
By Elsa Hawkes. Photographs by Margaret Mitchem.
Florence in summer is a really good idea.
The city is bustling with events, activities, and sights to see during the summer.
You won’t have a chance to get bored as there’s always something to do.
Music, museum events, fashion events, and art galleries are open to cool you off or find a way to distract you from the heat.
Events will happen every day, and not just at the weekends.
There is a never-ending to-do list from music, dance, theatre, performance, art, and fashion events. It will be impossible to get bored in the heart of Florence.
A POOLSIDE COCKTAIL
Cooling down while temperatures rise: it’s everyone’s dream in hot Florence in summer. While it wouldn’t be a good
idea to dip in the Arno, swimming in the Le Pavoniere pool would be a better possibility as it is alongside a villa, a
poolside bar, a restaurant, and a pizzeria.

An enchanting place in the most romantic city in the world where you can
swim, have a drink and dine by candlelight. Open from 9:30 am to 7:30 pm from Monday to Saturday and from 9:00
am to 7:30 pm on Sundays and holidays. Open until September 11. Entrance is 8 euro per day on weekdays and 12
euro on weekends.
Le Pavoniere at Parco delle Cascine, Viale della Catena, 2, Florence.

BOOKS AND EXCELLENT TUSCAN WINE
If you are seeking a haven of tranquillity to unwind and partake in meaningful conversations, buy a book but also drink an excellent glass of Tuscan wine, the Ornitorinco is the ultimate spot. Besides being a bookshop, it is also a cafè where you can indulge in a morning cappuccino, a refreshing drink, or a chat at the counter. Keep an eye on the site, as it hosts some delightful summer events.
L’Ornitorinco, Via di Camaldoli 10r, Florence.

OPEN-AIR COOL MUSIC ON THE RIVERSIDE
If you are looking for a place to have a drink, dine al fresco, listen to great music and attend super-cool events, go with your eyes closed to the Fiorino space, and you’re sure to have a good time. It’s on the riverbank, where greenery mixes with eco-friendly fittings and coloured lights, and it’s open every evening until the end of September. The bar has a nice selection of wines and beers, cocktails and soft drinks to sip together with the street food (including vegetarian) available in the Fiorino relaxation areas. There is also an open-air restaurant and a stage with events 7 days a week, all with free admission. Can’t miss it!
Il Fiorino sull’Arno, Lungarno Pecori Giraldi, Florence.

EMERGING BANDS ON STAGE
The unmissable Summer event in Florence? Firenze Suona Estate is a music and literature festival spread throughout the city, with concerts to discover young emerging Italian bands, book presentations, and multimedia shows and performances by established artists. The events last until mid-September; they are free and take place in different locations, from the historic centre to the suburbs. It’s an inclusive festival that brings everyone together, residents and tourists, young and old.
Various Locations.

MOVIES BENEATH THE STARS
Open-air cinema will always be a great summer classic. Until 7 August, you can enjoy Apriti Cinema in a unique historical place in Florence, the Cortile degli Uffizi, every evening at 9:45 pm. In this amazing location, you can watch films in their original language, subtitled in Italian (and sometimes in English). The programme will feature the titles proposed by the international festivals of the ’50 Days of Cinema in Florence’, the Florence Korea Film Fest, the Latin American film festival Entre Dos Mundos and the short film festival Sentiero Film Factory. Enjoy an outdoor movie marathon, as the entrance is free. Check out the programme via the link below.
Cortile degli Uffizi, Piazzale degli Uffizi, Florence.

A REVOLUTIONARY FASHION DESIGNER AT PALAZZO PITTI
Check out the new opening of the exhibition on Germana Marucelli, a visionary Florentine fashion designer who completed pieces from the 1920s to the 1970s. This exhibition, open until 24 September, is held at Palazzo Pitti, where the fashion and costume museum has just reopened. The 150 pieces, including clothes, jewellery, artworks and sketches, are displayed in the 15 new rooms of the Fashion Museum in Palazzo Pitti.
Museo della Moda e del Costume, Palazzo Pitti, Florence.

NICO VASCELLARI AND HIS VISUAL ART
Nico Vascellari will be hosting an exhibition in Forte di Belvedere until October 8. His works include performances with sculptures and design installations, with a selection of previously unseen works specially conceived for the occasion and created with video, sculpture, collage, installation and sound. Entrance is free; all you need to do is grab your tickets from the ticket office and immerse yourself in the captivating world of art.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Forte Belvedere, Florence.

A MUST-SEE FOR ART LOVERS
Wieland Schönfelder’s art is complex and fascinating; it includes digital animation, sculpture, dramaturgy, installation and writing. Until September 1, Toast Project Space at the Manifattura Tabacchi presents the exhibition Dialog by Wieland Schönfelder, an opportunity to explore the work and art of this incredible visionary artist who uses connections between visual arts and theatre to create his pieces. His style is a “strange” and “otherworldly” type of art, which takes you out of this universe and into another. A must-see for art lovers around Florence in Summer.
Manifattura Tabacchi, Via delle Cascine, Florence.

Yoga with Florence view
Don’t want to give up yoga and like to practice in a group, surrounded by stunning views of Florence? Sun salutation in the cradle of the Renaissance can be a magical experience. Flow with Irene Scervino in the Lungarno Pecori Giraldi every Monday until July 31, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Relax and enjoy the impressive view while testing your flexibility. Lessons are in Italian and English, so no excuses: you can’t pretend you don’t understand how to get into the most challenging positions!

Local street food & fun
At Manifattura Tabacchi, until 30 September, there is a rich programme of events including live music, art, cinema, food&drinks, fashion and lifestyle, talks and festivals. If you are looking for something tasty for a snack or a quick lunch, there are food trucks with local street food on the boulevard every Monday: check out Chiosco ai Renai and Necciaio. The atmosphere is perfect, with picturesque views of rolling hills and the warm glow of delicate string lights suspended stalls. The trucks arrive every Monday, so you can rest assured you won’t go hungry.
Manifattura Tabacchi, Via delle Cascine, Florence.
Elsa Hawkes is a Fashion Styling & Creative Direction Undergraduate student at Istituto Marangoni Firenze.
Margaret Mitchem is a Multimedia Arts Undergraduate student at Istituto Marangoni Firenze.