The city is buzzing with holiday excitement and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate. Here’s a summary of this week’s best events.
Here’s our round-up for December 15-22
The city is buzzing with holiday excitement and there’s no shortage of ways to celebrate. Here’s a summary of this week’s best events.
This one-of-a-kind experience by the creative production company MESH promises a multi-sensory immersive exhibition merging together physical and digital spaces. There will be light, audiovisual, and VR installations as well as DJ performances to tickle all of your senses.
After two years of remote movie marathons, the Firenze Film Festival welcomes back all film lovers, critics, and movie makers. For the fifth edition of this festival, there will be screenings of ten different short films created by a range of international filmmakers aiming to tell diverse stories. All films will be screened with English subtitles.
Be sure to mark your calendars for a visit to Teatro Verdi for their performance of A Christmas Carol(in Italian). Follow the eerie tale of Ebenezer Scrooge as he navigates the ghosts from Christmas past, present, and future. A true holiday classic not to miss.
A Christmas event that brings the whole city together, the Four Seasons hotel will host an open day filled with music, local food, and entertainment, all in the stunning Giardino della Gherardesca. Part of the proceeds will go to the Patrizio Cipollini Foundation which is dedicated to supporting ten young refugees who will find work in the hospitality industry. The other part of the proceeds will go to the Tommasino Bacciotti Foundation, helping seriously unwell children. The event is open to all with an a minimum entrance donation of one euro requested per person.
If you’re still looking for those last minute gift ideas, look no further than the Christmas market hosted at Manifattura Tabacchi. With everything from customized clothes to records and even rare botanics, you will be sure to find a truly unique gift for everyone on your list.
A truly special Christmas experience, the Fondazione Santa Maria Nuova is opening up the doors of the Stanza degli Avi to the public. This will allow visitors to view works that are typically not seen, and will also include a visit to the Salone Martino V and the Matroneo of the Church of Sant’Egidio. Reservations are required and the hours of visitation are 10am, 11am, 12pm, 3pm, and 4pm. Entry is free with a donation kindly requested.
The perfect way to find your new style in time for the New Year, Female Arts in Florence is hosting a runway show featuring clothes from Atelier Biologico, a sustainable fashion line that pulls inspiration from nature, the concept of timelessness, and the beauty of artisanal clothing.
Italian department store COIN reopens this week in Florence near the exit to the Uffizi Galleries. The 17th-century building and former grain store commissioned by Cosimo II underwent a five-and-a-half-month restoration to modernize the palazzo for its second life as a retail outlet. Check out the ground-floor food court for light bites and the six floors of eclectic shopping for the holiday season and beyond.
Head outside Florence for a taste of Tuscan festivities with the OltreColle Christmas Edition in Toscana Resort Castelfalfi from 2pm to late evening, December 17-18. Music, art and great food are guaranteed, with the allure of the lights and the Christmas atmosphere making it well worth the (short) trip. The medieval village is transformed into a Christmas wonderland, with local crafts, traditional products, installations and performances spreading joy.
This two-artist exhibition develops a program dedicated to supporting emerging artists over various disciplines. Curated by Caterina Fondelli, the artists Nicola Bertolo and Andrea Luzi will showcase their works.
A day dedicated to the celebration of Florentine heritage and acknowledging 40 years of UNESCO heritage status, the festivities will entail activities for young people and adults, including a walk through the city ending with an installation in piazzale Michelangelo.
Be sent to far off lands as you listen to Tchaikovsky’s soaring strings and gaze in wonder at the international ballerinas from the Romanian National Opera as they take over the theatre with dream-like dancing on December 23. There’s something quintessentially festive about seeing ballet in a stunning setting such as Teatro della Pergola over Christmastime, with the historic theatre hosting the exceptional ballet, replicating the original story as it was almost 150 years ago. Tickets cost from 22 euro to 57.20.
Palazzo Pitti unveils a contemporary art installation by Marya Kazoun inspired by the Nativity scene called First Act. The installation is meant to invite viewers to reflect and act on the worsening environmental crisis our planet is facing with the hope for a better future.
December 15: Palazzo Vecchio is the site for Climate change and heritage, an open forum discussing climate change, the energy crisis, the conservation of cultural heritage, and their influence on museums.
December 17: At 6pm, St. Mark’s Church will host a traditional Christmas carol service followed by mince pies and mulled wine.
December 17: The Children’s Lending library host their annual Christmas party from 4-6pm, with crafts, carols, books for sale, refreshments, and even a visit from Santa! Library members only with free entrance.
December 20: At 6pm, The mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, delivers his Christmas message from the Salone dei Cinquecento, with a concert organized by performers from the Andrea Bocelli Foundation.
Florence gets a festive makeover each year, with projections, video mapping and art installations adorning the city’s best-known monuments. One of the most significant artistic light festivals in Europe, the magical displays are promoted by the City of Florence, bringing the centuries-old settings to life with striking exhibits that spread smiles throughout the city. This year, the title is ‘Green Line’, under the artistic direction of Sergio Risaliti.
An ideal winter day for those seeking a little more action this holiday season, the Florence Ice Village is freezing over Fortezza da Basso with a 300-metre ice skating rink (supposedly the largest one in Europe). Strap on your skates and take a spin throughout the scenic park, or for an unforgettable view of the city from greater heights, ride the photo-worthy Ferris wheel that returns this year.
The holiday spirit is in the air (or maybe that’s just the smell of gingerbread cookies in the oven). If you’re in town or planning to come into the city for a walk along the sparkly light-soaked streets, be sure not to miss these amazing Christmas markets for all kinds of delicious treats and unique holiday treasures.