Best events in Florence this January 2024

Pitti Immagine Uomo

Style takes over the city as the 105th edition of the twice-yearly male fashion fair returns to Fortezza da Basso. The unmissable occasion for all fashionistas sees leading international figures make their way to Florence, with 835 brands showcasing their winter collections, 43 per cent of which come from abroad. Guest designers Steven Stockey-Daley and Luca Magliano feature alongside this edition’s theme of PittiTime. Pitti Bimbo 98 follows from January 17 to 19, switching the focus to kiddies’ wear, including the first edition of the Petite Parade.

Birraio dell’Anno

The 15th edition of the brewers’ bonanza organized by Fermento Birra sees the best in beer producing awarded as part of the two-day event that involves over 50 Italian breweries. On January 20, the all-inclusive formula allows for as much beer tasting as you can manage, picking from the 100 beers on tap, with the Beer Pass costing 5 euro online and 10 euro on the day. January 21 will have a beer token system where one euro equals one token, with an entrance fee of 10 euro, and various additional offers available. Street food stalls will be on site as well as events from 2 to 4pm.

Cosmo

Photographer Alessandro Messina displays his “anti-portrait” project, exploring the concept of absence and the search for balance through the downsizing of the ego. Loneliness as something we deal with every day is expressed through the protagonists in his shots as the works on display in the former bomb shelter create an intriguing experience.

Zeffirelli’s Celebrities

A photographic exhibition of the international stars who worked with Franco Zeffirelli now returns to the Zeffirelli Museum having been exhibited at Hotel Savoy. Leading names from the worlds of cinema, theatre and opera are immortalized in iconic shots, with portraits of those who met Zeffirelli between 1950 and 2010 such as Fanny Ardant, Faye Dunaway, Maggie Smith, Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Cruise, Leonard Bernstein, Mel Gibson and Laurence Olivier. Entrance included in 12 euro ticket to the museum.

Vintage Selection 41

A must for the clothing conscious, quality vintage design is gathered under one roof as collectors and exhibitors bring out their fabulous finds. Held in conjunction with textiles-focused Pitti Filati (January 24-26), all those hunting cool creations come to take a look at the carefully curated rails that feature global labels. Enjoy the live entertainment as music, shows and exhibitions offer a perfect panorama of vintage culture.

Celestial Splendors: Observation of the Sky from Galileo to Gravitational Waves

Visitors are taken on a journey through the past and future of astronomy in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s Assayer. Interactive installations and immersive projections grant a new way of looking at the universe with the stars, planets and their satellites the subject of this scientific exhibition.

Late Twentieth Century: Pisa and the Changing World

Images taken from the Luciano Frassi photographic archive are on show in an exhibition that explores life in Pisa from the 1920s to the end of the century, chronicling important historic events and changes with leading figures from international and national politics present as well as personalities from the scientific, cultural and entertainment fields. Urban planning changes, city news, Romeo Anconetani’s football reporting and the alarm over the potential collapse of the Leaning Tower, which this year marks 850 years since the laying of the first stone, are all depicted.

CINEMA

Cinema La Compagnia screens masterpieces of the 20th century until March in a series titled ‘XX Century – The most beautiful invention’. January is dedicated to Roman Polanski, with films such as Rosemary’s Baby, Frantic and Cul de Sac in original versions, with Italian subtitles. The focus switches to Luchino Visconti from January 27. Tickets cost 5 euro, 4 euro reduced, or 10 films for 35 euro.

25hours Hotel in piazza San Paolino relaunches film screenings in their plush Cinema Paradiso. Held every Wednesday at 7.30pm from January 17, pick up your popcorn and drinks onsite and settle into the sumptuous surroundings.

Giunti Odeon continues its cultural calendar with Paolo Genovese’s Perfect Strangers (original language with English subtitles) on January 15, attended by the director. It will also screen Disney classics from 9.30am on January 13 and from 10.30 on January 14, to relive your childhood in the comfortable cultural centre.

Divini Bambini

Sacred artworks and artefacts from churches and museums in the Diocese of Florence are on display in Palazzo Vecchio’s Sala delle Udienze. Three sculptures from the 15th to 18th centuries will be on show, curated by Sergio Risaliti, coming from the Santa Maria Novella complex, the Museum of Sacred Art and Beato Angelico in Vicchio and the Santa Maria in Settignano parish church.

Walking Cinema

Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Acquario della Memoria association, a new cycle of cinema walking tours spans stories from Etruscan and Roman times up to the 1970s. Remembrance Day on January 27 sees a tour marking the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Pisa, with projections, stories, private diaries and videos taking participants through the destruction on August 31, 1943, up until liberation in September 1944.

Irrealis

Works by Nancy Lupo come to the creative space as everyday materials are turned into profound installations, challenging conventional perceptions. Natural light is used by the artist with artificial illumination avoided so that the art and the environment can interplay, aligning with the artist’s focus on blurring the line between natural and the human-made.