From September 26 to October 4, the Lucca Film Festival offers an incredible journey through modern and international cinema. From India to Chile, passing through Japan and the United States, films that have participated in some of the world's most important festivals, including the Berlinale - Berlin International Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, and Shanghai International Film Festival, will be showcased.

Directors, actors, and cinephiles from around the globe will gather for a celebration of the big screen that goes beyond simple screenings, offering retrospectives, meetings with authors, masterclasses, and a variety of special events.

Full program available at

www.luccafilmfestival.it

The Festival is devoted to classical music and opera fans, its main purpose is to highlight the town’s musical  tradition, especially the great operas. 

This  season’s program, from April to October, presents 19 events, set in the most attractive thermal building of  Montecatini Terme, the Terme Tettuccio, which welcomes everybody as in a warm hug and where you can still hear the musical echo of the great composers  who have made Italian classic music famous all over the world.

On 3–4 October, the spaces of Manifattura Tabacchi will come alive with creativity for a new edition of Creative Mani Factory.

Two days dedicated to independent design and contemporary craftsmanship, featuring more than 50 designers and independent makers from all over Italy. 🇮🇹

Jewellery, fashion, ceramics, textiles, illustration, accessories and homeware: a wonderful opportunity to meet the people behind original creations and discover how their ideas are designed and made.

🎨 PRINT / DRAW / MAKE

A special area will be dedicated to printing, graphic design and illustration, with engraving, linocut, screen printing, editorial design and drawing to discover through hands-on experiences and workshops.

And there’s more: workshops, talks, exhibitions, publishing and music will accompany the entire weekend.

A perfect event for anyone who wants to discover a different side of Florence – creative, contemporary and inspiring. 💛

📍 Manifattura Tabacchi – Edificio Motel, Florence

📅 3–4 October

🕙 10:00 am – 8:00 pm

🎟 Free admission with registration

📲 Full program at: www.creativefactorymarket.it

Visitor Center Refuge – Cascina di Spedaletto  The Bellowing of the Deer - September 12, 19, 26 & October 3, 2026

The beginning of autumn marks the mating season of deer: the forests come alive, and the silence is broken by their bellowing — a haunting love call that can be heard from miles away. Male deer use it to assert dominance and attract females.

The excursions organized by the Visitor Center Refuge – Cascina di Spedaletto offer a chance to hear the deer’s call up close in the woods of Cantagallo and discover the secrets of this spectacular natural ritual.

Suitable for everyone, the outings are a wonderful way to spend a few hours surrounded by the silence and beauty of the forest.

📍 Meeting Point:

Visitor Center Refuge – Cascina di Spedaletto – Cantagallo (PO)

🗓️ Dates & Times

12 September – Meeting at 4:45 pm at the car park of the Cantagallo Visitor Centre. Approximately 9 km hike towards Rifugio Le Cave (packed dinner).

September 19 – Evening hike, meeting at 6:00 PM (packed dinner)

September 26 – Afternoon hike, meeting at 6:00 PM (dinner available at the refuge)

October 3 – Afternoon hike, meeting at 5:30 PM (dinner available at the refuge)

ℹ️ Details

Duration: 2.5 to 3 hours

Difficulty: Easy

Equipment:

Hiking boots (or shoes with good tread), comfortable clothing (a sweatshirt is recommended), rain jacket.

📞 Info & Booking

Booking: Required.

Costs: Prices vary depending on the excursion (for example, €15 for adults and €11 for children under 11 for related activities).

cascinaspedaletto@gmail.com

📱 +39 347 1933742 (Cinzia), +39 338 3037439 (Enrico)

Italian Historic Houses Association in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Culture.

A day dedicated to discovering private historical archives, precious collections of documents, photographs and records that tell the story of Tuscany and Italy.

A special opportunity to discover a little-known heritage and learn more about the important role played by private owners in preserving our cultural memory.

List of participating archives here

🏺 27th INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS FAIR OF FLORENCE – PIAZZA SANTA CROCE

📍 Florence | 3–4 October 2026

For two days, the beautiful Piazza Santa Croce will become the capital of artistic ceramics.

More than 90 ceramic artists from Italy and across Europe will come together for the 27th edition of the International Ceramics Fair of Florence, one of the most eagerly awaited events for ceramics enthusiasts and anyone who appreciates authentic craftsmanship.

Every stand will be a workshop of ideas, every piece will bear the signature of its creator, and every encounter will be an opportunity to meet the artists who, with passion and expertise, transform clay into beauty.

A wonderful opportunity to experience Florence through art, creativity and craftsmanship. 

4 October 2026 | Beyond the Siege – Bellum et Pax in Serravalle Pistoiese

On Sunday, 4 October 2026, Serravalle Pistoiese returns to the Middle Ages with “Beyond the Siege – Bellum et Pax”, a full day of historical re-enactments, talks and activities dedicated to medieval history and culture.

The programme will take place across the Oratory of the Assumption of the Virgin, Rocca Nuova and Piazza della Vittoria, with exhibitions, conferences, workshops and special events.

Main events include:

• 10:00 am – Photo exhibition “1302: Serravalle under siege” by Sandro Nerucci
• 12:00 pm – Presentation of the graphic novel Nunc Abire Debeo
• 2:00 pm – Talk on medieval civilian clothing
• 2:45 pm – Singing the War, a talk on medieval music
• 3:00 pm – Opening of the historical re-enactment area at Rocca Nuova, divided into “Time of War” and “Time of Peace”
• 3:30 pm – Superstitious Middle Ages, exploring popular beliefs, customs, remedies and protective rituals
• 4:30 pm and 5:30 pm – Free historical embroidery workshop for adults and children
• 4:30 pm – Courtly tournament in Piazza della Vittoria
• 6:00 pm – Talk “The Holy Empire: the myth of Frederick Barbarossa and the Mediterranean dream”
• 9:00 pm – Closing of the event

📍 Serravalle Pistoiese

📆 Sunday, 4 October 2026

A special day to step into the medieval world through history, re-enactment and curiosities, in the evocative setting of the Rocca and the historic village of Serravalle Pistoiese.

26 September – 4 October 2026 | BIAF – Florence International Antiques Fair

From 26 September to 4 October 2026, the BIAF – Florence International Antiques Fair returns for its 34th edition, hosted in the magnificent setting of Palazzo Corsini overlooking the Arno.

An unmissable event for art and antiques lovers, where galleries and antique dealers present works of exceptional value in one of Florence’s most fascinating Baroque palaces.

On the occasion of the Biennale, the Throne Room will also host Michelangelo’s drawing for the original façade of the Basilica of San Lorenzo. Preserved at Casa Buonarroti, the drawing has undergone diagnostic and conservation work by the Opificio delle Pietre Dure.

📍 Palazzo Corsini, Florence

📆 26 September – 4 October 2026

🕥 Every day, 10:30 am–7:30 pm

🎟️ Full-price ticket €25

The exhibition, hosted in the rooms of Palazzo delle Papesse, a Renaissance residence once belonging to Caterina Piccolomini, sister of Pope Pius II, documents the flourishing production of domestic art that developed in Siena between the 15th and 16th centuries.

Through more than eighty works, furnishings such as marriage chests, wall panels, daybeds, headboards, textile artefacts and household objects will take centre stage in an exhibition route designed to reveal the richness and variety of a figurative culture intended to decorate domestic interiors.

Opening hours: every day from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Thursday from 10:00 am to 9:30 pm.

The Vasari Corridor opens in the evening: sunset visits above Florence from 3 July to 20 November

Florence offers a new special opportunity to experience one of its most fascinating places at a truly evocative time of day: the Vasari Corridor will be open in the evening, at sunset, every Friday from 3 July to 20 November.

An event to mark in your diary if you love art, history and authentic experiences in the heart of the city.

A suspended route between art, history and views

The Vasari Corridor is one of the most famous elevated walkways in the world. It connects the Uffizi Galleries to Palazzo Pitti, crossing the historic centre of Florence and passing over Ponte Vecchio.

It was designed by Giorgio Vasari in 1565 at the request of Duke Cosimo I de’ Medici, with the aim of allowing the grand ducal family to move safely and privately between their private residence at Palazzo Pitti and Palazzo Vecchio.

Today, this extraordinary route is part of the Uffizi Galleries museum complex and has reopened to visitors after major works to improve safety and accessibility.

Evening visits at sunset

From 3 July to 20 November, there will be 21 evening appointments, every Friday, with guided visits from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm.

The experience offers the chance to discover the Vasari Corridor in a different atmosphere, when daylight gives way to the warm colours of sunset and Florence reveals itself from a unique perspective: from above, suspended over the Arno River and Ponte Vecchio.

Along the route, visitors will be able to admire not only the historic structure of the corridor, but also views over the city and the more than fifty Roman busts that now enrich the display.

Useful information

Visits are by reservation only and are organised in groups of up to 25 people.

Period: from 3 July to 20 November

Day: every Friday

Time: from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Last admission: 9:50 pm

Meeting point: Uffizi square, Loggia dei Lanzi side

Recommended arrival: at least 10 minutes before the scheduled visit time

Book here

The Pianeta Terra Festival, taking place from October 8 to 11, is an event dedicated to celebrating and protecting our planet, with a strong focus on key topics such as sustainability, the environment, and global challenges related to the conservation of natural resources.

The festival brings together experts from various fields, including scientists, artists, and educators, offering a rich schedule of talks, conferences, interactive workshops, and activities for all age groups. With a multidisciplinary approach, the Pianeta Terra Festival aims to raise public awareness about the importance of protecting our ecosystem and the need to adopt sustainable development models.

Participants will have the opportunity to explore topics such as climate change, technological innovation in the environmental field, biodiversity, and the concrete actions that each of us can take to preserve our planet.

This is a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding of the natural world and actively contribute to its protection.

www.pianetaterrafestival.it

The Cathedral of Siena contains numerous masterpieces from every epoch. A work that in many respects is exceptional, is the floor, "the most beautiful ... largest and most magnificent ... that ever was made" in the words of Giorgio Vasari, the fruit of a plan that took on concrete form through the centuries, from the XIV century up to the XVIII century. 

The techniques employed to transfer the ideas of the various artists onto the floor are marble intarsia and graffito: the procedure was initially quite simple but gradually attained a surprising degree of perfection: the first depictions were scratched onto slabs of white marble using a chisel and a drill, and the signs then filled with black stucco. This technique is known as "graffito". Then, coloured marble was employed in much the same manner as wood inlaying. This technique is called "marble intarsia".

The 56 intarsia of the floor are still largely in its original condition. As these artworks are quite sensitive, the entire floor is shown only a few weeks a year. Otherwise, the ground is covered and only a few works are visible for the many tourists that visit the Cathedral of Siena. 

Floor uncovering period in 2026: 27 June – 31 July; 18 August – 15 November 2026.

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.

🎩 Pistoia Magic Street Festival 2026 ✨

📅 3–4 October 2026

📍 Historic centre of Pistoia

Magic is about to return to the heart of Pistoia! ✨

Two days filled with shows, enchantment and surprises at the Pistoia Magic Street Festival, one of the most eagerly awaited events of the year!

🌟 What can you expect?

Street performances, magic and plenty of surprises for young and old.

👉 Check out the full programme here:

https://www.visitpistoia.eu/evento/pistoia-magic-street-festival-2026/

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. 

On Saturday, October 10th, a new edition of “Brocantage” will take place at Porta a Mare, Livorno, a charming location born from the restoration of the former Luigi Orlando Shipyard, a testament to the city's glorious past. This event, now a reference point among markets of its kind in Tuscany, hosts numerous exhibitors showcasing rare and curious objects from bygone times. It is the perfect opportunity to spend a day in Livorno, a welcoming city known for its delicious cuisine and picturesque settings.  

Don't miss a stroll along its beautiful seafront, a visit to the Montenero hill with the Sanctuary of the Madonna, Patroness of Tuscany, and a tour through the city center, crossed by the characteristic Medici Canals, known locally as “fossi”.  

Also worth exploring are the Old and New Fortresses, the magnificent Covered Market, and many other attractions.

October 10-11 - Florence Flower Show - Giardino Corsini (via della Scala, 115)

Nursery gardeners, producers, and rare plant collectors, along with a section dedicated to artisan crafts, await you for a green-filled weekend! A plant and flower market where you can purchase high-quality plants, flowers, and artisanal items.

Don't miss the many free gardening courses, themed talks, and workshops. Learn more at www.firenzeflowershow.com

Paid entry.

🎟 You can conveniently purchase your tickets from home. What are you waiting for? Click here and skip the line: https://bit.ly/biglietti-flower-show-24

Tickets are also available on-site.

Florence Flower Show - Rare and Unusual Plants Market | October 12-13 | Giardino Corsini, via della Scala 115 - Florence |

www.firenzeflowershow.com

Paid entry - Refreshment area inside - Pets allowed.

ORCHidea is an international market exhibition with free admission dedicated to the world of Orchidaceae and rare plants organized annually in Pistoia, at the MATI 1909 Center.

Two days entirely dedicated to these unique and fascinating plants, during which it is possible not only to buy Orchids from Italian and international exhibitors, but also to find what is necessary for the care and maintenance of the specimens and to participate in seminars and themed conferences, completely free .

The market exhibition also offers visitors the opportunity to visit the Mati center and to purchase examples of the vast collection of roses, flowering plants, herbs and outdoor shrubs in the exhibition rooms adjacent to the exhibition.

Free admission

Mati 1909

via Bonellina 49 – 51100 Pistoia (PT), Toscana

Tel. +39 0573 38005

info@gruppomati.com

Opera concerts in which at least 2 singers alternate among the most beautiful voices of the national opera scene accompanied on the piano. The most famous opera arias from the repertoire of Italian and international opera are scheduled, as well as the most famous classic Neapolitan songs.

90 minutes of live music with a break during which guests can enjoy a typical sweet of the city.

The concerts will take place every Wednesday from April to October  in the Music Hall of the Grand Hotel Croce di Malta in Montecatini Terme in Via IV Novembre, 18 at 9.15 pm.

Tickets can be booked by calling +39 3518066988 or by sending an email to info@operaconcerto.it even on the day of the concert.

Further information is available on the website

www.thebestofopera.com.

Saturday Night Spa

Saturday, October 10, 24, 31,

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

Cantine in Piazza – Flea Market in Florence

This autumn, Florence’s District 5 will host a special edition of the “Svuota Cantine” flea market.

📅 11 October 2026

🕘 9:00 am – 6:00 pm

📍 Piazza della Vittoria, Florence

With 100 stalls, the market is a great opportunity to browse among second-hand items, unexpected finds and little treasures looking for a new home.

🌧️ In case of rain and cancellation of the event, the market will be postponed to the following Sunday, 18 October 2026.

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

🍷 BOCCACCESCA 2026 – A CELEBRATION OF FLAVOURS IN CERTALDO ALTO

From 8 to 11 October 2026, Boccaccesca returns within the medieval walls of Certaldo Alto: a festival dedicated to the pleasures of good food, the relationship between cuisine and music, and the finest examples of Italian craftsmanship.

Boccaccesca brings together tradition and innovation, with talented chefs experimenting with local ingredients to rediscover traditional flavours and create exciting new ones.

Renowned chefs will take to the Boccaccesca stage to delight visitors with their creations, alongside stalls showcasing outstanding artisan products, carefully selected from Tuscany and other regions of Italy.

A wonderful opportunity to discover Tuscan flavours, creativity and traditions in the enchanting medieval setting of Certaldo Alto. ✨

📅 8–11 October 2026

📍 Certaldo Alto, Tuscany

👉 Full programme:

https://boccaccesca.it

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

9 am - 7 pm 

Piazza S. Maria delle Carceri

Info: +39 3483396638

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! 

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.

Santo Spirito in Fiera: Crafts, Flavours and Tradition in Florence 🇮🇹✨

On Sunday, 25 October, enjoy a leisurely stroll through the stalls of “Santo Spirito in Fiera”, the monthly market that brings the historic Piazza Santo Spirito to life in the heart of Florence’s Oltrarno district.

From 8:00 am to 7:00 pm, the square turns into a lively open-air market with plenty to discover:

🧶 Local arts and crafts

🧴 Wellness and body-care products

🧀 Goat’s cheese, honey, truffles and balsamic vinegar

🎁 Gift ideas, clothing, jewellery and much more

A wonderful opportunity to shop for local products, browse the colourful stalls or simply soak up the authentic atmosphere of Florentine neighbourhood life.

📍 Piazza Santo Spirito, Florence

📅 Sunday, 25 October

🕗 8:00 am – 7:00 pm

A lovely way to experience a different, more local side of Florence! 💛

Lucca Comics & Games is an annual convention dedicated to comics, animation, games (role-playing, board games, card games), video games and the imaginary fantasy and science fiction, which this year takes place in Lucca from  October 28 to November 1, 2026.

 It is the most popular comic fair in Italy, the second in Europe (after the Angoulême Comics Festival, in France) and the third in the world (the first is the Comiket in Tokyo, Japan).

The event takes place in the heart of Lucca: the streets and squares of the old town center change into a big fair with stands and pavilions.

Also this year the organization proposes a winning programme: exhibitions, meetings with authors,

live performances, conferences and the traditional comic-strip market. There will be also the usual “competitions”: from medieval tournaments to reproductions of costumes of comic-strip characters, from concerts to board and electronic games.

For details of the program  ☞ www.luccacomicsandgames.com

🎃 The Halloween Celebration Carnival returns to the magnificent and dreamlike estate of Villa Reale di Marlia for its 31st anniversary. A spectacular journey through myth, cultures, shadows, and mystery.

Over 25 locations across 16 hectares of parkland, 7 covered performance areas, more than 450 artists – beyond imagination, beyond any other night.

From 5:00 PM to 2:00 AM, the park will be alive with shows and attractions:

Kids Event, Circus Show, Street Performances, Fire Show, Dance Parade, Horror Space, Carnival Games, Freak Show, Historical Reenactments, Street Art, plus over 20 concerts and DJ sets.

The Halloween Celebration Carnival also opens its doors to the cosplay world, hosting two major events inside the stables: the Black Parade and the Wednesday Grand Ball.

An impressive selection of high-quality street food from around the world will be available, alongside pubs, cocktail bars, and craft breweries from across Italy. Don’t miss the esoteric market, featuring 40 fortune-telling booths.

Four large circus tents will host performers and concerts, leading up to the grand finale: “The Wrath of Lucifer”, a massive pyrotechnic show over the lake, igniting the night sky in fire.

Experience myths and ancient traditions with the Krampus, the Dondolasi, and the Streghi from Lucca and Garfagnana.

📄 Full program available here>.