By Adam King
If you’re one of the lucky ones that get to spend your summer in beautiful Florence, you are in for the best Summer of your life. The warm weather, delicious gelato, and beautiful sunsets are going to stay all Summer, so if you’re looking for some other events to go to; check it out below:
Lucca Summer Festival
Venture an hour outside of Florence to the famous Lucca Summer festival to see some of the best local music that Italy has to offer. This year’s lineup includes Bob Dylan, John Legend, The Script, Billy Idol, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Snoop Dogg, and more! Check out last year’s festival.
http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eOeqSpnrIA
St. John the Baptist Celebration
On June 24th the city of Florence celebrates the feast day for their patron saint, John the Baptist, considered the symbol of moral rectitude. The morning has a small parade, during the afternoon there are boat rides, and most importantly the final match for Calcio Storico Fiorentino. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Calcio Storico; the game was born in the 16th century in Renaissance Florence, is a mix of soccer, rugby and wrestling and gets very rowdy to say the least. After this is all done, the night will end with fireworks getting set off from the top of Piazzale Michaelangelo; a great conclusion to a full-packed day.
Pistoia Blues Festival
Head a few kilometers outside of Florence to Pistoia to the home of beautiful scenery and rich culture for a one-of-a-kind music festival. Spanning across most of July that allows you to try local dishes, go to spas, and immerse yourself in the local culture. There are some great artists playing concerts there as well; this year’s lineup includes Mumford & Sons, Counting Crows, Hozier, Passenger, Sting, Santana, and more. More than a few people show up to this event to the say the least; here’s a picture from the crowd from last year.
Firenze Gelato Festival
Who loves gelato? Everybody, that’s who. Join in on the celebration of the Florentine origins of ice cream (said to be invented by Buontalenti in 1559 when he was at the Medici court) and then, over the years, it has become one of the most popular itinerant festivals all over Italy and Europe. There will be competitions, demonstrations, and of course tastings on this delicious day on May 7th!
These are just a few of the events that are running in Florence this summer. Keep your eyes and ears open for other fun things going on and enjoy the greatest city in Europe!
