CULTURAL ACTIVITIES FLORENCE
If you’re staying in the beautiful Machiavelli Castle Retreat, or anywhere in the stunning city of Florence, you probably want to know the cultural activities that are available. Whether alone, with a partner, or with family, we’ve compiled some fantastic activities in this guide. With so many great Tuscany yoga retreats around, you can complement them perfectly with these activities!
1. Historical Re-enactment of Holy Friday
If you’re visiting in March/April, there’s a brilliant re-enactment of Holy Friday just outside Florence that takes place every single year. For a small fee of around €10/€15, you can take part in the local Easter traditions and really immerse yourself into the local culture. With the Passion Play, around 400 locals come together to perform, and it will be a day you won’t forget in a hurry.
Depending on where you’re located, the day actually starts in two locations simultaneously. While one procession walks through the streets of Grassina dressed like Romans and Galileans from 2,000 years ago, the other group gather to perform scenes from the life of Christ. From here, the first group reaches the main stage as the story is told.
2. Duomo (Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore)
If you’re looking for history on Tuscany yoga retreats, you won’t find a better place than at the Duomo. As perhaps the most iconic building in the city, the dome overlooks the city and was actually designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the famous architect. The next time you’re complaining about local roadworks, just think that this cathedral was built over a period of 140 years.
Eventually, it was completed in 1436 and still provides an astonishing experience even today. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to go early. This way, you can really soak up the atmosphere and magical architecture without trying to push past people or look past camera phones.
If you’re looking for history on Tuscany yoga retreats, you won’t find a better place than at the Duomo. As perhaps the most iconic building in the city, the dome overlooks the city and was actually designed by Filippo Brunelleschi, the famous architect. The next time you’re complaining about local roadworks, just think that this cathedral was built over a period of 140 years.
Eventually, it was completed in 1436 and still provides an astonishing experience even today. If you want to avoid the crowds, try to go early. This way, you can really soak up the atmosphere and magical architecture without trying to push past people or look past camera phones.
3. Palazzo Vecchio
Next up, we couldn’t bring you a list of cultural activities without mentioning Palazzo Vecchio. As the town hall of Florence, it’s an extravagant building and one you may have seen in Inferno, the movie. Not only does it look over the Piazza della Signoria, it offers a gallery of statues and a copy of Michelangelo’s David.
Next up, we couldn’t bring you a list of cultural activities without mentioning Palazzo Vecchio. As the town hall of Florence, it’s an extravagant building and one you may have seen in Inferno, the movie. Not only does it look over the Piazza della Signoria, it offers a gallery of statues and a copy of Michelangelo’s David.
4. Florence Dance Festival
If you’re thinking about Tuscany yoga retreats in the summer, we highly recommend the Florence Dance Festival. Running through most of June and July, visit the Teatro Romano and get ready to be impressed and inspired by a packed program of music and dance. We think the festival offers something for everyone since you’ll also have cinema, poetry, and more to enjoy.
As well as the journey into Italian culture, it’s quite a magnificent experience sitting in a Roman amphitheatre being entertained like millions of people before you. Just imagine how many people have shared the seat you’re enjoying while watching.
5. Ponte Vecchio Bridge
Like many cultural activities on this list, this probably doesn’t need much of an introduction. Located at Ponte Vecchio, this is a bridge that was first built all the way back in 996. Over the years, it has been damaged time and time again but is always rebuilt to its former glory. Over the Arno river, it has been an essential transport route for the locals. Not only this, but it’s one of the surviving Italian bridges that offers opportunities for shopping. In the Middle Ages, shops on bridges were a common sight; these days, not so much.
6. The Uffizi
If you’re into Renaissance art and want a quiet afternoon just browsing some incredible paintings, this is the place to be. For one thing, it has The Birth of Venus by Botticelli from the 15th century. If you get in early enough, you might get some time alone with it. After this takes your breath away, there are hundreds of other pieces just waiting for your eyes to explore.
You’re not likely to run out of paintings to enjoy; however, we urge you to peel your eyes away and look around every so often because the architecture itself is incredibly impressive.
You’re not likely to run out of paintings to enjoy; however, we urge you to peel your eyes away and look around every so often because the architecture itself is incredibly impressive.
7. Mercato Centrale
When you think of Florence, and Italy in general, one thought that instantly comes to mind is food. Therefore, all good Tuscany yoga retreats need to think about this aspect carefully. For us, one of the best ways to indulge is through Mercato Centrale. With two floors of food and drink stalls as a huge market, you’ll be lost in a sea of flavours and scents for a while.
Whether you’re interested in cheese, oil, meat, fish, wine, fruit, or spices, the ground floor will welcome you with open arms. Meanwhile, the top floor has pastas, pizza, a truffle bar, cold cuts, gelato, and more.
Whether you’re interested in cheese, oil, meat, fish, wine, fruit, or spices, the ground floor will welcome you with open arms. Meanwhile, the top floor has pastas, pizza, a truffle bar, cold cuts, gelato, and more.
8. Boboli Gardens
As our eighth and final fantastic suggestion, we bring you the Boboli Gardens. All children under 18 get in for free but you can order ahead to skip the line and walk straight through the entrance without queueing. In a technology-laden, digital world, sometimes it’s nice to just go back to basics and spend some time amongst nature. Boboli Gardens has stunning views in all directions and will allow you to forget about the world for a while - the ideal extension of Tuscany yoga retreats.
With these eight cultural activities in and around Florence, it’s easy to plan a trip to remember!
With these eight cultural activities in and around Florence, it’s easy to plan a trip to remember!
