The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best.
REACHING FOR THE STARS
When: Ongoing, Open Everyday, 10:00am – 8:00pm; Thursdays 10:00am – 11:00pm
Where: Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi
Price: Euros 16,00 / 13,00 (under 30)
Website: https://www.palazzostrozzi.org/en/archivio/exhibitions/reaching-for-the-stars/
MUSEUM OF ILLUSIONS
When: Open Everyday
Mon to Fri, 10:00am – 7:00pm / Sat to Sun, 9:00am – 9:00pm
Where: Borgo degli Albizi 29
Price: Euros 17,00
Website: https://museumofillusions.it/en/
Y.Z. KAMI. LIGHT, GAZE, PRESENCE
When: Open Mon to Sun, 11:00am – 8:00pm (Closed on Thu)
Where: Museo del Novevento, Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 10
Price: Euros 9,50 / 4,50 (under 25)
Website: https://www.museonovecento.it/en/mostre/y-z-kami-light-gaze-presence/
OUT OF TOWN
ROY LICHTENSTEIN VARIAZIONI POP
When: Tue to Sun, 10:00am – 7:30pm
Where: PARMA, Strada Farini, 37
Price: Euros 16,00 / 12,00 (students under 26)
Website: https://www.palazzotarasconi.it/en/non-categorizzato/roy-lichtenstein-variazioni-pop/
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
When:
– Saturday, March 4, 8:45pm – Fiorentina vs Milan
– Sunday, March 19, 3:00pm – Fiorentina vs Bologna
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.bigliettifiorentina.com/en/
DOMENICA AL MUSEO: Free entrance to museums
When: Sunday, March 5, all day
Where: 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.
Price: Free
Website: https://cultura.gov.it/domenicalmuseo
INDIPENDENZA ANTIQUARIA
When: Saturday & Sunday, March 18 & 19, 9:00am – 7:00pm
Where: Piazza Savonarola
Price: Free
Website: http://www.confesercenti.fi.it/servizi/eventi
QUEEN EXTRAVAGANZA
When: Monday, March 20, 8:45 pm
Where: Teatro Verdi, Via Ghibellina 99
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.ticketone.it/event/queen-extravaganza-teatro-verdi-12899343/
Together with many countries in the world, on March 8th Italy celebrates International Women’s Day, which commemorates the ongoing fight for the rights of women worldwide. Traditionally on Women’s Day, women in Italy are gifted a small branch of silver wattle (called “mimosa”) by partners, friends, and family as a way to celebrate the important role that women play in their life.
In the city center demonstrations are held by femminist groups such as Non Una Di Meno, usually in Piazza della Santissima Annunziata, where a series of pink fabric squares are affixed to a railing to remember Italian women killed at the hands of men.
WOMEN’S DAY SPOTLIGHT
CATERINA DE’ MEDICI
Born in Florence, Caterina (1519 – 1589) was brought up in a convent after her parents died. As a young girl she moved to France and married the Duke of Orléans. While living at the French court she collected a great number of objects, including tapestries, books, and paintings.
She was a patron of the arts, and greatly enjoyed food and is credited to have brought a great number of Italian and Tuscan recipes to France. Last but not least, she is credited as the person who popularized the use of what we now consider a common kitchen utensil: the fork!
An “influencer” before the term even existed, Caterina was the first to introduce perfume in France. When she moved there to get married she brought her most trusted perfumer. The fragrances garnered great success in the country and Caterina was praised for her excellent tastes. Speaking of taste, she also imported the Tuscan “carabaccia”, which quickly became a French staple with the name “soupe à l’oignon” (onion soup), as well as many other delicious recipes.
DANTEDÌ
Every year on March 25th the city of Florence dedicates a day to the “Supreme Poet”, Dante Alighieri. Based on Bloomsday in Dublin (which celebrates James Joyce’s Ulysses), you can find cultural initiatives all around the city, with people reading passages from the Divine Comedy aloud. Walk around the city following important locations of Dante’s life, such as Museo Casa di Dante (Via Santa Margherita 1) or hop on a train and head to Ravenna! There you can visit Dante’s resting place as well as amazing Byzantine mosaics.
FLORENTINE NEW YEAR – MARCH 25
Up until 1749, Florence celebrated its New Year on March 25th. This tradition is kept alive today with historical re-enactments and parades by the members of the Order of Parte Guelfa.
When: Saturday, March 25
Where: Florence’s city center, from Piazza di Parte Guelfa to Piazza SS. Annunziata
EATING TUSCAN
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)
LUCCA
Lucca is a charming old city with a rich history, beautiful churches and Renaissance-era city walls that are almost perfectly intact to this day. We suggest you take a stroll on the walls to have a great view of the city, as well as a visit to Torre Giunigi (Giunigi Tower) and the garden situated at the top. Inside the city you must see Piazza Anfiteatro, built on the ruins of the Roman amphitheatre.
Getting there: There are frequent regional trains from Florence SMN station to Lucca throughout the day (about 1.5 hr. ride).