February 17, 2025

What to do this week in Florence and surroundings

Events, exhibitions and highlights from 17 to 23 February 2025

Art, concerts, shows and good food. Here are the events not to be missed this week in and around Florence.

Face to face with the Elettrice Palatina: free Civic Museums and a living history dedicated to her figure on Feb. 18

On Feb. 18, 1743, the last descendant of the Grand Ducal line, Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici, known as the Electress Palatina, passed away in Florence. On the anniversary of her death, the Florentine Civic Museums and MUS.E are paying tribute to her with a living history event in which Palace visitors will be able to “dialogue” directly with the Electress Palatina. On Feb. 18, 2025, in addition to free admission for all in the Florentine Civic Museums and the Medici Riccardi Palace, a special living history event returns to Palazzo Vecchio (at 3, 4 and 5 p.m.), repeated on Sunday 23 (at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.), which will allow visitors to meet the Electress Palatina in person and evocate in an evocative way this female figure, whose choices were decisive for the history of her heritage and the entire city. Participation in the Feb. 18 meeting is free. For the Feb. 23 repeat performance, the cost of participation is €2.50 (residents Metropolitan City of Florence) or €5 (non-residents Metropolitan City of Florence), in addition to the museum entrance fee. Reservations are required. For information and reservations: 055-2768224 or info@musefirenze.it

Ma per fortuna che ci era il Gaber, Gioele Dix's show at the Puccini Theater

On Thursday, February 20, at 9 p.m., Gioele Dix stars in the show Ma per fortuna che c'era il Gaber. Viaggio tra inediti e memorie del Signor G, with Silvano Belfiore on piano and Savino Cesario on guitar, at Teatro Puccini, in collaboration with the Gaber Foundation.

Caveman. Caveman, Maurizio Colombi's show at the Puccini Theater

On Saturday, Feb. 22, at 9 p.m., Maurizio Colombi stars in the show Caveman. Caveman, from Rob Becker's monologue directed by Teo Teocoli, at the Puccini Theater, with live music performed by the Cave Band.

Tè con delitto, suspense and theater with the Chair Company at the Goldoni

Tea with Murder is back on Sunday, February 23 at 5:30 p.m. at Goldoni Spazio Eventi for a new afternoon of suspense and theater. The Chair Company once again invites you to immerse yourself in the gripping atmosphere of Ellery Queen's radio serials while enjoying a selection of tea accompanied by sweet and savory delicacies.

Rigoletto at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

The staging of Verdi's masterpiece, directed by Davide Livermore and with maestro Stefano Ranzani on the podium, returns to the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino on Feb. 16 (with repeats on Feb. 18, 20 and 23).

Danzainfiera 2025

The 19th edition of Danzainfiera is scheduled for February 21-23, 2025 as always at the Fortezza da Basso. More than 80 major fashion industry brands will be present, 57 percent of which will be international. The chosen claim is DANCE BEYOND: a declaration of independence from all stereotypes, because dance is first and foremost freedom to express yourself and be who you are. DANCE BEYOND is an invitation to consider differences strengths and plurality an asset. Just as in a dance troupe that draws its beauty from the whole: many individuals, all different but able to go in unison following a rhythm. Protagonists on the one hand are the leading companies and brands of clothing, accessories and equipment for the world of dance; on the other hand, a stage for the many young people who aspire to become celebrities through an audition or an audition, and who will once again have in Florence the chance to try to gain access to the greatest schools and companies in the world.

Lapis Lazuli, the performance of Euripides Laskaridis at the Pergola Theatre

Euripides Laskaridis is the creator of unique shows that combine performance, dance and visual arts. After Elenit, a globally acclaimed success and also at the Teatro della Pergola, Laskaridis returns to Florence Feb. 20, 21 and 22, at 9 p.m., with Lapis Lazuli, which continues his exploration of the themes of transformation and the ridiculous, fusing together the elements of the grotesque, comedy and the horrific.

Dancing Dream Tour, ABBAdream in concert at Teatro Cartiere Carrara

ABBAdream presents Dancing Dream Tour, which, after its first applauded performances, arrives in Tuscany with two not-to-be-missed dates on Friday, Feb. 21 at 9 p.m. in Florence at Teatro Cartiere Carrara and Saturday, Feb. 22 in Volterra, also at 9 p.m. at Teatro Persio Flacco.

Cinderella, Zaches Teatro's show on stage at Puccini

On Sunday, Feb. 23, at 4:45 p.m., the Zaches Teatro company brings the show Cinderella, directed, dramatized and choreographed by Luana Gramegna and starring Gianluca Gabriele, Amalia Ruocco and Enrica Zampetti, to the Puccini Theater.

Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina: Giuseppe Andaloro soloist at the Santo Stefano al Ponte Auditorium

One of the most performed pieces by pianists around the world, a brilliant and lyrically rich page of the late Romantic repertoire. It is with Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 by Sergei Rachmaninov that Giuseppe Andaloro returns alongside the Orchestra da Camera Fiorentina conducted by Giuseppe Lanzetta on Sunday, Feb. 23 and Monday, Feb. 24 at the Santo Stefano al Ponte Auditorium. In Sergei Rachmaninov's “Piano Concerto No. 2,” the instrument plays a predominant role over the orchestra, conceived almost as an accompaniment and set against the soloist in an elegantly dosed play of shadow/light. Completing the program is Antonín Dvořák's coeval symphony Dal nuovo mondo, the first composition written by the Czech composer on American soil and a meeting point between the European musical tradition and the new influences acquired during his New York sojourn. On the podium is Giuseppe Lanzetta, permanent conductor and founder of the Florentine Chamber Orchestra.