Florence is a lively city, full of local and international artistic and cultural events. If you are planning a trip to Florence when one of these events is taking place, remember to book your room in one of the hotels in Florence that we recommend well in advance.

Florence International Biennale for Contemporary Art: December
The Florence Biennale for contemporary art is a recent event on the Florence scene, but it has already become enormously successful: in the 2002 edition, there were 600 artists, including painters, sculptors, digital artists and video art creators from all over the world.

Internazionale Crafts Show: April-May
This international crafts show, organized each year, is set in the beautiful surroundings of Fortezza da Basso. The event wishes to increase the value of the craftwork heritage from an economic and cultural point of view.

Maggio Musicale Fiorentino: from April to June
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is an international festival entirely dedicated to music that is held in the Municipal Theater in Florence. It was organized for the first time in 1937 and is one of the oldest festivals in Europe.

San Giovanni Fireworks: 24 June
For centuries, Florence has celebrated the birth of St John the Baptist, the city's patron saint, with a full programme of celebrations and amazing fireworks displays.

Pitti Immagine
For fifty years, Pitti Immagine has been an international window for Italian fashion, a reference point for the development of the Made in Italy industry in the world, thanks to the creation of the several annual events that take place. Here are just a few:

• Pitti Uomo - Mens Fashion: January and June
• Pitti Bimbo - Childrens fashion: January and June
• Pitti Filati - Textiles and fabric collections: February and July
• Pitti Fragranze - Perfumes: September