Shopping for a present for a loved one but really out of ideas? Have no plans to celebrate New Years? Well, why not combine these two needs and book a New Years getaway in Florence in one of our Tuscany Villas? Ring in 2023 in one of the most beautiful cities in the world and in a destination where there are all sorts of events to celebrate the big event! We have a wide array of vacation rentals in Florence and luxury villas in Florence and the surrounding area to choose from at different price points and sizes and there is something to suit everyone! Do not wait a second longer, find the right property for you, surprise someone (or treat yourself) with an amazing gift, and make memories that will last for years to come – sounds pretty special to us.
But what events can you expect over New Year's in Florence this year?
Green Line Light Festival
The Green Line Light Festival sees the city’s famous monuments specially lit up, light shows, light installations, video mapping. and projections in various spots throughout Florence, and beautifully decorated Christmas trees set up in different squares located around the city from December 7th to January 8th, 2023. Ponte Vecchio, for example, is adorned with a video-mapping installation by artist and theatre director Giancarlo Cauteruccio, inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Museo Novecento and Piazza Santa Maria Novella, meanwhile, are showcasing a video projection created by artist David Reimondo and created in collaboration with Enel X that is inspired by Francis of Assisi’s Cantico delle Creature. Some of the trees can be found in Palazzo Vecchio, Palazzo Medici Riccardi, Piazza Duomo, Piazza San Firenze, and Piazzale Michelangelo, to name but a few examples. Magical, free to enjoy, and a wonderful way to explore the city, you can see more information about the whole showcase on their website.
Performances
On New Year’s Eve this year, you will be able to take in performances by travelling bands at Piazza del Carmine e Oltrarno, acrobats in Piazza della Signoria, and classical musicians in San Lorenzo and in St. Mark’s Anglican Church. There is also an annual New Year’s Eve concert at the Teatro dell’Opera. Additionally, several Christmas markets will remain open for you to wander around in the evening with all sorts of treats and surprises and some will even have performers of their own, rather than just piped in music from someone’s playlist. All throughout Florence, there will be all sorts of festive gatherings and events and performances so even if you don’t have tickets for, or plans to attend, one of the aforementioned formal shows, you can always just wander around the bright and bustling city and see where it takes you and what you might stumble upon!
Fireworks
While the city of Florence itself doesn’t have an official municipal fireworks display on New Year’s Eve, many of the city’s bigger and more famous hotels and restaurants put on displays of their own. Which means that, come midnight, fireworks can be spotted being let off from rooftops (and rooftop bars/gardens) all over Florence. The most popular and best spots to take in this extraordinary sight include the Piazza del Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio bridge, anywhere you can find space along the banks of the Arno, and various spots higher up in the hills. The town locations, particularly the Piazza del Duomo and the Ponte Vecchio, will inevitably be incredibly busy and many head there early in the day in order to stake out a good spot. However, if you have a villa in Florence that is located a little further out and particularly in an elevated spot over the city, then you really don’t need to go anywhere – you can just admire it all from the comfort of your vacation rental in Florence while you sip on an excellent Tuscan wine, snack on some great local treats, and spend some quality time with your loved ones.
Restaurants
However, if you’re not the type who wants to spend New Year’s at home dining quietly and you prefer to get out and enjoy a foodie experience, then you are better off heading to a restaurant for the evening. This is a tradition that many Italians enjoy and lots of restaurants put on special menus for the evening and arrange big feasts with lots of food, wine, music, excitement, and maybe even fireworks of their own. Many of Florence’s most famous and beloved restaurants have legendary New Year’s Eve celebrations including the likes of La Giostra, Cantinetta Antinori, Borgo San Jacopo, Trattoria Mario, Grand Minerva, Il Cantuccio Di San Lorenzo, and Il Ritrovino dei Servi. This is a very popular choice for New Year’s plans, though, and many restaurants will already be fully booked up for the evening so if you want to indulge in this tradition while enjoying a New Year’s break in Florence, then we recommend booking your holiday rental in Florence now and securing your spots in the restaurant of your choosing as soon as possible!
Historic and utterly beautiful, Florence is made even more magical at this time of the year by the lights, music, fireworks, performances, and excited bustling crowds. Experiencing it all for yourself is a truly special and remarkable thing and the ideal way to ring in 2023. Find your villa in Florence today and make this New Year’s one to remember with a perfect getaway in Tuscany.
