The "Giardino della Gherardesca" is the biggest private park of Florence (4,5 hectares) and now it is property of the Four Seasons Hotels Firenze.
For this reason it is open only for the guests of the hotel.
But once a year the Four Season organize an open day for charity and the money collected are devolved to the kids of the "Istituto degli Innocenti" of Florence.
I went there and I took some pics of the gardens... wich are breathtaking.
Probably this will be the last german market in Santa Croce square.
In Florence the temperatures are very low this days, so what a better opportunity to escape the ice tasting a mulled wine, sausages, bretzel or simply buying a christmas present in the picturesque square until December 23rd, 2013??
As the Councillor for Culture of the city of Florence and the organizers said: the market will be moved elswhere (but still dont know where - maybe Santa Maria Novella square).
The feast of the "Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore" better known as the DUOMO to the florentines, was established in 1985 and is celebrated on 8 September each year, in memory of the laying of the foundation stone of the cathedral, which occurred on the day dedicated to the Nativity of Mary, in 1296 (or 1298 according to other sources).
The main event (from 1pm to 4pm) of the day is the free opening of the outdoor terraces of the cathedral with the traditional walk of thirty-two meters high, walk that gives to the Florentines and to the guests of our city a unique and unusual overview of Florence.
Also can visit for free the Duomo (1:30pm - 4:45pm), the Baptistry (8:30am - 2pm), Giotto tower (8:30am - 7:30pm) and the museum (9am - 1:45pm)
Night life lovers markApril 30th, 2013on your calendar! This is when the entire city of Florence is in the mood to celebrate all night long.
After its succes over the last few years, Florence will host again "La Notte Bianca" an event which transform the city center in an open air festival. Starting at sunset, the city's streets and squares become stages for various shows and concerts, encouraging anyone to join in.
This night Florence will appear in its most modern, open-minded and lively form. More than ever, the city becomes a venue for multiculturalism, where people cheerfully indulge in art, music and solidarity.
Beside performances, art installations and tours taking place throughout the city, the main museums and libraries invite visitors to free exhibitions, film screenings and readings. For short rests or midnight dinners resaturants and bars stay open until late.
The sheer number of special events on the agenda will make it difficult to choose, keeping one on his or her toes all night. Whether joining a classic concert in the cathedral, watching street artists in Piazza Santa Croce or listening to live bands at Ponte Vecchio - this year's "Creative Insomnia" will undoubtley again fill the streets of Florence with boisterious culture and vitality.
The official hashtag of the night will be #nottebiancafirenze
follow your preferred social media websites an stay tuned
P.S. I forgot... there will be a flashmod dedicated to Grease... here's the video...
Sunday, April 7th in San Casciano Val di Pesa, only 20km away from Florence,
there will be the medieval carnival.
This small town is situated in the middle of the Chianti and Valdelsa district and in year 1326 Castruccio Castracani, the duke of Lucca, took control over the castle of San Casciano and destroyed it.
San Casciano Val di Pesa
And so the fourth edition of the medieval carnival, called the "Siege of Castruccio", brings you back in that difficult period of the city.
The main event will be the "Carousel of the districts" where the five districts the Horse, the Lilium, the Lion, the Tower and the Rooster will contest "the key of the village" against Castruccio Castracani.
San Casciano Val di Pesa
The free event will start at 10am and go on until sunset.
The artistic direction is entrusted to the "Associazione Culturale Laboratorio Amaltea" and on their website you'll find more useful information.
This is the program of what is going on os Saturday and Sunday in Florence.
Saturday, March 30th, 2013
9:20pm - The procession of the FLorentine Republic starts from Palagio di Parte Guelfa and goes through Via Porta Rossa, Via Por S. Maria, Via Vaccherecchia and Piazza della Signoria
9:30pm - Piazza della Signoria: The procession of the FLorentine Republic together with the Gonfalone procession goes from Palazzo Vecchio through Via Vacchereccia, Via Por S. Maria, Borgo SS. Apostoli, Piazza del Limbo
9:45pm - The parade leaves from SS. Apostoli Church and moves to Via Por S. Maria, Via Vacchereccia, Piazza della Signoria, Via de' Calzaiuoli and arrives in Piazza del Duomo at 10:15pm
10:30pm - At the Duomo Cathedral starts the Easter Vigil and is lighted up the fire
Sunday, March 31st, 2013 (Easter)
8:15am - The "Brindellone" (Cart) with the procession of the Florentine Republic starts from Via il Prato and goes through Borgo Ognissanti, Piazza Goldoni, Via della Vigna Nuova, Via Strozzi, Piazza della Repubblica, Via Roma and arrives in Piazza San Giovanni (Battistero)
8:30am - A group of flag bearers will leave from Palagio di Parte Guelfa, passing through Via Porta ROssa, Mercato Nuovo, Via Vacchereccia, to reach Piazza della Signoria
8:40am - Piazza della Signoria: The procession of the FLorentine Republic with the Gonfalone (Flag of Florence)and the Mayor of Florence will move through Via de' Calzaiuoli and Via degli Speziali to reach Piazza della Repubblica at 9:55 am where an exhibition of the "Sbandieratori" (Flag Bearers) will start
11:00 am - Piazza del Duomo will start the most beautiful event of the Bursting of the Cart
As this is a free show I suggest to go in Piazza del Duomo a little bit befor of 10:30 to make sure you'll have a god place to see the explosion of the cart!!!
Every year forEasterat11amther's a folklore tradition in Florence, called"Lo scoppio del carro"(the cart explosion).
If you're planning to be in FlorenceSunday, March 31st, 2013, get ready for this important event of our city.
Lo scoppio del carro - Firenze
The story of this event is so old. It starts in year 1097 when Pazzino de' Pazzi, a Florentine from a prominent family, was the first man to scale the walls of Jerusalem. As a reward of this act of bravery, his commander gave him three flints from the church of the Holy Sepulchre, which were carried back in Tuscany. Now these are kept in the church of Santi Apostoli.
It became the practice for a "holy fire" to be struck from these flints at Eastertide, which was then carried througout the city by groups of young men wearing torches.
By the end of the 15th century the cart explosion assumed its present form.
Scoppio del carro - Florence. Italy
On the Easter morning the 9.1mt high cart (30 feet) moves to the Duomo (cathedral). It is escorted by 150 soldiers, musicians and people in 15th century dress.
The cart is loaded with fireworks and stretching to the high altar inside of the catedral, is fitted with a mechanical dove (la colombina).
At 10.30am the cardinal of Florence started with the Easter Mass and at the end at 11am after the singing of the Gloria the cardinal lights a fuse in the colombina with the Easter fire. It then speeds outside of the cathedral to ignite the cart outside.
The fireworks show lasts approx. 20 minutes. A successful explosion of the cart is supposed to guarantee a good harvest, stable civic life and good business.
Today, Feb 18th, 2013, on her 270 anniverasry of death, the last surviving of the Medici family, the Electress Palatine, will be commemorated by the city of Florence with free access to the
Civic Museums.
Take the chance to visit the Palazzo Vecchio and the Torre di Arnolfo from 10am to 6pm.
If you have planed to go to Florence to celebrate the New Years Eve... don't miss the Subsonica concert in the Piazza della Stazione starting from 11.30pm until late...
Here are some videos of this well known italian band. Love their music...
F-light in Santo Spirito (credits:Florence Magazine)
Started on December 13th, 2012 and until December 31st, 2012 the facade of the Santo Spirito church will be lighted by some marvelous 3D video projection by Mario Mariotti remembering the legerndary night of 1980.
The new AUDI A3 SPORTBACK seen for the first time this year at the Paris Motor Show 2012 , is now visible in the temporary store of Via de' Tornabuoni, 1a in Florence, Italy.
Audi A3 Sportback
Go and see it yourself... the store has a free entrance and is open everyday from 10am to 8pm.
But hurry up - the store is open until Sunday December 16th, 2012...
The Marketing Director of Audi Italia Mr. Christian Gussen says that: They organised this special initiative (the temporary store) because the desire to see the new car was very very big since its first presentation. Bringing the new model in contact with the public in the city, in everyday life, is the best way to make it known and appreciated.
