Newsletter: June 28 - July 15

Events in Florence

Wednesdays- Yoga on the River - FREE!

7:30 pm - 45-minute yoga session (Lungarno Serristori, Piazza Poggi). Bring a mat/towel.

Saturday, July 2 - Official start date for summer "saldi" (sales) 

Great sales all over the city through August!

Tuesday, July 5 - Jazz at Le Murate

8:30 pm at Le Murate (Via Ghibellina)

July 6 Fireworks in Fiesole!

4 pm, Piazza Mino, Fiesole. Procession of the relics of San Romolo at 6pm. 9pm concert in the piazza in front of the cathedral by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Fiesole, fireworks at 10:30pm.

July 5-8: Fashion/Vintage Selection

Stazione Leopolda, Florence 9 AM - Midnight. Vintage clothing, accessories and designer objects fair. www.stazione-leopolda.com.

Until July 9 Dance Festival at the Bargello

Bargello Museum. Dance performances in the museum's courtyard. Ballet, Modern, Tango and more! www.florencedance.org; to purchase tickets www.boxol.it or at the venue. All shows are at 9:30pm and cost 25 euro (full), 20 reduced price or 15 for students.

July 8 to 10: Pistoia Blues Festival

Piazza Duomo, Pistoia. Skunk Anansie and Lou Reed headline, playing with the town's cathedral as a backdrop. Earlier in the day there are blues concerts, talks, market-like stalls and more for a generally festive atmosphere. Pistoia is easily reachable by train, with Piazza Duomo within walking distance; purchase tickets via www.ticketone.it, full schedule available at www.pistoiablues.com.

July 11: Mixer/A Tavola! Cultural experience through food

7 - 10pm, Syracuse University, Piazza Savonarola 15, Florence

Annual English Night - Speakers from all over the world recount their encounters with Italian food from their own cultural points of view. Buffet with Italian and American favorites will be served in the garden. The cost of the evening is a steal at 10 euro per person. Reservations required:http://toinatavola.eventbrite.com.

July 2-30 Our Dark Past/Archaeology Nights

240 events and 100 participating museums and archaeological areas, many with special night-time openings to discover the past by the cover of night. In Florence, Wednesday nights are for exploring the Roman theatre in the basement of Palazzo Vecchio with the help of the actors of the Museo dei Ragazzi (in Italian, 9 to 11pm, 8 euro; reservation required at 055/2768224, info.museoragazzi@comune.fi.it). Full list of events www.regione.toscana.it/nottidellarcheologia.

July 13 to 17: Street Party/Mercantia

Certaldo Alto, Certaldo (Siena). Explore secret gardens, see artisans at work, follow marching bands, be followed by mimes, and hear a man who all by himself sounds like a whole orchestra. Certaldo is easily reachable by train (direction Siena) from Florence, and the historical center is a short walk and funicular away. For information, see www.mercantiacertaldo.it.

Tuesday, July 12- Boboli opera festival (through August 3) 

Opera festival starts in Boboli Gardens