VINO/ Wine Stories
5pm, September 23
Learn about wine from the comfort of your home
CULTURE/ Florence Queer Festival
September 21-26
19th edition of Florence Queer Festival
The 19th edition of the LGBTQIA+ fest that weaves together cinema, exhibitions, meetings and events is under the artistic direction of Bruno Casini and Roberta Vannucci. The virtual programming also extends to book presentations and debates with the “Queer Focus” section. This year, 18 films are on the line-up, exploring all facets of LGBTQIA+ culture. Videoqueer is also back, the competition in which 10 shorts from 8 different countries take part. Organized by the Ireos association in collaboration with Arcilesbica Firenze and Music Pool, the festival is supported by Fondazione Sistema Toscana and Pubbliaqua.
Cinema La Compagnia,
Via Cavour 50, Florence
TALK/ European Day of Languages
September 25
Celebrating the various languages of Europe
The British Institute of Florence will runs its annual European Day of Languages events in collaboration with other language centres in Florence, including Institut Français Firenze, Deutsches Institut Florenz and the Centro Lengua Española. Events include on online quiz on Facebook, and each of the institutes will run a range of in-person activities.
PERFORMANCE/ Genius Loci: discovering Santa Croce
September 23-25
International artists, musicians, actors and writers perform in the cultural treasure trove of Santa Croce. The fourth edition of the festival that focuses on exploring the genius in the “spirit of places” sees entertainment with a contemporary flair, creating an extraordinary series of events that ranges from concerts to talk shows in mesmerizing locations such as Brunelleschi’s Cloister. Guided tours form part of the line-up and events run through the night until dawn, with the closing concert taking place at 6am. See www.controradio.it and www.santacroceopera.it.
Santa Croce basilica complex,
piazza di Santa Croce 16, Florence
EXHIBITION/ Ellen Sheidlin: Comprehended by Fantasy
September 24-October 20
Work by Russian artist, Ellen Sheidlin
The Student Hotel Florence inaugurate a new exhibition space with works by the multifaceted Russian artist, Ellen Sheidlin. Located on the groud floor inside the ‘Palazzo del Sogno’, the new gallery is curated by Connector and Partnerships Manager, Michelle Davis, and will be dedicated to the visual arts with particular attention to new languages. Sheidlin’s work blends the dreamlike with realism, in a style defined as “survirtualism”. Free admission upon reservation.
The Student Hotel
viale Spartaco Lavagnini 70, Florence
CREATE/ ARTOUR-O il MUST
September 24-26
Tetraktys
The 33rd edition of the festival focuses on Dante with 700 works to represent Dante’s 700 year anniversary created by 10 artists, The international itinerary starts from Florence, with 100 works in 10 different places, including museums and institutional and corporate spaces. The events also include a #2eurodiDante game, in which participants become co-creators of a work of art. Created by the Ellequadro Documenti to communicate the identity of companies, institutions and organizations through art, the name comes from ART in TOUR MUSeo Temporaneo.
Various locations
CULTURE/ European Heritage Days
September 25
Museo del Porcellane will be open for the occasion
To mark the European days celebrating heritage, the Uffizi Gallery of Statues and Paintings will be open on the evening of September 25 from 7-10pm, at the symbolic price of 1 euro (plus 4 euro for the required reservation), when it will also be possible to visit two spaces which are normally closed: the apartment of the Duchess of Aosta in Palazzo Pitti (3-5.30pm), and the Porcelain Museum in the Boboli gardens (8.15am to 6.30pm), booking required. In the latter spaces, an LIS interpreter will be available, as part of the museum’s involvement in the International Week of the Deaf, and the International day of Sign Languages. All information here. State museums mark the day with free admission or 1 euro entrance tickets, all detailed here.
CHARITY/ Corri La Vita
September 26
Get moving for charity
For the first time ever, the annual charity event will involve all of Tuscany. There are plenty of ways to connect as you undertake an outdoor sporting activity, wherever you’d like. A livestream warm-up session will be hosted by trainers from the Wellness Firenze Marathon gym, with a special guest tuning in to officially launch the event. Access to over 100 cultural destinations all over Tuscany is free for those wearing this year’s Corri la Vita t-shirt. All funds raised go towards fighting against breast cancer and assisting cancer patients.
Various locations
