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, October 6 – 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 VAN GOGH – Until October 13
Immerse yourself in the world of Van Gogh at the Cattedrale dell’Immagine’s new multimedia show. This experience brings you closer to the artist’s life and work.
When: Mon, Tue, Wed & Fri 10:00am – 7:00pm, Thu 10:00am – 6:30pm; Sat & Sun 10:00am – 7:30pm
Where: Cattedrale dell’Immagine – Piazza di Santo Stefano
Tickets starting at: € 14,00
HELEN FRANKENTHALER – DIPINGERE SENZA REGOLE
The exhibition offers a journey through large canvases, works on paper, and sculptures, creating a path that highlights the artist’s extraordinary originality. The show includes loans from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation and renowned international museums such as the MoMA and Tate Modern.
When: Open Everyday, 10:00am – 8:00pm (Thu open until 11:00pm)
Where: Palazzo Strozzi – Piazza Strozzi
Tickets: € 16,00 (€ 13,00 under 30)
ONLY USATO SECOND-HAND MARKET
The Only Usato Market in Florence is a popular second-hand and vintage shopping event, featuring sustainable clothing, accessories, and home goods. Attendees can enjoy browsing unique vintage pieces while engaging in creative activities, all in a relaxed and eco-conscious atmosphere.
When: Saturday, October 5
Open 11:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Orti Dipinti – Borgo Pinti, 76
FREE
VINOKILO VINTAGE FASHION MARKET
Vinokilo is hosting a sustainable fashion sale in Florence, offering a unique shopping experience with vintage, pre-loved clothing sold by weight. The event encourages eco-conscious choices by promoting the reuse of high-quality garments at affordable prices. Shoppers can explore curated selections of stylish and timeless pieces.
When: From Friday, October 4 to Sunday, October 6
Open 10:00am – 7:00pm
Where: Manifattura Tabacchi – Via delle Cascine, 35
Price: Ticket price varies
FLORENCE ANTIQUES BIENNALE
The 33rd edition of the Florence Biennale Internazionale dell’Antiquariato will welcome eighty galleries from all over the world. Collectors and art enthusiasts can explore exceptional works spanning centuries.
When: From Saturday, September 28 to Sunday, October 6
Open everyday 10:30am – 8:00pm
Where: Palazzo Corsini – Lungarno Corsini, 10
Tickets: € 15,00
INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS FAIR
Ninety ceramic artists from all over Europe will attend the 24th edition of the renowned International Ceramics Fair. From everyday objects to furniture, jewellery and more, many cultures and techniques are present in the two-day market-exhibit, with food and wine adding to the occasion and circular economy projects on display.
When: Saturday & Sunday, October 5 & 6
Where: Piazza Santa Croce
SCANDICCI STREET MARKET
Set in Florence’s neighboring town of Scandicci, the yearly street market has something for everyone. Try delicious food from street vendors and enjoy an afternoon of shopping! The street market also offers clothing, handcrafted items, and anything you need to spruce up your fall wardrobe.
Getting there: Take the T1 tram line in front of Florence SMN train station (direction: Villa Costanza) and get off at the stop called “Resistenza.”
When: From Saturday, October 5 to Sunday, October 13
Open Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri, 4:00pm – 12:00am / Thu, Sat, Sun, 10:00am – 12:00am / October 13 10:00am – 10:00pm
FIRENZE FLOWER SHOW
The event celebrates rare and unusual plants, with over 70 exhibitors presenting a variety of unique flora, including rare roses, hydrangeas, orchids, and more. Visitors can also participate in free gardening workshops, creative demonstrations, and activities for all ages.
When: Saturday, October 12 & Sunday, October 13
Open 9:00am – 8:00pm
Where: Giardino Corsini – Via della Scala, 115
Tickets starting at € 10,00
CANDLELIGHT CONCERT TRIBUTE TO QUEEN
Candlelight concerts go beyond the traditional concert 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: Wednesday, October 16 – 9:30pm
Where: Cattedrale dell’Immagine – Piazza di Santo Stefano, 1
Tickets starting at € 20,00
A.C. FIORENTINA – HOME GAMES
Where: Stadio Artemio Franchi, Viale Manfredo Fanti
When:
Thursday, October 3 – 9:00pm (Fiorentina vs The New Saints)
Sunday, October 6 – 8:45pm (Fiorentina vs Milan)
Sunday, October 27 – 8:45pm (Fiorentina vs Roma)
Price: Varies
Website: https://www.bigliettifiorentina.com/en/
GIUNTI ODEON LIBRERIA E CINEMA
Open seven days a week, from 8.30 in the morning to the end of each night’s film, Giunti Odeon is the new and improved face of the old Odeon cinema. Built over 100 years ago, Odeon has been a meeting point for cinephiles for over a century. Today, it maintains its mission as a cinema, with the addition of a bookshop, where bookshelves occupy the entire ground floor. One screen guarantees night-time movie projections, while a LED wall ensures daytime entertainment in Italian and English.
Explore the beautiful architecture while browsing English and Italian books or stay until late and catch the latest movie in its original language with Italian subtitles.
WINE WINDOWS – BUCHETTE DEL VINO
During the Renaissance, these small openings emerging from the facades of ancient noble palaces were used to sell wine, just like a wine shop would do nowadays. At the end of a work day, tired workers would knock on the wooden shutters from which a capacious glass of wine would be handed over for the price of two florins, the Florentine currency used at the time. These windows were located precisely at elbow height so that the exchange could comfortably take place. To this day we can count 181 wine windows throughout the city, and some of them are still in operation. See how many you can spot!
Stop by Fishmood in Piazza dei Peruzzi, knock on the window, and ask for your drink to go!
LUCCA COMICS & GAMES 2024
When: From Wednesday, October 30 to Sunday, November 3
Price: Tickets start at € 25,00
https://www.ticketone.it/en/artist/lucca-comics-games/
Experience Italy’s biggest and most famous comic, gaming, and cosplay convention, Lucca Comics & Games! It takes place every year at the end of October and beginning of November, spanning the entirety of the town. Lucca’s picturesque medieval streets provide the perfect backdrop for this one-of-a-kind event.
Whether you’re a die-hard comic book aficionado, a dedicated gamer, or a fantasy enthusiast, there’s something for everyone at Lucca Comics & Games. The event boasts a vast exhibition area, where you can immerse yourself in the world of comics, manga, and graphic novels.
Getting there: There are frequent regional trains from Florence SMN station to Lucca throughout the day (about 1.5 hr. ride).
CHESTNUT FESTIVAL IN MARRADI
When: Sunday, October 6, 13, 20 & 27
9:00am – 6:00pm
Entrance ticket: € 2,00
Every October, the charming mountain town of Marradi hosts the chestnut festival, a beloved tradition. The festival offers chestnut-flavored delicacies, including roasted and candied chestnuts, chestnut rolls filled with cream, and a traditional tuscan cake made with chestnut flour called “castagnaccio”.
Getting there: There are frequent regional trains between Florence SMN station and Marradi. The stop is called “Marradi-Palazzuolo sul Senio”.
CROSTINI TOSCANI
There are many types of “crostino” in Italy, stemmed from the Roman tradition of using bread to gather oils and sauces from communal plates on which food was served. A known example is a “bruschetta”: seasoned diced tomatoes on toasted bread. “Crostino toscano” is a typical starter made of pâté of chicken liver, olive oil, capers, anchovies, and onions, and spread on toasted bread. Sometimes called “fegatini” from the Italian word for liver (fegato), they are served in all Tuscan restaurants. The original recipe comes from Medieval peasants that would find creative ways to reduce food waste by using every part of the animal, and in this case, the liver.
Where to eat it: We suggest Antico Ristoro Cambi (Via Sant’Onofrio, 1r) and Il Bufalo Trippone (Via dell’Anguillara, 48r)
RIBOLLITA
The “ribollita”, also known as minestra di pane (“bread soup”), is a hearty soup prepared mainly in colder months. Ribollita is made from stale bread that is soaked in water to make it soft again. Peasants cooked it on Fridays, in anticipation of the coming week. The name comes from the fact that people used to reheat it multiple times during the week. The peculiarity of ribollita is that it must be boiled at least twice, which helps to make it firmer, instead of being a simple soup made of bread, legumes, and vegetables.
Since it was – and still is – a very popular dish and easy to make, there are many different versions of it. However, the main ingredients in any version are bread, black cabbage, and beans, all ingredients that even the poorest peasants could afford. Beans especially are a staple in Tuscan cuisine, so much so that Tuscans were often called “mangia fagioli” (bean eaters) by people from other regions.
Where to eat it: We recommend Il Cibreo Trattoria (Via de’ Macci, 122r) – Mario (Via Rosina, 2r) – La Casalinga (Via dei Michelozzi, 9r)
TRIESTE
Trieste, an alluring city on Italy’s northeastern coast, boasts a captivating blend of Italian, Slavic, and Austrian influences. Steeped in history, its Old Town showcases a unique mix of Austro-Hungarian and Roman architecture, while Piazza Unità d’Italia, Europe’s largest seaside square, buzzes with life, neoclassical buildings and cozy cafes.
Visitors can explore the James Joyce Museum, paying homage to the renowned author, and enjoy panoramic views from the cliff-perched Miramare Castle overlooking the Adriatic Sea.
MURANO & BURANO
Murano, located in the Venetian Lagoon, is renowned for its centuries-old glassmaking heritage. The island’s glassblowing workshops offer a glimpse into this intricate craft, where skilled artisans transform molten glass into exquisite creations. Murano’s narrow streets are dotted with glass stores displaying a wide array of colorful glassware, from delicate figurines to elaborate chandeliers. Visitors can witness live demonstrations, gaining insight into the meticulous techniques passed down through generations.
Burano, a short boat ride from Murano, is celebrated for its charming, vibrant houses that line the canals. Each building boasts a unique, lively color, creating a picturesque setting against the backdrop of the tranquil waterways. Beyond its colorful facade, Burano is known for its lace-making tradition, showcased in local boutiques. The island’s relaxed atmosphere and small-town charm make it an ideal spot for leisurely strolls along the canals.