Best events in Florence this week July 18-25, 2024

Here’s our round-up for July 18-25, 2024.

There’s an international flavour to our best events lineup this week, from American dance companies to the wide ranging performances of Festival au Désert.

Share your events with The Florentineevents@theflorentine.net

THINGS TO DO

Estate Fiorentina 2024: the summer sees Florence filled with festivals

From circus to jazz to film screenings, there will be something for every taste this summer.

THINGS TO DO

Fashion Museum reopens at Palazzo Pitti

A style encyclopedia from the 18th to the 21st century

THINGS TO DO

Local food festivals around Florence

Dive deeper into the traditions of local communities through sagre.

Florence Dance Festival - Dance Atlantic USA

The 35th edition of the Florence Dance Performing Arts festival presents Dance Atlantic USA on July 20, with the Boston Dance Theater performing ‘Delicate Blue’ with choreography by Alessandro Sousa Pereira, drawing inspiration from the literature of Clarice Lispector, a Ukrainian-born Brazilian writer. ‘If As If’, with choreography by Itzik Galili, was out to music by Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award-winning composer Aaron Jay Kernis. Baye & Asa then perform ‘Suck It Up’, with choreography by Amadi ‘Baye’ Washington and Sam ‘Asa’ Pratt.

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Until September
CULTURE

Balagan Café

This summer’s Balagan Café will focus on dialogue and commitments to building paths to peace. The summer showcase organized by the Jewish Community of Florence and Rete Toscana Ebraica returns to the Synagogue gardens with Thursday evening events through September. This year’s theme, “Where peace begins”, focuses on creating a space for dialogue and coexistence through music, films, meetings, dialogues and workshops led by key speakers who are actively committed to peaceful dialogue. “In these dark times,” says artistic director Enrico Fink, “our focus is to shed light on some of the prejudices and misunderstandings we are seeing today.” Already in its 12th year, Balagan Café is held beneath centuries-old pomegranate trees and historic palms in via Farini as a range of musical and cultural experiences are offered.  Happening simultaneously on Thursday evenings, the Synagogue gardens will also host Saperi & Sapori, a taste of Jewish cuisine organized by Ruth’s Kosher Vegetarian Food and guided visits of the Synagogue organized by Opera Laboratori (by reservation only: +39 055 2989879 / €10 per person). Book your place: +39 055 2989879. To reserve a light dinner prepared by Ruth’s and Michele Hagen (limited places available), reservation is required: saperiesapori2024@gmail.com (minimum offer 15 euro).

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Mixology at Villa San Michele

Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel delights with a varied calendar in the picturesque hilltop setting in Fiesole. A mixology evening will be held on July 25 in collaboration with Officina Profumo Farmaceutica of Santa Maria Novella. Starting from 7pm, the San Michele team offer their intriguing drinks list created for the occasion. Contact concierge.vsm@belmond.com or call 055 5678200 to reserve your spot, and don’t forget that every Tuesday Villa San Michele hosts a DJ set by the Pool Bar, from 7-10.30pm.
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July 21, 24, 25
MUSIC

Festival au Désert

The Fabbrica Europa project involves some of the most interesting musicians and groups on the international scene, performing as part of the Estate Fiorentina calendar. From performances by Algerian musicians and Moroccan singers to explorations of the ancient Gnawa tradition and traditional Tuareg music, many concerts are free entry and promise a wide variety of musical journeys.

See the lineup
10 July 2024 - 31 July 2024
DANCE

Corpo Celeste

The Virgilio Sieni Dance Production Centre focuses on the fragility of bodies with a series of lessons open to all in various venues in the city, including the Basilica of San Lorenzo and the Synagogue. Free entry.

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25 July 2024
TALK

Who’s who in your Italy property purchase

Take part in an exclusive webinar led by three experts who take you through purchasing a property in Italy. A lawyer, notary and surveyor discuss the role of each in securing your dream home in Italy. The free online event takes place from 4.30-5.30pm on July 25, led by Your Overseas Home.

Sign up
19 July 2024 - 27 July 2024
MUSIC

Incontri in Terra di Siena

The Val D’Orcia becomes home to eight concerts in spectacular locations, under the artistic direction of Alessio Bax. The sounds of strings playing Bach, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn and more resound throughout the Tuscan landscape, with an evening with Irish writer Joseph O’Connor and Canadian journalist Eleanor Wachtel adding a literary flair.

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19 July 2024
ARTS

Creative meet-up

Creative People in Florence have organized a meet-up for artists, designers, creatives and makers of all kinds at their headquarters on via serragli 58r. Taking place from 6.30pm, 5 euro gets you light snacks and drinks as well as the chance to meet like-minded individuals.

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19 July 2024
MUSIC

Preludio - Lasciati Fiorire Music Festival

The Cortile della Ciminiera previews the music fest that comes to the Limonaia of Villa Strozzi from September 30-1 with Preludium, a free entry performance that brings together entertainment, music, and more. Well-being and sexual health are themes discussed on July 19, Comete performa a live acoustic show, and the evening ends with a DJ set by Smalto, an all-Florentine, female trio made up of Michelle Davis, Mimmy and La Ponto.

16 July 2024 - 21 July 2024
PIANO

Naturalmente Pianoforte

Five days of music bring you to savour the sights and sounds of the territory with stunning panoramas while serenaded by top-class classical performances. Beyond the music, there are contemporary art installations, literary events, yoga and treks through the Casentino Forest Park for an ample overview of everything the area has to offer.

See the programme

CONCERTS

The Schola Cantorum of the London Oratory, known for its soundtrack recordings for the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings films as well as its highly acclaimed recordings of renaissance polyphony, gives a series of free admission concerts in Florence, with performances from July 17 to 22 in venues like the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella and the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata.

St Mark’s English Church (via Maggio 16) host a free entry concert at 3pm on July 18 titled ‘American Music Abroad – Gold Tour’ with a mix of jazz, folk, Broadway and Americana.

6 July 2024 - 28 July 2024
CULTURE

Un'altra Luna

The festival dedicated to renewed narratives of Afro-descendant people and cultures brings together exhibitions, talks and workshops, produced by The Recovery Plan and Santa Reparata International School of Art.

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Throughout the summer
SOCIAL

Ciao Estate

The Social Hub on viale Spartaco Lavagnini 70-72 continues their fab free entry summer programme titled Ciao Estate in their atmospheric courtyard. The programme includes poetry readings, book presentations, stand-up comedy and music, with this week seeing the ‘Solo se ti rende felice’ podcast with Alice Scornajenghi from 6.45pm on July 24.

See the full programme
Until July 20
MUSIC

Ville e Giardini Incantati

The 8th edition of the classical music series sees concerts in various Medicean villas in Tuscany, with audiences treated to performances by the Orchestra della Toscana in venues like the villas of Cerreto Guidi, Seravezza, and Pratolino Park. Mozart, Beethoven, Mendlessohn and Prokofiev are the composers conjuring their magic, with guided tours of the villas for an added cultural experience. Tickets from 10 euro (with free entry for some events), via TicketOne.it

See the concerts
Fridays and Saturdays
DINE

Dinner and live music

Enjoy dinner in the Tuscan hills with live music on Friday and Saturday nights at the Tre Rane Restaurant on Ruffino’s Poggio Casciano estate. Our advice: get there around 7pm to savour the sunset in the gardens with a complimentary glass of Ruffino wine.

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Activities + Tours + Events

Tours + Experiences

Keil Space for readers of The Florentine

Keil Space on viale Michelangelo 5 is a 500-square meter environment created as a “suspended and surreal scenography” by British artist Sam Keil. The immersive, multisensory space dedicated to Advanced ...

Tours + Experiences

GOLDEN DINNER Signature dining with Ruffino

Ruffino presents “Golden Dinner”: dinners with unique personalities and talented chefs, paired with iconic wines such as the Riserva Ducale Oro. 22.11.2024 8 PM / His Majesty Reburger Born in ...

Tours + Experiences

Urban Trekking: Edwardian Residents vol.6

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”. ...

Tours + Experiences

Perfume making workshop: create your own signature perfume

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 ...

LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE