Tuscany is a region full of attractions, cities of art such as Florence, Siena, Pisa, Arezzo. It also has charming naturalistic locations: Apuan Alps, Versilia, Chianti and Maremma.
There are also many opportunities to visit cities, villages and areas where nature reigns supreme.
An assist can come from the most important holidays, which allow you to spend several days and interesting weekends in Tuscany, among sites to discover and traditions to know.
Florence and holidays in Tuscany 2023-2024
Festivals, celebrations, traditional celebrations and events that date back to ancient times offer the tourist numerous opportunities for recreation and discovery.
Let’s find out the calendar of the most important holidays in Tuscany:
- Carnival of Viareggio: it is one of the most important and famous carnivals in Europe, with large papier-mâché floats cared for down to the smallest detail. It is also an opportunity to visit the Citadel of the Carnival of Viareggio, where the floats are built;
- Easter in Tuscany: a perfect moment of the year to go on trips out of town because nature begins to awaken after the long winter and the days are milder and longer. It is also a period rich in history and ancient traditions:
- The Crocioni di Castiglione di Garfagnana: the Processione de’ Crocioni takes place on Maundy Thursday. The worshippers, leaving the church, follow a man who performs the role of Christ, with chains on his feet, face covered and a large cross on his shoulders to keep his identity secret. He will only leave the sacristy late at night, when no one will be able to see him;
- The Antica Giudeata of Chianciano Terme: it is a procession with 150 figures in costume with Roman soldiers, Christ, Mary Magdalene, Pontius Pilate, the senators, the court of Herod, the Great Priest Caiaphas;
- The Tour of the 7 churches of Mugello: a tour that takes place on Good Friday and which visits parishes, ancient sanctuaries and country churches. 7 churches that refer to the 7 stages of Jesus during the Passion;
- The Explosion of the Cart in Florence: this is a tradition that dates back to the times of the first crusade. 150 background actors escort a large decorated carriage full of fireworks, called Brindellone, up to Piazza Duomo. During the rites of mass on Easter day, the archbishop lights a blessed fire near the altar, a rocket in the shape of a dove. This is made to slide on an iron wire and ends up hitting the Chariot causing it to explode;
- Maggio Musicale Fiorentino: the festival organised by the city of Florence begins towards the end of April and ends around the first week of July. The events take place at the Opera di Firenze, near the Parco delle Cascine and the Stazione Leopolda, but also involve other places in the city, such as the Teatro della Pergola, Teatro Goldoni, museums, conservatory halls and spaces in the historic centre. Events include operas, classical music performances, ballets, plays;
- Firenze Rocks: since 2017, it is the event that all rock music enthusiasts await with trepidation. It takes place every year in June at the Visarno Arena, in the Parco delle Cascine in Florence. Its particularly careful organisation and the participation of great internationally renowned rock artists are making Firenze Rocks one of the most important festivals dedicated to this music genre in Europe, able to stand comparison with events such as the Glastonbury Festival in Great Britain, Primavera Sound in Spain, Lollapalooza in France, Roskilde in Denmark;
- Calcio Storico Fiorentino: month of June. It is one of the funniest historical events ever. It takes place during the month of June in Florence and ends on 24 June, on the day of celebration of the patron saint San Giovanni. Calcio Storico Fiorentino, also called Calcio in Livrea, originated in the 15th century, when a sport that combined soccer, rugby and even boxing was practiced in the city. The current re-enactment includes a parade in historical costumes that starts from Piazza Santa Maria Novella to reach Piazza Santa Croce, with challenges involving the four districts of Calcio Storico Fiorentino: Santo Spirito (The Whites), Santa Croce (The Blues), Santa Maria Novella (The Reds), San Giovanni (The Greens). Two semi-finals and the final decide the winner;
- Lucca Summer Festival: during the month of July each year the walls of Lucca host one of the most important musical events in Tuscany. The greatest international artists perform against the backdrop of the City Walls of Lucca, in Piazza Napoleone, in Piazza San Martino and in Piazza dell’Anfiteatro;
- Pistoia Blues Festival: one of the most important events dedicated to blues music in the region takes place in July. Three days during which some of the most important artists in the world will take turns. The first edition was held in 1980 and saw the participation of B.B. King;
- Festival Puccini Torre del Lago: the hamlet of Viareggio hosts the most important festival dedicated to Maestro Giacomo Puccini every year in July and August. The performances of the artist’s masterpieces are held at the Puccini Opera Festival;
- Palio di Siena – 2 July and 16 August: the Palio della Madonna di Provenzano (2 July) and the Palio della Madonna Assunta (16 August) are the most important events in the city of Siena. They take place every year on these two dates in Piazza del Campo, the shell-shaped square that houses the historic carousel where the city districts compete for the famous Palio;;
- Lucca Comics & Games: the comics and games exhibition takes place for about four days every year, between October and November. It is the most important sector event in Europe, surpassed worldwide only by the Tokyo Comiket and the San Diego Comic-con;
- Christmas in Tuscany: the party most loved by children is full of folk traditions and appointments imbued with magic. Let’s see the most important ones:i:
- The Valle dei Presepi: the Serchio Valley, during the Christmas period, becomes the Valle dei Presepi (Valley of the Cribs). Between Barga, Bagni di Lucca, Borgo a Mozzano, Coreglia Anteminelli and Pescaglia, we can admire the representation of the Nativity with beautiful nativity scenes made by master figurine makers;
- The Città delle Fiaccole: Abbadia San Salvatore turns into the city of torches during the night of 24 December. It is an ancient rite during which large pyramid-shaped piles of wood are set on fire in every corner of the historic centre;
- The Christmas Eve walk in Monteriggioni: every year on 24 December, the Via Francigena in Monteriggioni hosts a night walk. It starts at 21 from the thirteenth-century Castle, with a walk in the woods illuminated only by the light of torches, to finally reach Valmaggiore and Abbadia ad Isola;
- Natalecci a Gorfigliano: this small village in the Garfagnana mountains comes alive during the evening of 24 December with the lighting of the Natalecci, huge bonfires built by weaving juniper branches and a chestnut pole;;
- The Treno della Befana: since 2005, every 6 January, a steam train leaves from the Santa Maria Novella station in Florence, travels through the landscapes of the Valdisieve and reaches San Piero a Sieve in Mugello. Here, adults and children flock to celebrate the Epiphany all together.
