ART - INTERNATIONAL HANDICRAFTS FAIR - The
International Handicrafts Fair (Mostra Mercato
Internazionale dell'Artigianato) is the craft
show not to be missed. You can enjoy Florence
at its best in spring and take advantage of
the many opportunities from discounts on the
admission ticket and meals to the playroom
for small children. ART exhibits many handmade
products including clothing and accessories,
silverware and jewelry, furniture, beauty
and health products and food and wine. There
is also an area dedicated to gastronomic delights
where you can select the most delicious genuine
specialities. These are nine days not to be
missed and you will want to come back again
next year!
Address: Fortezza da Basso,
Viale Strozzi 1
Phone: 055 497 21 / Fax: 055 497 3237
Website - More info: http://www.firenze-expo.it
"FESTIVAL DEI
POPOLI" - The Festival dei Popoli
is Florence's film festival with an international
category and an Italian category. When it
was founded, its leitmotif was to transport
its public to places far away in terms of
both time and distance; to bring the world
to Florence. The arrival of the new Millenium
has brought many changes and now the world
is on Florence's doorstep due to migration
and globilisation. The need for documentaries
is everpresent and so the festival dei Popoli
is still an important part of the Florentine
cultural calendar.
Address: Borgo Pinti 82/r
Phone: 055 244 778 / Fax: 055 241 364
Website - More info: http://www.festivaldeipopoli.org
FLORENCE BIENNALE
- Every two years the Fortezza da
Basso hosts the International Arts Biennale
in Florence. It was started in 1997 by brothers
Pasquale and Piero Celona as the need was
felt for an important international venue
that would make it possible for talented career
artists to exhibit their latest works in a
panoramic survey of contemporary art. The
Florence Biennale is uniquely open to expansion
and diversity as participants are chosen without
prejudice as to style, theme or school. If
you are in Florence in December then don't
miss this chance to experience fresh, new
art in a unique surrounding.
Address: Fortezza da Basso,
Viale Strozzi 1
Phone: 055 463 3385 / Fax: 055 486 034
Website - More info: http://www.artestudio.net
PITTI IMMAGINE -
Florence hosts five fashion events that are
among the most important in the international
calendar; Pitti Immagine Uomo, Bimbo, Filati,
Casa and ModaPelle. Pitti Immagine's mission
is to stage fashion fairs and events in the
sense of production-consumption, and esthetic
and cultural design. The shows have shifted
from fashion as a product to fashion as global
lifestyles, as striking settings, as social
relations and communication among classes,
generations and cultures. The shows are spread
out through the year so there is likely to
be one taking place while you're in Florence
and you'll realise that they become the talk
of the town.
Website - More info: http://www.pittimmagine.com
FLORENCE GIFT MART
- The Fortezza di San Giovanni or da Basso
(1533-5) was designed by Antonio da Sangallo
with ingenious features to make attack extremely
difficult. In those days it protected the
city from invasion, but nowadays it is home
to conferences and exhibitions. One of these
if the Florence Gift Mart, which occurs twice
a year and lasts for 3-4 days. The idea behind
it is to present to the public original objects
suitable as gift items. The exhibition prides
itself on attracting the most refined designers
and creative experts in the field. This is
an opportunity not to be missed for some very
original presents, there's always something
for everyone!
Address: Fortezza da Basso,
Viale Strozzi 1
Phone: 055 477 841 / Fax: 055 480 110
