This weeks is a lively one in Florence. Fashion, rock concerts and dance festivals are just a few things to be expected as the summer weather sets in.
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Here’s our round-up for June 15-22 2023.
This weeks is a lively one in Florence. Fashion, rock concerts and dance festivals are just a few things to be expected as the summer weather sets in.
This exhibition aims to give a voice to the dreams of prison inmates through art as well as reflect on the concepts of freedom and punishment. The artists involved (all of European origin) were asked to interpret their works through some of the foundational concepts of the EU such as freedom, unity, memory, community and equality. The location of the exhibition used to act as a men’s prison between 1848 and 1983, tying in with the theme.
Preview June 15, June 28, 29 + 30
This multicultural music festival is in collaboration with the Festival au Désert that originated in Mali. The band Tinariwen will perform in the June 15 preview, playing tracks from their latest album Amatssou, inspired by the music and culture of the Tuareg people of Mali.
The Scuola di Musica di Fiesole is welcomed to the gardens of Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, for a classical concert featuring the Arcadius String Quartet. The concert will be followed by an aperitivo and the cost is 50 euro, subject to availability. To book your spot, send an email to concierge.vsm@belmond.com or call +39 055 5678200.
Calentamiento is an art presentation at Manifattura Tabacchi combining visual and audio elements to create an impactful experience. The reggaeton song Calentamiento uses lyrics from the Glasgow Climate Treaty and fire-like sounds. Entrance is free and the presentation begins at 9pm.
Author Louisa Young joins The British Institute of Florence on a discussion on her acclaimed novel My Dear, I Wanted to Tell You. The book was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and was a Richard and Judy Book Club choice. The registration fee is 10 euro per person and can be joined both in person and online.
Register Here
Sant’Ambrogio legend Fabio Picchi is commemorated with four days of wholesome community-orientated events. Picchi was a local legend in Florence after he expanded his culinary businesses over the years. Picchi passed away in 2022, but his memory lives on. The first edition of SALE – Sant’Ambrogio in Festival, focuses on celebrating the identity of the neighbourhood and giving back to the local community.
June 16
Manifattura Tabacchi presents German producer Pantha Du Prince for a live performance. He’s known for his electro, techno and house beats and promises a fun performance. Entrance is free and registration is required.
Register here
The summer edition of Florence’s trend-setting men’s trade fair might not be open to the public at Fortezza da Basso (Fendi is special guest at Pitti Uomo 104, presenting their Men’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection), but you can play your game as the looks spread onto the city streets. LuisaViaRoma will be holding a fashion show (away from prying eyes!) at piazzale Michelangelo on June 14, hence all the scaffolding.
Under the artistic direction of Cristina Bozzolini and Saverio Cona, the Nutida Dance Festival presents a sequence of contemporary dance performances. As the sun begins to set, a series of dance groups will perform in the hilly parks of Scandicci. The events feature both local and international young talents promising a program of stellar perforamances.
Spend your Saturday at this high-quality makers’ market in the Orti Dipinti community garden in borgo Pinti. A group of crafters will showcase unique handmade projects. Throughout the day, there will be activities for families and children, including Make your Own Mini Basket (15 euro) and Reading in your Mother Tongue Language. The market opens at 10am. To reserve for the Mini Basket workshop, please call +39 338 7035801 or email lamazzoni@gmail.com.
The event of the summer is back. Firenze Rocks is one of the biggest music festivals in Italy. Legendary rock band The Who kicks things off followed by Maroon 5 the following day.
The Art with Love foundation hosts a free workshop where participants can learn about oil painting techniques. Instructors Stephen Ninnes and Alessandra Camera will teach about how some of the greats used these techniques before guiding participants on creating a masterpiece of their own. Reservations are required to attend and there is no previous experience required. Held in Italian and English.
Ballroom began as a subculture of the late 20th century created by BIPOC queer people in New York City. Now a worldwide phenomenon, you have the opportunity to strut your way to The Student Hotel for a sickening showdown at The Power of Love Kiki ball on June 18. Participants perform ballroom style with a series of runway categories and even a lipsync for your life. Walkers and audience members must sign up in advance. The cost is 15 euro and tickets can be purchased online or at the door.
Now in its 34th edition, the theme of this year’s festival is Dancing in the Main Cloister in dedication to the venue at Santa Maria Novella. This festival was created to promote the art of dance while revitalizing public places and using the city as a performance space. Special attention is paid to emerging choreographers and dancers.
Manifattura Tabacchi hosts a series of children’s workshops. ONOUKA presents a workshop centered around the integration of nature in art. Fortezza Crew provides skateboarding lessons along with maintenance activities for skateboards and a finger skate contests for young wood pushers. Il Parachute di Icaro aims to address and educate on urbanization. Through engaging theatrical exercises and music, participants will be inspired to create ideas that will better the future of city life.
Coming from Scotland, the Edinburgh University Chamber Choir visits Florence for a series of concerts throughout the city. Under the direction of Michael Bawtree, the choir will perform choral music by Elgar, Parry, Bach, Byrd, MacMillan, Gjelio and more. Entrance is free for each of the concerts.
Jason Arkles joins The British Institute of Florence for a lecture on the rebuilding of Ponte Santa Trinita after its demolition at the hands of Nazi occupation during World War II. The registration fee is 10 euro and can be joined in person and online.
Register here
One of the most beloved bands of our time gets a classical dedication by the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina. Under the direction of Giuseppe Lanzetta joining piano soloist Fernando Díaz, the orchestra plays a series of their greatest hits. Everything from Yellow, Viva La Vida to Clocks will be performed. Audiences can enjoy Chris Martin’s greatest hits with a different sound.
June 22-September 14
This is what the magic of Florence is all about. 10 locations, 10 sunsets, and 10 events throughout the summer make up this festival with amazing views. Enjoy a number of musical performances in some of the city’s most beautiful locations.
Molo Firenze hosts three nights of music on the Arno river. Local musicians mount a floating platform on lungarno Colombo and perform with music ranging from rock, blues to reggae. The MCs of the events are radio host Gianfranco Monti and actor/comedian Massimiliano Galligani. Admission is free for each performance.
Until July 20, Michel Mayor event in September tbd
A totally out of this world program of events hosted by the Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica. Participants have the opportunity to learn about outer space through workshops, film screenings and lectures with astrophysicists as well as enjoy a telescope observation of the sky at the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory. The program will close out with a special talk with 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics winner professor Michel Mayor. Registrations are required for all events.
This exciting festival combines art, cinema, dance and music. Many of the events are internationally leaning, such as a film series about American composer John Zorn directed by Frenchman Mathieu Amalric (June 5, Cinema La Compagnia); a concert by Dutch cellist Ernst Reijseger (June 6, cloister at the Convent of Carmine); and experimental open-air concerts at Piazzale del Torrino (June 14-15, Villa Strozzi Park) with German composer Heiner Goebbels. The festival ends at Tenax on June 16 with the Still Lives: Florence performance/installation by Singaporean Daniel Kok and Australian Luke George inspired by Giambologna’s Rape of the Sabines.
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Kent State University Florence program, KSU-Florence is hosting a special speaker series with Hollywood legend Don Reo, creator of Netflix’s The Ranch, Two and a Half Men, Everybody Hates Chris, M*A*S*H and The Golden Girls. During these eight seminars, guests will learn about the craft of storytelling, screenwriting for TV, working with actors, showbusiness, and how to pitch ideas for American TV streaming services. Several guests will be joining Reo for these events, including Mayim Bialik, host of Jeopardy and Big Bang Theory star. Everyone is welcome to attend these free seminars every Monday and Wednesday from May 29 to June 21 (6-7:30 pm) in the main lecture hall at Palazzo Vettori (via Cavour 26). Advanced registration is required and seating is limited, so register now for all events: Miriam Daquino mdaquino@kent.edu
New York University Florence (via Bolognese 120) is planning a busy program for the 17th edition of The Season. The events at Villa La Pietra will explore the wider currents of history, art, literature and music. Guests can enjoy lectures from artists, theatrical performances and concerts. To RSVP, please send an email to lapietra.reply@nyu.edu, or call +39 055 5007210.
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Beyond the Walls of Sant’Orsola is the inaugural exhibition of the future Museo Sant’Orsola as the long-derelict former religious complex reopens temporarily. Believed to be the final resting place of Lisa Gherardini, supposedly Leonardo da Vinci’s model for his Mona Lisa, the 14th-century nunnery welcomes site-specific art by London-born Sophia Kisielewska-Dunbar, the first artist-in-residence at Sant’Orsola, and Alberto Ruce, a Sicilian urban artist living in Marseille. French company Artex is investing over 30 million euro to develop Sant’Orsola and the urban renewal project is expected to be completed in 2025.
More than 50 works connected to the Gallery of Mirrors and Biblioteca Riccardiana will make up this major exhibition at Palazzo Medici Riccardi on Baroque master Luca Giordano (1634-1705). Expect a series of sketches on loan from the National Gallery in London as well as other important artworks from private collections in Europe and the United States, the Uffizi and the Opera del Duomo Museum in Siena, among others.
Exhibition info
Arizona-born artist Rachel Feinstein opens an exhibition of her works in a tripartite show at Museo Stefano Bardini, Palazzo Medici Riccardi and Museo Marino Marini. Ranging from painting to sculpture inspired by classical and Renaissance art as much as from modern cartoons and fairytales, the works contrast with the masterpieces in situ by Donatello, Michelozzo and Marino Marini.
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