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And, best of all, a lot of it is free! Not a boring Summer
[Susan Glasspool]
Parents or relations visiting? You will find it easy enough to amuse them and yourselves this summer when they come to Florence because you can find an incredible variety of events and entertainment going on practically every evening. After a long day visiting museums and monuments, nothing is better than sitting down and relaxing with a cool drink to listen to a concert or poetry reading in one of the city squares. Apart from the organised events, dozens of improvised performances and "happenings" can of course be seen just by wandering through the streets. Here we will give a rough guide to places and events that are certainly worth investigating in the evening, time and energy permitting! Anyway part of the fun is discovering things for oneself.
This year's editon of Summer in Florence makes use of squares like Piazza Santo Spirito, Piazza della Libertà (Parterre), the Ramps above San Niccolò, and of course Piazza della Signoria and the Loggia dei Lanzi, which in fact will host all the main events in Senza Confine (Without limits), from July 8th to 13th. Zubin Mehta opens the series, conducting the Maggio Orchestra on May 8th, followed by the suite from Romeo and Juliet performed by MaggioDanza ballet on July 9th, Mauro Pagani with Alfonso Sintesis on July 10th, the Avion Travel on July 11th, the Banda Improvvisa and the Casa del Vento, on July 12th and last, but certainly not least, the extraordinary voice of Noa with the Maggio Orchestra on July 13th. The wonderful setting of Piazza S.S. Annunziata as usual hosts a wide variety of events that range from music, theatre, ballet, singing, videos, art, literature and poetry.
Then the various parks in the outskirts of the city (but within easy walking distance) offer a variety of events, starting with the Boboli Gardens, which hosts this year’s Opera Festival, and other events in the grounds of Villa Fabbricotti (Via Vittorio Emanuele), Villa Strozzi, Villa Vogel, San Salvi and in the Park of Albereta or further afield in the gardens of the Castello dell'Acciaiolo at Scandicci.
This year the Fortezza da Basso is right in the act because the pleasant gardens and the large pool (La Vasca) attached to it will be the setting for aperitifs, dinners, live music and cultural meetings. Should be fun!
Tolstoi also becomes part of the summer festival with readings from Warad Peace by actors from the Lombardi-Tiezzi theatre company in the Botanical Gardens or "Gardens of Simples (Herbs)", part of the Museum of Natural History of Florence (entrance from Via La Pira 10). A good way of improving your Italian as well as enjoying this magnificent old herb garden.
Piazza Santo Spirito - always a hive of activity - instead hosts concerts, cabaret or street theatre.
Classical music has always been one of Florence’s primary interests. This can be seen from the large number of orchestras and cultural associations that have been working in the city for years. Florence Classical Festival takes off from June (with the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina) to September with a series of wonderful concerts held in equally wonderful environs, the Church of Santo Stefano al Ponte and Orsanmichele.
The eighth edition of the International Festival of European Youth Orchestras at the Church of Santo Stefano al Ponte from July 7th to 25th, brings fresh and stimulating talent to the city. This year classical music has been grouped under
Dancing under the stars in the old Lemon House at Villa Strozzi (Via Pisana 77) with Maggiodanza directed by Giorgio Mancini, in collaboration with Quarter 4 and the Tuscan School of Ballet. The setting is wonderful with 24 performances from July 5th to 24th.
Different again are the events at the cultural centre of San Salvi, in the grounds of the old lunatic asylum, with film shows and other etertainment and plenty going on, even in August. It is worth combining a visit to this part of Florence with a stop off at the San Salvi Museum that contains one of Andrea del Sarto's finest masterpieces in the refectory.
The area around the old market of Sant’Ambrogio will also come to life with its Summer Festival that stages a series of concerts (including jazz) in Piazza Ghiberti.
Refreshments are also available.
Even the Arno comes to life with itinerant theatre performances and recitals staged by the Zauber Theatre on the old sand boats (board at Piazza Mentana), often also accompanied by a glass of wine. It is also possible to take boat trips up and down the river. Before climbing up towards Piazzale Michelangelo from the Arno, where one can always get a breath off fresh evening air combined with one of the most beautiful views in the world, it is well worth stopping off at the Piazza San Niccolò or further uphill at the panoramic restaurant of the Rampe where you can enjoy drinks, live music and entertainment, daily after 7pm. The perfect place for a sundowner!
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