A day at the Villa of the Hundred Chimneys

Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM

Discover the beauty of Villa Medicea La Ferdinanda, stroll through rooms rich in history and be inspired by the authentic flavors of the Estate: wine and olive oil produced on the hills of Artimino and available for purchase.

Free admission / No reservation required

Viale Papa Giovanni XXIII, 1, 59015 Artimino PO

The famous Antiques Fair of Arezzo is one of the most important and largest antique fairs in Italy, held every first Sunday of the month and the preceding Saturday.

Pictures and paintings, small jewels, ancient and modern furniture, carpets, clocks, silverware, toys, books and vintage prints, collection stamps, musical instruments, gramophones and radios: it is easy to be charmed and indulge in discovering one of the biggest and oldest Italian Antiques Fairs. 

In 1968 a famous antiquarian and collector of Arezzo, Ivan Bruschi, gave birth to this fair which still today fills with its curious bric-a-brac the old town centre, its streets, yards, Vasari Loggia and wonderful Piazza Grande, every first weekend of the month.

For two days the town changes into a multicolor scenery of treasures waiting to be discovered by tourists and collectors: over five hundreds exhibitors from all over Italy meet here with their furniture and objects of all periods and styles, while antiquarians and restorers have multiplied their business, opening their shops during the fair and showing their best items. Experts of antiques and

modern antique collecting find here plenty of particular specializations, such as, for instance, scientific tools, Art-Nouveau stained glass windows, Art Deco furnishing.

First Sunday of the month: museums free entrance

It is a very important event involving all the State Museums with specials and free tickets access. Therefore, if you plan to visit Florence, Pisa, Lucca or any other Tuscan town our countless masterpieces without spending one Euro!

For instance in Florence you can visit: the Uffizi Gallery, Academy Museum, Pitti Palace and Boboli Gardens, Bargello Museum, Medici Chapels, and many other attractions. All of them free of charge!

List of  State Museums in Tuscany HERE. 

Lucca – Giovanni Boldini: The Seduction of Painting – from December 2, 2025 to June 2, 2026

La Cavallerizza, Piazzale Verdi, Lucca

An exhibition of over 100 works tracing the evolution of Giovanni Boldini's painting through the lens of feminine beauty—the focus of his continuous aesthetic exploration and deep psychological investigation. Boldini crafted an idealized model of grace and elegance.

An undisputed master of elegance and portraiture between the 19th and 20th centuries, Boldini placed the female image at the heart of his artistic world. With vibrant brushstrokes and a refined play of light and movement, he captured not only the outer grace of his models—their fashion, their social allure, the very spirit of their era—but also their inner psychological depth, giving life to a timeless ideal of femininity and charm.

He portrayed the vital spirit, the grace of gestures, and the intensity of their gazes, transforming his subjects into icons of sensuality and modernity.

Curated by Tiziano Panconi, the exhibition will be open from December 2, 2025, to June 2, 2026, at La Cavallerizza, Piazzale Verdi, Lucca.

Until April 6th, the exhibition "MARINO MARINI: PAINTING" is on view at the Museo del Novecento e del Contemporaneo in Palazzo Fabroni, Pistoia.

Visitors are presented with a colorful selection of paintings by one of the most important artists of the 20th century, Marino Marini (1901–1980). The works span from the mid-1920s to the mid-1970s.

The exhibition allows guests to fully appreciate the richness and variety of Marini’s pictorial research, also thanks to selected comparisons with sculptures and drawings.

The displayed works highlight the expressive power of Marini’s use of color and the versatility of his line: at times finely outlining Pomonas, jugglers, or graceful ballerinas, at others powerfully capturing the dynamic energy of horses and riders — all the way to the radical expression of the "cry".

Opening hours:

Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Saturday, Sunday, holidays, January 2 and 5: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Closed on Mondays.

🎼✨ Experience the magic of Montecarlo Fortress by candlelight ✨🎼

In March 2026, the enchanting Fortress of Montecarlo (LU) will be lit by candles and torches to offer you a unique journey through art, music, and history.

Each evening includes a guided candlelight tour inside the Fortress, followed by a live concert featuring renowned national and international artists, in an intimate and timeless atmosphere.

📅 Dates March 8 and 22, 2026

🕖 Tours start at 5:00 PM – concert to follow

🎟️ Ticket: €20.00 – Discounted for residents: €15.00

📍 Montecarlo Fortress – Via Fortezza, 4

📧 Info & Reservations: info@fortezzadimontecarlo.com

📞 +39 350 0354687 (also on WhatsApp)

🎶 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐓 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐌 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🎶

March 8, 2026 – Forgotten Women Composers

🎤 Maria Cioppi – soprano | 🎷 Roberta Fantozzi – clarinet | 🎹 Silvia Mannari – piano

March 22, 2026 – Stabat Mater by Pergolesi

🎤 Maria Cioppi – soprano | 🎤 Rosa Manfredonia – mezzo-soprano | 🎹 Silvia Mannari – piano

Lucca Gustosa returns to the historic center of Lucca with tastings, local products and food events dedicated to the Lucchese culinary tradition. Discover the weekend program here.

From tomorrow until Sunday, the historic center of Lucca will host Lucca Gustosa, an event dedicated to local products and the culinary traditions of the area.

For three days, the city’s squares and streets will come alive with food stalls, tastings, meetings and initiatives dedicated to local excellence. The event offers the perfect opportunity to discover the authentic flavors of Lucchese cuisine and experience the unique atmosphere of the city.

Tastings and local specialties

During Lucca Gustosa, visitors will be able to taste some of the most representative specialties of the local tradition, including:

tordelli lucchesi

zuppa alla frantoiana

local cured meats and cheeses

extra virgin olive oil from the hills of Lucca

the famous buccellato, the traditional sweet of Lucca

Local producers, chefs and artisans will be present to share the story behind their products and introduce visitors to the gastronomic excellence of the area.

Sunday, March 8, 2026 | Lucca Botanical Garden

Women in Botany: Stories of Women and Plants – Guided Tours

Two thematic guided tours will take place at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm at the Lucca Botanical Garden. Led by expert guides, these visits will explore fascinating stories of women connected to the world of plants—scientists, historical figures, and legendary characters—blending science, history, myth, and imagination.

📍 Meeting point: Ticket office of the Lucca Botanical Garden, Rampa del Baluardo San Regolo (please arrive on time).

Accessible entrance available at Via del Giardino Botanico 14.

🎟 Cost: Only the regular garden entrance ticket is required.

⏱ Duration: Approximately 1 hour.

📩 Booking recommended:

ortobotanicolucca@comune.lucca.it

📞 +39 0583 442482 (Fri–Sun, 11:00–15:30)

“If you want to live happily for a day, get drunk. If you want to live happily for a month, kill a pig. If you want to live happily for a year, get married. If you want to live happily for all of your days, grow camellias.” That’s how an old Chinese proverb goes and we all know that it’s hard to go wrong with Eastern sagacity. 

A token of information for those who have never grown them: camellias are in flower between January and April every year. So it’s the right time to start, choosing from dozens of varieties that differ in terms of shape and colour. Originating from the East, there are over 250 wild species of camellia and thousands of cultivated varieties called cultivar. Made immortal by Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Lady of the Camellias, and adored by Coco Chanel, the camellia continues to charm. It is the symbol of love and supreme, hidden perfection.

No-one knew what it was called when it arrived in England onboard an East India naval vessel in the first few years of the 18th century. It remains nameless for another 50 years until Linneo registered it in the official botanical history as Camellia, in honour of the Jesuit father, Georg Joseph Kamel, who had brought it to London in 1738 on his return from a journey to the Philippines.

From England, the rage for camellia spread throughout Europe and there was a real madness to grab the rarest varieties. However it was in France, in the second half of the 19th century, when the camellia achieved its season of glory: it was the flower of Alphonsine Plessis in the Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas, which triumphed as a novel in 1849 and as a lyrical work as la Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi in 1853. The camellia then became a symbol of love.

An event not to be missed for those who want to find out more about the world of camellias, the Mostra delle Antiche Camelie della Lucchesia (Exhibition of Ancient Camellias in the Lucchesia area),  takes place on the weekends 7-8, 14-15, 21-22, 28-29 of  March at S. Andrea di Compito.

Visiting the Camellietum Compitese is an exciting experience: a botanical garden gathering together 140 cultivar recovered from the parks and gardens of historic villas, not just in the Lucca area, but from all over Tuscany.

An extremely important botanical heritage that was otherwise at risk of being lost.

During the Antiche Camelie della Lucchesia (Exhibition of Ancient Camellias in the Lucchesia area), which is open from 10 am to 6pm, the Borgo is closed to traffic and visitors can access it with the special shuttle, available from 9.30 until the end of the event. Car parking, shuttle station and ticket office are located at the Compitese oil mill – via di Tiglio 609, Pieve di Compito.

Entrance Ticket € 10 (Saturday and Sunday)

- € 6 (from Monday to Friday)

Website: ☞http://www.camelielucchesia.it

In Pistoia, the second Saturday and Sunday of the month an antique fair is held which attracts  many dealers from all over Tuscany. Here you can find very valuable antiques: furniture, majolica, porcelain, jewelery, clocks, coins, old lacework, crystal goblets and profane and religious period paintings.

On the stalls you can find clothing, utensils and ethnic products, as well as magazines, comics, used garments and other items from the past. 

The market takes place in the so called Cattedrale - not to confuse with the real Cathedral - (Via Pertini) - eccept July and August.

There are about 100 exhibitors who animate the historic city center with various kinds of antiques every second Saturday and Sunday of the month except July and August.

You will find ceramics, glassware and cutlery for a romantic table setting and a very good range of embroidered linen (perhaps an untouched trousseau from a failed marriage). Also sepia paintings, watercolours, vintage  postcards (full of insight into how we lived in the past and complete with shaky handwriting), out-of-print books for the attentive book collector, silver and gold coins from every corner of the globe and much, much more.

Where: Pisa, Piazza dei Cavalieri, Piazza Garibaldi

From March 7 to July 26, 2026, Palazzo Buontalenti in Pistoia hosts a major exhibition dedicated to Ettore Sottsass, a key figure in 20th-century Italian design.

The exhibition brings together over 1,400 works, including drawings, objects, photographs, and documents, tracing thirty years of research from the post-war period to the 1970s.

The exhibition follows a chronological path: from early artistic experiments, to ceramics created with Bitossi, through to innovative design for Poltronova and the collaboration with Olivetti. Significant space is also dedicated to the turning point of the 1960s, when Sottsass’s work became more symbolic and radical, anticipating the Memphis movement.

📅 Visitor Information

Dates: March 7 – July 26, 2026

Opening hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 – 19:00

Special openings: Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, April 7 and 25, May 1, June 1 and 2

📍 Venue: Palazzo Buontalenti, via de’ Rossi 7, Pistoia

Villa La Quiete reopens its historic garden to the public, inaugurating a new season of visits in a place that preserves memory, beauty, and history.

Among 18th-century geometries, pathways, views, and evocative presences, a space deeply connected to women’s history is once again accessible: that of grand duchesses, Medici princesses, and the young women who lived and studied here.

Villa La Quiete is a magnificent place that returns to being a space for meeting, culture, and discovery.

Please note that the historic garden of Villa La Quiete is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays until July 12, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, with free admission and no reservation required (except on Easter and April 25).

A new event dedicated to creativity and craftsmanship with Bricolando, the market that brings together artisans from all over Italy!

For three days the complex will once again be filled with original handmade creations: jewelry, ceramics, fabrics, clothing, home décor items and many other unique ideas, all made with care and passion 🎨🧵

A perfect opportunity to browse the stalls, discover the work of talented artisans and find something truly special. And remember that from this year the event starts already on Friday, giving you one extra day to enjoy it at a relaxed pace.

🗓️ March 13, 14 and 15

⏰ from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm

📍 Porta a Mare – Livorno

Saturday Night Spa

Saturday, March 14,  21 and 28

from 7:30 PM to midnight

For an evening of pure relaxation, pamper yourself with a soothing bath under the stars in the thermal pool with rejuvenating whirlpools and

reinvigorate yourself with a steam bath in Europe's largest thermal cave at 34°C.

Includes:

Steam bath in natural thermal cave at 34°C (20 minutes)

Bathing under the stars in the 750 sqm thermal pool at 34°C with underwater whirlpools

Bathing in the Bioaquam thermal path at 34°C with rejuvenating whirlpools

Access to the Thermarium area

Access to the "Bioaquam Pavilion" the new covered and heated relaxation area of 310 m2

Lounge music

€35.00 by reservation

Bioaquam Café poolside open with à la carte menu

(payment upon consumption)

For more information, call 

+39 0572/9077992 or email terme@grottagiustispa.com

https://terme.grottagiustispa.com

From 14 March to 23 August 2026, Florence hosts one of the most important exhibitions ever dedicated to Mark Rothko. The exhibition “Rothko in Florence” celebrates the deep connection between the artist and the city, placing his painting in dialogue with the places that most impressed him during his travels in Italy.

The exhibition route is mainly hosted at Palazzo Strozzi, with special sections at the Museo di San Marco and the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana, creating a unique itinerary between modern art and the Renaissance.

Curated by Christopher Rothko and Elena Geuna, the exhibition brings together about 70 works from major international museums such as the MoMA, the Tate and the National Gallery of Art. The aim is to tell the story of Rothko’s relationship with the Italian artistic tradition, particularly with Michelangelo, Beato Angelico, Piero della Francesca and Giotto.

Exhibition opening hours

The main exhibition at Palazzo Strozzi follows these opening hours:

Every day: 10:00 – 20:00

Thursday: late opening until 23:00

Last admission: one hour before closing

For the section at the Museo di San Marco:

Tuesday to Sunday: 8:30 – 13:50

Last admission: 12:45

Monday: closed

Ticket prices

Indicatively, ticket prices for the exhibition are:

Full ticket: about €15

Reduced ticket for young visitors: about €5

Reduced ticket for EU students aged 18–25 (Museo di San Marco): €2

Free admission: children under 6 and people with disabilities

The exhibition ticket also allows discounted entry to the satellite venues and other partner museums.

In the heart of the Pistoia Apennines, “Intrecci di memoria” (Weaving Memories) is a series of traditional craft workshops promoted by the Associazione Museo della Gente dell'Appennino Pistoiese together with the Ecomuseo della Montagna Pistoiese.

In the past, knowing how to re-seat a chair, weave a basket, or make a cavagno was part of everyday life. 

Today these skills risk being lost. The museum therefore becomes a living space for learning, connection, and exchange between generations.

Workshops

Chair caning – with Vincenza Lo Monaco

📅 February 21 & 28, 2026

The cavagno basket – with Vasco Sisi

📅 March 14 & 21, 2026

Willow basket weaving – with Enzo Ceccarelli

📅 April 11 & 18, 2026

📍 Museo della Gente, Rivoreta

🕒 Saturdays, 3:00–6:00 pm

💶 €10 per workshop

📜 Certificate of participation

An opportunity to rediscover the value of working with your hands and to reconnect with time, materials, and tradition.

📞 +39 800 974102

📧 ecomuseopt@gmail.com

Second among the antique-dealers' market places of Tuscany for the number of its exhibitors and length of life, the Antique market of Lucca can boast of a solid tradition of quality and reliability thanks to professional antiquarians of high prestige who have always been an important presence in town. 

At the third weekend of each month (on Saturday and Sunday), from 8 am to 7 pm, Lucca opens its gates for a joyful event involving a large portion of the historical centre: from Piazza S. Martino, Piazza Antelminelli and Via Del Battistero - the historical antique dealers' street- ‚ to Piazza San Giusto, and Piazza S. Giovanni up to Piazza Bernardini. It is a gorgeous display of colorful stalls offering not only past vestiges of remarkable artistic value, but also traces of souvenirs impressed on a post-card, on a book, on a knick-knack or on an ornament. 

Furniture, clothes, fabrics, paintings, rare components of old instruments, lamps and chandeliers, old working tools, records..... a wide pattern of old or antique objects‚ patiently gathered and collected after explorations which

are getting more and more difficult. All these things speak to both the tourist and the lover, of a world, which has gone, but not willing to be forgotten yet.

Two unforgettable days around the most charming

streets of the town. It is Art facing Art, History meeting History. A really unique occasion to know Lucca better and taste the pleasure of peeping through the stalls in search of something beautiful to take home and - why not?- probably also making a good bargain! 

Pescia Antiqua

9:00 AM – 8:00 PM

March 22, 2026

Antiques market, vintage clothing, collectibles, handicrafts, and home accessories.

Open from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

In Pisa, the New Year is celebrated twice – not only on the 1st of January along with the rest of the world, but also on the 25th of March.
The Pisans have not forgotten their traditions, and each year they mark the beginning of the year as was their custom between 1200 and 1749, when New Year's Day coincided with the Annunciation, nine months before Christmas (Anno Pisano ab Incarnatione Domini). 

Today, just like then, the beginning of the Pisan Year is marked by a sort of solar clock, a physical phenomenon that is as simple as it is spectacular and intriguing: at midday sharp, a ray of sunlight penetrates the Duomo through a round nave window, landing on a marble egg on a shelf surmounting a column next to the pulpit of Giovanni Pisano, on the opposite side. 

So, on Saturday, March 25, we will already be in 2027 in Pisa.

The event is preceded by a historical parade and a religious ceremony that ends at exactly 12 noon.
 The city of the Leaning Tower will see a day of great festivities in Pisa and in the surroundings.

By its nature, an original and provocative city, Florence is confirmed as such also in celebrating the New Year. Well yes. No dance and party for New Year's Eve, but a big party for the night between 24 and 25 March! At least this happened until 1749 ... Well yes, in the shadow of the Dome and of all the Tuscan lands, the New Year's Eve only coincided with the announcement of motherhood given to the Virgin Mary by the Archangel Gabriel: exactly nine months before Christmas. Florence, which has always been linked to the cult of the Madonna, did not give a damn if in other parts of the world the Gregorian calendar had already been in force for 168 years, anticipating New Year's Eve to 1 January. It was only at the end of 1749 that the Grand Duke Francesco III of Lorraine also imposed on the Florentines with a decree, that the calendar year was fixed on the basis of the Gregorian calendar and therefore brought forward to January 1st. But for better or worse, Florence proud of its traditions continues to remember and celebrate "its" New Year, so much so that March 25 is one of the 12 official holidays of the municipality of Florence ... and a plaque placed in the Loggia dei Lanzi remembers the "Florentine New Year". The fulcrum of the festival was (and has returned to being) the Basilica of the Santissima Annunziata which opens onto the splendid Brunelleschi square of the same name and where the cult of the Annunciation is celebrated.

Where: Florence, Piazza Santissima Annunziata

On March 27 and 28, Pistoia CollExpo is back!

The sixth edition of the most important historical collectibles swap organised in Central Italy, in the welcoming setting of the exhibition space 'La Cattedrale" in Pistoia.

Stamps, coins, postcards, and much more.

The Firenze Flower Show, a showcase and market for rare and unusual plants, returns on March 28 and 29, 2026, at the beautiful Villa Corsini, located at Via della Scala 115 in Florence.

This spring exhibition brings together the best exhibitors from across the country, offering two days of entertainment and learning in the field of horticulture and high-quality gardening for numerous visitors.

Visitors will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a fairy-tale world with a vast collection of rare and unique plants, including extraordinary orchids and very special succulents, each with its own unique characteristics. The event will also feature fruit trees, a rich selection of ornamental plants, perennial plants, and Japanese maples, as well as fascinating carnivorous plants, a wide collection of antique and modern roses, and curious kokedama.

In addition to the market showcase, there will be numerous free ancillary activities to engage both adults and children, including gardening courses, creative demonstrations, and educational workshops. The event will be open from 09:00 to 20:00. For further information and details, you can visit the official website of the event at 

https://www.firenzeflowershow.com/

In March, the unmissable vintage event returns to Piazza dei Ciompi in Florence. On Saturday, March 28, and Sunday, March 29, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, enthusiasts of antique and collectible items will have the chance to explore a weekend dedicated to discovering unique and rare pieces. Admission is free, making it a perfect opportunity to browse through the offerings of top industry exhibitors.

Strolling through the market stalls, visitors will find vintage and modern collectibles, including refined tea sets, elegant plates, and table accessories—ideal for adding a touch of class and originality to any home.

Music lovers will be delighted by a wide selection of CDs and vinyl records, featuring iconic albums from the 1960s to the 1990s, covering genres such as rock, jazz, soul, pop, and unforgettable movie soundtracks.

For book enthusiasts, there will be a variety of rare and vintage books alongside classic and collectible comic books. From legendary Italian comics like Tex, Zagor, and Diabolik to international favorites like Spider-Man and Dylan Dog, this event is a true paradise for collectors.

Fashion lovers can explore a curated selection of tailored vintage clothing and accessories for both men and women, along with luxury designer handbags from past decades. Additionally, there will be a stand specializing in beauty creams, offering products suitable for women of all ages.

This is also a great opportunity to sell or have your old records, books, comics, or vintage clothing appraised directly by industry experts. A weekend full of style and tradition, where visitors can discover rare and unique pieces in an inspiring and nostalgic atmosphere.

Arti e Mestieri is an arts and crafts market in the historic center of Lucca, with a big number of exhibitors that meet every last weekend of the month in Piazza San Giusto, Piazza Cittadella and Piazza XX Settembre with many traditional and original products from Tuscany.

At Arti e Mestieri there are ceramists, painters, sculptors, leather, glass and papier-mâché artisans, weavers, jewelers, cabinet makers, seamstresses and embroiderers, knitting and crochet experts. The artisans-artists offer their exclusive products in a colorful market: bijoux in silver, ceramic and crochet, natural products for body care, fountain pens worked on the lathe, bags, belts and leather bracelets, painted stones, scented lavender, splendid paintings and sculptures.

On Sunday, March 29, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, the Gruppo Fermodellistico Pistoiese invites you to the Fermodel Expo: a trade fair dedicated to model trains.

In the spaces of the La Cattedrale Exhibition Center, visitors will find dioramas, conferences, exhibitions, industry experts, and much more related to the world of model railways.

During the day, free guided tours of the Historic Rolling Stock Depot will take place. Reservation is mandatory at the Fondazione FS stand inside the La Cattedrale exhibition area.

The Historic Rolling Stock Depot is a large early 20th-century workshop that houses antique steam locomotives from all over Italy, sent here for maintenance. It opens to the public only on special dates, offering a unique opportunity to see its collection of operational steam locomotives and take a step back in time.

During opening days, visitors can explore the heart of the workshops, where the Fondazione FS staff carry out maintenance on historic steam locomotives, and admire some of the most representative models of Italian railway engineering.

The depot can be accessed from the Pistoia railway station.