The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best.
GIACOMETTI – FONTANA. LA RICERCA DELL’ASSOLUTO
When: Open Mon to Sun, 9:00am – 7:00pm; Thursdays 9:00am – 2:00pm
Where: Museo di Palazzo Vecchio – Piazza della Signoria
Price: 17,50€ / 15,00€ (under 25)
Website: https://www.museonovecento.it/en/mostre/giacometti-fontana-la-ricerca-dellassoluto/
LUCIO FONTANA. L’ORIGINE DU MONDE
When: Open Mon to Sun, 11:00am – 8:00pm (Closed on Thu)
Where: Museo del Novecento – Piazza Santa Maria Novella, 10
Price: 9,50€ / 4,50€ (under 25)
Website: https://www.museonovecento.it/en/mostre/lucio-fontana-lorigine-du-monde/
INSIDE BANKSY: Unauthorized Exhibition
When: Ongoing, Mon to Fri 10:00am – 6:30pm; Sat and Sun 10:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Cattedrale dell’Immagine, Piazza Santo Stefano, 5
Price: 14,00€
Website: https://www.insidebanksy.it/
REACHING FOR THE STARS
When: Ongoing, Open Everyday, 10:00am – 8:00pm; Thursdays 10:00am – 11:00pm
Where: Palazzo Strozzi, Piazza Strozzi
Price: 16,00€ / 13,00€ (under 30)
Website: https://www.palazzostrozzi.org/en/archivio/exhibitions/reaching-for-the-stars/
FLORENCE’S SECRET GARDEN (CAMELLIA GARDEN)
After decades of restorations, the Cammelia Garden inside the Boboli Gardens finally reopens its doors to the public! Visitors can view the Camellia Garden on guided tours throughout May. No booking required.
When: ONLY IN MAY – Tuesday to Sunday at 11:00am, 12:00pm, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm and 5:00pm.
Where: Inside Boboli Garden
Price: Included in the Boboli Garden ticket (10€)
Website: —
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
When:
– Sunday, May 14, 3:00pm (Fiorentina vs Udinese)
– Sunday, May 28, 3:00pm (Fiorentina vs Roma)
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.bigliettifiorentina.com/en/
STARRY NIGHT CONCERTS
When: Saturday, May 13 & 27
Where: Cattedrale dell’Immagine – Piazza Santo Stefano, 5
Price: Starting at 20€
Website: https://www.cattedraledellimmagine.com/starry-night-immersive-concerts/
ORBITE MUSICALI – A CONCERT INSPIRED BY GALILEO GALILEI
When: Sunday, May 14, 21 & 28
Where: Museo Galileo Galilei – Piazza dei Giudici, 1
Price: Included in the museum ticket (10€)
Website: https://www.museogalileo.it/en/events-and-news/2279-orbite-musicali-eng.html
INDIPENDENZA ANTIQUARIA
When: Saturday & Sunday, May 20 & 21, 9:00am – 7:00pm
Where: Piazza Savonarola
Price: FREE
Website: http://www.confesercenti.fi.it/servizi/eventi
THE IRIS GARDEN
ONLY UNTIL MAY 20
Tucked into the sheltered corner of Piazzale Michelangelo, the Iris Garden boasts more than 10,00 different varieties. The secluded area is a relaxing escape, filled with only distant echoes of Florence. The Italian Iris Society, headquartered in Florence due to the city’s historical attachment to the flower, maintains the flowerbeds and sponsors an annual international iris competition.
Where: Via Michelangelo Buonarroti, 82
Price: FREE ENTRANCE
THE ROSE GARDEN
If you’ve already seen Boboli Garden, you can’t miss the Rose Garden, right below Piazzale Michelangelo. The garden has a great view of the Duomo and Palazzo Vecchio and is ideal for a relaxing afternoon with friends or even a picnic! The park opens everyday at 9am and closes at sunset. As the garden closes, you can make your way back to the Piazzale and enjoy a beautiful sunset on the staircase to the left of the statue of David.
Opening Hours: 9:00am to sunset
Where: Viale Giuseppe Poggi, 2
Price: FREE ENTRANCE
ORTICULTURA GARDEN
Just outside the historical city center, Orticoltura garden is a quiet spot where you can relax while admiring the Florence skyline. The park is open everyday from 8:30am to 7:00pm. The upper part of the garden (entrance on Via Trento, 11) offers a great view on the city, and is the perfect spot where to watch the sunset over Florence. If you enter from Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 you can see the huge 19th century greenhouse. This park is a fan favorite among families and friends, who meet here to relax, catch up and even do yoga!
Opening Hours: 8:30am to 7:00pm
Where: Via Vittorio Emanuele II, 4 or Via Trento, 11
Price: FREE ENTRANCE
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 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.
EATING TUSCAN
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). On the night of St. Lawrence, the people would gather around the bonfires, enjoy the steak courtesy of the Medici family, and admire the shooting stars that crossed the night sky. 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, 10/18R) – Trattoria 4 Leoni (Via dei Vellutini, 1r)