39 055 64 99 712 or +39 378 305 0219.
Poggio Casciano Agriturismo Tenute Ruffino,
Via Poggio al Mandorlo 1, Bagno a Ripoli
FESTIVAL/ Vivere Castelnuovo
Until August 9
The first edition of this festival comes to a close on August 9. The rich line-up of literature, cinema, music and theatre has been going since June so make sure to catch the final few free admission events. An evening of music on August 9 features the Piero Gaddi Quartet with Bjørn Vidar Solli in a concert that experiments with genres, from European and Latin American popular cultures to pop-rock culture and film music. Email info@castelnuovogarfagnana.org for more.
The former skating rink,
Castelnuovo di Garfagnana, Lucca
INSTALLATION/ ‘Give’ by Lorenzo Quinn
The artist Lorenzo Quinn gifts giving hands from his homeplace of Pietrasanta out of respect for nature and the fight against climate change. Currently on display at Boboli Gardens, it will move to the International Sculpture Park in September where it will be part of a UN project about climate change. The hands originally featured on the Grand Canal in Venice during the Art Biennale and symbolize the sense of giving without receiving in the way that nature continues its generous cycle without demanding anything in return. The sculpture is created from resin and recycled material to further the message about environmental sustainability. Read more here.
Boboli Gardens,
Piazza de’ Pitti 1, Florence
GUIDED TOURS/ Fashion and Costume museum Palazzo Pitti
Tuesdays and Fridays in August
Free guided visits of the Fashion and Costume Museum at Palazzo Pitti are offered on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout August (with the exception of August 14). Explore the exhibition, At the foot of the gods, guided by the curators. Each week, visits will take place for two groups with a maximum of nine people each. The first group will visit from 9.30-10.30 and the second from 10.30-11.30. For reservations contact 055-290383.
Palazzo Pitti,
Piazza de’ Pitti 1, Florence
FESTA/ San Lorenzo
August 10
August 10 marks San Lorenzo, or the night of shooting stars, when dreams are said to come true. Usually celebrated with a street party in the Florentine neighbourhood of the same name, this year’s festivities are likely to be more muted. We’ll update events as we hear of them here.