WINE FESTIVALS
Always be on the lookout for great wine festivals - especially around October-November and in the Spring. They happen all over the city, from Palazzo Vecchio to the Pitti Palace to Santa Croce. Usually you buy a card from the main booth (usually located in any of the main sites) which offers a certain amount of wine tastings. They give you a satchel with a wine glass in it along with an information booklet for you to keep. Each booth where you have a tasting stamps your card- though you may be as lucky as myself to have some forget to stamp your card. If you have connections with any restaurant or sommelier (wine certified-expert), ask to go with them to the wine festival as most are sent a free card! Sommeliers also know which wines you should try and share their wine expertise with you. My friend knew which wines were the more expensive so we tried those. Going on the last day of the festival can be a bust or perfect. Vendors tend to close shop a bit earlier, however, they may be more generous with their samples. They also sell their product and may offer olive oil as well!
VINTAGE MARKET
Held in Stazione Leopaldo, this event lasts for one weekend in late January, early February. If you like good vintage buys, this is the place to come for antiques, clothing, purses, and accessories. Make sure you try out your haggling skills. A friend of mine bought a vintage 1980s Louis Vuitton purse for 450 euros. A bit of a splurge, but hey, everyone saves to splurge a little. Two other friends bought classic leather rocker jackets for 80 euros each which is a great bargain as if you want a new leather jacket, 100 euros is the minimum for a well-made one. Check out their different events at their website.
FIERI CIOCCOLATA
Fieri Cioccolata is within the first two weeks of February, held in Santa Croce. It offers various events, one of which is a carnival on each of the Saturdays around 5pm. Walking around the different tented vendors is like walking through heaven (if you are a chocolate lover). From chocolate fountains, hot chocolate 'kebabs', chocolate beers, to the regular sweets: the smell captivates you. The prices are reasonable to fairly expensive for the truffles. If you are dieting, do not go anywhere near Santa Croce as you will smell it a block away. As with all the festivals, it gets crowded on the weekends, so do try during the weekdays. It runs until 10pm at night.
CHRISTMAS MARKET
Every year in late November up through December there is a Christmas market in Santa Croce. It is a great place to get unique gifts for the holidays or have some delicious treats. Each vendor is from a different part of Europe. My favorite stall is the jewelry one with beautiful, reasonably priced, mostly silver earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. During this market time, I went at least 10 times in order to take a relaxing stroll with a cup of hot mulled wine heated in a cauldron. Different desserts are available and the smell is more than inviting. It is also a great place to get cheeses, meats, candies, jams, and warm sweaters. There are some food vendors but it is fast food and nothing special. There are great places near Santa Croce to eat, so just wait a bit.
LANTERN FESTIVAL:
Held in early September, it is quite a nice sight to see hundreds of lanterns lit up on procession from Santa Croce to another piazza. At the beginning there is a band which plays fun music then starts marching. It is a family-friendly festival as most kids have homemade or bought lanterns. Beware! The older kids ages 8-14 fire spitballs at the lanterns (and surrounding people) to try and knock the light out. It ends with a speech by the Mayor of Florence and a high up religious person (I am rusty on religion- perhaps a priest), and music from appreciated artists. After the ceremony, the lanterns are burnt.
SCOPPIO DEL CARRO
Scoppio Del Carro is the Easter celebration. A procession leads up to Il Duomo where the Explosion of the Cart takes place. Get there early as it gets pretty crowded and you won't be able to see otherwise! White smoke, red smoke, purple smoke, and sparks fly from the ornate wooden cart. It truly is a spectacle and was nothing like what I had expected. Eventually the smoke clears away as do the people. As you can tell from my photo, I did not get there early.
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