Best events in Florence this October

CHILDREN/ Firenze dei Bambini

October 3-4

 

 

 

October 3-4 will see events and shows inspired by the world of Gianni Rodari on the occasion of the centenary of his birth in 2020. The weekend will feature fun-filled activities for children, teenagers and their grown-ups in venues across the city, including, for the first time, Teatro della Pergola. Palazzo Vecchio and Istituto degli Innocenti also host fantastical workshops and inspiring shows to thrill and amuse little ones. All information is detailed here. 

 

 

 

TECH/ Internet Festival 

October 8-11

 

 

 

The #Reset themed Internet Festival in Pisa sees four days of in-person events and a full three months of online streaming as questions about the internet are raised and answered. Undoubtedly, we are all spending more time online than ever, emerging bleary-eyed from these tech-filled months. With that in mind, the festival asks the question ‘How has the internet changed at the time of Covid-19?’ and equally, ‘How has Covid-19 changed the internet?’. There will be particular analysis given to the role of social media and its influence on information and democracy as well as how to interpret data through a sociological and anthropological perspective. Talks with international experts, panels, workshops, contests and cultural events revolve around these topics as 10 different venues in Pisa host events for the tenth edition of the festival. Music, cinema and food stalls complete the festivities. 

 

Various locations in Pisa

 

 

 

LEGACY/ L’Eredità delle Donne

October 23-25

 

 

 

The third edition of the all-female festival created and directed by Serena Dandini features scientists, economists, entrepreneurs, politicians, writers and artists who will discuss what the post-Covid world will be and the role of women within it. A larger audience than ever before will be able to participate given the digital streaming of all events as well as a series of online discussions held every Tuesday and Thursday at 6pm on the festival’s Facebook page. Talks cover topics such as the environment, female visions of the future, book presentations, and the significant role of female scientists during the pandemic. The festival’s inspiration is Electress Palatine Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici, the last descendant of the Medici family who bequeathed her family’s extensive artistic collection to the world. Reservation is required to attend the in-person events, digitally accessible to all.

 

Manifattura Tabacchi,

via delle Cascine 33-35, Florence

 

 

 

MARKET/ International Ceramics Fair

10am-7pm, October 3-4

 

 

The 21st edition of the International Ceramics fair will take place in the spectacular setting of piazza Santa Croce from 10am-7pm. Experienced and talented ceramists will display their wares, a great opportunity to get ahead on Christmas gifts! 70 contemporary ceramic artists will have stalls int he piazza, exhibiting their creations made with innovative techniques and intriguing materials. An installation will be mounted in the centre of the piazza that celebrates the 700th anniversary of Dante Alighieri consisting of ceramic works inspired by the verses of the Divine Comedy. See here for more details. 

Piazza Santa Croce,

Florence

 

 

 

CINEMA/ Middle East Now Festival

October 6-11

 

 

 

Contemporary Middle Eastern culture comes under the spotlight as a rich programme with cinema, art, photography, music, comics, theater and more forms the festival themed ‘Visual Voices’. Over 40 films will be screened with a focus on Iran, Morocco, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Turkey, Iraq, Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia. Opening the festivities will be the outstanding documentary ‘Sunless Shadows’, filmed in a female juvenile detention center in Iran. Soundtracks will also be a focal point, with special guest, the award-winning composer Omar Fadel making an appearance. A photographic exhibition titled 7×7 Middle East will be on display at Murate Art District, as seven emerging photographers explore seven days of life in seven different cities of the Middle East. A comics exhibition and talks with the creators will also take place in the wide-ranging culture fest.

 

Various locations, Florence

 

 

 

TALK/ Artemisia and Restoration Conversations

6.30pm, October 16

 

 

 

Join Advancing Women Artists and The Florentine for ‘Restoration Conversations’, an online cultural series dedicated to the art of women. Part One will be an interview with National Gallery curator Letizia Treves, as she shares insight on the highly-anticipated Artemisia exhibition, on display in London until January 2021. The show spans 40 years of Artemisia’s achievements and spotlights multiple female heroes (some of which are self-portraits). Dr. Travers will speak about the artist, her show and other giant leaps forward for womankind in the art world. Join The Florentine’s and AWA’s Facebook pages live, or The Florentine’s YouTube channel.

 

 

 

CULTURE/ Florence Queer Festival

October 13-18

 

 

 

The 18th edition of the Florence Queer Festival organized by IREOS features international LGBTQ-themed cinematography, exhibitions and events that will also be streamed via the virtual platform Più Compagnia. The line-up will also see book presentations and debates online. Screenings include ‘The Braibanti case’ by Carmen Giardina and Massimiliano Palmese, ‘Suk Suk’ by Ray Yeung that focuses on Curve magazine, the romantic comedy ‘Ellie & Abbie’ and ‘The Capote Tapes’ by Ebs Burnough that portrays the glittering jet-set in New York. Important works such as ‘Baci Rubati’ by Gabriella Romano that looks at the repression of LGBT people during the fascist dictatorship will also be on the big screen. Enriching the programme is the Superwomen exhibition by renowned street artist Lediesis at the Semiottagono delle Murate, in piazza delle Murate. 

 

Cinema la Compagnia, via Cavour 50r

+ other locations, Florence

 

 

 

EXHIBITION/ Massimo Sestini

Until October 31

 

 

 

Tuscany as you’ve never seen it before: 20 giant works by the Prato-born renowned photo journalist Massimo Sestini are simply magnificent from their perch overlooking the city at Forte Belvedere. The spectacular captures form the Beauty beyond Limits exhibition, curated by Sergio Risaliti, and were shot from 2,000 feet above the ground as Sestini dangled from helicopters and other aircraft to capture his original shots using a telephoto lens. The photographs have been enlarged to five by three meters, creating a phenomenal illusion of hovering above Tuscany. The works are part of the Tuscany, Never-Ending Renaissance tourism campaign to promote the region and are being viewed for the first time in Florence before travelling worldwide. The works can be viewed from 3 to 8pm every day of the week except Monday, until October 31. Last entry at 7pm. Read more about the exhibition here. 

 

Forte Belvedere,

via di San Leonardo 1, Florence