The ISI Florence Guide | Listing the Best Picks of the Month to Explore the City at its Best.
DOMENICA AL MUSEO: FREE ENTRANCE TO MUSEUMS
When: Sunday, November 3 – all day
Take advantage of free entrance to a selection of museums:
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.
INSIDE KLIMT
Immerse yourself in the world of Gustav Klimt at the Cattedrale dell’Immagine’s new multimedia show. This experience brings you closer to the artist’s life and work.
When: Open Mon to Fri 10:00am – 7:00pm, Thu 10:00am – 6:30pm;
Sat & Sun 10:00am – 7:30pm
Where: Cattedrale dell’Immagine – Piazza di Santo Stefano
Price: tickets starting at € 14,00
MICHELANGELO E IL POTERE
An itinerary of more than fifty works, sculptures, paintings, drawings, autograph letters and plaster casts to illustrate Michelangelo’s relationship with power, his political vision and his determination to place himself among the most powerful figures of the time.
When: Open Fri to Wed, 9:00am – 7:00pm, Thur 9:00am – 2:00pm
Where: Palazzo Vecchio – Piazza della Signoria
Tickets: € 17,50 (€ 15,00 under 25)
OKTOBERFEST AT PARCO I RENAI
The first edition of Oktoberfest arrives at the Parco dei Renai, bringing the legendary spirit of Munich’s beer festival to life! Enjoy a variety of craft beers, delicious street food, and live music in a cozy & heated venue of over 1,000 square meters.
When: Thursday, October 31 to Saturday, November 2
Where: Parco I Renai – Signa
FREE
CANDLELIGHT CONCERT: VIVALDI’S FOUR SEASONS
Candlelight concerts go beyond the traditional 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: Friday, November 8 – 7:30pm
Where: Cattedrale dell’Immagine – Piazza di Santo Stefano
Price: Tickets starting at € 20,00
CAR BAZAR FLEA MARKET
For two days, the Visarno Racetrack will transform into a large outdoor second-hand market, where vendors sell directly from the trunk of their cars. In addition to the market, live music, food trucks, and street performers will create a festive atmosphere for all visitors.
When: Saturday, November 9 and Sunday, November 10
Open 9:00am – 5:00pm
Where: Ippodromo del Visarno – Viale del Visarno, 14
FREE
BRICKS IN FLORENCE FESTIVAL 2024
Join ToscanaBricks and over 12,000 guests as they tour the wonderful world of fantastic LEGO constructions. Perfect for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages.
When: Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17
Where: Teatro Cantiere Carrara – Lungarno Aldo Moro, 3
Tickets: € 10,00
Opening times and information: www.https://www.toscanabricks.it/
JAPANESE FESTIVAL 2024 – 25th EDITION
This international event is dedicated exclusively to Japan with shows, food, and typical markets. The exhibition has offered the public the opportunity to meet and experience Japanese culture up close every year since 1999, with quality shows and entertainment.
When: Saturday, November 16 & Sunday, November 17
Open 11:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Fortezza da Basso – Viale Filippo Strozzi, 1
Tickets: € 5,00
FIRENZE MARATHON – 40th EDITION
Run through the city’s historic streets steeped in history and be part of an event that has captured hearts for over four decades. From ancient bridges to medieval alleys, experience a unique blend of running passion with Florence’s timeless beauty. The 40th edition will take place on November 24, 2024.
You can register at: https://www.firenzemarathon.it/en/marathon/
When: Sunday, November 24 – 8:30am
GERMAN CHRISTMAS MARKET
The annual German Weihnachtsmarkt Christmas market is here! Over 50 vendors from all over Europe fill Piazza Santa Croce with gastronomical specialties from their country including: vin brulé (mulled wine), German wurstel and strudel, and Hungarian kurtoskalacs (rolled sugar coated pastry), just to name a few. Vendors also sell typical products from their country including handmade Christmas ornaments, ceramics, clothes and scarves.
When: From Saturday, November 23 to Sunday, December 22
10:00am to 10:00pm (10:00 to 11:00pm on Fri, Sat and Sun)
Where: Piazza Santa Croce
FLORENCE QUEER FESTIVAL
Florence Queer Festival is back at Cinema La Compagnia and it’s all about celebrating the Queer community. Movies, animated films, Q&A, workshops and performances are waiting for you (most movies are in English or in their O.V.)!
When: Wednesday, November 27 to Sunday, December 1
Where: Cinema La Compagnia – Via Camillo Cavour, 50/R
Website: https://www.florencequeerfestival.it/
PRATO ANTIQUARIA
In the nearby city of Prato, enthusiasts and curious visitors can discover antique items, vintage clothing, collectibles, rare decorations, and handmade creations, in a beautiful journey through memories.
Getting there: There are frequent trains from Florence SMN station to Prato (Prato Porta al Serraglio) throughout the day (about 25 minutes ride).
When: Sunday, November 10 – 10:00am to 7:00pm
Where: Piazza delle Carceri, Prato
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
When:
Sunday, November 10 – 3:00pm (Fiorentina vs Verona)
Thursday, November 28 – 9:00pm (Fiorentina vs Pafos)
Sunday, December 1 – 6:00pm (Fiorentina vs Inter)
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.bigliettifiorentina.com/en/
EAT OUT
RISTORANTE ACCADEMIA
Where: Piazza San Marco, 7r
Traditional thanksgiving meal: pumpkin soup with cornbread, turkey with stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce; mashed potatoes and creamed corn; apple strudel or pumpkin pie.
To reserve call: 055 217343 or email [email protected]
PINO’S SANDWICHES
Where: Via Giuseppe Verdi, 36r
Thanksgiving dinner in one sandwich? Yes, please.
For more info call: +39 055 244517
HARD ROCK CAFE’
Where: Via dei Brunelleschi, 1
Enjoy a traditional turkey meal with all the trimmings (available all day long starting from 12:00 PM up to midnight). Main Course: Slow-roasted turkey breast, roasted fresh vegetables, home-style classic stuffing, creamy sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce finished with a traditional turkey gravy. Dessert: pumpkin pie topped with caramel sauce, toasted walnuts, and whipped cream.
To reserve call: + 39 055 277841
DO IT YOURSELF OR TAKE AWAY
VIVI MARKET (Via del Giglio, 20)
– Pumpkin filling
– Cranberry Sauce
– Onion topping
– Cream of mushroom soup
LOCAL SUPERMARKETS (i.e. Conad)
– Spices
– Fresh pumpkin
– Shortcrust Pastry: look for pasta brisé or pasta frolla among the refrigerated or frozen products
SAN LORENZO OR SANT’AMBROGIO LOCAL MARKETS
– Turkey (go to the butcher’s stand and order your bird!)
If you don’t want to bake your own pumpkin/apple pie… visit these bakeries:
– Sugar & Spice American Bakery
Borgo La Croce, 15r
– Mama’s Bakery
Via della Chiesa, 34r
– Melaleuca*
Lungarno delle Grazie, 18
*Pre-order all or part of your Thanksgiving meal here!
EUROCHOCOLATE IN PERUGIA
Every year Perugia turns into a real-life chocolate heaven! With innovative flavors and designs, this world-renowned festival attracts visitors and experts from all around the globe. Spanning a week, Eurochocolate offers the chance to try chocolate delicacies and to watch chocolate crafters work their magic. Perugia, the city in the Umbria region that hosts the event every October, is easily reachable by train from Florence.
Getting there: You can take a regional train from Florence Santa Maria Novella Station that will take you directly to Perugia in about two hours.
When: From Friday, November 15 to Sunday, November 24
FREE
HOKUSAI EXHIBITION IN PISA
The HOKUSAI exhibition at Palazzo Blu in Pisa showcases over 200 works, including several masterpieces that have never been exhibited before. This extraordinary collection offers visitors a rare chance to explore the artistry of Katsushika Hokusai, widely regarded as the greatest exponent of Ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese art that flourished during the Edo period. Through the exhibition, viewers can delve into the rich visual culture of Japan and appreciate the techniques and themes that made Hokusai’s work so influential, from his famous woodblock prints to his innovative use of perspective and color.
When: Open Mon to Fri, 10:00am – 7:00pm, weekend 10:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Palazzo Blu – Lungarno Gambacorti, 9
Tickets: € 14,00 (€ 12,00 under 25)
CANTUCCINI DI PRATO & VIN SANTO
Cantucci, almond biscuits with origins traced to 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, spongy 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 eat it: 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 architect Filippo Brunelleschi, workers cooked this dish in ceramic pots put near the ovens in which bricks and shingles were prepared and would eat it during work breaks. The least expensive cuts of meat were cooked in wine for a long time to soften the tough meat – a generous dose of black peppercorns was added to cover the fact that oftentimes the meat was not fresh. The name comes from the pepper itself, “pepe” in Italian.
Where to eat it: Peposo can be found in many traditional restaurants in Florence (trattorias), we recommend Ristorante La Spada (Via della Spada, 62r).
PIENZA
Pienza, nestled in the heart of Val d’Orcia, is renowned for its stunning Renaissance architecture and sweeping Tuscan views. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll through the charming Piazza Pio II, admire the Pienza Cathedral, and visit Palazzo Piccolomini for beautiful gardens and views of the surrounding hills. The peaceful atmosphere and local shops selling pecorino cheese make for a perfect day trip.
Getting there: Pienza doesn’t have a direct train station. You can take a regional train from Florence SMN to Siena (about 1.5 hours), followed by a bus from Siena to Pienza (approx. 1.5 hours).
CORTONA
Popularized by the movie “Under the Tuscan Sun”, Cortona is a charming small town near Arezzo. Cortona is rich with history: its roots are Etruscan, but the town has held importance during Roman times, throughout the Middle Ages and today is a popular spot to enjoy the Tuscan countryside.
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.