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Here’s our round-up for March 30-April 6
The flowers are blooming here in Florence and this week welcomes in a range of activities indoors and out. Whether you’re looking to smell the flowers in the garden or prefer to take a look at them on canvas, there is something for everyone.
The British Institute welcomes Emanuil Ivanov to the stage for a piano recital. Ivanov has played in some of the world’s most prestigious halls such as Teatro alla Scala in Milan and Herculessaal in Munich. His success came after receiving international attention with his first prize award at the Busoni Piano Competition in 2019.
Join the Hard Rock for a night of Led Zeppelin classics with the cover band Norge. To celebrate Norge’s 25th anniversary and commemorate the legendary rock band, Norge is playing a lineup of classics from Whole Lotta Love to Stairway to Heaven.
The season of blooming calls for celebration at the Tobian Art Gallery. A group of emerging Southeast Asian artists present their works at the via Maggio visual art space and provide much needed vibrance after a long season of cold weather and grey skies.
Join the Children’s Lending Library at via Rucellai 9 for a special Easter party. While you wait for Peter Cottontail, enjoy Easter egg coloring, crafts, shadow puppets, snacks, and more. The cost for the event is 3 euro for members and 5 euro for non-members.
Along narrow old roads, we will climb up to piazzale Michelangelo, peering into the rose garden and visiting the monumental Porte Sante cemetery at the Basilica of San Miniato before reaching the private EDV Garden with a View. Alice Esclapon de Villeneuve, the garden’s owner, will reveal all about the flowers, plants and her mesmerizing art installations. We will have some time to sit and chat together before walking back to the city center.
Meeting point: in the middle of the Ponte Vecchio
Distance 5km / Climb 200m / Cost 30 euro, garden visit included
Book your spotThe fifth edition of this market exhibition promises an array of rare and unusual plants. On April 1 and 2, exhibitors from across Italy will host gardening courses, demonstrations and educational workshops for children and adults all centered on floriculture and gardening. This is the perfect springtime activity to take advantage of the new blooms and learn a thing or two to start your own garden at home.
WebsiteJoin Cinema Astra for a new talk series (in Italian) on films dedicated to the “baddest broads” in the movies. April 1 will focus on damning Disney antiheroines with a talk by Luca Malavasi, while film critic Pier Maria Bocchi leads a discussion on vampiresses, femme fatales and the iconic Marlene Dietrich on April 15. Check out Cinema Astra’s website for original language film showings.
A cultural showcase inspired by the documentary film Florence, City of Water, on April 2 from 3 to 6pm, participants can enjoy a guided walk along the Mensola stream, a tributary of the River Arno. As a celebratory wrap up of the events, Villa Il Palmerino will open up its garden for dance and video art on April 15 and 16. Choreography and poetry by Silvia Giordano promise an exciting and dynamic spectacle.
At the British Institute Library, Dario Nardella, Mayor of Florence, will discuss his book La Città Universale, in a conversation with digital entrepreneur Morgan Fiumi, followed by a ConnectUS Network Spotlight featuring Labsitters.com, and an art spotlight with Antonio Signorini.
The Cultural Salon hosts two events this month. On April 3, a special ladies luncheon with Barbara Brodbeck, sponsored by Ladies Adventures Florence, outlines what to expect from the menopause and how to navigate these natural changes in a woman’s life. The second on April 4 features a talk by Professor Lynn Catterson about Stefano Bardini, the master marketeer of his time.
The British Institute hosts a lecture by Joseph Luzzi, author and Professor of Literature at Bard College presents his book Botticelli’s Secret, which tells the story of how the rediscovery of these lost works in the 19th century led to a revival of interest in Botticelli, leading to his return among the A-list of Renaissance artists. The registration fee is 10 euro per person.
Book your spotThe Canadia-born best selling author Ross King speaks with Paola Vojnovic for a special zoom event. The two will discuss the Florentine Renaissance and its rediscovery of architecture and visual space. The minimum suggested donation is 20 euro and due to time changes, the hour of the event goes as follows: 10am Los Angeles, 11am Phoenix, 1pm NY & Toronto, 6pm London, 7pm Florence. If you would like to RSVP, please send an email to Paola50122@gmail.com.
More on Ross KingCinema Astra presents blockbuster movie screenings this week. The beloved Marcel the Shell (voiced by Jenny Slate) hits the big screen and local audiences can follow his great adventure. The much anticipated Babylon starring Margot Robbie will also be coming to the cinema. The screenings will be in English with Italian subtitles.
Also screening at Cinema Astra is the documentary Amante Sponde by Egidio Eronico. This film is without words, only using imagery and music.
Buy your ticketsThe Italian League for the Fight against Cancer organizes meetings (in Italian) throughout the month aimed at individuals who are looking to quit smoking. Led by psychologist and psychotherapist Claudia Bricci, participants will have the opportunity to learn about the many risk factors associated with smoking as well as coping mechanisms to quit the habit.
Find out moreAcademy Award-winning director Bong Joon-Ho visits Florence for the Florence Korea Film Fest. Mastermind behind thrillers such as Parasite, Mother and other noteworthy films, this is Bong Joon-Ho’s first trip back to Florence since 2011. Events will welcome a lineup of other directors, actors and film powerhouses to participate in this fest dedicated to contemporary South Korean cinematography.
For one of the cutest ways to welcome in the spring, visit this pick-your-own-flower farm with 300,000 tulips from more than 100 different varieties to choose from. We can’t think of a better way to get outside and spruce up your living room with a fresh handpicked bouquet.
Cuba-Born artist Enrique Martínez Celaya opens his sculpture exhibition Watching and Waiting at the Museo Marino Marini. Celaya originally comes from a scientific background and has experimented with several other art mediums such as photography, videography, and writing. He resides in Los Angeles and this is his first show in Italy. He will feature his sculptural works from 2005-2023.
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.