GeoStats:

Alternate Name: Firenze

Passport/Visa Requirements: US citizens only need a valid passport for stays of less than 3 months.

Population: 682,000

Languages: Italian, but English is widely spoken.

Predominant Religion: Roman Catholic

Time Zone: 1 hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time, 6 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.

Voltage Requirements: 220 volts

Phone codes: 39, country code; 055, city code.

Destination:

Florence


Monthly Calendar

topJanuary 2013

1 January—New Year's Day

Public holiday.

6 January—Epiphany

Public holiday.

Throughout January—Opera, Dance and Concerts

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues. For information, call +39 055-213-535. For tickets, call +39 055-210-804 or 0935-564-767. Opera season ends early February, Dance and Concerts continue through March.

Throughout January—Concerts

Amici della Musica presents classical music concerts at Teatro della Pergola, Via Sirtori 49. For information and tickets, call 055-607-440 or 055-608-420. Continues through early April.

Throughout January—Soccer

AC Fiorentina plays regularly scheduled Series A matches. Communal Stadium, Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. For more information, call +39 055-262-5537. Season continues through early May.

topFebruary 2013

Throughout February—Opera, Dance and Concerts

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues. For information, call +39 055-213-535. For tickets, call +39 055-210-804 or 0935-564-767. Opera season ends early February; Dance and Concerts continue through March.

Throughout February—Concerts

Amici della Musica presents classical music concerts at Teatro della Pergola, Via Sirtori 49. For information and tickets, call 055-607-440 or 055-608-420. Continues through early April.

Throughout February—Soccer

AC Fiorentina plays regularly scheduled Series A matches. Communal Stadium, Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. For more information, call +39 055-262-5537. Season continues through early May.

topMarch 2013

31 Mar — Easter Day

Holiday

Throughout March—Dance and Concerts

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues. For information, call +39 055-213-535. For tickets, call +39 055-210-804 or 0935-564-767.

Throughout March—Concerts

Amici della Musica presents classical music concerts at Teatro della Pergola, Via Sirtori 49. For information and tickets, call 055-607-440 or 055-608-420. Continues through early April.

Throughout March—Soccer

AC Fiorentina plays regularly scheduled Series A matches. Communal Stadium, Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. For more information, call +39 055-262-5537. Season continues through early May.

topApril 2013

1 April—Easter Monday

Public holiday.

8 Apr—Scoppio del Carro

One of Florence's biggest festivals is the Scoppio del Carro, literally "Explosion of the Cart," an event that dates back to medieval times. The Scoppio del Carro takes place following mass on Easter Sunday in front of the Duomo.

25 April—Liberation Day

Public holiday.

Early April—Concert

Amici della Musica presents classical music concerts at Teatro della Pergola, Via Sirtori 49. For information and tickets, call 055-607-440 or 055-608-420.

Throughout April—Soccer

AC Fiorentina plays regularly scheduled Series A matches. Communal Stadium, Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. For more information, call +39 055-262-5537. Season continues through early May.

topMay 2013

1 May—Labor Day

Public holiday.

17 May — Ascension

Religious holiday. Following a parade, crickets are ceremonially released in the Parco delle Cascine. The insects are also placed in decorated cages and sold as part of this tradition.

Mid May—Maggio Musicale Festival

The oldest Italian music festival and one of the most important in Europe attracts music lovers from around the world to its often-groundbreaking operas, concerts and ballets. Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16. For tickets or information visit.

Throughout May—Fabbrica Europa

An annual international festival of contemporary music, dance, theater and visual arts from a variety of cultural traditions. In the former Leopolda Railway Station. For information, call 055-263-8480.

Early May—International Iris Competition

This juried flower show has featured varieties of iris from around the world since 1954. More than 150 types are in bloom at Il Giardino del'Iris (the Iris Garden), Pizzale Michelangelo. For information, call 055-483-112.

Late May—Fiorita

The death of Fra Girolamo Savonarola—zealous religious reformer of the 15th century—is commemorated with a ceremony and procession. Palagio di Parte Guelfa, Parte Guelfa 1. For information, call 055-261-6029.

Late May—Flower Display

Midsummer in Florence sees a carpet of flowers covering the main square, the Piazza della Signoria. Perfectly arranged and meticulously tended, they provide a riot of color and are a great source of civic pride. Continues through late June.

topJune 2013

2 June— Republic Day

Public Holiday.

24 June—Feast of San Giovanni

Public holiday honoring the patron saint of Florence, St. John. A traditional gioco del calcio (soccer match) takes place. At 9 am, a costumed procession of Florentine guild officials leaves from the Society of St. John headquarters at Via del Corso 1, joined by the competing teams from each of the four quarters of the city. Members of noble Florentine families follow on horseback. Games are played at the Piazza San Croce. A fireworks display takes place in the evening, lighting up the Piazzale Michelangelo.

Early-Late June—Flower Displays

Midsummer in Florence sees a carpet of flowers covering the main square, the Piazza della Signoria. Perfectly arranged and meticulously tended, they provide a riot of color and are a great source of civic pride.

Early-Mid June—Maggio Musicale Festival

The oldest italian music festival and one of the most important in Europe attracts music lovers from around the world to its often-groundbreaking operas, concerts, and ballets. Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16.

topJuly 2013

2 July—Il Palio

Traditional, famed bareback horse races around the Piazza del Campo, Siena's main square. The races are preceded by three days of trial runs, parades and feasting, and are followed by a day of feasting and accolades for the winning horse and rider. Siena is 90 minutes from Florence on the SITA bus. For information, call +39 057-280-551.

topAugust 2013

15 August—Assumption Day

Public holiday.

Mid August—Il Palio

Traditional, famed bareback horse races around the Piazza del Campo, Siena's main square. The races are preceded by three days of trial runs, parades and feasting, and are followed by a day of feasting and accolades for the winning horse and rider. Siena is 90 minutes from Florence on the SITA bus. For information, call +39 057-280-551.

Late August—Soccer

AC Fiorentina plays regularly scheduled Series A matches. Communal Stadium, Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. Season continues through early May 2012

topSeptember 2013

Early September—Festa della Rificolona

Festival of Lanterns take place in Piazza Annunziata, along the Arno River and in all four quarters of the city. For information, call +39 055-23320 or +39 055-234-6286.

Early September—La Giostra della Stella

Four neighborhoods in the nearby town of Bagno a Ripoli compete in a tournament that incorporates everything from a three-legged race to feats of skill on galloping horses. Citizens parade in Renaissance costumes. Fireworks conclude the festivities. Bagno a Ripoli is 15 minutes from Florence by car.

Early-Late September—Opera

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues.  Continues throught early February 2011.

Mid September—Greve Chianti Classico Festival

This wine festival and tasting occurs the second weekend in September. Greve is about 20 mi/30 km south of Florence.

Throughout September—Soccer

AC Fiorentina plays regularly scheduled Series A matches. Communal Stadium, Viale Manfredo Fanti 14. Season continues through early May 2012

topOctober 2013

Early October—Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato

This antiques show is the oldest in Italy and one of the most important in the world. More than 80 international exhibitors of fine antiques and paintings occupy more than 16,000 sq ft of exhibit space. Held once every two years, next in 2013. Palazzo Corsini, Lungarno Corsini. For information, call 055-282-635 or 055-282-283.

Throughout October—Concerts

Amici della Musica (Friends of Music) presents classical music concerts at Teatro della Pergola, Via Sirtori 49. For information and tickets, call 055-607-440 or 055-608-420. Continues through early April 2012.

Throughout October—Opera, Concerts and Dance

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues. For information, call +39 055-213-535. For tickets, call +39 055-210-804 or 0935-564-767. New Season with operas, ballets, and concerts throughout the year.

topNovember 2013

1 November—All Saints' Day

Public holiday.

24 November—Florence Marathon

Long-distance runners take to the streets of Florence. The route begins at Piazzale Michelangiolo and finishes at Piazza Santa Croce. For information, call 055-600-664.

Mid November—Festival dei Populi

A festival of social documentary films, with an emphasis on digital technology, and the role and influence of documentaries in the modern world. Various cinemas. For information, call 055-244-778.

Throughout November—Concerts

Amici della Musica presents classical music concerts at Teatro della Pergola, Via Sirtori 49. For information and tickets, call 055-607-440 or 055-608-420. Continues through early April 2012.

Throughout November—Opera and Dance

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues. For information, call +39 055-213-535. For tickets, call +39 055-210-804 or 0935-564-767. New Season with operas, ballets, and concerts are presented throughout the year.

topDecember 2013

8 December—Feast of the Immaculate Conception

Public holiday.

25 December—Christmas

Public holiday.

26 December—St. Stephen's Day

Public holiday.

Early December—International Biennial Exhibition of Contemporary Art

This international juried art show displays contemporary art by 800 artists from nearly 75 countries. Also concerts, performances, lectures and special events. Fortezza da Basso, Firenze Expo, Piazza Adua 1. For information, call 055-27731.

Throughout December—Opera, Dance and Concerts

Productions are frequently staged at Teatro Comunale, Corso Italia 16, and other venues. For information, call +39 055-213-535. For tickets, call +39 055-210-804 or 0935-564-767. New Season with operas, ballets, and concerts are presented throughout the year.