Tuscan Trends • 3rd July 2025

Free Porretta Soul Preview Performance — Tuscan Trends

The 37th annual Porretta Soul Festival is coming up on July 24 through July 27. There is, however. a preview on July 9 introducing the audience to what Porretta Soul has to offer.
On July 9, the festival will highlight the harmonic voices of the 66-piece choir, Uniting Voices Chicago, conducted by Josephine Lee. Their performance will begin at 9 pm at the Porretta Terme Rufus Thomas Park. The choir has performed for several notable guests, including Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and the Dalai Lam...

Tuscan Trends • 23rd June 2025

Music & Sumptuous Settings: Spend the Summer Like a Medici at 'Enchanted Villas & Gardens' — Tuscan Trends

The nineth annual installment of Florence’s renowned summer classical music festival, the Ville e Giardini Incantati (Enchanted Villas and Gardens) by the Orchestra della Toscana, began on June 6 and will continue through July 16. 
A majority of the events take place at the famous Medici Villas, which have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and feature music performed by the Orchestra della Toscana. The series’s repertoire consists of music from Viennese classic composers such as Moza...

Magenta Florence • 12th August 2025

Summertime at Lake Bilancino, North of Florence – Magenta Publishing Florence

If you want to cool off in crystal clear water but taking a long train ride to the Italian coast is not your cup of tea, Lake Bilancino is the perfect option.  Located only 50 minutes away from Florence by car, this man-made lake is ideal for a day trip or weekend excursion.  
It is also a great place to spend the Ferragosto holiday, which will end with spectacular fireworks in the night sky above the lake; click here to see other events of the day in Florence and Tuscany.
To arrive at the lake...

Magenta Florence • 21st July 2025

Florence's Public Pools 2025: Beating the Heat – Magenta Publishing Florence

While Florence has experienced shockingly record-breaking heat, local pools offer a wide variety of options for those looking to cool down. Depending on your location your day plans, and your preferred pool environment, there is bound to be a Florentine public pool within a reachable distance by public transportation or walking.
All the pools mentioned in this article have on-staff lifeguards and some form of refreshment station to ensure that you can beat the Florence summer heat safely and com...

Magenta Florence • 14th July 2025

Free July & August Concerts in Piazza Signoria – Magenta Publishing Florence

Florence’s celebration of international ensembles on tour will continue through August 8. The Festival Internazionale delle Orchestre Giovanili (International Festival of Youth Orchestras) spotlights the talent of young, talented musicians from all over the world in a series of free concerts.
Most of concerts are held at Piazza della Signoria, with exception for the one on August 5. The performances begin promptly at 9 pm and are free to attend. 
This week concludes with a performance by the Swi...

Magenta Florence • 8th July 2025

A Get-Together for Peace & Hope in English – Magenta Publishing Florence

St. Mark’s English Church is hosting “A Time to Lament, a Time to Hope” on July 11 at 8 pm. The gathering aspires to uplift the Florentine community during this period of global distress and uncertainty. 
Welcoming all faiths, St. Mark’s is an Anglican church located on Via Maggio 16-18. In an attempt to alleviate the tension of discrepancies in the world, St. Mark’s is organizing a gathering for people to focus on hope. The get-together will feature music, art, poetry, and the serenity of silen...

Magenta Florence • 7th July 2025

Florence 'All Stars' Play for Tradition & Charity – Magenta Publishing Florence

The eighth edition of the All Star Game Florence began on July 7 and will continue through July 13. This event combines assorted sports with Florence’s established traditions to create an athletic spectacle at Piazzale Michelangelo.
The All Star Game involves the four historic neighborhoods of the city. Florence’s districts are divided into Santo Spirito (white), Santa Croce (blue), San Giovanni (green) and Santa Maria Novella (red). The teams participating in the sports will represent these dis...

Magenta Florence • 7th July 2025

'Apriti Cinema': Free Films at the Pitti Palace – Magenta Publishing Florence

Summer is in full swing in Florence, and one of the best ways to enjoy the season is to enjoy free movies screening every evening in the Pitti Palace courtyard.
Florence’s series of free films, Apriti Cinema (Open Cinema), is hosted by an outdoor cinema arena that plays movies under the stars throughout warm weather. The event began in June, and fortunately, will continue through July 27. The showings begin at 9:45 p.m. nightly and are completely free, as long as seating is available. 
The event...

Magenta Florence • 4th July 2025

'Amici della Musica Off': Courtyard Chamber Music Concerts – Magenta Publishing Florence

One of Florence’s vibrant music festivals began on June 25. Fortunately, there are still two performances left in the Amici della Musica OFF festival. These final performances will take place on July 7 and July 10. 
Following last year’s success with the first-ever Amici della Musica OFF, the concert series continued this year. All of the concerts haven taken place at 9 pm in the Women’s Courtyard of the Istituto degli Innocenti.
On Monday, July 7, Il Violoncelli del Mozarteum (The Mozarteum Cel...

Magenta Florence • 20th June 2025

Florence's San Giovanni Celebrations 2025 – Magenta Publishing Florence

Florence’s celebration of its patron saint is on June 24, bringing time-honored events to celebrate the feast day of St. John the Baptist (San Giovanni Battista), the Florentine way. 
Festivities in Florence include a final match for a traditional Florentine sport (Calcio Storico Fiorentino), a boat race, historic costume parades, and a fireworks display overlooking the Arno.  June 24 is also a legal holiday within city limits.
The celebration kicked off two days prior to the feast day on June 2...

Magenta Florence • 18th June 2025

June 21 Summer Solstice Free Holistic Activities & Concerts – Magenta Publishing Florence

The summer solstice is approaching, and Florence’s historic convent-turned-café, the Cherubini Conservatory and Fiesole’s Roman theatre are offering plethora of free activities on the longest day of the year.
Il Conventino is located on Via della Giana della Bella in Florence near Porta Romana. This year, in collaboration with Associazione Città Sostenibile (Sustainable City Association), Il Conventino is hosting its third celebration of International Yoga Day on June 21, the day of the Summer S...

Magenta Florence • 17th June 2025

Long-Awaited Uffizi Crane Removal – Magenta Publishing Florence

After 19 years, Florence’s beautiful skyline will no longer be obstructed by the crane outside the Uffizi Gallery. Deconstruction of the crane began on June 16 and will conclude on June 21.
The crane, which is over 196 feet tall, has been a fixture at the gallery since 2006. It was initially set up to carry out the “Grandi Uffizi” project,  an ongoing attempt to modernize the famous gallery that included a new exit designed by Arata Isozaki. Despite the ambition, the project received multiple se...