12 Things to Do in Florence in September

If you are researching what to see and do in Florence in September I advise you to focus not only on the many artistic attractions that the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance has to offer. Certainly, these cannot be ignored, but the city also hosts a number of cultural and festive events that can make your stay more entertaining.

Although still considered high season, Florence starts to regain a bit of calm from September onwards. The drop in temperatures is accompanied by the return of Florentines from their holidays and a decrease in the number of tourists, although they are still very numerous. These reasons make this month one of the best to visit the Tuscan city.

If you have the good fortune to be in Florence on the evening of 7 September, you will be able to take part in one of the most beloved festivals among Florentines: the Festa della Rificolona. Although there are events all over the city, the most lively place is the Piazza Santissima Annunziata, where a large fair is set up with food stalls , street artists and musicians.

On the evening of 7 September, Florentines gather on the riverbank with their paper lanterns and make their way in procession to the square. There, in the evening, the Rificolona is blessed and a prize is awarded to the most beautiful lantern. Finally, the lanterns are shot with blowguns until they burn. In addition to these activities, the celebration includes a boat parade on the Arno on 6 September.

Climb up to the terrace of the cathedral

You may think you've already seen all that Florence Cathedral has to offer, but if you're in the city on 8 September you'll be able to discover a corner of the cathedral that is usually closed. On the occasion of the festival, on that day you are allowed to enter the terrace of the cathedral, from where you have the best views of the city.

If you've just come out of visiting the best paintings in the Uffizi Gallery and feel like having one of the fantastic Italian ice creams on offer in Florence there's a plan you'll love: head to Piazzale Michelangelo and enjoy yourself at the Gelato Festival.

This festival, usually held in mid-September but with no fixed date, is a real temptation for everyone who comes along. The event brings together the best gelato from each Italian region, as well as some manufacturers from other European countries. At the stalls you will be able to taste the ice creams on display and help decide who wins first prize among them all.

While you're there, don't miss the views of the city

If you've decided to attend the festival, you won't just be able to enjoy the ice cream. The Piazzale Michelangelo is considered one of the best viewpoints in all of Florence, as it is located on a hill from which you can see the city perfectly. A bronze replica of Michelangelo's David can be seen in the square itself.

Although you can walk from the south bank of the Arno River, the square can also be reached by bus lines 12 and 13.

There are several gastronomic tours available in Florence where, in addition to the food, you will also learn something about the wine of the region. Those who are in the city on the last Saturday in September will also witness a tradition related to this wine that shows its importance in the life of the Tuscans: the Carro Matto.

This event celebrates the arrival of the first wine of the season. On this day, a cart pulled by two white oxen and loaded with more than 2000 jugs full of wine travels through the city until it reaches Piazza della Signoria.

The cart, which departs from the Piazza del Duomo from Chianti Rufina, is accompanied by numerous people dressed in historical costumes, as well as by flag throwers and a cannon. The tradition was established when empty bottles made in Florence were sent to the vineyards and returned full after the grape harvest. On arrival at the church of San Carlo, the wine is blessed and then tasted by the city authorities.

An experience you will never forget is this excursion we propose you. Booking a balloon ride over Tuscany will give you a completely different perspective and breathtaking panoramic views of the area. For approximately 1 hour you will enjoy a ride at heights of over 600 metres.

On landing you will also have a glass of champagne to toast the unique experience. All you have to do is relax and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Italian countryside because a fully equipped crew will accompany you at all times and you will have a mini safety briefing to apply during the flight. Are you up for it?

Booking an excursion to Cinque Terre from Florence can be a very good idea if you are going to spend several days in the city and want to take the opportunity to visit the surrounding area. Cinque Terre, or in other words, Cinque Terre, is one of the most beautiful areas of the Mediterranean that combines five villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

Its narrow streets, colourful houses and steep slopes will make you fall in love with a group of picturesque fishing villages that are considered World Heritage Sites by Unesco and are located only 200 km away from Florence.

You will enjoy all the details of these fishing villages accompanied by a tour guide and, in addition, to visit one of them, Monterosso, with its wide white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, you can choose to experience a forty-five minute crossing of the sea to get there.

Taking advantage of the fact that at the end of September the new wines of each year start to appear, I propose you to make an excursion to the vineyards of Tuscany, specifically to the famous town of Greve in Chianti.

During this visit you will be able to discover the colours of Tuscany, as well as its vineyards and beautiful landscapes. During the visit, two wine tastings will take place in two Chianti wine cellars so that you can learn how to better enjoy this type of wine.

Another different option, but also related to wine, is to take a wine tour during the sunset in Florence, where you will be able to taste the wines of Tuscany, as well as the most popular aperitifs of the city.

Classical music lovers have an appointment in Florence during the month of September as part of the cultural events that the city offers for all audiences, including tourists who are in the city and want to attend one of these concerts, such as booking tickets for one of the most famous concerts of the Three Tenors in Florence. In this case, it is the Fortissimissimo Festival, which usually takes place from the middle of the month.

The line-up of this festival is composed of young and promising musicians offering concerts of piano, violin, quartets and other forms.

The performances of the first two weeks usually take place in the auditorium of the CR Firenze Foundation. In total, the programme is composed of 20 concerts, 14 of which are offered in Florence itself and 6 in the nearby towns of Empoli and Sesto Fiorentino.

Although any traveller visiting Florence is going to have in mind to visit the Uffizi Gallery (here I leave you information about tickets to the Uffizi Gallery and guided tours to the Uffizi Gallery) and the best museums in the city, in my opinion you should not leave out some other cultural activities that may interest you. A good example is the Firenze Jazz Festival, one of the most important jazz festivals in the country.

For five days, usually in the second week of September, up to 35 live events are scheduled on about 10 different stages. Most of these venues are located in the Oltrarno area, close to the Pitti Palace and can be reached by the Florence sightseeing bus.

Some of these venues are also spectacular, such as the one in Piazzale Michelangelo, one of the best viewpoints in the city.

In a city where you can see the wonders of the Galleria dell'Accademia and the interiors of the palaces, you can't miss a great antiques fair. Although a large part of the fair is only for collectors, during the fair you will find some musical performances and galas.

La Mostra Mercato Internazionale dell'Antiquariato, the name of the event, is held every two years at the end of September. The venue is worth a visit in itself, the Palazzo Corsini, a spectacular building on the banks of the Arno.

If you're in Florence for four days or more in September, I recommend you take the train to nearby Sesto Fiorentino (it's only a 15-minute ride) to take part in one of the many events that take place during the Settembre Sestete.

Although some activities are also organised in August, September is when most of the 150 events take place in this small town. Some of them take place at the fairgrounds in Piazza Lavagnini, where you can see concerts or take part in gastronomic events.

There are also some events in Piazza Vittorio Veneto, in particular those belonging to the Sesto Sound. Every night there is live music accompanied by the best food in the area.

Finally, in the garden of the Palazzo Comunale there is usually Fuori Dal Comune, a kind of bar where concerts and DJ sessions take place.

Although the weather is getting milder in September, it still easily reaches 30°C during the day. This means that after walking around to see all the sights of the city, it's quite possible that you'll end up sweating and looking forward to relaxing over a drink. If you feel like it, the best thing to do is to imitate the Florentines and head to one of the city's terraces.

September is also the last month that many of them are open and there are often parties or concerts to bid farewell to the season. Last but not least, most of them offer breathtaking views, comparable to those you can see if you climb the dome of the Duomo.

• Grand Hotel Minerva: from the terrace of this hotel you will be able to enjoy

you will be able to contemplate luxury views, with the Piazza Santa Maria Novella, the Duomo and the hills at your fingertips. It is the perfect place to have an aperitif.

• La Rinascente: the café located on the rooftop of the La Rinascente shop is another place where the views will make you forget the tiredness of the day. Plus, the closing time is extended well into the night.
• Cafe La Terrazza: this is perhaps one of the best places in Florence to watch the sunset in the city. In the heart of Piazza della Repubblica, this place is also ideal to rest between two visits while having an excellent coffee.
• Biblioteca delle Oblate: this little jewel of the city currently houses an interesting cultural centre. On its first floor there is a wonderful terrace with a cafeteria where you can spend your time in the best possible way.

If you happen to be in Florence at this time of year, around the 10th approximately, your plan is to go to an event that attracts thousands of young people from all over Europe every year: the Decibel Open Air.

This great electronic music festival has become one of the most important events in the whole country for lovers of this type of music. The concerts take place in the Visarno Arena and are accompanied by an intense dance party.

Although not as high as in July and August, temperatures in Florence in September are still characterised by high temperatures. Thus, the average maximum temperature reaches 27°C, while the average minimum temperature does not fall below 16°C.

On the other hand, rain is present on average for about 9 days in this month, so it is always advisable to check the weather before travelling.