Best events in Florence this week February 16-23 2023

Here’s our round-up for February 16-23

Whether you’re braving the cold with a scenic walk or staying warm with a glass of whisky, there’s a little something for everyone this week.

February 18-19
SPIRITS

Whisky Week

Whiskey enthusiasts rejoice as Whisky Club Italia brings their blends to Florence with a weekend of high spirits. Participants can try from over 500 whisky samples from Scotland, Ireland, the United States, Japan and Italy. Coinciding with the final days of Carnevale, themed costumes and masks are also welcomed.

TF Walks: The hills of Bagno a Ripoli + lunch at the medieval Antico Spedale di Bigallo

Join environmental tour guide Jennifer Deckert as the hike begins at the Croce a Varliano bus stop, having taken bus #23 from Florence. Expect beautiful views of the Duomo from the trails and streets of Bagno a Ripoli, surrounded by hills, vineyards and olive groves. An ancient Roman road leads us to the 13th-century inn Antico Spedale di Bigallo, where we will enjoy a vegan lunch while sitting next to the fireplace like pilgrims did hundreds of years ago. Bring good walking shoes and a bottle of water. The distance is 10km with a climb of 400 meters. The cost is 35 euro with lunch included. 

Distance 10km / Climb 400m / Cost 35 euro, lunch included

Book your spot now! jennifer@meama.it 

February 20
COMMUNITY

International Mother Language day

Join Beelingual and The Children’s Lending Library on February 20 to celebrate International Mother Language Day– a day dedicated to promoting linguistic and cultural diversity. The event will be hosted in Giardino dell’Orticoltura and will welcome international mothers to share their experiences and traditions as well as food, games, and tongue twisters from their native countries. Everyone will leave the event learning something new about a different place as well as a few new words from a different language.

Lungarno Chats

Lungarno Chats return to The British Institute’s library as city councillor Cecilia del Re talks about innovation, the environment and urban planning with Morgan Fiumi, in addition to Morgan’s popular Recent Observations and two short spotlight segments on startup www.binoocle.com by Dott. Mario Puccioni, Msc, PsyD and on art focusing on Maurizio CattelanLa rivoluzione siamo noi by Riccardo Lami, of Palazzo Strozzi. Register here or send an email to bif@britishinstitute.it. There is a registration fee of 15 euro for those attending in person. Aperitivo starts at 6pm, talks start at 6.30pm.

Extended museum hours honoring Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici

The BargelloMedici Chapels Museum and Palazzo Davanzati Museum will mark the anniversary of  Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici’s death with extended opening hours. On Monday 20, Wednesday 22, Thursday 23 and Friday 24 the Bargello will extend its opening hours from 8.15am to 6:15pm (last entrance is 50 minutes before closing time). On Monday 20, Palazzo Davanzati Museum will open especially from 8.15am to 1.15pm and on Friday 23 it will open from 8.15am to 6:50pm (last entry is 40 minutes before closing time). On Friday 24, the opening time has changed to 8.15am, but closing time is, as usual, at 6:50pm.

February 21
WRITING

Writers' brainstorming session

Everyone gets that frustrating creative block now and again. Free your mind and find inspiration again with a writers’ brainstorming session at lungarno Guicciardini 15 on February 21. This is led by local author and translator, Lori Hetherington. This is a great opportunity to meet other writers in the area, share ideas with one another, and get inspired. The event costs 10 euro per person and includes refreshments.

February 16+21

Carnival at the Hard Rock

Fat Thursday

Get the party going at the Hard Rock Cafe in proper Carnevale style. Come dressed in your favorite character or masquerade disguise and be ready to dance the night away. The band 2000’s Rock Party will take the stage and pump up the night with a live music performance to keep everyone on their toes.

 

Fat Tuesday

 

Lions Club Firenze Pitti is teaming up with Italian comic book star Diabolik to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first edition The King of Terror. The night will ensure dinner, live music, and an appearance from Diabolik’s cartoonist Riccardo Nunziati. All of the proceeds from this event will be donated to a project supporting Ukrainian refugees to the Florence area.

12 February 2023 - 22 February 2023
OPERA

La traviata

A modernized reinterpretation of the Giuseppe Verdi classic. Maggio Musicale Fiorentino hosts the 19th-century operatic masterpiece with a twist. Following the forbidden love between Violetta and Alfredo, this rendition of La traviata takes place in the 1960s, promising a fun filled performance with go-go boots and good vibes.

16 February 2023 - 21 February 2023
CONCERT

Carnival concert

In celebration of the traditional Italian Carnevale, Orchestra della Toscana performs a concert conducted by Diego Ceretta. Violinist Giuseppe Gibboni is accompanied by Orchestra della Toscana as they play through Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and other well-known musical composers.

February 2 + 16
INTERACTIVE FILM

Sequence Shot film festival

25 Hours opens the atmospheric Cinema Paradiso for a string of interactive film competitions. Starting with the Longtake edition on February 2 and following on the February 16 with the Monochrome, audiences will have the opportunity to view a series of docu-films and participate in an audience evaluation of the films.

Until February 18
FOOD AND ART

By message in a collage

Grab a burger and take a look around for this collage art exhibition at Reburger curated by Giulia Masini and Sara Parolini. The artist will join Reburger on February 2+16.

Until March 2
BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Memory Effect

This is an exhibiton co-produced by MAD Murate Art District and The Recovery Plan. It consisting of four installations by artists Binta Diaw, Nexcyia, Bocar Niang and Lerato Shadi using mediums of performance, sound, and traditional art installations. Each of the installations are site specific create a cohesive experience for the viewer with works centering around technology, data collection, and memory.

Until May 7
HOMAGE

Eleonora di Toledo

The Pitti Palace honors 16th-century Grand Duchess of Florence, Eleonora di Toledo, with a grand exhibition at Pitti Palace. Among her many achievements, she was known for her trendsetting fashion sense and excellent managerial skills. She also played a fundamental role in the Medici court and dedicated much of her patronage to the Boboli Gardens.

February 4,12,16,19,21,25
TRADITION

Carnevale

The coastal town of Viareggio brightens up the gloomy winter months with a celebration of the Italian Carnevale. Extravagant masks, satirical parade floats and costumed affairs are only part of the fun. This year, Viareggio celebrates the 150th anniversary of the beloved parade.

26 January 2023 - 28 February 2023
SHOW

Sauro Cavallini- L'Opera di un internato

This show at Palazzo Strozzi Sacrato (piazza Duomo) features 16 of the artist Sauro Cavallini’s iron and brass sculptural works, in collaboration with Fondazione Fossoli and Prato’s Deportation Museum.

LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE