Here’s our round-up for July 20-27, 2023.
The best of brass bands, photographs of Springsteen, and centuries-old sculpture bring an array of intriguing cultural events to the city. Here’s your best events of the week line-up.
Share your events with The Florentine: events@theflorentine.net
At 6pm on July 20, take part in a guided tour of the Exhibiting exhibition at Manifattura Tabacchi. On display until September 3, the free admission display explores the connection between the site and the production of contemporary art, with a showcase of works built in dialogue with the architecture.
Visit the masterpieces and frescoed rooms of Palazzo Medici Riccardi with special evening viewings at 7.30pm and 9pm. Admire the archaeology and antiquities with reliefs and busts dating to the 3rd century A.D. A poetry reading in the garden adds to the sense of occasion, with verses by Catullus, Ovid and Sappho read among the ancient stones. Free entry, with reservation required: 055 2760552, info@palazzomediciriccardi.it.
Latinist Skye Shirley presents a talk on the watercolours and poems of Margareta van Godewijk (1627-1677). The book in both Latin and Dutch was written when Godewijk was between 12-14 years old, and provides insights into juvenilia, art history, literature, and more. She grew up to become an accomplished landscape artist, and was finally allowed to paint in oil, a medium which was forbidden to women in her region during her girlhood. The free admission talk at 7.30pm will be in English, with a Q&A in both English and Italian.
Set off to Pratovecchio to immerse yourself in the repertoires of various artists who will strike their keys throughout the valley.
Talented classical musicians combine with cultural events for the top-class concert series. Under the artistic direction of Alessio Bax, the 35th edition of Incontri in Terra di Siena aims to spread music and art appreciation through concerts, exhibitions and events throughout Siena.
Brass bands get their big moment as the international festival sees trombones, trumpets and tubas take to the streets and surroundings. The international festival under the artistic direction of Luca Benucci, first horn of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, brings together brass musicians for unmissable musical moments.
Interi comes to St. Mark’s English Church to display 17th- and 18th-century Italian church artefacts preserved and transformed into works of art. The exhibition by former Irish model Jean O’Reilly Barlow intends to raise awareness about human trafficking with a portion of profits from her work going towards restoration programmes for survivors. See the works at 6pm on July 26, with free admission.
Read more about Interi
Canadian pianist, actor and producer Hershey Felder returns to Fiesole with a new production that tells a true story that took place in the Etruscan hilltop town during the Nazi occupation in August 1944. Three Carabinieri officers gave their lives to save ten Italian citizens, but the story of a fourth military officer survived: this is his story, which has never been told before. Tickets start from 20 euro here.
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The ‘Portraits without posing’ exhibition by Antonio Viscido forms part of the Musart Festival, featuring favourites like Leonard Cohen, Morrissey and The Who with unposed shots by Antonio Viscido. The free admission exhibition is on display until July 25 at the Ex Printing House of the Military Geographical Institute of Florence. 50 shots, mostly in black and white, can be viewed from 5-7pm, closed Saturday July 22. For spectators of the Musart Festival evening shows, the exhibition is open from 8-9 pm with free and reserved admission.
Singer-songwriter Giovanni Caccamo is behind the interactive work on display in the Sale dei Gigli at Palazzo Vecchio, advocating gratitude, regeneration, music, peace and empathy. ‘The Wall of Change’ is in collaboration with the Andrea Bocelli Foundation and consists of a wall of words related to the concept of “change”, projected onto a white LED wall. By connecting to the murodelcambiamento.it website, everyone will be able to type their own word for change which will instantly be displayed on the screen.
The roof garden of Manifattura Tabacchi hosts a reading in Italian of La cerva base by and with Teresa Cinque as part of Firenze dall’alto. The feminist take on traditional fairy tales like Snow White, Bambi and Little Red Riding Hood highlights the gender stereotypes that have been carried down through these narratives. Booking required through eventbrite with free entry.
Top-tier culture returns to piazza Santissima Annunziata from July 16 to 26 for Musart Festival as leading names like Roberto Bolle, Venditti e De Gregori, Marco Masini, Drusilla Foer, Paolo Conte, Madame and Stewart Copeland take to the stage. Guests can also enjoy access to nearby monuments and exhibitions.
Greta Gerwig brings Barbie to the big screen with Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling taking on the roles of Barbie and Ken. The screenings are in English, with Italian subtitles, on show until August 2. For the occasion, the Astra Cinema invites audiences to share their thoughts on the experience with a bulletin board on site, and staff equipped with Polaroids or Instax mini cameras snap pics of viewers dressed for the Barbie bonanza.
Every Thursday and Friday until August 10, savor a sunset aperitivo in the new gardens at Ruffino’s Poggio Casciano estate, near Florence, paired with live music.
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25hours Hotel Piazza San Paolino hosts a weekly “Live at 25”. Guests can enjoy live music and DJ sets every Thursday evening in July from 7pm-10.30pm.
Sixteen free-entry screenings in the suburbs bring film-lovers together for the minivan that drives cinema around the city. Districts 2, 3, 4 and 5 each get their own dates in the ‘pocket cinema’ series.
Palazzo Strozzi presents the largest exhibition in Italy dedicated to the French-Chinese artist Yan Pei-Ming. Combining historical and contemporary concepts, Yan Pei-Ming explores portrait, landscape, still life and historical themes through his paintings. His research on the relationship between images and reality reflects the culture and history between the East and West. The 30+ works in the exhibition are curated by Arturo Galansino and will be on display until September 3.
Read our exhibition review
Step back in time with the historical watches of the Del Vecchio collection. Over 60 clocks are on display, dating from the 15th to the 19th century, collected by Gian Carlo Del Vecchio (1918-2016). The exhibition is curated by Antonio Lenner and Giorgio Strano, with refined and significant pieces on show.
Tenuta Vignamaggio nestled in the Chianti hills host everything from Christmas card making to wreath workshops, with the chance to craft your own festive centrepiece and even cyanotype botanical workshops ...
Are you a small business or team looking for the perfect way to celebrate the festive season? At Hard Rock Cafe Florence, in the spirit of ‘All is One’ and ...
The Art of Style, created by Lady Kendra, is a space where art, fashion, wellness, and personal transformation come together. The gallery is designed as an immersive experience, from rotating ...
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”. ...
