Best events in Florence this week May 11-18 2023

Here’s our round-up for May 11-18, 2023.

Even the wet weather can’t put a dampener on the many children’s activities, charitable events and festival openings in Florence this week.

The Florentine Issue 300 Party

Raise a glass to The Florentine’s longevity as an independent magazine and hang out with Florence’s international community. Includes light bites, a glass of Ruffino wine and a small donation to a local charity.

Get your ticket now!
10 May 2023
MEETING

Women's International Network of Florence

Join WIN for their monthly meeting with the Women in Wine guided wine-tasting and apericena at Palazzo San Niccolò. Reservations are mandatory and the cost for the event is 25 euro for WIN members and 30 euro for non WIN members.

11 May 2023
LECTURE

The Pinocchio Papers

Author and foreign correspondent John Hooper joins bicultural language lecturer Anna Kraczyna for a talk on The Adventures of Pinocchio and how a 150-year-old Italian puppet became an icon for our times.

Roger Low & Scott Faigen

Roger Low, who was the former principal cello in the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Orchestra under the direction of Zubin Mehta joins The British Institute with pianist Scott Faigen for a delightful musical performance.

May 11,18
CHILDREN'S BOOKS

Storytime

Join the Children’s Lending Library on via Rucellai throughout May for Storytime. On May 11, children can enjoy a reading of Brother Eagle Sister Sky on May 11 and Spring Story on May 18. These nature-inspired reads are a great way to welcome in the spring weather and get the little ones interested in fun, nature-filled books.

11 May 2023 - 30 June 2023
FESTIVAL

The Season

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.

Learn more
12 May 2023
FILM

Signs of Love

Cinema Astra hosts a special event on May 12 with a screening and presentation of the film Signs of Love (2022) directed by Clarence Fuller. Stars Hopper Penn and Zoe Sidel join the cinema to talk about the film. Signs of Love won the first edition of the Corbucci Prize in 2022 and Cinema Astra screens the film in English.

The Florentine newsletter subscribers can enjoy a reduced ticket price of 6 euro. In order to receive the discount, you must present the newsletter at the box office. (the discount is only applicable by purchasing the ticket at the box office). 

12 May 2023 - 14 May 2023
FESTIVAL

Volare Festival of Flight

Keep your head in the clouds at this flighty affair and be amazed by kites, drones, model airplanes, hot air balloon rides (three every day!) and more as they soar through the sky. There will also be workshops for children on flight where they can learn about Leonardo da Vinci’s revolutionary inventions and meet real life pilots.

12 May 2023
SEASON

Molo Firenze

An unofficial start to the summer season, Molo Firenze kicks off their warm weather events. Sustainability initiatives, children’s workshops, exercise classes and delicious foods are just a few things people can expect from the list of activities spanning out until September.

13 May 2023 - 14 May 2023
WINE

Tasting Greve 2023

Wine lovers rejoice for a weekend in Chianti filled with wine tasting. The members of the Greve in Chianti Grape Growers Association open their doors for an experience featuring 21 wineries to taste from. The cost to participate for both days is 28 euro and the cost to participate for one day is 20 euro.

Buy your tickets
13 May 2023
CHARITY

Bike ride for children in Haiti

The Tour de France will commence with its 111th edition in 2024 and will begin its route in Florence. Ayiti Cheri hosts a charitable bike ride spanning the first leg of the route from Florence to Rimini to raise funds for the children of the BRESMA orphanage in Port-au-Prince in Haiti. The ride is free and open to all with options of reduced distances for those who want to join even for just a few kilometers.

Register Here
13 May 2023
ART CLASS

Arte al Sole

This children’s art class focuses on a Renaissance-inspired illustrated botanical book, where kids will look at historical herbariums and watch the instructor demonstrate drawing and lettering techniques. The class is for children aged 6-14 and the cost is 60 euro per person; all materials included.

Night of Museums

Spend a night at the museum this weekend. Il Museo Nazionale del Bargello and Museo delle Cappelle Medicee extend their opening hours into the evening for guests to enjoy later into the night.  Il Museo Nazionale del Bargello will keep its doors open until 10pm and Museo delle Cappelle Medicee will stay open until 10:50pm (last entry at 10pm). The cost to participate in these extended hours for both museums is 1 euro. Creative workshops will also be offered for children to learn more about Michelangelo Buonarroti and his astounding works. On May 13 and 14, the Con la stella di fronte workshop will teach children ages 4-7 how to make a lunar crown inspired by the diadem of Night, sculpted by Buonarroti for the New Sacristy. All activities are free with reservations required (20 children maximum). To reserve, please email 900laboratorio@gmail.com.

Limon-abile

Watch wheelchair tennis this May at hyperactive Tennis Club Limonaia as eight wheelchair and eight able-bodied players pick up their racquets and play doubles to raise awareness that disability is not always a barrier to sports. Their agility, skill and positive attitude will add a renewed perspective on life. Call Cinzia +39 338 2222748 or Daniele +39 340 9802143 for more information.

14 May 2023
HOLIDAY

Mother's Day Pop up

Don’t forget Mother’s Day this Sunday. There’s no better way to celebrate your favorite woman than to get her something beautiful. Angel rooftop bar hosts a pop up featuring local artisans with handmade gifts. With everything from jewelry to clothing, she is bound to find something she’ll love and enjoy it with a stunning view of Florence.

14 May 2023
SKATEBOARDING

Spring Summer Jam

The Fortezza Skate Crew hosts a day for skaters. Check out the free skate lessons, sessions and contests for skaters of all abilities. This is a great opportunity for longtime skaters or anyone looking to learn a new skill, find their local skateboarding community and push some wood.

May 14,16,23
DOCUMENTARY

Stonebreakers

Cinema La Compagnia screens Stonebreakers, a documentary that recounts the recent battles relating to the demolition of confederate and colonial statues in the United States.

Buy your tickets
15 May 2023
MEET THE AUTHOR

John Hooper

The British Institute continues its Meet the Author series with John Hooper’s The Italians. Simon Gammell will chair the event with a book club-style discussion of the book and then broaden into a wider chat with the author. The event can be joined in person or online via zoom.

Register Here
16 May 2023
ONLINE

Restoration Conversations

Tune in with science historian and museum project coordinator Natacha Fabbri for a special conversation on Galileo and the Grand Duchess Christina. This is an online event that will take place live from the Galileo Museum in Florence. The free livestream will begin at 5pm in Italy, 11am EST, 8am PST, and 4pm n the UK.

Live video
16 May 2023
SOCIAL

Cheese Please

The Cultural Salon hosts its second event of the month. The Cheese Please wine and cheese pairing at Formaggioteca Terroir with expert and owner Rebecca Gouttenoire. The cost is 45 euro and includes the tasting of five cheeses and Italian wines.

17 May 2023
LECTURE

All in the (Medici) Family: Cultural Propaganda in Palazzo Pitti

Alexandra Lawrence walks guests through the pictorial journey that celebrates the role of Lorenzo the Magnificent in transforming Florence into a ‘new Athens’ through his legendary patronage of renowned artists, poets, philosophers and more. The registration fee for the event is 10 euro and can be joined both in person and online.

Register Here

Special Wine & Craft Event

K-OVER in collaboration with Fattoria Santo Stefano hosts an exclusive exhibition of silver champagne covers. Participants will have the opportunity to see a Master Silversmith handcraft a champagne cover using ancient techniques. Along with the presentation, there will be a wine tasting hour. To RSVP, contact 3515148223 or send an email to sale@k-over.com.

19 May 2023 - 21 May 2023
CHILDREN

Firenze dei Bambini

This is the 10th edition of Firenze dei Bambini, a festival dedicated to stories and novels for children. The festival will offer three days of free events where children can discover the magical world of literature through activities, workshops, readings, and performances throughout the city.

Every Thursday
COCKTAILS

Art in Mixology

Join Irene Bar every Thursday throughout the month of May for cocktail nights with live music. Head barman Federico Galli reinterprets the art of Florence through his specialty drinks that are inspired by renowned artists who have left their marks on the city. Some of the artists these creative cocktails are inspired by include Olafur Eliasson, Antonio Signorini, Igor Mitoraj, and Tony Cragg. The cost is 18 euro and includes a cocktail and cicchetti.

Until May 21
EXHIBITION

The Mother Road

Artist Hayley Eichenbaum presents her exhibition The Mother Road which is the fifth stage of the SuperNatural cycle curated by Irene Alison and Paolo Cagnacci. The SuperNatural cycle explores the transition from natural to artificial, ancestral and supernatural dimensions through the works of some of the most interesting photographers internationally. Eichenbaum’s work is a journey through the American dream with psychedelic elements using neon signs, gas station motifs, palm trees, and colorful sunsets.

Until May 28
MEMORIAL

La Stagione Stragista

Young Florntine painter Gianluca Braccini opens his solo show in dedication to the 30th anniversary of the Via dei Georgofili massacre curated by Arianna Canalicchio. Viewers will be able to learn more about the crime and the stories of the innocent victims through Braccini’s interpretive paintings of journalistic images from the event.

Until May 29
EXHIBITION

The Sea Memory (lost)

American artist Enrique Martínez Celaya takes up two homes in Florence with his second exhibition opening at Secci Gallery. This time showing works of a different medium but equally grand size, Celaya presents an exhibition of paintings with flowers as the main subject.

Until May 27
ART

Trees of Light

Luciano Sabadin hosts his first solo show in Florence curated by Francesca Sacchi Tommasi and Ilaria Maria d’Urbano. The show features 30 or so acrylic paintings depicting strong black and white contrasts. Sabadin initially began his creative journey through music and songwriting before switching over to painting after the pandemic.

Until June 5
EXHIBITION

Watching and Waiting

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.

Until June 18
OPENING

Manifattura Tabacchi: The Factory and Katja Novitskova

Manifattura Tabacchi expands their horizons with new spaces dedicated to restaurants, cafes, stores, offices, artisanal workshops, and even a roof top garden. What was once an old tobacco factory is already one of the most innovative spaces in the city, working as an event space, art residency, and university campus for several years now. This new expansion morphs the multifunctional space into a true creative factory and a hub for creative culture.

Kicking off the artistic side of things, Manifattura Tabacchi hosts the works of Katja Novitskova, an internationally renowned Estonian artist. This exhibition is in part with the Reaching for the Stars exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi and is on display until June 18. Among other artistic efforts is the new B11 workshop, which has been transformed to house initiatives such as the Toast Project Space for contemporary artists.

Until June 25
NATURE EXHIBITION

Explore, Planet Earth

National Geographic returns to Pisa’s foremost exhibition space for a major photographic show that revolves around the exploration of Planet Earth. Starting with a set of images that National Geographic’s photographers captured to document the beauty of our ecosystems, the show zooms in on what we know (and don’t know) about the planet where we live, as well as the human impact on the environment over the millennia.

Exhibition info
Until September 5
EXHIBITION

Luca Giordano-Maestro Barocco a Firenze

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
LIGHT MODE
DARK MODE