Market in piazza Santa Croce

This coming week end if you are in the Santa Croce area you cannot miss the international market, not as famous as the Xmas Heidelberg market but still very known.

From October 2nd to the 5th 120 stands coming from 18 different countries of Europe: taste cakes and cut meat from Austria; chocolate from Belgium; cheeses from France; the German beer. Or if you have a British taste why don’t buying a piece of the fine porcelain, house ware from Portugal, flowers from Holland and Lap land, Magyar or Lithuania art craft or a Finnish Reiner sweater …
If you then are in Santa Croce you can always go to see the theatre show “The tears of the Virgin Mary” by Jacopone da Todi in the Basilica of Santa Croce on Thursday, October 2nd at 9pm. The Virgin Mary role is performed by an Italian actress, Claudia Koll.

Original sound movies in Florence: October 2008

THE NEW PROGRAMME IN ORIGINAL SOUND OCTOBER AT THE ODEON CINEMA

Abba fans will not want to miss Mamma Mia!, Phyllida Lloyd’s musical montage of Abba hits strung together in a conventional narrative that replicates the musical that had everyone dancing in the aisles. The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor has Brendan Fraser again as explorer Rick O’Connell called upon to save the world from the evils of the resurrected Emperor Han. In the outrageous comedy You Don't Mess With the Zohan Adam Sandler plays an Israeli Mossad agent who smuggles himself into the US and masquerades as a hairdresser to hilarious effect. Mulder and Scully return for the stand-alone thriller The X Files: I Want To Believe, a very creepy supernatural investigation that lovers of the series will not want to miss.

October

Th 2 FIREFLIES IN THE GARDEN (USA - 120’) by Dennis Lee
with Julia Roberts, Carrie-Ann Moss, Ryan Reynolds, Willem Dafoe, Emily Watson, Hayden Panettiere, Ioan Gruffudd. Berlin film festival
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm

Mo 6 MAMMA MIA! (GB, GER, USA - 108’) by Phyllida Lloyd
with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm

Tu 7 MAMMA MIA! (GB, GER, USA - 108’) by Phyllida Lloyd
with Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgård, Julie Walters, Dominic Cooper, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm

Th 9 THE MUMMY: THE TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR
(GER, CAN, USA - 112’) by Rob Cohen
with Brendan Fraser, Jet Li, Maria Bello, John Hannah, Michelle Yeoh, Luke Ford
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm

Mo 13 You Don't Mess With the Zohan (USA - 113’) by Dennis Dugan
with Adam Sandler, John Turturro, Lainie Kazan, Rob Schneider, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Nick Swardson
Shows: 3.30 - 5.50 – 8.10 – 10.30 pm

Tu 14 The X Files: I Want To Believe (USA, Canada - 104’) by Chris Carter
with David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Billy Connolly, Mitch Pileggi, Amanda Peet, Xzibit, Callum Keith Rennie
Shows: 4.00 - 6.10 - 8.20 - 10.30 p.m.

Th 16 BURN AFTER READING (USA - 140’) by Etan and Joel Coen
with Brad Pitt , George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton, Richard Jenkins. Venice Film Festival - Opening film
Shows: 4.00 - 6.10 – 8.20 – 10.30 pm

Tickets and Club Card: A regular ticket costs Euro 7,50 but you can buy the Club Card which gives you a 40% discount for 8 admissions of your choice. The card costs Euro 38,00 and expires at 31st of July 2009. It admits up to two people at a time (i.e. 2 admissions). It can be purchased at the Odeon Cinema box office.
Cinema Odeon
Piazza Strozzi, 2
50123 Firenze - Italia

Tonight Spike Lee will present Miracle at S.Anna!

What's on in Florence in October

Exhibitions:

Caterina and Maria de' Medici: women in power. Thursday 23 Opening, until 8 February, 2009. Palazzo Strozzi 9am-8pm (on thursday until 11pm) tickets 10 euro.

Festival of Creativity promoted by the Tuscan Region at the Fortezza da Basso from thursday 23 to Sunday, 26. Free entrance.

Lucca comics and games: international exhibition of comics, mangas and games. Cosplay parades and concerts. In Lucca (1 hour from Florence) from thursday, 30 until November, 2. Tickets 12 euro. It's very funny to see all that crazy people dressed like a cartoon. See some pictures here>>

The heritage of Giotto, at Uffizi Gallery. 8.15am - 6.50pm. Closed on Mondays. Tickets 10 euro.

Pictures by George Tatge: "Presenze. Paesaggi italiani" (italian landscapes). Until november,2. Italian images of one of the most appreciated Italian landscape photographer. Free entrance. At Villa Bardini (after the exhibition you can enjoy a cocktail at MOBA: wonderful view!).

Museum of Jewish Art and History. The museums founded in 1981 is reopening with an all new look. See the history of Jews in Florence: from the first settlement in 1431 to recent times. Via Farini, 6. For info: www.firenzeebraica.net

Next time I will talk about original language movies, music events, festival in Tuscany...

Hairforce, much more than a hairdressers

Last friday I went to Hairforce, after my travel to Ny I needed to have my hair cut and brushed!

The hairdressers Hairforce is in the heart of Florence, in the historic Via Ghibellina, 2 steps from Santa Croce.
The salon, recently restructured, is managed by Joe, Sicilian, but in reality a citizen of the world (including London and Tokyo - searching for the latest fashion trends). Working alongside Joe is a group of young, very friendly and well-trained colleagues.
Always up-to-date on the latest cuts and colours, they understand quickly which look will suit you best, and when the moment has come for a change.
But the really great thing about Hairforce is not just the professionalism or the talent of the team in terms of cut and style, it is the atmosphere that exists in the salon - a place where you can really relax in peace.
As soon as you walk in the door you are offered a coffee and then head to the shiatsu massage chair for a shampoo.
There is also free internet for clients, so you can check your emails if you like.
A quick flick through the magazines, a chat, a joke and then the relaxing shampoo and massage.
Then the cut, the colour, the blow dry.
Every one of the team specialises in something: whether its colour,up-dos and styling or cutting.
The fact that they are in the centre of Florence also means that they know the new bars and restaurants that opening - in a chat between cut and blow-dry, you often find out nuggets of information about things to do in the city.
And they are pretty quick, and reasonably priced.

Hairforce
open from monday to saturday.
late opening on mondays.
hairdressers for men and women.
english speaking.
free internet access for clients.

Hairforce V.Ghibellina 74/R Tel. 055 241736
Hairforce V. Tozzi 28 Tel. 055 608119

If you print this page Joe will make you a 10% off discount!

Dinner with murder in Florence

Saturday 27th September, dinner with murder on the Hotel Minerva (Piazza S.Maria Novella in Florence). The dinner will be served at the hotel restaurant “I Chiostri” on the top floor. During the dinner you will be “disturbed” by various sounds and noises that allow you to discover who the murder is. The aim of the dinner is to conjugate the sounds with the taste of the dishes. The restaurant became a meeting place for the Florentines (but not only) who want to spend a different evening, in a historical place and try their capabilities of being a new Sherlok Holmes.

Menu:
Welcome drink
Octopussy of the Tirrenean sea with lime and radicchio salad with tomatoes
Sea food risotto
Grilled Salmon and black sea bass with rosemary oil
Rolled green beans with bacon
Grilled tomatoes
Bavarese with fruit and English cream Coffee with various little desserts
Montecarlo white wine and Moscato d’Asti
Cost € 50,00 per PERSON For info: info@grandhotelminerva.com

Events of the week end

In the next two weekends there will be the two European art patrimony days; more than 1000 places to be visited completely for free. Among those which you can find here you have the possibility to visit Villa Spadolini and the Jewish Synagogue in Florence.

Then at the Padiglione Spadolini , Fortezza da Basso there is ArteFirenze, modern art show from September 26th to Monday September 29th.

On Sunday September 28th, the 2008 edition of Corri la Vita, Run or Life.

A good occasion to support the cancer research, prevention and the assistance for those women suffering of breast cancer but also a good occasion to walk trough the beautiful Florence and its hidden corners entering for free in some of the museums along the way.

Lastly, an event in Prato: Economy 3- Europe, business and culture. At the Forum in Prato there will be a symposium with some of the most important and well known economists of now days whose try to describe and explain the actual international economy scene.

Among these experts it will be presented Hal Varian, one of the biggest expert of economy in Information and Communication technology and Google economy expert together with Alberto Alesina one of the greatest international economy scientist in the politician economy, Professor at Harvard University.

At conclusion of the event you can listen to Daniele Silvestri’s concert on Sunday September 28th at 9,30pm, free entrance.

Events of the week end in Florence and surroundings

In Oltrarno on September 26-28 you can find between Piazza S Spirito, Piazza della Passera and Piazza Pitti the Florence wine event and as the word say you can taste all the best Tuscan and Italian wine: from Morellino to Brunello and Barolo. Concerts and dinners all over these squares and on a Sunday a market…the bad note is that at 10pm everything shuts down.

Speaking about wine we cannot forget the most famous wine event of Tuscany in Impruneta. The wine fair takes place on Sunday at 3,30pm and as every year there’s the flats parade with the four area (rione) of the Chianti village: Pallò,S.Marie, Fornaci and S.Antonio.

Another wine fair is near Siena in this tiny medieval village called Vagliagli (September 25th-28th). This tiny village will be a show case of typical Tuscan products and wine tasting than another floats parade inspired by country life with men and women dressed in traditional costumes.

And for those of you who like the so-called sagre, festivals, in Certaldo there’s the T-bone steak and porcini mushroom festival instead closer to Florence, in San Donnino there’s the pork festival. They start at 7,30pm with tasting of Tuscan delicatessen, ham, salami, crostini and lard then pasta dishes with sauces with a pork base and as a second dish; sausages, aristae, pork meat, mixed grilled…

Florence Marathon and Corri la vita

This Sunday there will be the "Corri la vita" Marathon: is a walkathon/marathon with the goal of collecting funds for the fight against breast cancer. As in the previous editions, there will be a non-competitive walk (approx. 6000 mt) open to all and a competitive mini-marathon (approx. 12000 mt). The exact itinerary, as always, will start and end in Piazza Santa Croce and you can be sure that it will lead through beautiful hidden gardens and historical buildings and sites.

Date and time:
DATE: Sunday, September 28
PLACE: Firenze Piazza Santa Croce
DEPARTURE TIME: 9:30 a.m.
REGISTRATION: Boots will be open in Piazza Samta Croce Saturday 10 to 17 and last minute Sunday from 8:00 to 9:00 in.

Florence has other marathons:
- Vivicittà half marathon, normally in April

- 25th FIRENZE MARATHON in November
Date and Time:
The marathon will be held on 30th november 2008 at 9.00 am with start from Piazzale Michelangelo. Distance 42,195 km
Who can partecipate? Athletes who are members of any sports affiliated organisation recognised by IAAF. Athletes who are not members of foreign Federations affiliated with IAAF must produce a medical certificate valid.
Entry is possible until 15th november 2008, unless the upper limit of 9500 participants has been reached before.

10 REASONS FOR RUNNING IN FLORENCE 25th FLORENCE MARATHON on SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2008
1) You run in one of the most beautiful towns in the world, discovering its art, history and culture.
2) Along with the one in Rome, it is the Marathon with the largest number of participants in Italy
3) It is the best loved Marathon by international athletes coming from 56 countries representing 40% of the total number
4) The race course is very fast (male record 2hrs 08:40) and the climate in Florence is ideal at this time of the year
5) Training Consultant Fulvio Massini supplies guided training along the course, running by the famous churches, places and monuments in the town center
6) The Marathon provides a perfect opportunity to gather tourism and sport: you can visit a unique town and take advantage of the festive season for shopping
7) Taste typical Tuscan specialities accompanied by freshly pressed olive oil and a wide range of excellent wines
8) Join a special pasta breakfast on the morning of the race in the hotels selected by Promotels, official tour operator of the Marathon
9) Enjoy a big party for all participants on the evening of the Marathon
10) Direct flight connections to Florence and Pisa airport (only 60 km from Florence) with Ryanair, British Airways, Delta Airlines,Transavia, Easyjet, Meridiana, Air Sterling, Norvegian Air Shuttle, Sterling, Brussels Airlines

Apartment close to Ponte Vecchio

After the apartment in San Niccolò, here is another lovely apartment close to Ponte Vecchio, in via dello Sprone. The street ends in Piazza della Passera, the little square where several times a year you can listen to some good live music (read here the post about Piazza della passera Jazz Festival).

Fattori Exhibitions in Florence

After the exhibition "Fattori and Naturalism in Tuscany" Florence will dedicate another exhibition to this famous italian painter.

Until 15 November the Accademia di Belle Arti will host "The Places of Giovanni Fattori at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence, past and present", a fascinating retrospective with drawings, photos, objects, set up in the classrooms where the painter studied and taught, which have been renovated and now open to the public for the first time.

The exhibition is from 19, September to 23, November 2008
Florence, Academy of Fine Arts and Academy of Drawing
Via Ricasoli 66

Exhibition’s opening hours: Every day 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
The ticket office closes one hour before the exhibition

Tickets: € 5,00 full ticket

From New York to Florence

I've come back from New York.

The trip to NY city was great. I really enjoyed my holiday.

I loved the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building, Grand Terminal, the lawns in Central park, the Top of the Rock, the MOMA, and the huge quantities of sushi I have eaten!


what has surprised me in NY?
- the squirrels! so many, everywhere. And they are not scared by humans.
- the Police's parades. Every afternoon lots of police cars driving loudly downtown just to say "we are here!"
- the heart breaking view from the 64th floor of the Rainbow (Rockefeller Top of the Rock) and the delicious Cosmopolitan I had there.
- the gorgeous wedding rings at Tiffany's (I have seen a 197.000 bucks ring!)
- the kindness and smiling welcome of american people in stores, restaurants, front desk offices
- the warm weather in early September (I used to sunbath in Central Park!)
- the easiness of using metro. So simple to understand where to go! Uptown and downtown.
- the never ending line for going up to Empire Statue Building: so frustrating!
- the coffee served with the straw. Never tried to drink hot stuff with one before! But the taste of Caffè Misto at Starbucks was great.
- the long black limousines in front of 5 star hotels. I wonder how can they drive them!

Now I am back in Florence, weather is cold, streets are narrow and I think how wonderful could be to live in NY...

From Florence to New York!

I am going to the big apple! I will come back in a week, stay tuned.

Hope I will enjoy New York City...

Sabatino in San Frediano

This is quite a good place if you want a home made cuisine and not expensive at all.

This place is in a little corner just beside the gate of San Frediano. Prices go from € 2, 80 to € 3, 70 for a first course, for a second € 5,00, side dishes € 2,40 and coperto € 1,35. It is a quite simple cuisine. Where you can find only locals! All of us (five) had meat, T-bone steak, chicken; everything was following the classical Tuscan tradition.
It looks like to be at Grandma’s house!



As a dessert most of us had a delicious cake with grape juice, really good. Then after dinner (their kitchen closes at 10pm) we walked towards Piazza del Carmine at Dolce Vita, where we finished our evening in front of a bottle of champagne.
Trattoria Sabatino from 1956
Via Pisana 2r Firenze
tel. 055-225955
closed on Saturday and Sunday

Aperitif, restaurant, discos in Florence

I endlessly receive quite a few emails of people who ask me about places to go for aperitifs, restaurants and discos in Florence. Here below you can find a selection of places that we have recently reviewed.

Aperitif: the best aperitif of the moment is at MOBA at Terrazza Bardini but it is mandatory to reserve a spot, then Flo at Piazzale Michelangelo, great location and of course all the other places that they are known such as, Negroni, Zoe, Noir...

Dinner: typical restaurants in the centre of Florence could be i’Toscano, simple but healthy, then Marione or Trattoria dell'Orto or Osteria da Giovanni where you can taste the real T-bone steak. If you instead wish to try something different you can go to the San Niccolò area and try Zeb, Beppa Fioraia, Fuoriporta, Rifrullo or in Piazza Tasso: Tuscan food at Tranvai or Vecchia Bettola. If you are in Santa Croce area you might try the lovely Mucca sul tetto.

Discos: The famous YAB changes manager. The opening night is September 27th, ARE YOU GUILTY? The style will be twisted-sparkling house with old school and garage 90ties style (have you understood something????) Djs guests coming from the nicest clubs of the world: St Tropez, Miami, Ibiza, New York.

Sushi bar: After the summer break the famous fusion bar & restaurant at Ponte Vecchio opens with a new completely revised look and news: the sushi takeout menu.
Everyday from Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm a selection of nigiri, rolls and sushi.
Nighiri and rolls, trays from 8, 16, 24 pieces (15-30-45 Euros)
Happy sushi menu: 64 pieces (set with 8 pieces)
Fusion starlight menu: 80 pieces (set of 8)
The Fusion bar & restaurant
Lunch at 12pm-3pm, aperitif from 7 pm until 9 pm, dinner from 7,30 pm until 11pm

A week end with... Madonna in Rome

Last week end was a very excited one: Katia and I went to Rome to see Madonna’s concert Sticky & Sweet Tour 2008. She was one of my idols when I was a teenager. This was the only chance to see her in Italy, so I took the opportunity.

So we arrived in Rome and we went to our B&B near the Termini station which not only was very close to everything but also very nice. After the check in we immediately went to Piazza di Spagna (Spanish steps) area. A walk trough Via Condotti to do window shopping and then we had a coffee at the famous Caffé Greco, luxury and historical café of Rome. Coffee was good, the waiters not at all. Quite nasty!
Then in the campo dei Fiori area we had a happy hour at a place called SABY’s: good cocktails for just € 4,00 accompanied with a dish of mixed bruschette, an aperitif snack with just four Euros, not bad!
After two mojitos we decided to go to the Stadio Olimpico. The impact with the stadium was very strong: there were already a lot of people, some of these people slept the night before with their tents outside the stadium to be able to be the first to enter and go under the massive stage.

We reached the first half of the grass: it was impossible to go any further… We sat beside a chubby girl dressed as a sadomasochist Madonna’s lookalike, she was funny, a character, then some Spanish boys, some couples, everyone was very calm.

Then punctual at 9,15 pm we started to hear the TIC TAC (4 minutes) and after along prelude, there she was. Madonna sat on a throne completely dressed in a very sexy kind of lingerie: she dances (even with Britney Spears), she sang, she played also a guitar, she dances alone and with amazing dancers. Pure energy at 50 years old! She teased the dancers; and she told something also to the Pope while introducing one of her hit of the 80ties, Like a Virgin. She sang the entire new album with a lot of old songs. At 11,15 pm she said goodbye to Rome and left the audience with pure adrenaline. After the concert we came back to our B&B exhausted but very happy to have seen an icon of nowadays.

The following day we woke up and we decided to go to Porta Portuense where there is one of the quaintest markets of Rome. The market offers everything from antiques to vintage clothing, from various knick-knacks to food. We also both something; then a quick stop in the B&B to take few photos with the owner of the B&B, Onorina and then back on the train to Florence.

the italian journey has begun

I discovered this blog thanks to the e-mail this guy sent to me (it was dealing with the change euros and dollars and ). It's funny because he speaks about Florence, my city, and Italy, through the eyes of a different culture and way of thinking.
This saturday I am leaving for New York (is there anybody who has some cool places to suggest me?) and probably I will have the same problem. Things that are normal for residents can be strange or inusual for tourists..

For example I never thought someone could be surprised by the number of the pigeons that are in the streets!!!

Music in Piazza della Passera

Music, theatre, art, photography during the September in Piazza della Passera, one of the nicest and most characteristic corners of Florence organized by the owner of the “4 Leoni “ restaurant, Stefano di Puccio.

These are the details OF THE PROGRAM:
September 8t: Gipsy Jazz with Jacopo Martini & Lollo Meier, a quartet band coming from Italy, Germany and Holland playing with 2 guitars, violin and double bass.
Tuesday, September 9th a multi-media concert with video and stories…
Alkord quintet, a band with elements who come form both classical and jazz studies, will play on September 10th with a mix of jazz and flamenco.
Thursday September 11th it’s the time of Giua directly from Sanremo, one of the most eclectic personalities of our music. She goes from Portuguese Fado to popular Italian and foreigner music.
Last day is September 12th with a show called “After the war arrived the music” project by Alessandro di Puccio and his orchestra Les Italiens, which re-discovered the ancient musical past of our Italian tradition. Boogie boogie with tarantella fusion, rumba, Mediterranean melodies and also Italian. The evening will be presented by the funny David Riondino.
In Piazza della passera there will be also a wine and food stand with a fair trade and economic solidarity. The proceeds will go to Friends of Angal. The festival is free of charge.

Rificolona and other week end events in Florence

6-13 September 2008: Videominute 2008 16th edition. This is an international video competition lasted one minute. Prato, Contemporary art museum Pecci.

September 7 th Rificolona. The parade starts at 8,50 pm in Piazza Santa Croce together with the sound street band. the parade will go along, borgo de' greci, via de' leoni, via de' gondi, viacalzaiuoli, piazza san giovanni, via dei servi until piazza ss annunziata. From 8 pm until midnight you can admire the night opening of the archeological museum and then the following day, september 8th you can go on partying at Circolo de' canottieri at the Ponte Vecchio. The feast of the rificolona is an old festivity that recently has been re-launched. Last year more than 10,000 gathered in Piazza SS Annunziata.

The same day:
in Prato there is the Historical Corteggio. V.le Marconi has already the Luna Park with 123 attractions, 28 stands full of gastronomic favours. On September 14th at 11pm grand final with fireworks.

Last but not least a friend of mine told me at in Carraia, a village near Calenzano (few km outside Florence) there is a horse fair, so if you like horses is the right place to be with races and free horseback riding. Events for kids too.

Vegetables and fruits in Piazza della Signoria

Saturday, September 6th, from 8 am until 8 pm in Piazza della Signoria the farmers will sell their products. Fruits, vegetables, legumes, jams, marmelades sold directly to customers from local tuscan farmers.

You will find 30 stands, one stand for producer, all the same, painted in cream colour. All these stands are owned by the city council of Florence and they are given to farmers each time there is the Mercatale.
Next markets will be on:
October 4th in Piazza del Carmine,
November 1st in Piazza Santa Croce and on December 6th, the last one, in Piazza del Carmine.
An opportunity to buy fresh fruits and vegetables !

Wine championship in Fiesole

The "Estate Fiesolana" ends with the fourth edition of "The championship of the wine" which is a real championship organized by the city council of Fiesole and slow food. The event is devided into two parts: a real competition between wine experts coming from all over Italy and a wine and food kermesse open to the public.

The championship will be the chance to talk about good wines, wine growing according to slow food philosophy and it will be open to many tuscan wine labels. The competition is open to everybody even if you need to have a good knowledge of wine especially about wine-territory. To winners a lot of nice prizes.
Roma theatre of Fiesole, Via Portigiani

Program:
Saturday, September 6th from 3,15 pm; wine and food stands, labs for children as well, books presentation, at 6pm Gianmarco Mazzanti, valid author of several books of recipes will illustrate some of them, wine and delicatessen tasting available.
Sunday, September 7th from 10am then from 6,45 pm award ceremony of the wine competition.

see also the post of 2007 wine tournament

Stia blacksmith festival, Italy

This festival takes place once every 2 years. So the next edition will be 3-9 september 2009. But this year is possible to attend some courses with an important artisan. For more info: 338/1579968 328/4649171.

September events in Florence

Monday September the first you have two choices for your night out: Piero Pelu’ (ex LITFIBA) in concert in Sesto Fiorentino or a Neapolitan concert by Enzo Carro in P.zza S.Spirito. Both have free entrance.

Wed September 3rd Grand opening at the café DELUXE with aperitif and DJ set by Carlo DJ

Thursday September 4th, The jazz club opens back with a fabulous concert of the Sunrise jazz Orchestra.

Friday, September 5th you can choose between two events:
1) From 6,30 to 7pm you can try yourself fro a free lesson of belly dance by the l’Art del dance for info www.nonsoloflamenco.blogspot.com
2) From 8pm at Villa Vespucci (San Felice a Ema) charity-aperitif for the poorest population of Peru’. Let’s support the activity of the hospital Mama Ashu in Chacas operated by Mato Grosso. For info checca@lycos.com

Sunday, September 7th an evening for children: The Rificolona (Florentine children sing this song as they wander through the streets of Florence the first week of September, carrying papier-mâché lanterns tied to the ends of sticks, called rificolone. There are several theories as to where the tradition originates from; some think it commemorates the triumphant entry of Florentine troops into Siena on August 2 1555, when the soldiers tied lanterns onto the ends of their pikes) with parades along the Arno river and the in the streets of Florence.


Next week: Wednesday September 10th white night in Via Doni: shops open until midnight and shows in the streets

Nextech Festival, electronic music in Florence

The third edition of the Nextech Festival, dedicated to the world of electronic sound, will be held in Florence at the Stazione Leopolda, from September 18th to 20th, 2008.

The festival aims to document the broad spectrum of electronic sound for audiences interested in new musical trends and cutting edge experimentation, as well as 'beat' dance enthusiasts, who enjoy music as a source of entertainment.
For three days, the Nextech Festival will accompany participants from the aperitif hour right through to the early hours of the morning, combining various expressions of electronic music, in conjunction with the surrounding area, with the passage of time, as well as with different arts and techniques.
The venue for the festival is of particular interest: it is a 19th century railway station, which has been turned into an arts center. The imposing aisles of the Stazione Leopolda will be filled with the atmosphere of a big event, just like a party, where it will be possible to participate, to ‘play’ with the events, concerts, performances and layouts.
From 6.00 p.m. every day, the Nextech Festival will offer an exploratory itinerary through today’s wide variety of electronic music, from the rhythms of the dance floor to more advanced sound research, to music as an element of environmental architecture; providing recognition, within various expressive spheres, of an interdisciplinary and innovative proposal, amidst constantly alternating sounds ranging from vibrant techno beats to delicate minimal atmospheres.
The complete programme of the festival is avaliable on the Nextech Festival website: www.nextechfestival.com
Where: Stazione Leopolda - Viale Fratelli Rosselli 5 - Florence
Starting time: 6 p.m. until late night
The Nextech Festival will be organized by Musicus Concentus, Intooitiv, Stazione Leopolda Srl and Controradio, with the contribution of the Councilor’s Office for Culture of Florence as part of the FirenzEstate ’08 events.
For further information: Nextech Festival Ph.: +39 055 287347
Email: info@nextechfestival.com