The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best.
DOMENICA AL MUSEO: FREE ENTRANCE TO MUSEUMS
When: Sunday, October 5 – all day
Take advantage of free entrance to a selection of museums: Galleria degli Uffizi, Galleria dell’Accademia, Museo delle Cappelle Medicee, Palazzo Pitti, Museo Nazionale del Bargello, Palazzo Davanzati, Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Casa Martelli, Museo di Orsanmichele, Villa Medicea di Castello, Villa il Ventaglio, Villa Corsini, Villa Medicea della Petraia.
HALEY MELLIN – SIAMO NATURA
Discover the first Italian solo exhibition of American artist and environmental activist Haley Mellin. Through luminous landscape paintings and the creation of a living garden in the museum’s cloister, Mellin explores the connection between art and nature. Siamo Natura invites visitors to reflect on conservation, beauty, and our shared responsibility to protect the world around us.
When: Open Everyday, 11:00am – 8:00pm (closed on Thursdays)
Where: Museo del Novecento – Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 10
Tickets: € 9,50 (€ 4,50 under 25)
TIMELESS PORTRAITS – ROSSANO B. MANISCALCHI
Step into a timeless dialogue between past and present. This exhibition pairs ancient Roman marble busts with photographic portraits by Rossano B. Maniscalchi, exploring identity, memory, and beauty across centuries. Discover the power of the human face as sculpture and lens converge to awaken form, thought, and emotion.
When: Open Everyday, 9:00am – 7:00pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Where: Palazzo Medici Riccardi – Via Cavour, 3
Tickets: € 15,00 (€ 10,00 under 25)
FLORENCE VINTAGE MARKET
Twice a year, Palazzo Corsini opens its doors for a unique vintage shopping experience. Explore a curated selection of high-quality clothing, accessories, and home décor generously donated by private supporters. More than just fashion, this charity market raises vital funds to support seriously ill people and their families.
When: From Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5 – 11:00am to 6:00pm
Where: Palazzo Corsini – Lungarno Corsini, 10
Free entry
INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS FAIR
Ninety ceramic artists from all over Europe will attend the 26th edition of the renowned International Ceramics Fair. From everyday objects to furniture, jewellery and more, many cultures and techniques are present in the two-day market-exhibit, with food and wine adding to the occasion and circular economy projects on display.
When: Saturday & Sunday, October 4 & 5 – 10:00am to 8:00pm
Where: Piazza Santa Croce
STAND UP COMEDY SHOW
A lively improvisation comedy show at The Square Firenze, featuring spontaneous humor and quick-witted performances. The atmosphere is energetic and fun, offering a memorable night of laughter in the heart of Florence.
When: Tuesday, October 7 – 8:45pm
Where: The Square – Via Domenico Cirillo, 1R
SCANDICCI STREET MARKET
Set in Florence’s neighboring town of Scandicci, the yearly street market has something for everyone. Try delicious food from street vendors and enjoy an afternoon of shopping! The street market also offers clothing, handcrafted items, and anything you need to spruce up your fall wardrobe.
Getting there: Take the T1 tram line in front of Florence SMN train station (direction: Villa Costanza) and get off at the stop called Resistenza.
When: From Saturday, October 4 to Sunday, October 12
Open Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri, 4:00pm – 12:00am | Thu, Sat, Sun, 10:00am – 12:00am | October 12 10:00am – 10:00pm
UNIQO MARKET
A brand-new event celebrating contemporary craftsmanship at its finest. For three days, wander through one of Florence’s most iconic squares, transformed into an open-air workshop showcasing unique creations, original pieces, and the talent of handpicked artisans blending tradition with modern trends.
When: From Friday, October 17 to Sunday, October 19
Where: Piazza Santa Croce
Free entry
WE CALL IT BALLET: SLEEPING BEAUTY
Experience the timeless fairytale of Sleeping Beauty like never before, in a dazzling fusion of ballet and light. Ethereal dancers in phosphorescent costumes bring the stage to life with glowing choreography and visual magic. Perfect for all ages, this one-hour show blends classical story with modern spectacle.
When: Sunday, October 19 – 7:00pm
Where: Teatro Cantiere Florida – Via Pisana, 111R
Tickets: starting at € 28,00
PUMPKIN PATCH EXPERIENCE IN TUSCANY
Just outside Florence, at the gateway to Chianti, you can explore a pumpkin-filled autumn wonderland, pick the perfect one to carve, and snap unforgettable fall photos. Then join a carving or painting workshop, enjoy a Pumpkin Spice Latte with cake, and browse the ZuccaShop for seasonal treats.
When: Open every weekend from Friday to Sunday
Where: Via della Libertà 103 – Matassino, Reggello (FI)
Getting there: take a regional train from Firenze Campo di Marte to Figline Valdarno (about 25 minutes), then enjoy a 20-minute walk to reach the Pumpkin Patch.
Tickets here: www.lortodellezucche.it
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
When:
Sunday, October 5 – 3:00pm (Fiorentina vs Roma)
Sunday, October 26 – 6:00pm (Fiorentina vs Bologna)
Buy your tickets online at https://www.acffiorentina.com/en/ticketing or at the Fiorentina Store under the train station (show your ISI Florence card for a discount on Fiorentina merch!)
PISTOIA BASKET GAMES
Where: LumoSquare – Via Fermi, 100 Pistoia
When:
Wednesday, October 8 – 8:30pm (Estra Pistoia vs Livorno)
Sunday, October 26 – 6:00pm (Estra Pistoia vs Cremona)
Come to Student Services (Palazzo Bargagli, 1st floor) if you’re interested in buying tickets for these basketball games!
GIUNTI ODEON LIBRERIA E CINEMA
Open seven days a week, from 8.30 in the morning to the end of each night’s film, Giunti Odeon is the new and improved face of the old Odeon cinema. Built over 100 years ago, Odeon has been a meeting point for cinephiles for over a century. Today, it maintains its mission as a cinema, with the addition of a bookshop, where bookshelves occupy the entire ground floor. One screen guarantees night-time movie projections, while a LED wall ensures daytime entertainment in Italian and English. Explore the beautiful architecture while browsing English and Italian books or stay until late and catch the latest movie in its original language with Italian subtitles.
WINE WINDOWS – BUCHETTE DEL VINO
During the Renaissance, these small openings emerging from the facades of ancient noble palaces were used to sell wine, just like a wine shop would do nowadays. At the end of a work day, tired workers would knock on the wooden shutters from which a capacious glass of wine would be handed over for the price of two florins, the Florentine currency used at the time. These windows were located precisely at elbow height so that the exchange could comfortably take place. To this day we can count 181 wine windows throughout the city, and some of them are still in operation. See how many you can spot!
Stop by Fishmood in Piazza dei Peruzzi, knock on the window, and ask for your drink to go!
LUCCA COMICS & GAMES 2025
When: From Wednesday, October 29 to Sunday, November 2
Price: Tickets starting at € 25,00
https://www.ticketone.it/en/artist/lucca-comics-games/
Experience Italy’s biggest and most famous comic, gaming, and cosplay convention, Lucca Comics & Games! It takes place every year at the end of October and beginning of November, spanning the entirety of the town. Lucca’s picturesque medieval streets provide the perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind event.
Whether you’re a die-hard comic book aficionado, a dedicated gamer, or a fantasy enthusiast, there’s something for everyone at Lucca Comics & Games. The event boasts a vast exhibition area, where you can immerse yourself in the world of comics, manga, and graphic novels.
Getting there: There are frequent regional trains from Florence SMN station to Lucca throughout the day (about 1.5 hr. ride).
CHESTNUT FESTIVAL IN MARRADI
When: Sunday, October 5, 12, 19 & 26
9:00am – 6:00pm
Entrance ticket: € 2,00
Every October, the charming mountain town of Marradi hosts the chestnut festival, a beloved tradition. The festival offers chestnut-flavored delicacies, including roasted and candied chestnuts, chestnut rolls filled with cream, and a traditional tuscan cake made with chestnut flour called castagnaccio.
Getting there: There are frequent regional trains between Florence SMN station and Marradi. The stop is called “Marradi-Palazzuolo sul Senio”.
CROSTINI TOSCANI
There are many types of crostino in Italy, stemmed from the Roman tradition of using bread to gather oils and sauces from communal plates on which food was served. A known example is a bruschetta: seasoned diced tomatoes on toasted bread. Crostino toscano is a typical starter made of pâté of chicken liver, olive oil, capers, anchovies, and onions, and spread on toasted bread. Sometimes called fegatini from the Italian word for liver (fegato), they are served in all Tuscan restaurants. The original recipe comes from Medieval peasants that would find creative ways to reduce food waste by using every part of the animal, and in this case, the liver.
Where to eat it: we suggest Antico Ristoro Cambi (Via Sant’Onofrio, 1r) and Il Bufalo Trippone (Via dell’Anguillara, 48r)
RIBOLLITA
Ribollita, also known as minestra di pane (“bread soup”), is a hearty soup prepared mainly in colder months. Ribollita is made from stale bread that is soaked in water to make it soft again. Peasants cooked it on Fridays, in anticipation of the coming week. The name comes from the fact that people used to reheat it multiple times during the week. The peculiarity of ribollita is that it must be boiled at least twice, which helps to make it firmer, instead of being a simple soup made of bread, legumes, and vegetables. Since it was – and still is – a very popular dish and easy to make, there are many different versions of it. However, the main ingredients in any version are bread, black cabbage, and beans, all ingredients that even the poorest peasants could afford. Beans especially are a staple in Tuscan cuisine, so much so that Tuscans were often called mangia fagioli (bean eaters) by people from other regions.
Where to eat it: we recommend Il Cibreo Trattoria (Via de’ Macci, 122r) – Mario (Via Rosina, 2r) – La Casalinga (Via dei Michelozzi, 9r)
TRIESTE
Trieste, an alluring city on Italy’s northeastern coast, boasts a captivating blend of Italian, Slavic, and Austrian influences. Steeped in history, its Old Town showcases a unique mix of Austro-Hungarian and Roman architecture, while Piazza Unità d’Italia, Europe’s largest seaside square, buzzes with life, neoclassical buildings and cozy cafes. Visitors can explore the James Joyce Museum, paying homage to the renowned author, and enjoy panoramic views from the cliff-perched Miramare Castle overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
MURANO & BURANO
Murano, located in the Venetian Lagoon, is renowned for its centuries-old glassmaking heritage. The island’s glassblowing workshops offer a glimpse into this intricate craft, where skilled artisans transform molten glass into exquisite creations. Murano’s narrow streets are dotted with glass stores displaying a wide array of colorful glassware, from delicate figurines to elaborate chandeliers. Visitors can witness live demonstrations, gaining insight into the meticulous techniques passed down through generations.
Burano, a short boat ride from Murano, is celebrated for its charming, vibrant houses that line the canals. Each building boasts a unique, lively color, creating a picturesque setting against the backdrop of the tranquil waterways. Beyond its colorful facade, Burano is known for its lace-making tradition, showcased in local boutiques. The island’s relaxed atmosphere and small-town charm make it an ideal spot for leisurely strolls along the canals.