After five years studying literature, film, and classical civilisation, Jane moved from Ireland to Sicily for what was intended to be a brief stint teaching english, travel writing, and learning Italian. The love affair with Italy was unbreakable and led to making a permanent home in Florence. Always journalistically inclined, she is eager to share her ever-deepening love for Tuscany.
CHARITY/ The British Institute of Florence’s Virtual Cultural Event 6pm, April 1 Director of The British Institute of Florence Simon Gammell hosts a talk entitled ‘Portraits and Selfies’, looking at tourism in Florence through the ages. From the days of Shakespeare, through to the Grand Tour, and the cruise ship day-trippers. The […]
I get up at 4am—uncharacteristically, I can assure you—and make a strong cup of coffee. Sitting on the still-dark balcony, I wait for the sun to rise, breathing in air that has become notably cleaner these last few weeks, and attempting to extract some sense from this strange new world we’re living in. My husband […]
How do we deal with fear, solitude and the host of emotions we’re all going through at this exceptional time? The Florentine‘s Jane Farrell speaks with Florentine psychotherapist Dr Paolo Molino about the emotions we’re experiencing during coronavirus lockdown and how we can process them. These are Dr. Molino’s top tips for good mental health […]
LITERATURE/ Dante Day March 25 This March 25 marks the first annual celebration of Dantedì, when Italy will celebrate Dante Alighieri. Organized prior to the Covid-19 emergency, the 13th-century Florentine poet is being embraced as a symbol of Italian culture and language to unite the country at this difficult time. Everyone is […]
FESTIVAL/ St Patrick’s Day 6pm, March 17 A recently launched Facebook and WhatsApp group called Irish in Italy hosts an online toast to St Patrick’s Day March 17, at 6pm. Join their FB page to sign up via eventbrite and take part as the Irish in Italy come together (remotely) to celebrate […]
The streets may be quiet, but people are still finding ways to unite in solidarity and get through quarantine with high spirits. Placehold Open Mic Night Florence Join an online Zoom meeting at 9pm on March 13 as Placehold Open Mic night Florence takes place, just not in its […]
Florence is semi-deserted. Closed museums, empty shops and directives to restrict our movements leave us wondering what we should do. From art and writing contests to a best balcony competition, there’s never been a better time to get creative. 1. Best balconies Fiori a Fiorenza for blossoming balconies Get […]
**DUE TO CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS CHANGES TO THE BELOW EVENTS ARE PROBABLE, PLEASE CLICK LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION DONNE/ International Women’s Day themed tours at Palazzo Vecchio March 8 ph. MUS.E Themed visits in the museum of Palazzo Vecchio allow you to celebrate the women of the best-known family in Florence, […]
With March 8 a day dedicated to celebrating women, we herald the arrival of a new all-female artisans’ collective in Florence: FAF, an acronym for Female Artisans in Florence. Having met at various fairs, events and markets, the fab four were drawn together by a shared respect for each other’s […]
MUSIC/ Peterson – Lavine. Come as you are: Kurt Cobain and the Grunge Revolution March 7-June 14 Relive your grunge days (or discover them for the first time) through 80 photographs by Charles Peterson and Michael Lavine, famed photographers who followed the legendary Nirvana founder-frontman through to his final days. The undisputed hero […]
