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, November 2 – 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.
TOULOUSE-LAUTREC. A JOURNEY THROUGH THE PARIS OF THE BELLE ÉPOQUE
The Museo degli Innocenti presents an exhibition celebrating Henri de Toulouse Lautrec and the vibrant spirit of Parisian nightlife. His famous posters and prints, shown alongside works by Alphonse Mucha and Jules Chéret, bring the Belle Époque to life.
When: Open everyday 9:30am – 7:00pm
Where: Museo degli Innocenti – Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, 13
Tickets starting at € 15,50
OCEANI: DAVID DOUBILET
Villa Bardini hosts Oceani, a stunning photography exhibition by National Geographic’s David Doubilet. The show features breathtaking underwater images that reveal both the beauty and fragility of marine life around the world.
When: Open Tue to Sun 10:00am – 7:30pm
Where: Villa Bardini – Costa San Giorgio, 2
Tickets starting at € 10,00
INTERNATIONAL APERITIF
Do you want to practice Italian or other languages in a fun and relaxed atmosphere? Join this Language Exchange Aperitif and meet new international friends from all over the world! It’s the perfect opportunity to chat, learn, and share cultures while enjoying a drink together. All language levels are welcome!
When: Tuesday, November 4 – 8:00pm
Where: YellowSquare Florence – Viale Francesco Redi, 17
FREE
EMBROIDERY WORKSHOP @ MANIFATTURA TABACCHI
A creative workshop to personalize a fabric tote bag using needle and thread. Choose your own phrase and learn how to embroider it! The course is suitable for complete beginners, and all materials will be provided to help you complete your project.
When: Saturday, November 8 – 3:00pm
Where: Shake Cafè Manifattura Tabacchi – Piazza F. Morvillo, 13
Ticket: € 35,00 (embroidery kit and a drink included)
GET YOUR TICKET
ONLY USATO MARKET @ THE SQUARE
The Only Usato Market in Florence is a popular second-hand and vintage shopping event, featuring sustainable clothing, accessories, and home goods. Attendees can enjoy browsing unique vintage pieces while engaging in creative activities, all in a relaxed and eco-conscious atmosphere.
When: Sunday, November 9 – 11:00am to 7:00pm
Where: The Square – Via Domenico Cirillo, 1R
FREE
BRICKS IN FLORENCE FESTIVAL 2025
Join ToscanaBricks and more than 12,000 guests for the Bricks in Florence Festival 2025, the largest LEGO event in Tuscany! Discover hundreds of original LEGO creations made by passionate builders from all over Italy, and explore a world of creativity, and color.
When: Saturday, November 15 & Sunday, November 16
Where: Teatro Cartiere Carrara – Via F. De André, corner of Lungarno A. Moro
Tickets: € 12,00
Opening times and information: https://www.toscanabricks.it/en/bricks-in-florence-festival-2025/
FLORENCE QUEER FESTIVAL
Florence Queer Festival is back at Cinema La Compagnia and it’s all about celebrating the Queer community. Movies, animated films, Q&A, workshops and performances are waiting for you (most movies are in English or in their O.V.)!
When: from Wednesday, November 26 to Sunday, November 30
Where: Cinema La Compagnia – Via Camillo Cavour, 50R
More info on their website: https://www.florencequeerfestival.it/
FIRENZE MARATHON – 41st EDITION
Run through the city’s historic streets steeped in history and be part of an event that has captured hearts for over four decades. From ancient bridges to medieval alleys, experience a unique blend of running passion with Florence’s timeless beauty. The 41st edition will take place on November 30, 2025.
When: Sunday, November 30 – 8:30am
You can register at: https://www.firenzemarathon.it/en/marathon/
GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
The annual German Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas market is here! Over 50 vendors from all over Europe fill Piazza Santa Croce with gastronomical specialties from their country including: vin brulé (hot spiced wine), German wurstel and strudel, and Hungarian kurtoskalacs (rolled sugar coated pastry), just to name a few. Vendors also sell typical products from their country including handmade Christmas ornaments, ceramics, clothes and scarves.
When: From Saturday, November 15 to Sunday, December 21 – 10:00am to 10:00pm (10:00 to 11:00pm on Fri, Sat and Sun)
Where: Piazza Santa Croce
ALAÏA AND BALENCIAGA. SCULPTORS OF SHAPE
This exhibition brings together iconic creations by Azzedine Alaïa and Cristóbal Balenciaga, showcasing their mastery of form and silhouette. It features garments, documents, and videos that reveal the designers’ shared dedication to craftsmanship and innovation.
When: Open Tue to Thu 10:00am – 3:00pm, Fri and Sat 10:00am – 7:00pm, Sun 3:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: Museo del Tessuto – Via Puccetti, 3 (Prato)
Getting there: Frequent trains run from Florence SMN to Prato (Porta al Serraglio) throughout the day. From the station, the Museo del Tessuto is just a 15-minute walk.
Tickets starting at € 7,00
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
When:
Sunday, November 2 – 3:00pm (Fiorentina vs Lecce)
Saturday, November 22 – 6:00pm (Fiorentina vs Juventus)
Thursday, November 27 – 9:00pm (Fiorentina vs AEK)
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.bigliettifiorentina.com/en/
EAT OUT
RISTORANTE ACCADEMIA
Where: Piazza San Marco, 7r
Traditional thanksgiving meal: pumpkin soup with cornbread, turkey with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce; mashed potatoes and creamed corn; apple strudel or pumpkin pie.
To reserve call: 055 217343 or email [email protected]
PINO’S SANDWICHES
Where: Via Giuseppe Verdi, 36r
Thanksgiving dinner in one sandwich? Yes, please.
For more info call: +39 055 244517
HARD ROCK CAFE’
Where: Via dei Brunelleschi, 1
Enjoy a traditional turkey meal with all the trimmings (available all day long starting from 12:00 PM up to midnight). Main Course: Slow-roasted turkey breast, roasted fresh vegetables, home-style classic stuffing, creamy sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce finished with a traditional turkey gravy. Dessert: pumpkin pie topped with caramel sauce, toasted walnuts, and whipped cream.
To reserve call: + 39 055 277841
DO IT YOURSELF OR TAKE AWAY
VIVI MARKET (Via del Giglio, 20)
– Pumpkin filling
– Cranberry Sauce
– Onion topping
– Cream of mushroom soup
LOCAL SUPERMARKETS (i.e. Conad)
– Spices
– Fresh pumpkin
– Shortcrust Pastry: look for pasta brisé or pasta frolla among the refrigerated or frozen products
SAN LORENZO OR SANT’AMBROGIO LOCAL MARKETS
– Turkey (go to the butcher’s stand and order your bird!)
If you don’t want to bake your own pumpkin/apple pie… visit these bakeries:
– Sugar & Spice American Bakery
Borgo La Croce, 15r
– Mama’s Bakery
Via della Chiesa, 34r
– Melaleuca*
Lungarno delle Grazie, 18
*Pre-order all or part of your Thanksgiving meal here!
EUROCHOCOLATE IN PERUGIA
Every year Perugia turns into a real-life chocolate heaven! With innovative flavors and designs, this world-renowned festival attracts visitors and experts from all around the globe. Spanning a week, Eurochocolate offers the chance to try chocolate delicacies and to watch chocolate crafters work their magic. Perugia, the city in the Umbria region that hosts the event every October, is easily reachable by train from Florence.
Getting there: You can take a regional train from Florence Santa Maria
When: From Friday, November 14 to Sunday, November 23
FREE
BELLE ÉPOQUE EXHIBITION IN PISA
Belle Époque at Palazzo Blu invites visitors to experience the charm and cultural vibrancy of late 19th-century Paris. The exhibition highlights Italian artists such as Giovanni Boldini, Giuseppe De Nittis, and Vittorio Corcos, whose works capture the elegance, fashion, and social life of the era. Featuring masterpieces from major museums and private collections, the show traces the artistic innovation and cosmopolitan spirit that defined the Belle Époque, offering a window into a period of creativity and sophistication.
When: Open Mon to Fri, 10:00am – 7:00pm, Sat and Sun 10:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Palazzo Blu – Lungarno Gambacorti, 9
Tickets: € 15,00 on weekdays (€ 13,00 under 25) and € 16,00 on weekends
CANTUCCINI DI PRATO & VIN SANTO
Cantucci, almond biscuits with origins traced to Prato near Florence, have a culinary history dating back to the late 18th century. Their rise to fame is credited to baker Antonio Mattei, who introduced them at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867. Despite their simple recipe of flour, sugar, eggs, butter, and almonds, Cantucci gained popularity due to their distinct elongated shape, spongy texture, and abundant almond filling. The baking process involves shaping the dough into loaves, slicing them, and baking them twice to achieve a crispy texture and prolonged shelf life. Commonly presented as gifts, Cantucci are often accompanied by Vin Santo, a renowned sweet dessert wine from Tuscany. Vin Santo, which translates to “Holy Wine” is made from grapes dried on straw mats. This process of desiccation allows the sugar in the grape to be more concentrated. The longer the grapes are allowed to dry, the higher the resulting residual sugar levels will be in the wine.
Where to eat it: Pegna (Via dello Studio, 26r) – Mattei (Via Porta Rossa, 76r) – Eataly (Via Martelli, 22r)
PEPOSO
The history of the peposo is strictly linked to that of the Duomo and its world-famous Cupola. The dish originated in Impruneta, a town just outside of Florence, known for its ceramics. During the construction of the Cupola under architect Filippo Brunelleschi, workers cooked this dish in ceramic pots put near the ovens in which bricks and shingles were prepared and would eat it during work breaks. The least expensive cuts of meat were cooked in wine for a long time to soften the tough meat – a generous dose of black peppercorns was added to cover the fact that oftentimes the meat was not fresh. The name comes from the pepper itself, “pepe” in Italian.
Where to eat it: Peposo can be found in many traditional restaurants in Florence (trattorias), we recommend Ristorante La Spada (Via della Spada, 62r).
PIENZA
Pienza, nestled in the heart of Val d’Orcia, is renowned for its stunning Renaissance architecture and sweeping Tuscan views. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll through the charming Piazza Pio II, admire the Pienza Cathedral, and visit Palazzo Piccolomini for beautiful gardens and views of the surrounding hills. The peaceful atmosphere and local shops selling pecorino cheese make for a perfect day trip.
Getting there: Pienza doesn’t have a direct train station. You can take a regional train from Florence SMN to Siena (about 1.5 hours), followed by a bus from Siena to Pienza (approx. 1.5 hours).
CORTONA
Popularized by the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”, Cortona is a charming small town near Arezzo. Cortona is rich with history: its roots are Etruscan, but the town has held importance during Roman times, throughout the Middle Ages and today is a popular spot to enjoy the Tuscan countryside.
Getting there: There are frequent regional trains from Florence SMN station to Camucia-Cortona, which is 2 miles from Cortona proper. To get to the town there are frequent busses from the train station.