What's on in Florence, Italy in April 2010

These are some of the April events in Florence and surroundings:

The first event will take place in the magnificent park of the Villa Caruso in Lastra a Signa (Florence) from April 3rd to April 5th. which hosts deGustibus and the Flowers fairs: you can chose to drink a glass of wine, buy or admire flowers or simply buy a book. Instead on Sunday I would like to inform a very nice lecture made by Giovanni Santarpia of the restaurant Palazzo Pretorio di San Donato in Poggio (Tavarnelle Val di Pesa where he will teach a lesson about the making of the pizza. Don’t miss it!

On April Sunday 4th it is Easter and in Florence you can admire in the cathedral square the famous the fire cart, instead for Pasquetta on Monday, in Greve in Chianti there is a picturesque antique market.

During the whole month of April the Oblate library (they have a splendid view on the Brunelleschi Dome) they organize three meetings about Mexican cuisine: two lessons and one dinner. The dinner will be on April 17th with Guacamole, Mole negro de Oaxaca, Tortillas, Tamal de milpa e much more. Then two lessons on April 12th and 19th from 7pm to 10pm where participants can make and taste their plates.

From April 16th to April 25th there will be again the “Week of culture” where state museums, archeological areas, archives, libraries there will be free.

From April 16th and April 18th in the garden of Corsini Palace in Florence there will be the annual vintage auction for the Calcutta children. In the green houses of the garden there will be a lot of different vintage clothing of the most important talents of fashion from the past and present: Dior, Balenciaga, Hermes, Gucci…the fair is open from 12pm

Sunday April 18th: visit to the Vasarian Corridor with an excellent guide. The tour lasts 2 hours and comprehends a part of the Uffizi gallery. FOR info and booking: elisacuoreviola@hotmail.com

From April 25th to May 2nd don’t miss the flower fair at the Giardino dell’Orticultura in Florence. Free entrance from 9am to 7pm.

In the same days, from April 24th to may 2nd at the Fortezza da basso there is ART, art and craft fair . it opens at 10am until 11pm. Price € 3,00 during the week, wek end at € 5,00.

Florence in April, 2010

The first weekend of April is Easter. The biggest event in Florence is the burst of the Carriage: on Sunday, the 4th. It'a a florentine tradition to remark the ending of the winter. Free admission.

Once again from the 25th of April to the 2nd of May there will be the beautiful fair of Flowers in the Giardino dell'Orticoltura: "Mostra mercato dei Fiori". A free market where you can buy flowers, plants or just have a look around. Admire the ancient steel and glass pavilion built in 1800 for the great exhibition, and the huge dragon fountain that reminds me the spanish style of Gaudì.

Read the post of 2007 edition of Flower market>>.

At Oblate public library (very close to the Duomo) in April there will be special mexican tasting and dinners. On the 17th of April a special mexican dinner>>

Taste, the exhibition for those who love food

Last weekend I have been to the Leopolda Station where Taste, the exhibition about food, was held: 3 days of tasting, food design, stores, kitchen accessories and more...

As the year before the event was successful, with many people coming from all the parts of Italy. I liked a lot the decorations by Riccardo Barthel, a famous florentine house of interiors. I was astonished with the press area featuring a dining room: a large oval wooden table lit up by a chandelier in cast iron with fabric lampshades and several nice prints representing scenes from the italian countryside.
I loved the exhibition of food & kitchen design, items of clothing as well as technical and professional tools for cooking and catering.
Unfortunately I couldn't go to the showroom in via de' Serragli where some events about Fuoriditaste were taking place: the food market, the Cipriani Day and the aperitifs with the italian winemakers Cantine Lunae Bosoni.

I visited also the stands of several food and drink producers: I enjoyed the Cannonau wine from Sardinia, the coffee 7gr, the Torta Pistocchi (chocolate cake), the gluten free biscuits...

Irish festival in Florence

IRLANDA IN FESTA 2010

Wednesday 17th, and Thursday the 18th of March we renew our annual celebration with "IRLANDA IN FESTA": two intense evenings of concerts, dancing, games, traditional tasting dishes, exhibitions and performances. Among the performers, which by now have conquered Fiorentine hearts, there will be: the nu-folk of LUNASA from Dublin, one of the most appreciated Irish bands in the world; the Whisky Trail reunion, with the originai 70's line-up; the world music of Antoni O' Breskey; the unmistakable bagpipes of Massimo Giuntini, and the English fiddler Chris Hamblin.
To begin ....BEER, Wednesday 17th, ST. PATRICK'S DAY. In Florence, as in the rest of the world, we celebrate the patron saint of Ireland who, as the Irish themselves like to remember, had Italian ancestry. A perfect frame for the Celtic atmosphere of WHISKY TRAIL (9 p.m.). The Fiorentine band celebrates its 35th year and is stili performing on stages throughout Europe. Along with Giulia Lorimer, Vieri Bugli, Stefano Corsi, Massimo Giuntini and Pietro Sabatini there will be three other musicians from the 1975 line-up: Antonio Breschi, Daniel Craighead, Piero Bubbico. Another great guest will be English fiddler Chris Hamblin who played with Whisky Trail at the end of 70's. Their 35th anniversary is being celebrated also with the release of their CD "Beginnings", released by Saschall.
On Thursday 18, again at 9 p.m., the festiva I begins with the folk of ANTONI O'BRESKEY, a composer, a pianist and eclectic musician, but above ali a real pioneer of world-music: 25 CDs released, an infinite number of collaborations and partnerships such as Gabin Dabirè, Ronnie Drew of the Dubliners and Josè Seves of Inti IlIimani. Artistically born in Florence, but by now a citizen of the world, in 2005 he received a tribute from the National Concert Hall of Dublin for his large contribution given to the Irish culture. His return to Saschall together with Consuelo Nerea will be a mix of voice, fiddle, bodhran, with special guest Massimo Giuntini playing the bagpipes and f1ute.
The grand finale (10.30 p.m.) is ali LUNASA, one of the most famous bands of the past years, champions of nu-folk that renewed the traditional sound of with their own energy. It's not by chance that many members of the band had previous partnerships with Waterboys and Sharon Shannon. Stars of the Celtic Connections in 2010, LUNASA shared the stage with Natalie Merchant, guest in their next awaited CD. Folk Roots magazine defined them "The Irish Music Dream Team".
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Both evenings of "IRLANDA IN FESTA" (on Wednesday 17, at 8 p.m. in the little room of Saschall, and on Thursday 18, at the same hour on the main stage) will be opened by a Tuscan band, THE HIDDEN NOTE: fiddles, whistles, harp, bagpipes, guitar and bodhran, an ensemble which represents most of the instruments of the Irish tradition.
Beyond this, from 7.30 p.m., there will be a small market of artisan crafts, clothes, records, books, and Celtic jewellery. And we are not without food stands where you can try typical dishes such as "Colcannon", "Turnip and bacon soup" , "Dublin coddle", "Irish stew" and other wonderful flavours. And of course we can't forget the awesome ....beer!
"Irlanda in Festa" is organised with the support of Florence Municipality and the Irish Embassy.

IRLANDA IN FESTA 2010
xv edition - March, 17-182010 - Saschall=- Firenze - info 055.6504112

Thursday 17th and Friday 18th, March
St. Patrick's Day on the Arno
15 years o( ''Irlanda in Festa"
/ 17/18 marzo 2010 - Saschall- Lungarno A. Moro - Firenze
Entrance 'rom 7:30 p.m. - Pel'formances begin at 8p.m.

As in the past 15 years, the Saschall Theatre of Florence once again immerses itself in the atmosphere, the music, the dances and flavours of Ireland.