Florence festival guides

Punching and headbutting are legal. Kicks to the head and two-on-one are not. The full ruleset of Florence's calcio storico, and how a match is actually won.

Around 700 costumed riders cross Florence every 6 January, in dress copied from Gozzoli's Medici frescoes. Route, timings, and where to stand. Free.

Estate Fiorentina spreads concerts, cinema and theatre across Florence's gardens and cloisters from June to September. What it covers and how to find it.

Florence's lantern procession fills Piazza Santissima Annunziata every 7 September. The route, the timings, and the odd tradition of shooting the lanterns.

Florence's patron saint day on 24 June brings the Calcio Storico final and fireworks from Piazzale Michelangelo. Timings, viewing spots and what closes.

Florence's festival year: the Easter cart explosion, the 24 June patron saint day and Calcio Storico, the summer programme, and the September lantern festival.

Florence detonates a fireworks cart outside the Duomo every Easter Sunday. The timings, where to stand in Piazza del Duomo, and what the ritual means.

Plan your visit to the Florence Christmas market at Piazza Santa Croce with dates, hours, food, transport options, and the city's smaller local markets.

A practical guide to calcio storico in Florence: the rules, the four rival quartieri, the fixed 24 June final, and how ticket sales actually work.

Plan your visit to the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino: tickets, the Maggio Card Under 30, Teatro del Maggio logistics, and what's playing this season.