Florence, Italy — Activities
Florence Culture
It seems that Florence could never lose her reputation as a city of culture. Visitors should keep an eye open for one-off recitations played in churches and piazzas around the city. The entertainment publication Firenze Spettacolo (www.firenzespettacolo.it) provides listings on entertainment in the city. Box Office Nuovo, Via Luigi Alamanni (tel: (055) 210 804; www.boxol.it/www.boxofficetoscana.it), Via Porta Rossa 82r (tel: (055) 219 402), or Viale Giannotti 13r (tel: (055) 680 362) sells most other tickets.
Music
Teatro Comunale
Opera season in Florence starts in September and is held chiefly at the Teatro Comunale on the banks of the Arno. L'Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is the city's main orchestra and also plays here.
Corso Italia 16
Tel: (055) 277 9350.
Website: www.maggiofiorentino.com
Teatro della Pergola
Chamber music can be heard most weekends at the Teatro della Pergola,
an ornate 17th-century theater that also stages classical concerts and opera.
Via della Pergola
Tel: (055) 226 4353.
Website: www.pergola.firenze.it
Theater
Teatro Verdi
This is one of two chief venues for drama in Florence. Most performances are conducted in Italian, so a good understanding of the language is vital. Performances are typically productions of classic Italian dramas or foreign plays in translation, interspersed with the occasional contemporary production. Regular ballet performances also take place here.
Via Ghibellina 99
Tel: (055) 212 320 or 239 6242.
Website: www.teatroverdifirenze.it
Teatro Puccini
Try this city theater for a variety of performances from opera to new plays.
Via delle Cascine
Tel: (055) 362 067.
Website: www.teatropuccini.it
Dance
Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
If you want to see ballet, particularly during the Maggio Fiorentino festival, which is held at various venues throughout the year, you can get information and tickets from the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.
Corso Italia 16
Tel: (055) 277 9350 or 427 5367
Website: www.maggiofiorentino.com
Florence Tours
Walking Tours
Visitors can arrange a private walking tour or book one of the daily guided tours around Florence's key attractions through Mercurio. Walks include a tour of the Uffizi Gallery, departing from the reservations entrance at 1330 (Tuesday-Saturday); a tour of Pitti Palace and Oltrarno, which starts in front of the Pitti Palace at 1600 on Tuesday and Thursday, and a ‘Michelangelo & Florence’ city tour, which departs from the Ponte Vecchio daily at 1000. The walking tours range from two to three hours and include entry tickets. Commentary is from English-speaking local experts and advance reservations are required.
A number of walking tours are also offered by Artviva. The ‘Original Florence Walk' departs from the company's office, Via Sassetti 1, taking in the highlights of the city with tales from the past. The three hour tour runs daily at 0930.
Mercurio
Tel: (055) 213 355.
Website: www.mercurio-italy.org
Artviva
Tel: (055) 264 5033.
Website: www.italy.artviva.com
Bus Tours
Most Florence attractions are closely grouped together and easily covered on foot.
However, for visitors determined to take a bus tour, CAF Tours operate half- or full-day tours of the main city sites.
Tel: (055) 210 612.
Website: www.caftours.com
Bike Tours
I Bike Italy offers two hour city tours by bike, as well as excursions into Chianti on mountain bikes. Full-day tours (0900-1700) include lunch and a tour of one of the local vineyards. Bookings are taken in English over the telephone and a pick-up point in Florence is arranged.
Tel: (055) 234 2371.
Website: www.ibikeitaly.com
