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Summer is a special time of the year. It brings with it the desire of spending time with family and old friends, visiting country villages where one can rediscover ancient traditions and genuine flavours.
Great events but also fairs, village festivals, traditional sagre (food festivals), historical re-enactments and all sorts of markets fill the summer calendar of the city of Florence and its surroundings.
There are countless opportunities to live and enjoy Florence and the most authentic side of Tuscany, both for residents who are spending Summer in the city, or tourists looking for entertainment.
Every weekend you can explore one of Florence’s neighbourhoods, or a nearby small town that dresses up to party: just type in ‘what to do in Florence today’ in any search engine and pick your favourite destination and fun event.
Shows and great international stars in Florence
At the top of the charts of the much anticipated events of this July in Florence there is undoubtedly Rockin’1000 That’s Live 2018, the event of 21st July at the Artemio Franchi Stadium, with the biggest Rock band in the world: more than a thousand musicians will play together 18 of the most exciting tracks in the history of Rock. Special Guest: Courtney Love who will perform some of Hole’s songs with the 1000 directed by the great Maestro Beppe Vessicchio. Presenting the evening: Federico Russo and Nikki of Radio Deejay.
Roberto Bolle’s show in Florence is already almos sold out. It will be held in Piazza Santissima Annunziata on the occasion of the 2018 Musart Festival, the Florentine festival scheduled from July 18th to 28th, which has now become one of the hottest music events of the Italian Summer. A great list of performers including Chick Corea, Jethro Tull, Ermal Meta, the Orchestra of Tuscany and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. Musart Festival is not only music but also art, culture and gourmet food.
“Un’altra Estate” (Another Summer): Tuscany in 7 stages
2018 is the ‘Year of Italian Food’ and Tuscany will take part with “Un’altra Estate” (“Another summer”), the itinerant event promoted by the Regione Toscana in collaboration with local associations and bodies. This tour will introduce the participants to some charming villages and landscapes of Tuscany, in 7 stages.
The tour will start on July 19th from the Elba Island (Marciana Marina) and end September 9th in Vinci, passing through Chianni (26th July), Pitigliano (2nd August), Piombino (9th August), Montecarlo di Lucca (23rd August) and Colonnata (30th August).
Wine tourism: itineraries along the Tuscan wine route
For Italians as well as foreign tourists, Tuscany is often synonymous with food and wine; the wine tourism celebrates local events and tours to destinations that offer wine tasting opportunities. It’s no longer necessary to be an expert sommelier; visiting the wine areas can be a romantic occasion for couples and offers interesting excursion ideas for those who want to explore lesser-known places.
The Colline di Vinci Consortium together with the Proloco and the Municipality of Vinci have organised the ‘Enoturismo nella terra del Genio’ (Wine tourism in the land of the Genius”), a program of visits to 13 local cellars that until September give tourists the opportunity to get to know local producers and to taste oil, wine and local dishes.
Architecture, art, trekking and tradition are the stars of “Paesaggi di Vini” (Wine Landscapes) event in the small town of Quarrata, that from May to October offers walks through the Montalbano vineyards, tastings of the best local Chianti wines and visits to the Medicean Villa La Magia.
Travelling south to Montespertoli you can enjoy rides, snacks, games, dinners and plenty of relaxation with “A veglia sulle aie”: a 12-week program of events during which 12 local producers will welcome visitors by offering them various tastings of their products, local cooking workshops and theatre or live music performances.
Festivals and Sagre : which ones to choose in and around Florence?
“Sagra” means territory, food and tradition, and there are plenty historical ones in the Florentine territory, which have become regular features and are not-to-be-missed.
Like the “Sagra della zuppa” (Soup Festival) in Massarella, a hamlet near Fucecchio, that celebrates a dish of the ancient rural tradition. This is the Tuscan ribollita soup, once a poor man’s dish made with stale bread and vegetables, which today has become a very refined dish that requires a lot of culinary knowledge. This popular Soup Festival is not only about food but also live music. Every evening there’s a free concert. Among the guests: Alexia, Myss Keta, Francesco De Leo, Jerry Calà, Diamine, Toni Taormina, Postino, LeMandorle and many others.
A mix of sport and good Tuscan food
Luco di Mugello, Borgo San Lorenzo (FI), for two consecutive weekends until July 29th hosts the event “The Sport Festival” and a Food Festival with local specialities tortelli and gnocchi.
In the Chianti area, in the town of Greve from 13th to 29th July the Beer Festival is back with its food specialities, live music and of course excellent varieties of draft beer.
For meat lovers in Pozzolatico (a hamlet near Impruneta – Florence) from mid-July onwards every weekend there is the “Sagra della Bistecca con Fungo Porcino” (Steak with Porcini Mushroom Festival). The absolute star is obviously the Florentine steak, of 500 grams or one kilo, accompanied by porcini mushrooms.
The agenda of events in Florence and surroundings is really long and varied, there is a Tuscan Summer for every taste!
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