This is a selection of events taking place in Florence and the metropolitan area in December 2019. The program is listed on the area’s official tourism website, Firenze Turismo

December will bring a special calendar of seasonal events leading up to Christmas.
On 8 December the F-Light Festival will illuminate Florence, inaugurated by the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree in Piazza del Duomo.
Christams markets will liven up the town squares of the metropolitan city.
In Florence, Piazza Santa Croce will host the classic German Christmas Market until 22 December. Every Sunday, Greve in Chianti will organise Aspettando Natale, Waiting for Christmas. From 13 to 15 December, Colori e sapori del Natale, tastes and colors of Christmas will be found in Scandicci, where the Advent Market will take place from 2 to 24.
To hold a special place in the Christmas tradition are the nativity scenes, known as presepi, like the terracotta statues in the Cathedral of Florence, the nativity of San Donato in Tavernelle Val di Pesa, the Via dei Presepi in Castelfiorentino and Cerreto Guidi. Also, the event “ 1000 presepi per Palazzuolo, will be held in Palazzuolo sul Senio until 6 December.
Not to be missed is the Re-enactment of the Living Nativity in Londa, taking place on Christmas Eve.
The New year will be welcomed in with celebrations in the town squares on 31 December.

Exhibitions – The Museum of Santa Maria Novella will host “The Botany of Leonardo” until 15 December. A major retrospective of acclaimed Russian artist, Natalia Goncharova, will be on display at Palazzo Strozzi until 12 January 2020.
The Church of Santo Stefano al Ponte, will host the multimedia exhibition “Inside Magritte” dedicated to the acclaimed master of Surrealism.

Food Festivals – Fortezza da basso in Florence will host the food and wine trade show, Enogastronomica 2019, From 6 to 8 December.
On the same dates, Cioccolupo will bring master chocolatiers, craft workshops and food tastings in Montelupo. The following week more chocolate in Certaldo with Festa della Cioccolata.

Music – on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 December Strings City, the music festival dedicated to string instruments will be back in Florence with concerts also scheduled in Borgo San Lorenzo, Calenzano, San Casciano, Sesto Fiorentino.

Finally, for the Sports: The Winter Park is back in Florence in Lungarno Aldo Moro.
Ice skating rinks will also open in Borgo San Lorenzo, Montelupo Fiorentino and Scandicci.

Text: Nicola Giannattasio
Translation and voice over: Giorgia Scaturro