The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best.
TOULOUSE-LAUTREC. A JOURNEY THROUGH THE PARIS OF THE BELLE ÉPOQUE
Museo degli Innocenti – Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, 13
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 every day 9:30am – 7:00pm | Tickets: starting at €15,50
OCEANI: DAVID DOUBILET
Villa Bardini – Costa San Giorgio, 2
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 | Tickets: starting at €10,00
ANGELICO: THE DAWN OF THE RENAISSANCE
Palazzo Strozzi
Palazzo Strozzi presents Angelico: The Dawn of the Renaissance, a major exhibition celebrating Fra Angelico, one of the greatest painters of the 15th century. Featuring masterpieces from museums worldwide, the show highlights his visionary style and lasting impact on Renaissance art.
When: open every day 10:00am – 8:00pm (Thu 10:00am – 11:00pm)
Tickets: starting at €5,00
ART OUT OF TOWN – BELLE ÉPOQUE EXHIBITION IN PISA
Palazzo Blu – Lungarno Gambacorti, 9, 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
Tickets: €15,00 on weekdays (€13,00 under 25) and €16,00 on weekends
ITALIAN WINTER SALES
various shops around the city
The beloved sales season kicks off in the first week of January. You’ll find huge discounts on winter clothing as stores make room for their incoming spring collections. Keep an eye out for the word “saldi”!
When: from January 3rd
CANDLELIGHT CONCERT: ROCK CLASSICS
Sala Vanni – Piazza del Carmine, 14
Candlelight concerts go beyond the traditional concert format: as the spectators enjoy the music, they are enveloped in the warm light of candles. The result is a breathtaking and utterly unique event.
When: Saturday, January 17th – 9:00pm | Tickets: starting at €27,00
FLORENCE ON ICE 2025
Fortezza da Basso – Piazzale Oriana Fallaci
The Fortezza da Basso transforms into a winter wonderland with a 320 meter ice skating rink circling the fountain in Piazzale Oriana Fallaci. Glide across the ice, enjoy stunning city views from the Ferris wheel, and warm up with hot drinks and seasonal treats at the nearby stands in a truly festive atmosphere.
When: open every day 10:00am – 12:00am
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
When:
Sunday, January 11 – 3:00pm (Fiorentina vs Milan)
Saturday, January 24 – 6:00pm (Fiorentina vs Cagliari)
Tickets: prices vary, https://www.bigliettifiorentina.com/en/
HIDDEN GEMS OF FLORENCE – BUCHETTE DEL VINO (WINE WINDOWS)
various places around Florence
e.g. Fishmood in Piazza dei Peruzzi
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!
Read more: https://isiflorence.org/discover-secret-stories-of-florence/
EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF SIENA
A historical rival of Florence, Siena is full of art and artisanal work, as well as being known world-wide for its Palio (horserace), that takes place in July and August. The city is divided into “contrade” to this day, each having a different symbol and colours. The city is charming and can be visited easily in a day.
Getting there: There are regional trains from Florence S.M.N. station to Siena throughout the day (about 1.5hr ride + 1 mile by foot to the city center).
EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF AREZZO
Arezzo, located 50 miles from Florence, isn’t a popular tourist destination despite being one of the many gems in the Tuscan hills. The history, culture, and art, not to mention the beauty of its architecture and beautiful scenic views, make Arezzo one of Italy’s best-kept secrets!
Getting there: Take a Regionale Veloce (about 1hr) or Regionale train (about 1.5hr) from Florence S.M.N. station to Arezzo. There are many trains running throughout the day.
PANINO AL LAMPREDOTTO
Lampredotto is considered the king of Florentine street food. Taking its name from the lamprey (a type of fish that once inhabited the Arno river), lampredotto is usually eaten with a type of bread called “rosetta” and can be served with just salt and pepper, with hot sauce or with “salsa verde”, a condiment that includes olive oil, parsley, capers, stale bread, and anchovies. The meat is boiled for hours in a broth made with carrots, celery, bay leaves, onions, garlic, pepper, and a few juniper berries: the more it cooks the better it tastes. Despite taking its name from a fish, lampredotto comes from cows. More specifically, lampredotto is one of the four stomachs of the cow, the abomasum. Being part of the cow’s entrails, lampredotto has a particular consistency that not everyone likes, but we encourage you to try it!
Where to eat it:
Tripperia Pollini (Via dei Macci, 126)
I’Trippaio di Firenze (Via Gioberti)
Il Trippaio di Sant’Ambrogio (Piazza Lorenzo Ghiberti)
BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA
The origin of the world-renowned bistecca alla Fiorentina can be traced back to the Medici family, who ruled Florence between the 15th and the 18th century. During that time, it was tradition for the family to light up bonfires in squares around Florence to celebrate St. Lawrence (August 10th), when people would gather in the streets to admire the shooting stars that crossed the night sky. On the night of St. Lawrence, the people would gather around the bonfires and enjoy the steak, courtesy of the Medici family. The bistecca is cooked on hot coals without any condiments. Once cooked, it should be salted, put on a wooden tray, and then covered, so that the “juices” can be properly re-absorbed. It is eaten rare and asking to have it well done is often frowned upon.
Where to eat it:
Trattoria Zà Zà (Piazza del Mercato Centrale, 26r)
Ristorante La Giostra (Borgo Pinti, 10/16R)
Trattoria 4 Leoni (Via dei Vellutini, 1r)