The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best
APRITI CINEMA – OUTDOOR CINEMA IN FLORENCE
various dates and times | check program here
📍Piazza Pitti
Florence’s beloved open-air summer film festival brings free nightly screenings to the stunning setting of Piazza Pitti from mid-June. Keep an eye out online for the program, with films in Italian, original language, and with English subtitles.
FREE ENTRY
LUCCA SUMMER FESTIVAL
various dates in July
📍Piazza Napoleone, LUCCA
The Lucca Summer Festival is one of Italy’s premier live music events, transforming the historic city center of Lucca into an open-air stage for internationally acclaimed artists throughout the summer. The 2026 edition features a diverse lineup including Alabama Shakes, John Legend, and Katy Perry, offering audiences a mix of rock, soul, pop, and unforgettable live performances in a unique historic setting.
TICKETS: ticketone.it
DIECI FESTIVAL
July 3-4 | various times
📍Ultravox, Prato della Tinaia, Parco delle Cascine
Two-day cultural event that brings together live music, DJ sets, talks, workshops, and a curated market under the theme “slow the pace, find your place”. Set amongst the greenery of the Cascine park, where you can relax under a tree with a book or bring a blanket and picnic!
FREE ENTRY
DOMENICA AL MUSEO: FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUMS
Sunday, July 5 | all day
📍various
On the first Sunday of each month, a selection of state museums and gardens can be accessed free of charge during each institution’s regular opening hours. A reservation may still be required, so it’s best to plan ahead. Here are some of the most popular locations (you can find the complete list online by Googling ‘domenica al museo’):
• Galleria degli Uffizi
• Galleria dell’Accademia
• Museo Archeologico Nazionale
• Giardino di Boboli
FREE ENTRY
LA FIERUCOLA
Sunday, July 19 | 9am – 7pm
📍Piazza Santo Spirito
Fierucola is all about sustainable shopping, supporting small organic farms, biodiversity, and traditional crafts. At their monthly markets in Florence, you’ll find locally grown fruit and veg and produce like cheeses, sourdough bread, or jams. You’ll also find handmade goods based on rural traditions, such as baskets or handmade shoes.
FREE ENTRY
ROTHKO IN FLORENCE
daily | 10am – 8pm
Thursdays | 10am – 11pm
📍Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza degli Strozzi
Until 23 August 2026, Palazzo Strozzi is presenting an unmissable exhibition dedicated to the great master of American art, Mark Rothko, through an extraordinary selection of works, including large paintings never before exhibited in Italy.
TICKETS: starting at €13
INFERNO – IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE OF DANTE’S DIVINE COMEDY
every day | 10am – 7pm
📍Cattedrale dell’Immagine, Piazza di Santo Stefano
INFERNO is an immersive experience that takes visitors deep into Dante’s legendary underworld, blending digital art, immersive storytelling, and state-of-the-art visual technology. With powerful projections, spectacular environments, and interactive installations, audiences will follow Dante and Virgil through the circles of Hell on an emotional, multisensory journey. Not to be missed!
TICKETS: starting at €11
FIRENZE ‘50 ‘60 ‘70 PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
every day | 10am – 7:30pm
Thursdays | 10am – 9pm
first and last Monday of the month | closed
📍Villa Bardini, Costa S. Giorgio, 2
Step into the atmosphere of Florence in the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s through this captivating journey through the city’s cultural and social history. Discover iconic images, everyday moments, and timeless street scenes that bring the spirit of vintage Florence back to life.
TICKETS: €10
CANTUCCINI DI PRATO & VIN SANTO
Cantucci, almond biscuits originating from 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, crunchy 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 find these:
Pegna (Via dello Studio, 26r) – Mattei (Via Porta Rossa, 76r) – Eataly (Via Martelli, 22r)
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)
Many locals enjoy summer evenings along the river, eating and meeting with friends for a drink in one of the many restaurants, bars and food trucks that open their doors from the end of May to September. Just remember to bring your bug repellent as there are a great number of hungry mosquitoes near to the water!
IL MOLO FIRENZE
📍Via dell’Albereta, 8
every day | from 5pm until late
ATOLLO
📍Lungarno Aldo Moro
Thursday to Sunday | from 6pm until late
LOVE ORTICULTURA
📍Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4
Monday | 4pm – midnight
Tuesday to Sunday | 9am – midnight
SANTAROSA BISTROT
📍Lungarno di Santa Rosa
every day | please check their website for opening hours
HABANA 500 & FIORINO SULL’ARNO
📍Lungarno Pecori Giraldi
every day | midday – midnight