Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Florence's Feast of Anna Maria Medici marks the death in 1743 of the last Medici with a
costumed parade from Palazzo Vecchio to Anna Maria's tomb in the Cappelle Medicee;
18 February.
LIGHT SHOW
Scoppio del Carro
A cart of fireworks is exploded in front of the cathedral at 11am on Easter Sunday - get
there at least two hours early to grab a good position.
Maggio Musicale
ARTS
Fiorentino
(
www.maggiofiorentino.com
)
This arts festival - Italy's oldest - held in Florence's Teatro del
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino stages world-class performances of theatre, classical music,
jazz and dance; April to June.
Festa di San Giovanni
Florence celebrates its patron saint, John, with a
calcio storico
(traditional football) match
on Piazza di Santa Croce and fireworks over Piazzale Michelangelo; 24 June.
MIDSUMMER
Festival Firenze Classica
(
www.orcafi.it
)
July sees Florence's highly regarded Orchestra da Camera Toscana perform-
ing classical music in the atmospheric settings of the Oratorio di San Michele a Castello
and Palazzo Strozzi.
MUSIC
Sleeping
TOP OF CHAPTER
4
Around Piazza del Duomo & Piazza della Signoria
Hotel Scoti
HISTORIC HOTEL
€
( 055 29 21 28;
www.hotelscoti.com
; Via de' Tornabuoni 7; s/d/tr/q €80/125/150/175; )
Wedged between Prada and McQueen, this is a splendid mix of old-fashioned charm and
value for money. Run with smiling aplomb by Australian Doreen and Italian Carmello, the
hotel is enthroned in a 16th-century
palazzo
on Florence's smartest shopping strip. The 16
