Nottarno in Oltrarno Florence

So did everyone have a good “San Giovanni”? Did you enjoy the fireworks? Beautiful!

If you’re still in Florence this weekend, we’ve got another recommendation for you. Saturday night, starting at 9am and continuing on to 3am Sunday the Oltrarno puts together the “Nottarno”, a night of events and activities to head toward the Oltrano area on Saturday evening. Starting at 9pm, the historic neighborhood on the other side of the Arno hosts events along its streets and piazzas to enjoy cultural entertainment, from music to plays and wine.

Some examples:
Via Santa Monaca – jugglers and acrobats, organic wine tasting and jazz concert
Via Camaldoli – get your hand read or your destiny foretold with the pendulum
Piazza del Cestello – “Anfitrione”, a comedy show put on by the students of “commedia dell’arte” from the Teatro Cestello
Piazza Pitti – live music
Piazza del Carmine – dance to Latin-American rhythms
Via Romana and Via Sant’Agostino – businesses will be offering along the street free slices of watermelon, cups of sangria and slices of mortadella
Piazza Poggi – young DJ artists Umberto Saba and Fabio della Torre will make sure music fills the air

The Museum Siviero with its large art collection will remain open as well as the Convitto della Calza.

Summer is finally here! Aside from enjoying a walk with a gelato in hand through downtown, enjoy the special events connected to today’s celebration of Florence‘s patron saint, St. John the Baptist. As you can imagine, the day’s celebrations are mostly religious – including a large mass this morning in the cathedral – but many more are part of Florence’s long history and are fun to watch and participate in.

Starting at 6pm tonight, the parade in historical costume of the Calcio Storico Fiorentino starts in Piazza Santa Maria Novella. The participants in the game as well as musicians, flag-throwers from the Sbandieratori degli Uffizi and city officials will join in the parade toward Piazza Santa Croce.

At 7pm the “friendly” Calcio Storico match begins between the Blues (Santa Croce neighborhood) and Whites (Santo Spirito neighborhood) in Piazza Santa Croce. You can buy your tickets at the Teatro Verdi‘s box office on via Ghibellina 99 starting at 5pm today. Tickets cost from € 15 to € 40, depending on the seating area.

At 8.45pm there is a musical concert along the Lungarno della Zecca while the “Fochi di San Giovanni” or fireworks display starts at 10pm. Just head toward the Arno to get a great view of the fireworks. As they are set up and go off from Piazzale Michelangelo, the piazzale has been closed off to foot traffic all day but the best view is from the Arno, with the fireworks’ bright colors reflecting off the river. See you there tonight!

View photographs of the historical parade and June 24 celebrations »

If you’re still looking for ideas of what to do this weekend in Tuscany, another major event taking place this Saturday is the Giostra del Saracino, or Joust of the Saracen (Moor) in Arezzo.

The whole city turns up in medieval costume to recreate the atmosphere of medieval Arezzo as the quarters of the city compete against each other in a joust to win the Golden Lance. The event has its origins in the Middle Ages and was an evolution of a military training exercise knights used to simulate battle, using a lance to hit a “puppet” of the bad guy, at the time of the Crusades the bad guy being the Saracens or Moors.

Keep reading about the Joust of the Saracen in Arezzo »

Still wondering what to do this weekend in Tuscany? We love medieval festivals and really look forward to heading to San Gimignano this weekend. Famous for its tall medieval towers that create a unique skyline, this weekend San Gimignano will be celebrating the “Ferie delle Messi“, a fertility festival and pageant that dates back to 1255. Street music, theater, markets and a historical costume parade and jousting take you back to Medieval times in the village.

The “Ferie delle Messi” festival was established in the statutes of the comune of San Gimignano from 1255 to 1314, and was celebrated by the whole population – divided into its four districts of San Giovanni, San Matteo, Castello, and Piazza – with dancing, singing, games, and jousting, all with the aim of encouraging a good harvest.

The event takes place on both Saturday and Sunday, the highlight on Sunday being the Grand Procession where around 300 costumed locals, on foot or on horseback, parade in a stream of color along the ancient streets of the historic center to the Rocca di Montestaffoli, where they attend the “Giostra dei Bastoni”.

The jousting tournament is fought by four knights, one from each district. The victor and his district are awarded the prize of a golden sword, symbolising wealth and fertility.

Look forward to celebrating fertility this weekend, will you be joining us?

Finally It’s Summer!

Yes! Finally it’s hot and since I’m 100% Florentine this weekend I go to the coast. In addition this weekend take place the Blue Night from Livorno to Piombino.

For all weekend there are guided tours, concerts and lots of events all along the Tyrrhenian coast, called from Livorno to Piombino the Etruscan Coast. I intend to be in Livorno on Saturday late morning, before 11 am because I’d like to take the tour of fossi by boat (fossi are the water canals built by the Medici to defend the city). Next I have walk by the sea and take some picture to the stunning Mascagni Terrace. Of course I want to take some sun and turn red before dinner. Before dinner I want to visit the Giovanni Fattori Museum, who is one of my favorite Tuscan painter. Then I go near Castiglioncello to Caletta where there is the annual Festa del Pesce (Festival of Seafood). It’s a nice festival on the beach where you can taste good fried fish cooked in a huge frying-pan. The night ends with lovely and romantic fireworks. Read the full post »

After the great success of the extraordinary openings in May, Palazzo Vecchio goes on burning the midnight oil and for the month of June.

Palazzo Vecchio opens every day from 9.00 am to 12.00 am, except on Thursdays and June 24th (9.00 am to 7.00 pm). There are guided tours to Rampart walk running every 30 minutes from 8.00 to 10.30 pm. For reservation and information contact directly Museo dei Ragazzi.

Don’t miss the chance to burn the midnight oil in Palazzo Vecchio this June!

A year is passed and June has come. On the third Saturday of June there will take place a great medieval festival, very famous in Italy: La Giostra del Saracino or the Saracen Joust of Arezzo.

The Saracen Joust takes places twice per year (June and September) in Piazza Grande, beautiful square in Arezzo. This year it’s on June 19th at 9.30 pm. But the festival starts on Friday 11th when Captains take the inaugural oath and the draw of sequence of carriere (charges). Every day from Saturday to Tuesday there are the heats around 7.30 pm. Read the full post »

Finally June has arrived! From the weather you wouldn’t say it, but I’m not worried for my plans for this weekend in Tuscany. Yes, this weekend I don’t plan to stay in Florence but plan on going around Tuscany. So, these are some of my plans.

Saturday morning early wake up, about 9.00, because I want to go to local markets. First I want to go to Impruneta and then to Greve in Chianti. I want to have a “light” lunch in Greve eating some schiacciata (Tuscan bread) filled with sbriciolona (a typical ham) at the Macelleria Falorni in the main square. Then I’ll head to Siena, have to be there before 5 p.m., because at that time starts a big treasure hunt in the historical center. The event is the conclusion of the great wine festival Chianti è. The treasure hunt will also meet the traditions of the Palio and will end with a typical dinner in Contrada. English speaking staff will assist you and reservations are required. Read the full post »