The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best
REPUBLIC DAY: FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUMS
Tuesday, June 2 | all day
📍various
Experience some of Florence’s most beautiful museums for free in honor of Italy’s Republic Day, a national holiday which commemorates the June 2, 1946 referendum when the Italian people voted to abolish the monarchy, opting instead to create a national government with representatives voted by citizens.
FREE ENTRY
DOMENICA AL MUSEO: FREE ENTRY TO MUSEUMS
Sunday, June 7 | 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
FIRENZE ROCK MUSIC FESTIVAL
June, 12-14 | various times
📍Ippodromo delle Cascine, Viale Visarno, 14
Italy’s biggest music festival comes back to Florence once again. Get ready for three days of great music in Florence’s Ippodromo delle Cascine with headliners such as Lenny Kravitz, Robbie Williams, and The Cure. Find out more information and get tickets at www.firenzerocks.it/en.
FREE ENTRY
TOSCANA PRIDE IN GROSSETO
Saturday, June 13 | 4:30pm
📍Piazza Esperanto, Grosseto
Take part in the 2026 Toscana Pride parade in Grosseto and celebrate diversity, love, and inclusion. Spend the day enjoying the vibrant atmosphere of the march before relaxing on the beaches, strolling through the historic streets, and taking in the summer charm of the Maremma coast.
FREE ENTRY
APRITI CINEMA – OUTDOOR CINEMA IN FLORENCE
from June 15 | check program online
📍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
LA FIERUCOLA
Sunday, June 21 | 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
Thu, June 11 | closed
📍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
📍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
86TH NOTTURNA DI SAN GIOVANNI 4K & 10K NIGHTTIME RACE
Saturday, June 20 | start at 9pm
📍start at Piazza del Duomo
Runners, walkers, joggers, and their families are welcome to come explore and appreciate the exquisite views of Florence at night in a race to celebrate the patron saint of Florence, St. John the Baptist. Two races will be offered this year, a competitive 10k open to adults over 18 who belong to professional running associations and possess a doctor’s certificate confirming ability, and a non-competitive family 4k or 10k for athletes of all ages and speeds. To take part in either, registration and payment are required at Firenze Marathon, online at www.firenzemarathon.it.
ENTRY FEE: €20
CALCIO STORICO
Florence’s Calcio Storico, a sport rich in history and tradition, holds a significant place in the hearts of the city’s residents. Its precise origins are debated, with some tracing its roots back to the ancient Roman game of harpastum. However, the Calcio Storico, as it is known today, began to take shape in the 16th century and has become a cherished tradition for many Florentines. This sport’s historical significance is so profound that even some members of the Medici family, including Tuscany’s first Grand Duke Cosimo I, once took to the field as players.
Every June, Piazza Santa Croce turns into the venue for this exciting event. The rectangular field hosts four teams representing Florence’s neighborhoods: red for Santa Maria Novella, green for San Giovanni, blue for Santa Croce, and white for Santo Spirito.
Two teams, each consisting of 27 players known as calcianti, compete in a 50-minute match. Players use both hands and feet to move the ball, creating a dynamic and intense atmosphere on the field. Wearing uniforms inspired by Renaissance-era warriors, the players engage in physical contact, including tackles, punches, and grappling, as they strive to score by placing the ball in the opposing team’s net.
For those seeking a unique experience in Florence, attending a Calcio Storico match is highly recommended. The energy, skill, and determination displayed by the players offer a captivating glimpse into the traditions and passions that define this Florence.
The Calcio Storico tournament features two semi-finals, held this year on June 13 and 14, followed by the final on June 24. Keep your eye on www.ticketone.it to see when tickets go on sale in early June.
CALCIO STORICO GAMES
📍Piazza Santa Croce
SEMI FINALS
Saturday, June 13 | afternoon
Reds – Santa Maria Novella vs Greens – San Giovanni
Sunday, June 14 | afternoon
Whites – Santo Spirito vs Blues – Santa Croce
FINALS
Wednesday, June 24 | afternoon
On June 24, Florence celebrates its patron Saint, St. John the Baptist. On this day, you may see a procession of foot soldiers, flag-throwers, and equestrians, dressed in Renaissance costumes, proceeding from Via del Corso to Palazzo Vecchio starting at 9am.
The procession, joined by the mayor and city officials, will arrive at the Baptistery to participate in a ceremony in the Saint’s honor at 10am. Mass will be celebrated inside the Duomo, with music performed by the Maggio Musicale Orchestra and Chorus, starting at 10:30am.
In the afternoon, a parade starting in Piazza Santa Maria Novella at 4pm will make its way through the city and arrive in Piazza Santa Croce.
The highlight of the Feast of St. John is a stunning fireworks display over Piazzale Michelangelo starting at 10pm. The fireworks are best seen from the Lungarno or closer to the river in the green areas of Habana 500 (Lungarno Guglielmo Pecori Giraldi). This event is beloved by Florentines, so you can expect a great number of people heading to the area to secure the best spot to watch the fireworks!
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)
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 the architect Filippo Brunelleschi, workers cooked this dish in ceramic pots placed near the ovens where bricks were prepared and ate it during work breaks. The least expensive cuts of meat were cooked in wine for a long time to soften the tough meat. The name peposo comes from the Italian word pepe, meaning black pepper. A generous dose of black peppercorns is used in the recipe to flavor the otherwise bland meat.
Where to find it:
Peposo can be found in many traditional restaurants in Florence (trattorie) – we recommend Ristorante La Spada (Via della Spada, 62r).
VIAREGGIO
By far the easiest seaside location to reach, Viareggio offers sandy beaches equipped with everything you might need, but also long stretches of so-called “free beaches” where you can sunbathe without paying for a sun umbrella and deck chairs. Along the seafront, you can find restaurants and shops to have a quick bite for lunch.
Getting there:
Viareggio is easy to reach with frequent regional trains from Firenze S.M.N.
CASTIGLIONCELLO
Castiglioncello is beloved both by Tuscans and tourists, it is easy to reach and offers beautiful beaches and a lively atmosphere. This seaside town has everything you need for a lovely day or weekend trip.
Getting there:
Castiglioncello is easy to reach from Firenze S.M.N.: book the train on Trenitalia and with just one train change in Pisa you’ll be there in no time!
ELBA ISLAND
Nestled in the picturesque Tuscan Archipelago, the island offers an unforgettable experience. While the journey from Florence is a little longer than from the other locations, it is well worth it, as Elba offers some of the most beautiful sights in Tuscany, with clear waters and white rocky beaches. There are many beautiful beaches all over the island that can be reached by bus. We recommend: Spiaggia delle Ghiaie, Spiaggia di Padulella, Spiaggia di Sansone, Marina di Campo, Spiaggia di Cavoli, Fetovaia, and Procchio.
Getting there:
You will need to take the train from Firenze S.M.N. to Piombino Marittima, then take the ferry to the island.
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