Best events in Florence this week

Firenze dei Bambini

The much-loved family fest returns for a packed programme of engaging activities for little ones in many of the city’s most spectacular spots, including a sleepover in Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, and Museo Stefano Bardini (sold out). This year’s theme is ‘Let’s build peace – The song of the world’, with hundreds of free entry activities all over, from Geronimo Stilton themed shows to the solar system and dance.

Dario and friends at Cecchini in Città

Marking Dario Cecchini’s 50 years as a butcher, 25hours Hotel in piazza San Paolino hosts Dario in person along with other celebrated butchers. 50 euro ensures unlimited food and wine,  with a convivial style dining event. Lorenzo Chini brings his legendary hams, Riccardo Ricci and Moto Macellaio prepare delicious tacos, and Fabrizio Mazzantini, winner of the title Best Sandwich in Italy, presents his award-winning hamburger, along with other creations. All the Cecchini specialties, from meat and pasta to sandwiches and desserts will also be available.

Living Table and Only Usato Market

Manifattura Tabacchi hosts an artistic project by Susanna Stigler that combines performance and creativity. The programme includes origami workshops and the aquatic world of the Officina Botanica with Peggy in Florence and Susanna Stigler, and ‘Carta che vola!’ with Floor Robert, a poetic and participatory experience where manual skills become stories and art takes shared form. On the same day, make sure to check out the Only Usato Market, created by artist Katia Giuliani, on site from 11am to 8pm, were you can find second-hand and vintage pieces in a sustainability-centred shopping experience with a DJ set by Santamama, Etta Evans and Queen LaTipah.

Corsini Gardens Cultural Walk

Memorial Day Ceremony 2025

Every year on the last Monday in May, Americans around the world remember those who have fallen while serving in the U.S. military. In Tuscany, the community comes together at the Florence American Cemetery to pay their respects to the 4,392 U.S. servicemen and women buried there and to the 1,409 names of those still missing in action. The annual Memorial Day ceremony takes place on Monday, May 26 at 11:00 a.m. at the Florence American Cemetery.

Meet the artisans at Il Bisonte

Dive deeper into finely crafted Tuscan artisanal leather goods with a special meet-the-artisans event taking place from 11am to 6pm.

Toscanello d’Oro

Six days celebrating wine, the territory, and culture include special guests like Irene Grandi, Paolo Ruffini and Orietta Berti as part of the 56th edition of the festival. The programme also includes activities for little ones, as well as music, culinary challenges and a historical procession. There’s even a padel tournament at the Polisportiva Curiel and the 10km Toscanello race.

Cantine Aperte

Wine lovers make their way to the many wineries that open their doors for a weekend showcasing the best that Tuscany’s vineyards have to offer.

The Season at NYU Florence

The Season at NYU Florence begins May 26, with the enchanting Accademia degli Assetati orchestra, famous for spirited interpretations of composers from Brahms and Boccherini to David Bowie and Bruno Mars. On May 29, renowned scholar Michael Lamb will discuss his vital book A Commonwealth of Hope, a reinterpretation of St. Augustine’s political views that received rave reviews in everything from The Wall Street Journal to the Review of Metaphysics.

Razza Umana

A selection of 500 faces from the immense visual archive of 100,000 visages photographed by Oliviero Toscani and his students and collaborators goes on display in homage to the renowned artist.

Dissolvenze - Corrispondere al tempo

Works by the duo Simoncini. Tangi curated by Valentina Gensini go on display in the Murate Art District, with the works exploring invisible transformations and continuous change. Immersive, site-specific installations can be visited with free entry.

Italia Tosta

Manifattura Tabacchi (via delle Cascine 35) hosts performances and concerts from May 8 to June 6 as Italia Tosta explores new sound languages and radical experimentation. Dedicated to contemporary music research, the festival shines the spotlight on artists and composers who rewrite the boundaries of musical expression. Emiliano Maggi performs on May 8, followed by Jonáš Gruska – Axis Mundi Sound on May 16, Nobile on May 22, Elvin Brandhi in collaboration with Nub, OOH-Sounds and Affektenlehre on May 30, and De’ Lamperi on June 6.

Humanitas – The strength of love

9 bronze installations by sculptor Andrea Roggi go on display in the internal cloister, made using the lost wax casting technique. The expressive works represent the Tree of Life and dialogue with the sacred setting.

Vertigine - Franco Zampetti

A selection of photographs of the Cathedral of Florence goes on show in the Libreria Brunelleschi, with free admission. The seven large-format shots highlight the Cathedral’s beauty, with the Baptistery, Giotto’s Bell Tower, and various angles captured by Franco Zampetti.

Baroque Festival Florence

14 concerts see talented musicians in spectacular venues, including some that are not usually open to the public, like the Chapter House of Santa Felicita that features frescoes from the Giotto school.

Di mondi lontanissimi

After ten years, artist Guerilla Spam returns to Florence with over 30 works formed from the idea of reconstructing the lost cycle of frescoes created by Pontormo for the Basilica of San Lorenzo in the mid-1500s, moving between space and time and darkness and colour to very distant worlds.

Time for Women!

Time for Women! Empowering Visions in 20 Years of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women’ is an exhibition showcasing the works of nine winners of the prize from 2005 to today: Margaret Salmon, Hannah Rickards, Andrea Büttner, Laure Prouvost, Corin Sworn, Emma Hart, Helen Cammock, Emma Talbot and Dominique White, covering painting, video, sculpture and installation and themes such as dentity, memory, the body, society and politics.