October is a fabulous month to visit Italy Well, it's still hot and really, really summer days can touch you. It is true that it can also rain but luckily they are rains or brief storms and what they do is polish the landscapes.
One of the great Italian destinations is Florence and if you have a trip in sight this month, the city will welcome you with open arms, news, exhibitions, restaurantIt is first class, and if you are with a car and you already know that you cannot enter the Florentine center, there is a new public parking close!
Events in Florence
October is a month with many activities. The weekend that begins shortly, that is to say the third weekend of October, takes place the Fortezza da Basso Antiques Fair. It really is a great opportunity to walk around, browse and make a purchase if we are willing to invest.
If you like this wave of flea market on Sunday there is a Flea Market in Largo Pietro Annigoni (the market is organized on the fourth Sunday of October, for more information). There are cafes nearby so you can combine gastronomy with shopping and not only clothes but books, records, furniture, art and more.
Speaking of food, Italian Tuscany is the land of chestnuts and on October 8, 15, 22 and 29 the Annual Marradi Chestnut Festival, a mountain village in the Apennines.
The festival takes place in the countryside of Mugello, a place known for the quality of its chestnuts with designation of origin. To get there, the ideal thing is to jump on the steam train that leaves from Pistoia, stops in Prato, Florence (where you can get on) and Pontassieve to decant at Borgo San Lorenzo. Here you change from an old train to an old train and get to know the chestnut harvest first-hand.
Besides chestnuts there are truffles in sight and on October 21, 28 and 29 the Tartfest, in Montaione. There are multiple stalls with truffles of all kinds, in the historic center of Montaione, which are mixed with olive oil, chestnuts, cheeses and honey. Also around truffles the last weekend of October is the Tartuffe Bianco e Nero, in Mugello. This festival is based on the black truffle and children can collect truffles distributed throughout the historic center of the city.
Another festival near Florence is the Porcini Mushroom Festival in Certaldo. It comes very easy and you can try the Tuscan beef with porcini mushrooms. The festival is every weekend in October and lasts until November 5. On October 20, on the other hand, in the Santa Croce Square you can try the local delicacy: the buffalo, mozzarella, in the event Sagra della Bufala.
October is also the month of Mozart in Florence and the quote is in the awesome Pitti Palace. The cycle lasts three months in total, October, November and December, and you can reserve tickets in advance to give yourself that musical taste you are looking for. Mozart's music is wonderful and even more so in this palatial setting on the other side of the Arno.
Throughout the month of October there is also a wonderful presentation about the Medici: The Medici Dynasty, a show in English about the whole family: wealth, power, assassinations, intrigues. Occurs inside the Convent of Sant 'Onofrio delle Monache di Foligno, in the small baroque church inside, and lasts an hour that combines theater, humor and live music. It's great as an approach to Medici history without going through the history books.
This year, in addition, an artist has created a collection of jewelery inspired by the show, handmade in her Florentine studio and that can only be bought here. A good memory, if you ask me. The show is every day from June to November (and other days the rest of the year), at 7 pm at Vía Faenza, 48. The ticket costs 30 euros.
Another recommended event is fly in a hot air balloon over Florence at the festival delle Mongolfiere October 28 and 29 and another weekend in November.
Getting around Florence by car
We already know that it is not possible to circulate by car in the center of Florence, only local taxis and buses can do it. Therefore, if you do not arrive by train because you rented a car to move freely, there is no other option than park outside the historic city.
The good news is that since mid-June there is another option to park. Just outside the town of Scandicci there is a huge parking lot for cars and buses which it's called Villa Costanza, off the A1, the motorway. Here you can park and take the tram to enter Florence after only half an hour of travel. This tram departs every three or fourth minutes throughout the day.
The parking lot it's paid and you find it right between the Firenze-Scandicci and Firenze-Impruneta exits of the A1 motorway. There is a clearly visible sign announcing it. You are given an automatic ticket and when you return, when you pick up the car, you pay for the stay. The site has a capacity for 505 cars and is open every day of the week 24 hours a day. You can park motorhomes and caravans but there is no electricity or water service. The minimum stay is half an hour, the first hour costs 1 €, two for four hours, four for eight hours and seven for the entire day.
There are restrooms, a tourist office and a cafeteria that sells local products. They are good prices but if you don't want to pay anything then you should look for a free parking. Luckily there are four on the outskirts of Florence: Pizzale Michelangelo, Ponte a Greve, Firenze Certosa and Galluzzo. None closes. If you are going to leave it all day, the first is convenient and if you are going to leave it at night, the second is convenient since it has a better connection with the tram and the Florentine center.