The Multicolored Rificolonas come back and enlighten Florence

A traditional and very ancient event of Florence has come back: the Feast of Rificolona!

The Feast of Rificolona is a traditional Florentine event that takes its origins before the 20th century and also this year it will take place in Florence on 6th and 7th September 2010.

The following events are scheduled:

September, Monday 6th:
Rificolona in Arno river. Parade – Papier mâché allegories on boats enlightened by paper lanterns and prize-giving for the most original rificolona.

September, Tuesday 7th:
From Santa Croce Square to SS. Annunziata Square there will be a (more…)

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Florence celebrates its Patron Saint with the Historical Football and Fireworks

As every year, on June 24th 2010, Florence will celebrate St. John’s Day, the patron saint of the city, with several initiatives and events where all the city of Florence will take part in.

In the morning, an historical procession made up of flag throwers will go from Piazza della Signoria to the baptistery in order to offer the candles to the patron and later on, the Saint Mass will take place with the exposition of the remains of St. John.

In the afternoon, one of the traditional and most beloved Florentine events will wait for you in Piazza Santa Croce, which arouses enthusiasm in all the citizens: Calcio in Costume (Football in Traditional Costumes), also called “Florentine historical football”, a medieval version of football - let’s say just a little bit “bloody”, a sort of fusion among fighting, football and rugby :-).

Teams taking part in the competition are four (Blue, White, Red and Green) and represent the main districts of Florence.

In the end of the day, at 10 pm fantastic fireworks will wait for you from the striking scenery of Piazzale Michelangelo. The best place for watching the fireworks is surely Ponte Santa Trinità bridge, where you will see Ponte Vecchio bridge close-up and the fireworks in the background.

You can’t miss such a fabulous show of lights and colors! Let’s celebrate together the beginning of the summer!

Further information about events in Florence are available on www.aboutflorence.com

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Opening of the New Museo Galileo in Florence: remembering the Great Scientist

Here we go. After 2 years of restoration and radical renovation, the Museo di Storia della Scienza (Institute and Museum of the History of Science)in Florence reopens its doors to the public under a different name: Museo Galileo (Galileo Museum).

Such an event is conceived in order to celebrate the International Astronomy Year (2009), an UNESCO initiative to commemorate the astronomy and science discoveries made by the Pisan scientist. And what’s a better way to pay homage to him than a new and modern Museum?

The Museo Galileo will host more than 1,000 invaluable instruments and experimental apparatuses belonging to Medici and Lorraine families, (more…)

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The Great Arts & Music come back in Florence: Maggio Musicale Fiorentino 2010

The greatest and most expected appointment with music, dance and theatre comes back in Florence with its sweet, bitter, harrowing and trenchant notes.

Emotions come back with several performances starring great artists and titles. In fact, since last April 29th, the 73rd edition of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the festival dedicated to the art of music, ballet and opera has come back in Florence. This year, the event brings with it the charming East, in the pursuit of exotic and multi-ethnic themes, from Mozart to contemporary music, with the title “Verso Oriente” (“Toward the East”).

The Maggio Fiorentino playbill schedules great opera (more…)

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The Art of Making comes back in Florence: 74th Handicrafts Trade Fair

This spring, Florence will really enchant its visitors. Yes, because the 74th edition of the Handicrafts Trade Fair comes back, a very famous and expected event in the city of craftsmen and artists.

As usual, such an event will be held at Fortezza da Basso in Florence, from April 24th to May 2nd, a perfect occasion for discovering and re-discovering the high quality local handmade products coming from every corner of Italy: furniture, fashion, culinary products which tell something about every Italian region.

ART - International Arts and Crafts Exhibition will come back to make visitors marveling at its original products during the following opening hours: everyday from 10.00 am to 11.00 pm (last day from 10.00 am to 8.00 pm).

As always, the trade fair is made up of 6 main sectors according to the theme: Territori, Scene d’Interni, Il Gusto, Scenari dal Mondo, Scenari di Moda & Preziosi, Visioni. A meeting point between producers and consumers: the art of creation, the art of craftsmen, small and medium firms, interior designers, architects, galleries or shops owners.

You have absolutely to discover such a dimension at Fortezza da Basso in Florence. You won’t regret it!

In addition, it is a perfect chance to visit the city of Florence, with its museums, great monuments, squares and gardens that get more and more beautiful in spring time!

For further information about the Handicrafts Trade Fair 2010 or other events in Florence, please take a look at the website www.aboutflorence.com

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The “Burst of The Cart” comes back in Florence

The magic and explosive “Brindellone” comes back in Florence!

As it uses to be, also this year Florence will celebrate Easter Day with the spectacular “Burst of the Cart“. The event will take place in Piazza Duomo on Sunday April 4th 2010 at 11.00 am.

We’re talking about a very ancient Florentine ceremony which has its origins in the age of the first crusade which took place in order to rescue the Holy Sepulchre from unfaithful people. A big cart, called “Brindellone” and decorated with ornaments, is carried by white oxen along the streets of the city, from Porta al Prato to piazza Duomo.

The cart is linked to the Dome Main Altar by a steel thread, and during the daily midday mass, the Cardinal Archbishop lights a rocket in the shape of a dove, Easter peace’ symbol, which will come down through the thread ‘til the “Brindellone”, which full of fireworks will burst with lights and colors. How wonderful!

Legend says that if the little dove didn’t reach its destination, it symbolized a bad harvest that year: nowadays, if it happens people think that it could be (more…)

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Taste n.5: The Gastronomy Fair comes back in Florence

The most expected and refined itinerary into taste will come back soon: Taste n. 5, as usual offered by Pitti Immagine.

This year, the renowned gastronomic event will take place from 13th to 15th March 2010 at Stazione Leopolda in Florence, for delighting and satisfying the palate of expert or simply curious people. Three days full of tasting, buying, delicacies and events dedicated to food.

Taste. In viaggio con le diversità del gusto will take place in a great showroom featuring 200 specialist and élite companies which will let you discover and rediscover the treasures of Italian food and the biological diversities of food in the global age.

Taste is an exciting experience which everyone can try, from Haute Cuisine to simple visitors, for whoever loves cooking, special ingredients and high quality food.

Lost into Taste, visitors will have the chance to discover and follow different itineraries divided (more…)

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The enchanting Fashion of Pitti Immagine comes back in Florence

The great fashion-event comes back in the city of Florence. The 77^th edition of Pitti Immagine Uomo and Pitti W_Woman Precollection n°5 come back at Fortezza da Basso in Florence.

This year, we remind you the new special layout designed by the architect Elio di Franco in order to pay homage to the brand Everlast which celebrates its 100^th anniversary, and the debut of a cult contemporary jeanswear brand, Denham from Holland, and other international debuts in the field of fashion.

From 12^th to 15^th January, Pitti Uomo presents a brand new layout: the Main Pavilion in fact has been revolutionized by the designer Patricia Urquiola, who created a sort of urban fashion district (more…)

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With Florence Noel, It’s already Christmas in Florence

Snowflakes and polar bears, sparkling lights and gifts, reindeers and elfs assistants of Santa Claus… Is it Lapland? No, it’s Florence!

From 5th to 13th December 2009, the Stazione Leopolda will become a magic place hosting Florence Noel, a trade fair dedicated to Christmas time and its lovers. A perfect occasion not only for shopping, but also to be completely overwhelmed by an atmosphere of feast, to make children happy and to become kids again.

In fact, the exhibition stands will be set in a really evocative scenography, full of special effects.
In the outside front area an exciting never-stopping artificial snowfall will whiten the firs carried from the mountains and the visitors’ heads looking up.
You will also be amazed by “Polar Ice”, in which the North pole and its inhabitants are represented with 5 kilometers of Christmas lights.

But the best has yet to come: at Florence Noel you will have the chance to visit Santa Claus’s house, perfectly reproduced, and you may also meet Father Christmas in person!
Haven’t you asked yet your present? No problem! “Letters Point” is at your disposal, (more…)

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“Tuscany Feast” 2009. When the past teaches the progress

Tuscany can boast of several records, especially one: this region was the first in the world to abolish the capital punishment. In fact on November 30^th 1796, the enlightened Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo banished confiscation, torture and death penalty through a single law.

Since 2001, Tuscany has been celebrating this historical occurrence with an official feast, which even schedules a holiday for the schools of the ancient Grand Duchy and a program rich of events spread on all the regional area.

This initiative aims not only to remind and celebrate a defining moment of modern history, but in particular to reflect on the present and the future of the whole mankind. It’s important to notice, in fact, that the capital punishment is still applied in many countries in the world, and that Italian State is fighting for its abolition with an international moratorium at UN.

Hence this topic is a living matter, together with other related issues as democracy, peace, equality and justice all over the world.

Tuscany Feast so deals with values which are not only strictly related to death penalty, but also to other current problems, such as dialogue among different cultures and inclusion, sexual equality and deaths on-the-job. For this reason, during the event, congresses, lectures and official meetings are scheduled, to which (more…)

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