Ferragosto is TODAY!

Ferragosto is a national holiday which is related to a celebration of the middle of summer and the end of the hard labor in the fields.  Roman Catholicism adopted this date as a Holy Day of Obligation to commemorate the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—the real physical elevation of her sinless soul and incorrupt body into Heaven.

Nowadays this holiday extends throughout the entire month of August.  Shops and restaurants start to shut down at the end of July and don’t reopen until the end to the beginning of September.  Don’t worry in the city center, things stay open during this month but might have limited hours.

Some things to do while everything is closed..

Closed for the Month! :)

Rent a car and drive to San Casciano dei Bagni to Fonteverde Spa. Enjoy a day in the warm terme (spa) while everyone is packed at the beaches all over Italy.  Take a deep breath and enjoy the calmness of the countryside. (Call to make sure it is open on Ferragosto).  Venture to Siena to see the Palio on August 16th.  Yes it will be packed there, but there will be many things to see and do.  If you don’t feel like leaving the city, head to the nearest church or museum since this year most of them are OPEN!

• Medici chapels 8.15 – 16.50
• Cenacolo di S. Salvi 8.15-13.50
• Gallerie degli Uffizi 8.15 – 18.50
• Galleria dell’Accademia 8.15 – 18.50
• Museo Archeologico 8-14, Museo Davanzati 8.15-13.50
• Palazzo Pitti: Galleria d’Arte Moderna 8.15-18.50, Galleria Palatina, 8.15-18.50, Galleria del Costume 8.15-18.50, Giardino Bardini 8.15-19.30, Giardino di Boboli 8.15-19.30, Museo degli Argenti 8.15-18.50, Museo delle Porcellane 8.15-18.50,
• Villa Medicea di Castello 8.15-19.30
• Villa Medicea La Petraia 8.15-19.30
• Villa Medicea di Cerreto Guidi 8.15-19.
• Palazzo Vecchio 9-19.
• Church of Santa Croce 13-17.30
• Baptistry 8.30 – 14
• You can walk up Giotto’s Campanile but not up the Duomo Cupola 8.30-19.30
• Duomo (inside) 13.30-16.45
• Certosa del Galluzzo 9-11 e 15-17
• Santa Maria Novella 13-17
• San Miniato al Monte 8-12.30 / 15-17.30
• Santo Spirito 16-17.30
• Museo dell’ Opera del Duomo 9-13.40
• Synagogue and Jewish Museum 10-18
• Palazzo Medici Riccardi 9-19
• Parco Demidoff – Pratolino 10-19
• Museo dell’Ospedale degli Innocenti 10-19

Buone Vacanze