Best events in Florence this week

MIDA International Handicraft Exhibition in Florence

MIDA brings together the arts and crafts of different cultures, with this year featuring the ninth edition of the Salone dell’Arte e del Restauro at the same time. Food trucks and the chance to purchase directly from the artisanal producers bring foodies to the fair as well.

Lediesis – Corpus Dominae

The famous (anonymous) street artists display a new work, A timeless struggle, created specifically for the exhibition along with other works exploring bodies in all varieties, expressed through both real and imaginary figures. The art show is presented on the occasion of the Women – A timeless struggle exhibition, 70 years after the first national conference for women who work, in addition to talks and concerts at the Caffè Letterario at Le Murate.

Bright Festival

Three days of cultural events combine digital art, lighting design and electronic music, with the seventh edition featuring a wide range of educational activities, exhibitions and performances in an innovative and future-inspired format.

Vespa World Days

The hometown of the Vespa honours the 140th anniversary of the Piaggio Group with various events. Check out the Vespa Village, take a tour of the Piaggio Museum and discover Pontedera, while live painting, photography exhibitions, music and more prove the perfect chance to take the hour-long trip from Florence.

A Taste of India

St. Regis Florence hosts the second edition of the Indian Festival, a journey to celebrate scents and holistic experiences, highlighting the key ingredients that each Indian region has to offer. The dishes will be curated by the internationally renowned Celebrity Chef Ritu Dalmia of Cittamani Milan and Atrangi Dubai, with the elegant rooms of the Winter Garden Restaurant seeing meals inspired by the signature dishes of Cittamani Milano and Atrangi Dubai and lesser-known traditional Indian recipes with a contemporary twist. A tea ritual will be led by the hotel’s tea sommelier Elena Matei, ending with an Indian themed spa treatment in the Spa Suites at The St.Regis Florence. To inaugurate the week of events will be a special event from 7pm on April 22, with ‘Journey through India’ street food stalls in local market style, four cooking demonstration stations and a special cooking show by Executive Chef Gentian Shehi and Celebrity Chef Ritu Dalmia. Beyond the delicious dishes will be performances by the MeYoTai dancers, henna tattoo stations and other themed entertainment.

Quando il segno incontra il colore

Walter Sarfatti, an Anglo-Italian “citizen of the world”, with Jewish roots and a strong connection with Japanese culture, has chosen the Tuscan countryside to live in and work. Etching, aquatint and sugarlift are the principal media he uses for his work. He is often inspired by the search for harmony and balance guided by a reinterpretation of familiar elements which can be perceived in a decomposed leaf, a rusty nail, a shaft of light.

Tourism management in Florence

‘Tourism management in the historic center of Florence, a UNESCO World Heritage Site’ is the title of an international meeting to highlight the challenges and opportunities linked to the future of tourism in the city. Guests include Peter Debrine, UNESCO’s leading expert in cultural tourism and sustainability, with a focus on themes such as the promotion of sustainable urban tourism. Free entry.

April Jazz Mood

Firenze dei Bambini

The highlight of the year for families is here with the busy Firenze dei Bambini calendar that takes a Puccini focus this edition. Sites all over the city get involved in hosting free activities that vary from origami and tree-themed installations to learning about wolves and how to behave if encountering a dangerous animal. Kids even get the unforgettable opportunity to sleep in Palazzo Vecchio’s Salone dei Cinquecento (booked out).

Oasi Dynamo

The vast nature reserve in the Pistoia countryside reopens with a calendar of excursions that will continue until autumn. All ages and levels can immerse themselves in the WWF protected area, taking part in picnics, days dedicated to yoga in the mountains and admiring shooting stars. Marking Earth Day on April 21 will be a special excursion that also serves as a moment to reflect on the ongoing problems threatening the environment.

Brunch and music

Art of Uzbekistan: Avant-garde in the Desert

150 works, mainly paintings on canvas, reveal the flourishing of the avant-garde in Uzbekistan in the early to mid 20th century. Visitors can also explore the Uzbek textile tradition with works on loan from the National Museum in Tashkent and the Savicsky Museum in Nukus.

Women Leaders in Architecture

The Florence Leadership Academy holds a Women Leaders in Architecture event at Palazzo San Niccolò from 6.30 to 10.30pm on April 19, open to anyone aged 15-25 as part of the project that aims to train, qualify, accompany, network and launch young leaders. Speakers include Amanda Bonvecchio (Vagabondarq), Diletta Storace (S+S Studio) and Paulette Cameron (Prix de Rome). Workshops, mix and mingle dinner and DJ. Costing 35 euro, the event will be held in English.

Sunday brunch at Villa La Massa

Villa La Massa welcomes its Sunday brunch menu from April 14, with the Il Verrocchio restaurant offering both guests and the public an unforgettable gourmet experience in the greenery of the Florentine countryside. to guests and the Florentine public. The exclusive buffet presents a selection of local culinary delights, focusing on fresh, high-quality products. There are even surprises planned involving food and wine producers, as well as special entertainment for kids, so keep an eye on their events lined up this season. 90 per person, drinks included, or 60 euro per child under 12. For further information and reservations, contact +39 05562611 or ristorante@villalamassa.it.

Street Fashion

The Lorenzo de’ Medici Gallery, in collaboration with renowned street photographer Massimiliano Faralli, unveils a street photography exhibition in which students of the institute had the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the artistry alongside Faralli, gaining a fresh perspective of Florence through the art of street photography. The students roamed the streets of Florence under Farrelli’s mentorship, witnessing the artist’s craft firsthand. The exhibition features a collection of Massimiliano Faralli’s works, including highlights from his series dedicated to Milan Fashion Week. This is accompanied by featured works executed by the participating students, offering a diverse experience of street photography.

Passeggiate Patrimoniali - Heritage walks

A new programme of walks is proposed as part of the Firenze Forma Continua project, with the aim of spreading knowledge of the city’s history. The various itineraries lead participants through the lesser-known sites of the UNESCO awarded historic centre, as well as exploring the architecture, history and landscapes of the surroundings, taking in the gates, towers and fortresses that have stood strong for centuries. A number of events will be held in English. The free events are aimed at young people and adults, and last two hours.

Primavera Fiesolana

The first edition of a new indoor festival of music, theatre, cinema and more at the cultural centre in Fiesole sees a wide-ranging offering that includes storytelling, jazz, classical and contemporary multidisciplinary performances. Italian jazz pianist and composer Francesco Maccianti performs on April 9, while the Fiesole Music School, marking their 50th anniversary, gives a free concert by the Camerata Strumentale Fiesolana on April 21, with music by Mozart, Bach and Haydn.