Summer in the city
A Florentine summer. The next few months offer a unique series of social-cultural-artistic events, from breakfast to long after dinner the city has myriad of opportunities to experience the magic of its days and enchanting summer nights.
Andrea Zittel’s personal exhibition Between Art and Life opened in June – concomitantly with the most recent edition of Pitti Uomo: the Galleria del Costume (Palazzo Pitti) showcases more than 80 pieces by this famous American artist.
After you see the exhibition what could be better than a glass of wine at the new Caffè della Galleria in Piazza Pitti where you can also admire temporary exhibits staged by Filippo Pananti? Part art café, part cocktail lounge, the Caffè is a new addition to the already stimulating group of places in the area such as Pitti Gola, the wine bar in Piazza Pitti or Le Volpi e l’Uva in nearby Piazza dei Rossi.
If you, too, have been swept up by the trend that wants everything natural, well then, take a look at Stile Biologica, the charming boutique where Giuditta Blandini sells clothing, accessories, lingerie and jewelry all made of natural and/or organic materials.
The Biblioteca delle Oblate is continuing its program of cultural events (just to name one: Lo schermo dell’arte film festival, from 29 June to 2 July: four documentaries that are rarely shown in Italy and are an excellent opportunity to learn more about the fascinating world of contemporary art), or how about the Monday evening video-cocktail events at Le Murate…
Starting in mid-July and continuing through 1 September the Fortezza da Basso will present a great program with Live On Festival – featuring the best of the pop-rock scene – Jethro Tull, Mike Patton, Paolo Benvegnù, and Leonard Cohen.
Are international cultures your thing? Well then, don’t miss the Festival au Désert, a multicultural music festival created through the cooperation between the most important musical event in Sub-Saharan Africa, Festival au Désert de Essakane (Mali) and the Fondazione Fabbrica Europa. Or, how about the Lailac Japanese Festival which, after eleven autumn editions will see the light of summer, as it were, at the Amphitheater in the Cascine Park (from 21 to 23 July) Traditional and folk dances from Japan, taiko drums, the dragon dance and a big Cosplay contest.
Going up to Fiesole: Vivere Jazz Fiesole – from 5 to 15 July – the series created by Stefano Bollani is part of the Estate Fiesolana. Big name stars and emerging talents will perform in the picturesque setting of the Roman Amphitheatre. Who? Well, how about the legendary Chick Corea, Mc Coy Turner, Roberto Gatto I-Jazz Ensemble, and Paolo Fresu.
Then after – or maybe even before – a great concert try the food at Ristorante La Capponcina, one of the Florentine “musts” in the neighborhood, or Ristorante India, one of the best restaurants in town when it comes to Asian flavors. If you don’t have time for a sit-down dinner and want to grab a bite, try the bar in the main square up in Fiesole: this is not just any “bar”… their marron glacé is famous all over Florence…
Back in town for the Opera Festival for the world’s favorite operas performed in magnificent historic settings. In the Boboli Gardens, from 8 to 15 July: The Magic Flute, an opera in two acts by Mozart; and, again by Mozart, Don Giovanni from 22 to 29 July.
On 13 July Carmina Burana with music by Carl Orff with be on stage, and if you want a concert, Patty Pravo will bring her Senza Verogna Tour to Boboli on 14 July, and the atmosphere will switch to steamy and Argentine with Cincotango! on 19 July.
Just outside the gates of the Boboli Gardens you will find one of the city’s legendary lampredottai – some people get a sandwich after the show, others will cross the city by scooter just to eat his Florentine specialties.
Florence is Florence, as we know. But there are also interesting things to see and do outside the city, and Prato takes first place with the Festival delle Colline, with interesting concerts in even more interesting places – Esperanza Spalding, with her velvety, Made in USA voice will sing at the Villa Medicea di Poggio a Caiano on 22 July – President Barack Obama invited her to the ceremony when he received the Nobel Peace Prize… there had to be a reason, and in this case, hearing is believing!
