GIRO D'ITALIA
The Giro d'Italia is a long distance road bycicle racing stage race for professional cyclist held over three weeks every year in May or early June in and around Italy.
Disputed in 1909 for the first time, it took place regularly during the years, except for interruptions due to the first and second world war.
The starting point of the race can change every year, while arrival is always the same: Milan, the city where the magazine organizing the race - La Gazzetta dello Sport - has its seat. This is a race touching most part of the most important Italian cities, Florence among them.
The Giro is currently one of the three Grand Tours - together with the Tour de France and the Vuela a España - and is part of the UCI World Ranking calendar.
INTERCITY FESTIVAL
Intercity Festival is a regular appointment for the city of Florence for more than 20 years now. With a very curious name, the Intercity Festival (just like the first high-speed trains which were born in 1988 with the aim to link two great Italian cities) every year links Florence to a great world capital, suggesting a rich program which shows the best of art and culture of the chosen country. Foreign acting companies, new Italian and foreign productions, and stage plays of the selected country but which are translated into Italian. Flanked by a rich calendar of collateral events, such as readings, meetings and films, gives all participants the chance to get a sense of the way of making art and show in the city in which Intercity led them.
Address: Teatro della Limonaia-Sesto Fiorentino, via Gramsci 426
Telephone number: 055 440852
Website - More info: Intercity Festival
FESTIVAL OF CREATIVITY
The Festival of Creativity is a really important event in Italy, and it’s entirely dedicated to the world of communication, art and creativity. Every year in October, the Fortezza da Basso in Florence houses this great festival, which on each edition, brings into the city thousands visitors among tourists, students or just curious people who roam between the wonderful pavilions of creativity. Every year, the event is made up of several different sections, each one dedicated to a peculiar way to express creativity: from fashion to design and even music, art, technology, poetry, virtual world. The Festival of Creativity is almost a parallel universe thrown towards art and culture, reigned by experimentation and innovation. Creativity as synonym of imagination and fantasy, but also new proposals to improve reality.
Address: Fortezza da Basso, viale Strozzi 1
Tel/fax: 055 4369109
Website - More info: Festival of Creativity
FABBRICA EUROPA
Fabbrica Europa is a meeting occasion for different cultures, with the aim to put down blased opinions and to open oneself mind (in a constructive way) to the cultural differences existing in our continent. This festival usually joins in the city of Florence, during the spring period, the various forms of contemporary and experimental art coming from all over Europe. From painting to music, from theatre to literature, young artists put on the scene their sensibility and their desire to communicate and to get know. The main festival's seat is the Stazione Leopolda (railway station one-time and today housing cultural, artistic and commercial manifestations), where you'll can admire art expositions, theatre and music performances, but meetings will be organized also at the French Institute in piazza Ognissanti.
Address: Stazione Leopolda, Viale Fratelli Rosselli 5
Phone: 055 354077
Website - More info:http://www.fabbricaeuropa.com/
ART - INTERNATIONAL HANDICRAFTS FAIR
The International Handicrafts Fair (Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Artigianato) is the craft show not to be missed. You can enjoy Florence at its best in spring and take advantage of the many opportunities from discounts on the admission ticket and meals to the playroom for small children. ART exhibits many handmade products including clothing and accessories, silverware and jewelry, furniture, beauty and health products and food and wine. There is also an area dedicated to gastronomic delights where you can select the most delicious genuine specialities. These are nine days not to be missed and you will want to come back again next year!
Address: Fortezza da Basso, Viale Strozzi 1
Phone: 055 497 21 / Fax: 055 497 3237
Website - More info: http://www.mostraartigianato.it/eng_home.html
Visit the International Handicrafts Fair in Florence from April 24th to May 02nd! At the Handicrafts fair you could find many exhibitions of craftsmen from all over the world.
SALONE DEL MOBILE IN FLORENCE
The Salone Del Mobile in Florence is one of the most important furniture fairs in Italy according to the number of exhibitors and to sales. This exhibition gives to its visitors a whole view on the latest furniture and design trends, so if you are keen on design, we suggest you to visit it, cause it is also a huge interior design showcase where it's possible to find the right object for every kind of taste, from classic to weird-looking technological objects. The Salone del mobile in Florence is a good chance for you both for a prices comparison in order to buy at best, and as a quick look useful to take new interesting ideas for furnishing or reorganizing of your home. Inside the exhibition, which usually takes place within the Fortezza da Basso framework, you'll find also a wine and food pavilion selling all kinds of Italian specialities, from Sicily to Piedmont. That's a perfect union between comfort and flavour gathering in a Florentine appointment that you can't miss!
Address: Firenze Fiera, Viale Strozzi 1
Telephone number: 055 497 21/ Fax: 055 497 3237
Website - More info: Salone del Mobile
"FESTIVAL DEI POPOLI"
The Festival dei Popoli is Florence's film festival with an international category and an Italian category. When it was founded, its leitmotif was to transport its public to places far away in terms of both time and distance; to bring the world to Florence. The arrival of the new Millenium has brought many changes and now the world is on Florence's doorstep due to migration and globilisation. The need for documentaries is everpresent and so the festival dei Popoli is still an important part of the Florentine cultural calendar.
Address: Borgo Pinti 82/r
Phone: 055 244 778 / Fax: 055 241 364
Website - More info: http://www.festivaldeipopoli.org
FLORENCE BIENNALE
Every two years the Fortezza da Basso hosts the International Arts Biennale in Florence. It was started in 1997 by brothers Pasquale and Piero Celona as the need was felt for an important international venue that would make it possible for talented career artists to exhibit their latest works in a panoramic survey of contemporary art. The Florence Biennale is uniquely open to expansion and diversity as participants are chosen without prejudice as to style, theme or school. If you are in Florence in December then don't miss this chance to experience fresh, new art in a unique surrounding.
Address: Fortezza da Basso, Viale Strozzi 1
Phone: 055 463 3385 / Fax: 055 486 034
Website - More info: http://www.florencebiennale.org/indexeng.html
PITTI IMMAGINE
Florence hosts five fashion events that are among the most important in the international calendar; Pitti Immagine Uomo, Bimbo, Filati, Casa and ModaPelle. Pitti Immagine's mission is to stage fashion fairs and events in the sense of production-consumption, and esthetic and cultural design. The shows have shifted from fashion as a product to fashion as global lifestyles, as striking settings, as social relations and communication among classes, generations and cultures. The shows are spread out through the year so there is likely to be one taking place while you're in Florence and you'll realise that they become the talk of the town.
More information: Pitti Immagine in Florence
FLORENCE GIFT MART
The Fortezza di San Giovanni or da Basso (1533-5) was designed by Antonio da Sangallo with ingenious features to make attack extremely difficult. In those days it protected the city from invasion, but nowadays it is home to conferences and exhibitions. One of these if the Florence Gift Mart, which occurs twice a year and lasts for 3-4 days. The idea behind it is to present to the public original objects suitable as gift items. The exhibition prides itself on attracting the most refined designers and creative experts in the field. This is an opportunity not to be missed for some very original presents, there's always something for everyone!
Address: Fortezza da Basso, Viale Strozzi 1
Phone: 055 477 841 / Fax: 055 480 110
FLORENCE INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
The "Florence International Music Festival" is a festival designed especially for young talented musicians from all over the world. Objective of the event is to promote young musicians who will have the unique opportunity to perform in some of the most beautiful and historically relevant venues of Florence. Find here all information and the concert program about the Florence International Music Festival.
More info: Florence International Music Festival
