Happy New Year, readers! If you don’t already have a
resolution for 2011, a good one would be to hit the town more often. And to
make it easier to keep that resolution, the TF staff is giving you a running
start with TF Top Picks for 2011. Because 2011 marks the 150th anniversary of
Italian unity, many of the annual events will be extra-special for the
occasion…
SHOWS:
150 years of
Italian unity in 150 films
January, Odeon
Cinema – The Risorgimento, two world
wars, Fellini’s madness, Loren’s beauty, an entire film series focused on
Tuscany: with this festival, the Odeon celebrates Italy, its socio-political
transformations, historical ups and downs and cinematic brilliance. www.odeon.intoscana.it
Sleeping Beauty
January 23, Teatro
Verdi – The language of ballet is dance, so you can enjoy this masterpiece
without missing a beat! www.teatroverdionline.it
Dalla & De
Gregori in concert
February 2, Teatro
Verdi The historic duo is back in Florence. www.teatroverdionline.it
Lorenzo Jovanotti in concert
May 2, Nelson
Mandela Forum – Whether you learned about him in college Italian or from your
boyfriend in Florence, this rapper/father figure/musician will be in town. www.mandelaforum.it
Gianna Nannini in
concert
May 27, Nelson
Mandela Forum – That rusty voice is worth a listen. www.mandelaforum.it
We Will Rock You: The Musical
March 24, Nelson
Mandela Forum – Likely to be in Italian, but you know
all the songs. Go on, get your Queen fix. www.mandelaforum.it
Jamiroquai
April 3, Nelson
Mandela Forum – More than 20 top singles, 25 million albums sold and 18 years in the
business… if that’s not enough to convince you to go see this British jazz funk
and acid jazz band, just know it’s a staff favorite! www.mandelaforum.it
ART
PALAZZO STROZZI
2011 – After a wildly successful 2010, the Palazzo is back with exciting new
exhibitions www.palazzostrozzi.org:
Giovani e arrabbiati: Picasso, Mirò, Dalì (Young and Angry:
Picasso, Mirò, Dali), February through
June, 2011
Donne, amore e arte
nella Firenze del Rinascimento (Women, Love and Art in Renaissance
Florence), July through August 2011
Ingres in Italia:
il rivoluzionario riluttante (Ingres in Italy: A Reluctant Revolutionary), October 2011 through January 2012
FIRENZE MUSEI 2011 – Uffizi, Pitti,
Bargello and the Accademia are gearing up for a dynamite year to celebrate the
sesquicentennial of Italian Unity. Here’s a list of the exhibits, but we urge
you to check out www.polomuseale.firenze.it for details.
UFFIZI:
Figures, Memories
and Space: Drawings from Fra’ Angelico to Leonardo March 8 to June 12
Vasari, gli Uffizi e il Duca (Vasari, the Uffizi and the Duke) June 14 to October 30
BARGELLO:
Water, Stone and
Fire: Bartolomeo Ammannati, Sculptor May 11 to September 18
PITTI PALACE:
Dagli splendori di
corte al lusso borghese: l’opificio delle pietre dure nell’Italia unita (From the Splendors of the Court to the Luxury of the
Bourgeois: The Opificio delle Pietre Dure in the Italian Unity); May 17 to September 11
Treasure of the
Kremlin; May 27 to September 11
La bella Italia:
arte e identità delle città capitali (Beautiful Italy: Art and Identity in the Capital Cities); October 11, 2011 to March 4, 2012
ACCADEMIA:
Lorenzo Bartolini: scultore del bello naturale (Lorenzo
Bartolini: Sculptor of Natural Beauty); May
31 to November 6
Florence Biennial Of
Contemporary Art December 3 to 11,
Fortezza da Basso Move over, Venice! www.florencebiennale.org
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
Vintage Selection 17
January 26 to 30,
Stazione Leopolda – The best of vintage at the hottest event space in
Florence. www.stazione-leopolda.com
Immagine Italia
& Co. Textile Fair
February 4 to 6,
Fortezza da Basso Need a few meters of fabric? www.immagineitalia.org
Taste No. 6
March 12 to 14,
Stazione Leopolda Devoted to Italian culinary excellence. Yummy. www.stazione-leopolda.com
International
Handicrafts Fair: Italian Unity Edition
April 30 to May 8,
Fortezza da Basso A tour of Italy as artisans from each region of Italy will display traditional local handicrafts. www.mostraartigianato.it
Opera Festival
June through July,
Boboli Gardens – www.festivalopera.it
SPECIAL EVENTS
Capodanno
Fiorentino/Florentine New Year’s
March 25, Basilica
della Santissima Annunziata and locations around Florence The Florentine new year begins on Annunciation Day, or
March 25. Stay tuned for updates on the concerts, markets and more, along with
the pious observation of the holiday in the Basilica della Santissima
Annunziata. www.comune.fi.it
Easter &
Scoppio del Carro
April 24, Piazza Duomo – Earplugs!!! www.comune.fi.it
OUT OF TOWN
Giovanni Allevi:
Concert in Siena
March 28, Teatro
dei Rinnovati, Siena – The ‘13
fingered’ pianist in a special concert for Unity celebrations. www.comune.siena
.it; 057/7292615
Concerts on the island of Giglio
May through August,
Giglio – Sea breeze and celestial sounds? Yes please. The stunning Tuscan
island of Giglio will host a series of classical music concerts in piazzas and
amphitheaters around the island. www.intoscana.it.
Viareggio Carnevale
February 20 to
March 13 (Sundays, except Tuesday, March 8), Viareggio – Amazing people
watching, wine a go-go, costumes and
more. www.viareggio.ilcarnevale.com
SPORTS
Italian Motorcycle
Grand Prix at the Mugello Racetrack
July 3, Mugello – The 15 turns
where legends are born – www.mugellocircuit.it
Corri La Vita Marathon
September 25, Florence historic centre Run, jog or walk to
fight breast cancer… www.corrilavita.it
28th Firenze Marathon
November 27, Start
in piazzale Michelangelo – Let’s hope it doesn’t rain on the runners this year!
www.firenzemarathon.it
Ponte Vecchio Golf Challenge
December 16 to 18,
Ponte Vecchio – The classiest thing to hit the Ponte Vecchio since it started selling
gold instead of meat, this elimination challenge sees world renowned golfers
driving from the bridge onto floating greens. www.pontevecchiochallenge.it