The city of Florence is awash with cultural delights, and nowhere are they more evident than in the many traditional Florence festivals held throughout the year.

Festa de' Magi

The first festival in the Florentine calendar is the Festa de' Magi. Revived in 1997, this festival is held on January 6 and is marked with a procession Palazzo Pitti to the Duomo in memory of the journey of the Kings to bring gifts to the infant Jesus.

Explosion of the Cart Festival

Next comes the Explosion of the Cart, or Scoppio del Carro, Festival which takes place on Easter Sunday marking the Christian victory in the crusades at Jerusalem. A ceremonial cart is burned in front of Florence Cathedral at the beginning of a pyrotechnic display.

Festival of St John

On June 24, there is the Festival of St John, or Festa di San Giovanni, which celebrates the life of John the Baptist. It is marked with a a procession from the Duomo to the Baptistry. Visitors may enjoy the spectacle of a fireworks display from the Piazza Michelangelo.

Florence Music Festival

Held over 8 weeks in the summer, the Florence Music Festival incorporates diverse concerts and performances at the city's communal theater. There is something to suit all tastes from the classical connoisseur to the rock rebel.

Paper Lantern Festival

Harking back to a traditional peasant's pilgrimage the Paper Lantern Festival, or Festa Della Rificolona, takes place on September 8 and features a lantern-lit procession through the city's streets from the Piazza Santa Croce to the Piazza Santissima Annunziata.