February is just upon us and according to Phil, the groundhog in Pennsalyvania we will be enjoying an early spring this year, hurrah!  As usual this year started off in a rainy, rather random temperature kind of way. It was warm and rainy, it was freezing, it was going to snow, it was cold again, then warm again. Who really knows anymore. WIthout further ado, here are my February 2013 top list of events in Florence, Italy.

• TEMPORARY ART EXHIBIT: “The Dali Universe”, February 1 – May 23rd 2013. at the Palazzo Medici Riccardi (close to the Duomo, via cavour 1). A genius in surrealistic art this exhibit showcases over a 100 of  Salvador Dali’s less known works – in particular, sculptures, designs and illustrations. Open 9am – 7pm. 10 euros, 7 reduced. official site of Palazzo Riccardi or Dali Universe site. Look for a post soon about my own experience at this exhibit!

• CARNIVAL EVENT/ Four Seasons carnival party, aperitivo/dinner  & burlesque show. February 7th. 35 euros pp includes buffet & a drink (expensive because of the show & well…it’s the Four Seasons. Dj set, masks, dancing and more. Sounds like a lot of {expensive} fun. Event details here.

• CARNIVAL PARTY/ Tim Burton ‘Horror story” at Flog. February 9th 9:30pm, special performance from the Spleen Orchestra.  If you love Tim Burton movies and possess a gothic flair – than I highly suggest checking this festa out since I find Flog to be pretty fun given the theme. 8 euro entrance and more details can be found at their site.

• CARNIVAL PARTY/ Carnival of the animals. February 12th at the BiblioteCanova – 5 p.m. Special Event for families and children from 5 to 9 years old. website

• VALENTINES DAY/  Feb 14 couples visiting State museums in Italy pay 1 entrance ticket instead of 2! They did this last year and are bringing the tradition back! Along with a visit to a museum why not participate in a Valentine’s Day Flash Mob. The cause is violence against women and the mob will meet at Piazza della Repubblica at 3:00pm on the 14th.

• ART EXHIBIT/ Art by Ottone Rosai at the Palazzo Vecchio (Piazza della Signoria). Free (Tracce di Firenze exhibit) and most definitely worth a look, explore the history of Florence’s buildings by painter and fellow Florentine Ottene Rosai at this special exhibit running until March 26th. More  info here or call Info 055-2768224 055-2768558.

• TRIVIA NIGHT/ Lochness Lounge, via dei benci, every Monday night at 8:30pm (runs until about 11pm) in English. 5€ for a beer/wine which gets you into the quiz , 7€ long drink, 8€ cocktail. Test your skills with Trine and the gang, from three to five people per team (singles welcome, they will put groups together). I am a super fan of trivia and I think is the perfect way to start off your week! More info here

• CONCERT/ Jazz Session Concerts at the School of Music “Cherubini”, piazza belle arti.  Carnival concert performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the School, conducted by Paolo Ponziano Ciardi,  music by John Williams. Every Monday of this month, at 9 p.m. in the Sala del Buonumore Free entrance.

• FARMERS MARKET/ Farmer Market “AgriKulturae” on February 9th. In the Isolotto district, in Piazzale della BiblioteCanova, cultural and agricultural workshop, sales of  local products and entertainment. From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m

• CHOCOLATE FAIR/ Piazza Santa Maria Novella: FI.Nalmente Cioccolato :Handmade Chocolate Fair. february 8 – 17th.  You can expect 10 days of a permanent sugar high due to all of the wonderful chocolate stands located in this piazza. There will be chocolate & wine tastings (hoping I can go!), quizzes, workshops and all sort of awesome events. Check out their site here.

• CHARITY FUNDRAISER/ AILO Dinner and Country Line Dancing. February 17th, 7pm at the undercroft of St. James Church on via B. Rucellai 9 (porta al prato area near the central Santa Maria Train station). A winter ‘western’ wonderland – Get those cowboy boots on and join in the fun, after all it’s for charity! Tickets Euro 25 each. Contact: Tina 349 3918196 [email protected] or Maria Teresa 339 3754661 [email protected] to book your tickets. 

• CINEMA/ Oscar season and some of the top flicks are playing at the Odeon Cinehall and Fulgor. Don’t miss the chance to watch Lincoln, Django Unchained, Les Miserables, The Impossible and more. Check out times and details here.

• ART & HISTORY/February 18th.  Electress Palatine Florence celebrates Anna Maria Luisa de’ Medici – Electress Palatine through guided visits organized by the Popular Traditions Oce and free entrance in all the Florence’s Civic Museums. On February 17 at 11 a.m. at the Medicean Chapels: Historical Procession and free entrance to all the citizens.Info and reservation: tel. 055.2616056. And at Palazzo Vecchio, a “special meeting” with the Electress Palatine organized by Museo dei Ragazzi. Info: www.palazzovecchio-museoragazzi.it

• CARNIVAL/ All over Italy! Venice or Viareggio and many other locations! If you haven’t been to carnivale than you really need take part in this historical event. I wrote about my own experience last year in Viareggio (loved it and found me some churros). For some budget carnival ideas, don’t forget to check out my last year’s post here. Like last year the erasmus aegee firenze (european study abroad group) is offering a day trip to Venice on February 10th for only 29 euros there and back. You absolutely won’t beat that price anywhere. You can register and pay the fee from January 15th, every Tuesday at “Per Bacco” in Piazza Santa Croce (8-10 pm), open to erasmus, foreign students ( I have been “one” for a million years 😉 ) and Aegee members. http://viareggio.ilcarnevale.com

• TOURS/ The Florentine ‘So you think you know Florence’ tours. Affordable and interesting itineraries to help you get to know your own city in a fresh new way. February walks include Santa Trinita & Palazzo Davanzati, Museum of the Opera del Duomo, the Uffizi : Tribune & Niobe room, Palazzo Vecchio and the Chiostro di Sant’Antonino and the convent of San Marco. PDF info here. Info & booking. [email protected]. tel. 333/8689458

• BIBLIOGRAPHICAL EXHIBIT/ Feb 28 Palagio di Parte Guelfa . The Thirties, when Montale used to read Simenon  at Palagio di Parte Guelfa Opening of the bibliographical rarities exhibition. until March 28.

• DANCE/ Danza in Fiera, Feb 21 – 24 at the Fortezza di Basso in Florence, Italy. Those interested in all things ‘dance’ will want to visit the Fortezza to see shows, partipate in an audition, buy dance apparel and attend free classes by masters! Dance styles range from classical ballet to contem­porary, from modern to tango, from hip hop to Latin dancing, from country to musical and from ethnic dancing to tribal and waltz.  Very popular in Florence and worth a visit. 1 day € 15,00, 4 days € 40,00. [email protected]. website.

OUTSIDE FLORENCE

• CHINESE NEW YEAR/Chinese New Year’s Celebration on February 8th by Confucius Institute at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (piazza Martiri della Libertà, 33 – Pisa) at 6pm that Friday night. The Chinese have a large presence in Italy and why not come and learn more about their culture and take part in this awesome holiday. It would most definitely be an experience. More details can be found here at Intoscana. 

• CHINESE NEW YEAR/ Celebrations in Prato (one of the biggest communities of Chinese in Italy) on February 16/17th.  Starting on Saturday at 9:30am there will a Dragon ‘dance’ parade from via Toscana (prato) winding through the streets (i doubt  you can miss it if you are in Prato). The exact itinerary is here or here. Looks like fun even if this has caused controversy in the past among Italians living there, why I have no idea but I suspect xenophobia. I say deal with the fact that its 2013 and join in on the fun!
  

I will add to this list of events as I see more cool ones being posted. Check back periodically!

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