There’s a wide array of events this April, from Modigliani at Museo Novecento to the curated crafts of MIDA.
Share your events with The Florentine: events@theflorentine.net
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Here’s our round-up for April 2024.
There’s a wide array of events this April, from Modigliani at Museo Novecento to the curated crafts of MIDA.
Share your events with The Florentine: events@theflorentine.net
150 works, mainly paintings on canvas, reveal the flourishing of the avant-garde in Uzbekistan in the early to mid 20th century. Visitors can also explore the Uzbek textile tradition with works on loan from the National Museum in Tashkent and the Savicsky Museum in Nukus.
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The famous (anonymous) street artists display a new work, A timeless struggle, created specifically for the exhibition along with other works exploring bodies in all varieties, expressed through both real and imaginary figures. The art show is presented on the occasion of the Women – A timeless struggle exhibition, 70 years after the first national conference for women who work, in addition to talks and concerts at the Caffè Letterario at Le Murate.
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Museo Novecento celebrates ten years since its inauguration in 2014 with a major exhibition titled Returns: From Modigliani to Morandi dedicated to the history of one of its most prized ensembles, the Alberto Della Ragione Collection. Donated to the City of Florence following the devastating flood in 1966, the works are now reunited with the invaluable masterpiece by the Livornese artist, Amedeo Modigliani. The idea conceived by the director of the museum, Sergio Risaliti, sees the rooms of the former Leopoldine on the second floor of the museum transformed for the occasion, with the exhibition curated by Eva Francioli, Chiara Toti and Sergio Risaliti on show until September 15.
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The history of medical and surgical training in Florence is the subject of a special display to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the University of Florence and the founding of the Careggi Hospital, explored through documents dating to the ninth century, finds from private collections and multimedia installations.
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Emanuele Napolitano, known as Druid, holds his first solo show in the city, curated by Valentina Ciarallo. The visual artist, painter, video maker and director uses vibrant colours and bold strokes in his interpretation of everyday life. The series of paintings dedicated to the 12 zodiac signs welcoming guests on the main wall of the lobby is accompanied by a prediction about individual destiny.
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100 works, including videos, prints, sculptures and serigraphs by the world-famous street artist, come to Volterra, a 90-minute drive from Florence, with various mice claiming their rights, monkeys in government and children playing with bulletproof vests to be found.
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Author and presenter Linda Falcone speaks with lead co-curator Peter Trippi, on location at ‘Pre-Raphaelites: Modern Renaissance’, an exhibition comprising over 350 paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and decorative artworks. Hosted at San Domenico Civic Museum in Forli, Italy, this ‘Restoration Conversations’ broadcast is sponsored and organised by the Calliope Arts Foundation. It spotlights women artists featured in the exhibition who modelled for, worked with, or responded to the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. From the Botticelli-inspired paintings of Marie Spartali Stillman to the dramatic mythological depictions of Evelyn Pickering De Morgan, enjoy the art that built upon the movement founded by the original rule-breaking Pre-Raphaelites, whilst discovering the women artists who honed their own talents, as they explored Italy’s Old Masters, Britain’s best-loved stories and their admiration for Florence’s idyllic Primavera, on and off canvas.
MIDA brings together the arts and crafts of different cultures, with this year featuring the ninth edition of the Salone dell’Arte e del Restauro at the same time. Food trucks and the chance to purchase directly from the artisanal producers bring foodies to the fair as well.
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Three days of cultural events combine digital art, lighting design and electronic music, with the seventh edition featuring a wide range of educational activities, exhibitions and performances in an innovative and future-inspired format.
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The first edition of a new indoor festival of music, theatre, cinema and more at the cultural centre in Fiesole sees a wide-ranging offering that includes storytelling, jazz, classical and contemporary multidisciplinary performances. Italian jazz pianist and composer Francesco Maccianti performs on April 9, while the Fiesole Music School, marking their 50th anniversary, gives a free concert by the Camerata Strumentale Fiesolana on April 21, with music by Mozart, Bach and Haydn.
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This month, Virgilio Sieni’s dance project sees Stefania Tansini perform Lombelico dei limbi on April 13+14, based on the text by Antonin Artaud in which we find a sense of alienation and the pain of the fragmentation of identity. Ayelen Parolin follows with Simple on April 19+20, using a deliberately limited and sparse choreography in what functions like a game without music.
See the programmeCinema La Compagnia screens the 2024 Oscar award-winning documentary 20 Days in Mariupol until April 5. Take advantage of the opportunity to view the photographic exhibition titled Vse Bude Ukraine in the foyer that documents the ongoing war. The lost souls of Syria will be screened from April 18 to 22. The Cinefilante short film series for young cinema goers aged 2 and over holds its final screenings at 5.30pm on April 7, 14 + 21, with the entrance fee of 7 euro including a snack and a 10% discount at Lìlà Toys.
Institut Français Firenze in piazza Ognissanti 2 screens French films until May 30, with this month including Thomas Paulot’s Municipale on April 8 and Justine Triet’s Anatomie d’une chute on April 11.
At 9pm on April 11, literary lovers make their way to Libreria Alice at The Social Hub (viale Spartaco Lavagnini) for a discussion of Donatella Di Pietrantoni’s A Girl Returned, winner of the Campiello Prize. The heartfelt novel explores the life of a young teenager abandoned by her adoptive mother. Forced to live with her biological family, she faces abuse and navigates complex familial and personal challenges. Settle into Alice’s cozy atmosphere with a glass of wine while sharing your thoughts on the book club’s latest selection. Although Di Pietrantoni originally wrote the novel in Italian, Alice is opening its doors to both English and Italian readers. The club will be discussing the translated version of A Girl Returned by Ann Goldstein. Free event, no reservation required. hello.alicelibreria@gmail.com
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The second edition of the literary festival aimed at children, teenagers and young adults features international illustrators, publishers and authors in the striking panoramic setting, with names like Nadine Brum-Cosme, Olivier Tallec and Brian Freschi.
Find out moreThe Davidson High School Choir and Orchestra from Georgia, USA perform a free concert at 9pm on April 8 at Chiesa dei Santi Michele e Gaetano (piazza degli Antinori), with pieces by Ernesto Herrera, Jeffery Ames, Carold Nunez, Norman Luboff and more. performancesbooking@gmail.com
Fondazione Mascarade Opera brings the most loved arias and duets from the classical and bel canto repertoire of Rossini, Donizetti and Mozart, inspired by the bloom of spring. The artists involved are Luiza Willert (soprano), Sarah Hakobyan (mezzosoprano), Yuchen Pan (tenor) and William Desbiens (baritone), with access to the gardens and a glass of wine creating a perfect pre-performance experience.
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The hometown of the Vespa honours the 140th anniversary of the Piaggio Group with various events. Check out the Vespa Village, take a tour of the Piaggio Museum and discover Pontedera, while live painting, photography exhibitions, music and more prove the perfect chance to take the hour-long trip from Florence.
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Whether you’re cheering from the sidelines or get, set, go yourself, the occasion when runners come together to undertake 21,097 km through the streets and squares of Florence is always worth witnessing.
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The historic car race gets fans revved up for the iconic GTS, sports cars, prototypes, touring cars and models from the 1950s to the 2000s, as well as a line-up of events to add to the sense of occasion.
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The men’s Coppa Italia semi-final will see the Viola fans out in force following the sad passing of the soccer club’s director Joe Barone.
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A new way to lengthen, strengthen and tone both body and mind is launched at the beautiful urban space near piazza San Lorenzo. Emilie Goldblum, the three-time National Champion of Canada in rhythmic gymnastics and an Olympic athlete, has created a fitness regimen centred on creating a community of like-minded individuals.
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La Fierucola brings the best of biodiversity with crafts and homemade products by small-scale producers filling up stalls in popular piazzas. The Fierucola dei Legnaioli is held in piazza Ognissanti on April 7 from 9am to 7pm, while the Fierucolina in piazza del Carmine is from 9am to 2pm on April 14, moving to piazza Santo Spirito from 9am to 7pm on April 21.
Creative Factory host an urban market dedicated to new brands of sustainable design and contemporary style craftsmanship in piazza Ciompi from 9.30am-8pm, April 13-14, and then at piazza Santissima Annunziata from April 19-21. A special spring edition is held at Hotel Calimala from midday to 8pm on April 7, featuring an exhibition by Florentine artist LucillaVecc, and a brunch with DJ from midday to 3pm, upon reservation. T: +39 339 411 3863 or email reservations@angelroofbar.com.
The weekly dinner show at House of Nine sees entertainment by Arachel Dolphie and the Daisy’s Cuban Band. Featuring special guest shows once a month, the dinner and show is open to all culinary and music lovers from 8pm every Friday until May, and every Thursday and Friday in May and June.
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Giuseppe Verdi’s opera in an immersive and semi-scenic vision will be held every Thursday from April 4 to September 26. Sixty minutes put together the most memorable moments of Verdi’s masterpiece, with the story revealing Alfredo Germont’s unfortunate love for the courtesan Violetta Valéry. A narrator will accompany the audience (in English) during this unmissable journey through immersive images.
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The vast nature reserve in the Pistoia countryside reopens with a calendar of excursions that will continue until autumn. All ages and levels can immerse themselves in the WWF protected area, taking part in picnics, days dedicated to yoga in the mountains and admiring shooting stars. Marking Earth Day on April 21 will be a special excursion that also serves as a moment to reflect on the ongoing problems threatening the environment.
ExploreCreative People in Florence inaugurate their new space in via Serragli with a range of workshops for kids and adults. This month sees creative clay workshops on April 10+17, and craft workshops for kids aged 5-11 on April 4. The first pop-up shop will be April 12-14.
Women’s International Network hold this month’s meet-up at 7.30pm on April 10 at Palazzo San Niccolò, featuring Benedetta Treves speaking on ‘Plastic is forever: 10 steps toward zero waste’.
The British Institute of Florence (lungarno Guicciardini 9) continues their popular Wednesday Lectures Series with Elizabeth Pilliod at 6pm on April 3, discussing ‘Pontormo at San Lorenzo’. Kevin Murphy gives a talk titled ‘Painting the Past: how the Renaissance was invented’ on April 10. Mark Roberts follows on April 17 with ‘Vernon Lee and the effort to save old Florence’, with Alessio Assonitis on April 24 delivering a lecture on ‘The Medici and the birth of news’. A wine tasting with Ruffino is at 6pm on April 4, with Alexandra Lawrence’s ‘Divine Dante’ six-week guided reading of Dante’s masterpiece, The Divine Comedy, both in person and via Zoom on Tuesdays from 6-7.30pm, from April 9 to May 14. A piano recital by William Howard will be held at 6.30pm on April 11. Bridge for beginners and intermediates is held every Tuesday, and afternoon tea is from 4 to 5pm on Wednesdays.
SOTTO al British (lungarno Guicciardini 15) holds life drawing led by Tom J. Byrne from 7 to 9pm on Mondays. Additional sessions are held this month on April 4+18, from 7-9pm. ‘Brainstorming for Writers’ with local author and translator Lori Hetherington is at 7pm on April 16.
The Texas A&M University holds their 2024 Italy Muster from 6pm on April 20, taking place at Il Grande Nuti trattoria, a short distance from piazza Duomo. All current, former students and friends of the university are encouraged to attend, along with their families. RSVP by emailing italyags@aggienetwork.com
Le Curandaie hosts workshops and more at the newly inaugurated ‘Rosanna e le sue storie’ library for children at via Pagano 25, in Le Cure. The volunteer-run space is open from 4 to 6pm on Tuesdays.
St Mark’s English Church hold three free concerts this month. The first is by violinist Jean-Samuel Bez and pianist Juan-Luc Therrien at 8pm on April 3, with sacred music by the 10-12 year-olds of the South Hampstead Female Choir from London at 6pm on April 26. The Virginia Wesleyan University a cappella ensemble performs a variety of music on April 27 (email administrator@stmarksitaly.com for more info). There’s a special event to celebrate St. Mark’s Day on April 25, with American sculptor, art historian, podcaster and author Jason Arkles sharing the story of the life-size statue of St Mark he created for outside the church. Free entry, from 7pm. Choral Eucharist is every Sunday at 10.30am, with a bring-and-share lunch after the service on April 21.
Lìlà Toy Store (via Maggio 78R) has a sewing course for adults on April 6+13, with a meeting with graphic designer for Red Glove games, Ferdinando Batistini, at 6pm on April 12. There’s a spring workshop at 4pm on April 20, for those aged 2 and over.
The Florence Leadership Academy holds a Women Leaders in Architecture event at Palazzo San Niccolò from 6.30 to 10.30pm on April 19, open to anyone aged 15-25 as part of the project that aims to train, qualify, accompany, network and launch young leaders. Speakers include Amanda Bonvecchio (Vagabondarq), Diletta Storace (S+S Studio) and Paulette Cameron (Prix de Rome). Workshops, mix and mingle dinner and DJ. Costing 35 euro, the event will be held in English.
The Social Hub holds ‘Rewind’ from April 5-7, a three-day festival on reducing, reusing and recycling. With quizzes and games for kids, talks, workshops on things like cuttings and upcycling jeans, and even a movie night with The Lorax – The Guardian of the Forest, entrance is free for all events and activities.
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Enjoy exclusive access to renowned museums, palaces, and private estates. Delight in gourmet experiences with Michelin-starred chefs, from cooking classes to wine tours, foraging and truffle hunts. Ch...
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What are you doing this May? Join us for a week-long Healing, Spiritual, & Cultural Retreat in Chianti in a 10th Century Castle. May 23rd - 30th. Learn about energy healing, grounding, meditation,...
