Here’s our round-up for January 4-11, 2024.
Keep your good intentions going with our round-up of mind-enhancing, wellness-boosting best events this week. Don’t forget there’s free entry to many museums this Sunday!
Share your events with The Florentine: events@theflorentine.net
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% of which come from abroad. Guest designers Steven Stockey-Daley and Luca Magliano feature, with the theme this edition being PittiTime. Pitti Bimbo 98 follows from January 17-19, switching the focus to kiddies wear, with the first edition of the Petite Parade.
The Befana is coming! The pointy-nosed friendly witch bedecked in a hat and broom will make her way down the Rinascente building and the arch in piazza della Repubblica at 11.30am on January 6, along with her helpers. Once on the ground, they will hand out sweets to the young people present. *Update: this event has been cancelled due to the expected bad weather. Piazza della Signoria will see a similar set-up from 3pm, with the fire department getting involved in the acrobatic display. The city’s libraries have arranged a variety of readings and activities, as well as events in various piazzas.
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.
Giunti Odeon screens Disney classics every day from 9.30am and on Sundays from 10.30am until January 7. The famous films can be enjoyed by all ages while perusing the shelves, or settle into the plush seats upstairs for better viewing.
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.
The historic Nativity scene at Villa La Quiete can be visited on Sundays at 10.30am and 11.30am until January 7 (reservations are required at 055 2756444, email: edu@sma.unifi.it). The festive display on the Castello hill is a fascinating trip through Medici history, organized by the Florentine University Museum System.
From December 8 to January 7, video mapping on the Ponte Vecchio and Palazzo Vecchio gathers gazers to share in the Christmas spirit, with the theme of this year’s light festival being ‘The Winter Garden’, urging viewers to care for the planet. Promoted by the City of Florence, curated by MUS.E and with artistic direction by Sergio Risaliti, the visuals and sounds were created by Stefano Fake and The Fake Factory, with the video projection on the facade of Palazzo Vecchio down to HELLO!, with Alessandra Ioalé, created by Francesco Cacchiani. The citrus trees in the garden of Palazzo Medici Riccardi will also receive original lighting with a Christmas tree decorated in collaboration with the Leon Battista Alberti art school. The historic towers, gates and other sites will be specially illuminated, including the facade of the basilica of San Marco, the Rinascente store and the central market in San Lorenzo. An installation by Nico Vascellari titled OLTRE is an exciting addition this year, set up in the Palazzo Vecchio’s Sala D’Arme.
On Sunday, January 7, amateur women tennis players from clubs all over Tuscany will take to the courts in Calenzano, west of Florence, to raise funds for women’s shelter Artemisia. The afternoon will begin at 1pm with a reflection before play starts at 2pm at Profession Tennis Park (via di Le Prata 6, Calenzano). The event has received the support of UISP, an association established in 1948 that encourages sports for everyone. All are welcome to watch the tournament. For more information, call Daniele Turco +39 340 9802143 or Cinzia Masi +39 338 2222748.
The popular ice skating rink pops up from December 8 to January 15, said to be the largest rink in Tuscany. Skaters dash through the spectacular setting from 10am to midnight. While there, don’t miss the chance to take a spin on the 55-meter-high panoramic wheel, which will be on site from December 8 to June 10. Not a fan of heights? There’s a fabulous Christmas village with specially curated activities for families and children, as well as plenty of food stalls and more. The fun doesn’t stop there! From May 1 to June 10 there will be other attractions in place of the Christmassy-vibes, taking on a spring theme.
The art event involving the entire city of Pisa sees murals all over, as well as exhibitions at Palazzo Blu, and an installation inside the Spina Church. Artists involved include Kobra, who explores the Avant-garde and Bauhaus in a street-style, and Gonzalo Borondo from Spain whose poignant installation is sure to be a highlight.
A calendar of free guided tours at some of the city’s historic sites takes place until January 7, taking visitors through lesser-known areas of the centre and exploring the reasons why the city is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, focusing on the areas around Porta San Gallo and San Miniato al Monte. Email: info@musefirenze.it.
A 6km (2 hour) walk in the footsteps of the early 20th century Anglo-Florentines takes you to discover the Edwardian community of Florence when it was “more English than England”. ...
Create your personalized perfume with perfumer Silvia Madari as she guides you through the secrets of fragrances. Book into one of our open workshops or create a private experience for ...
At Tenuta Ruffino Poggio Casciano, the time for the grape harvest has arrived. In the charming Tuscan countryside, not far from Florence, the carefully curated vineyards finally bear their fruit, ...
Supercar lovers are in for a treat this October 11 to 13 as five-star luxury hotel Villa La Massa holds a car event like no other. Villa La Massa Excellence ...
