10 Things to Do in Florence in October

As with any time of year, the list of things to see in Florence in October is almost endless: palaces, museums and churches will keep you going for days during your stay. What's more, you'll do so when the weather has not yet turned too cold and with fewer tourists than in high season.

To make a trip to Florence even more interesting, the month of October is full of festivals and events to round off your stay. Music lovers, foodies or those who want to take advantage of the nights to discover the hidden side of the city are in luck if they have decided to travel during this time of the year.

Taking advantage of the fact that Halloween is celebrated in October, I suggest you take a night tour to learn about some of the darkest aspects of Florence's long and interesting history. The most convenient way to do this is to hire a guided tour so that you can listen to the explanations, but of course you can also do it on your own.

Some of the places you can't miss are the following:

• The Palazzo Bargello, in the heart of the historic centre. Nowadays converted into one of the best museums in Florence, for several centuries it was the city's prison.
• In the Piazza della Signoria, Friar Savonarola, one of Florence's most controversial figures, was executed at the stake.
• In the square where Palazzo Pitti is located you can hear the story of Bianca Capello, who died together with her husband Francesco I de Medici in strange circumstances, possibly poisoned.
• When you go to the Piazza del Duomo you can learn more about the conspiracy that ended Giuliano Medici' s life inside the cathedral itself.

As in all other wine producing countries, October is one of the best months to taste the results of the first vintages. Those who are in Florence for 3 days or more will find no better activity than to visit some of the wineries in the surrounding area to get to know the wines of the Tuscany region, especially the famous Chianti.

There are options for all tastes:

• Hire an organised tour of the Chianti Fiorentino region in which you will visit a castle winery and another located in Chianti Senese, accompanied by a wine expert, who will explain the secrets of production and guide you in the tasting.
• Hire an organised tour of Florence to visit some of the most popular taverns in the city, tasting their wines and crostinis.
• Look for taverns in the Oltrarno, Santo Spirito or San Frediano neighbourhoods and take advantage of the sunset (the usual aperitivo time in Florence) to make the tour.

On October 8th, one of the most important festivals in Florence is dedicated to Santa Reparata, considered the patron saint of classical culture. If you are in the city I recommend two things: to attend the fantastic medieval parade that runs between Piazza di Parte Guelfa and the Duomo and to visit the crypt of the ancient church of Santa Reparata, now in the cathedral.

This church was once one of the most important in the whole city and Santa Maria dei Fiore was later erected on top of it. Today, thanks to excavations carried out in the last century, you can visit part of the ancient building, where two popes, some of the city's bishops and artists such as Giotto and Brunelleschi are buried. To see the remains you must first have tickets for the Duomo.

The legend of Santa Reparata

The story of the Florentines' fervour for this martyr began in 404, when the Ostrogoths (one of the so-called barbarian peoples) besieged the city. The defenders of Florence destroyed all the surrounding fields so that the attackers could not get food for the duration of the siege and finally the Romans arrived to prevent the conquest.

Legend has it that on the day of the arrival of the Roman army Santa Reparata was seen flying over the city and the Florentines attributed the salvation of the city to her presence. For this reason, instead of celebrating the victory on the day it happened, they began to do so on the saint's day, 8 October.

You may have been looking for places to get a good view of Florence. The most common way is to buy a ticket to the Duomo dome, although viewpoints such as the one in piazza Michelangelo don't go far behind. However, if you travel in October, you'll be able to see the city from a unique and different perspective: in a hot air balloon.

• At the Festival delle Mongolfiere you will have the opportunity to fly in a hot air balloon, either in free flight or tethered to the ground. This festival is held during two weekends in October (although sometimes one has already fallen in November) at the Hippodrome del Visarno.
• At the same time various workshops and educational activities for both children and adults take place.
• In the evening there is a show during which illuminated balloons rise over the city while live music is performed.

Art in Florence is not limited to the finest works of the Galleria dell'Accademia or other examples of painting, sculpture and architecture. The city has also had a great historical relationship with other genres, especially music. The classical music season organised by the Amici della Musica association begins in October.

Almost every day of the month you will have the opportunity to attend the best classical music concerts in the country. Most of these events are held in the central and historic Teatro della Pergola and I recommend you try to buy your tickets in advance, as the success of the audience is always guaranteed.

The association that organises them turned 100 years old in 2020 and has distinguished itself during that century of history in spreading musical culture in Florence and the rest of Italy.

I know that Halloween is not a Florentine or Italian holiday, but no one can doubt that in recent years it has become so widespread that it is now part of the festive calendar of most European cities. In the case of Florence, where it is widely celebrated, it benefits from the atmosphere of its cobbled streets and the mystery they exude. So, if you are there on 31 October, the best thing to do is to join in and enjoy the various activities taking place in the city on this day:

• In the garden of the Libri Liberi bookshop and at the Teatrino Gallo there are readings of scary stories, sweets are given away and a fancy dress competition takes place.
• At the Palazzo Vecchio (which is also a must-see on any guided tour of Florence) there is Halloween at the Museum and a reading workshop on the witch hunt for children.
• If you want to enjoy a night out in Florence on this date, just head to one of the many bars, pubs, clubs or even restaurants that organise their own events.

For art lovers with a penchant for contemporary art, I recommend a visit to one of the exhibitions that take place during the Florence Biennale.

Although not as prestigious as the one held in Venice, this event organised every two years in Florence in October is becoming increasingly important:

• It attracts many important artists from all over the world, more than 400 from almost 80 countries.
• The centre of the Biennale is located in the Fortezza da Basso, a former 14th century fortress which is now used as a fair and exhibition space.
• For 10 days, exhibitions and events are held in various parts of the city.
• The culmination of the event is the awarding of the Lorenzo il Magnifico prize to a particularly important artist.

And if contemporary art is not your thing, you can always admire the best paintings in the Uffizi Gallery.

The gastronomy of Florence has to be part of any self-respecting trip. One of the best ways to get to know it in depth is to take part in a gastronomic tour of Florence, which will undoubtedly include one of the most popular ingredients: buffalo mozzarella. In fact, the month of October in Florence hosts a fair dedicated to this product, in the piazza de Santa Croce no less.

At the stalls set up in this place you can try different varieties of this type of cheese made from buffalo milk. As is well known all over the world, this is one of the ingredients that cannot be missing from an authentic Italian pizza, although its gastronomic value goes beyond that, as you can discover at this event.

Some restaurants also take advantage of this event to offer menus featuring this cheese, which also include a glass of the region's wine.

If you are going to Florence with children you might be worried that they might get bored in the museums. If your trip is at the beginning of October you can stop worrying, as the Firenze dei Bambini, a series of events aimed at the little ones, is taking place.

All the activities that take place during the 3 days of the festival are free of charge. In addition, children will be able to enter for free (accompanied by an adult) in several museums, such as the Palazzo Vecchio, the Museo del Novecento or the Cloister of Santa Maria Novella.

All these places and some more host activities and initiatives for children to learn to enjoy the art of the city. On the last day, as a farewell, a film is shown in the Salon dei Cinquecento of the Palazzo Vecchio.

At the end of October, one of the most important gastronomic events in the region takes place in Barberino di Mugello, just an hour from Florence. The protagonist of this festival is the truffle, both in its black and white version. Food lovers who want to learn more about this culinary gem should try to pay a visit to the town.

Throughout the historic centre you will find stalls offering both types of truffle, as well as derived products. Other local and national specialities are also on offer.

With the arrival of autumn, the weather in Florence begins to leave behind the summer heat. Even so, during the day it is still not cold, with average highs reaching 21°C (70°F). Evenings and nights are no longer oppressive, with minimum temperatures averaging 11°C.

What does increase is the possibility of rain, so check the weather forecast shortly before you leave.

October marks the end of the high season in Florence. This does not mean that the streets are completely empty of tourists, but it does mean that the large crowds of the summer are no longer to be seen.

Despite this, it is still advisable to buy skip-the-line tickets for the most important monuments.