November is one of the quietest months to visit Florence, and one of the most rewarding. The crowds thin out, the museums are easier to enjoy, and the city’s cultural calendar is at its busiest, with four film festivals back to back, a new Verdi production at the Teatro del Maggio and the first white truffles in the hills outside town.
This year the month also carries a special weight. On 4 November 2026, Florence marks 60 years since the 1966 flood, when the Arno broke its banks and submerged the historic centre. Exhibitions, performances and commemorations across the city retell how Florentines and volunteers from around the world saved its art and archives.
November 2026 in Florence at a glance
| Date | Event | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Until 1 November | France Odeon | Cinema La Compagnia |
| 1 November | Free entry to state museums | Uffizi, Palazzo Pitti and more |
| 2–8 November | Festival dei Popoli | Cinema La Compagnia |
| 4 November | 60th anniversary of the 1966 flood | Palazzo Vecchio |
| 6–7 November | Laura Pausini | Nelson Mandela Forum |
| 11–15 November | Lo Schermo dell’Arte | Cinema La Compagnia |
| 14–29 November (weekends) | White Truffle Fair | San Miniato |
| 15, 18, 22, 24 November | Simon Boccanegra | Teatro del Maggio |
| 19–22 November | Florence Queer Festival | Cinema La Compagnia |
| 27 November | Lucio Corsi | Nelson Mandela Forum |
| 29 November | Firenze Marathon | Piazza del Duomo |
60 years since the 1966 flood
On 4 November 1966, the Arno flooded Florence, damaging thousands of artworks, books and documents. Volunteers from all over the world, remembered as the “Angeli del fango” (Mud Angels), came to help save them. Sixty years on, the city has planned a programme of events that runs well beyond the anniversary itself.
- Official commemoration, 4 November: the main ceremony takes place at Palazzo Vecchio, where the Sala d’Arme hosts an exhibition on the legacy of the flood.
- RI-EMERGERE 1966-2026, from 4 November to 6 February 2027: the Archivio di Stato di Firenze tells the story of how its flood-damaged documents were recovered and restored.
- Non saprei nulla se, 5–7 November: a performance by Studio Azzurro and Company Blu inside the Archivio di Stato, at 7pm and 8.30pm.
- Santa Catastrofe, 23–27 November: the Elsinor company stages its account of the flood in the city’s public libraries and at Teatro Cantiere Florida (in Italian).
Exhibitions in Florence in November
The autumn shows that opened in September and October are all still running this month. For a wider selection, see our guide to exhibitions in Florence.
Artemisia Gentileschi in Florence, Museo degli Innocenti
Until 4 April 2027
The exhibition focuses on the years Artemisia Gentileschi spent in Florence, where she became the first woman admitted to the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno. It’s open daily from 9.30am to 7pm, and the €16 ticket also covers the museum.
Broken. The Power of the Fragment, Palazzo Strozzi
Until 24 January 2027
More than 80 works explore loss, damage and transformation, a theme that resonates even more this month in a city marking the anniversary of its flood. Read our review of Broken at Palazzo Strozzi. Open daily from 10am to 8pm and until 11pm on Thursdays, with free guided mediation on Saturdays from 3pm to 6pm.
Beyond the Renaissance. Between Dürer and Parmigianino, Palazzo Medici Riccardi
Until 5 January 2027
A look at how European art moved beyond Renaissance models, with works by Dürer and Parmigianino displayed inside the Palazzo Medici Riccardi, the Medici family’s first palace.
More exhibitions to see
- Danielle Mckinney. Tra noi, until 28 February 2027: the American painter’s intimate portraits of women at the Museo Novecento.
- Victor Man, until 7 March 2027: also at the Museo Novecento, a show by one of the leading Romanian painters of his generation.
- Ferdinando Sarmi New York, until 31 December: at the Museo della Moda e del Costume in Palazzo Pitti, the story of a Florentine designer who made his name on Fifth Avenue.
- C’era una volta… Un Re!, until 15 June 2027: an exhibition on Carlo Lorenzini, better known as Collodi, the author of Pinocchio, at Palazzo Corsini Suarez.
Film festivals
November is the heart of 50 Giorni di Cinema, the season of film festivals that runs until 10 December, mainly at Cinema La Compagnia.
- France Odeon, until 1 November: the last days of the festival of new French cinema, with Italian premieres.
- Festival dei Popoli, 2–8 November: Europe’s oldest documentary film festival, with international competitions and special screenings.
- Lo Schermo dell’Arte, 11–15 November: artists’ films and documentaries on contemporary art. This year’s edition opens with Julian Rosefeldt’s Euphoria, includes a focus on Uzbek filmmaker Saodat Ismailova, and shows late works by Jean-Luc Godard at La Strozzina.
- Florence Queer Festival, 19–22 November: films, talks and events on queer culture.
Music, opera and theatre
Simon Boccanegra at the Teatro del Maggio
15, 18, 22 and 24 November
Verdi’s opera about the Genoese corsair who becomes doge returns to Florence, conducted by James Conlon and directed by Àlex Ollé of La Fura dels Baus. Tickets range from €15 to €130 and are available on the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino website. The Sunday 22 November performance starts at 3.30pm.
Autunno Fiorentino, until 30 November
The city’s autumn programme closes at the end of the month, with concerts, theatre and family events in all five districts. Many are free, including Vento Multiforme, a festival of contemporary circus, dance and music with workshops for children, and the Musica Diffusa concerts by the Orchestra della Toscana.
Theatre at the Teatro della Pergola
The city’s historic theatre has a strong month, with productions in Italian: Silvio Orlando in Pirandello’s Il berretto a sonagli (3–8 November), Sonia Bergamasco in Oscar, directed by Antonio Latella (10–15 November), and Lo Zar, a new work by Stefano Massini (24 November to 6 December).
Concerts
For the full season, see our guide to the best concerts in Florence in 2026.
- Marco Masini, 4 November: the Florentine singer-songwriter plays at home, at the Nelson Mandela Forum. Tickets
- Malika Ayane, 4 November: an evening of Italian pop at Teatro Verdi. Tickets
- Laura Pausini, 6–7 November: two Florence dates of the Io Canto World Tour at the Nelson Mandela Forum. Tickets
- Steve Hackett, 16 November: the former Genesis guitarist plays Genesis classics and solo highlights at Teatro Cartiere Carrara. Tickets
- Max Gazzè, 16–18 November: three nights of the Roman singer-songwriter in a theatre set at Teatro Puccini. Tickets
- Francesca Michielin, 16 November: Live nei teatri 2026 at Teatro Verdi. Tickets
- Chuck Prophet, 21 November: the Californian rocker at Circolo Arci Il Progresso.
- Lucio Corsi, 27 November: the first date of his arena tour, at the Nelson Mandela Forum. Tickets
Firenze Marathon
Sunday 29 November
The 42nd Firenze Marathon starts and finishes in Piazza del Duomo at 8.30am, with a route that runs through the historic centre and along the Arno. The expo at the Stazione Leopolda is open on 27 and 28 November. If you’re in town but not running, expect road closures across the centre for most of Sunday morning.
Museums, markets and family events
- Free state museums, 1 November: on the first Sunday of the month, entry is free at state museums such as the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti. Arrive early, as queues build quickly. See more free things to do in Florence.
- Family workshops at Palazzo Strozzi: hands-on activities linked to the Broken exhibition, ideal for families staying in Florence.
- Christmas markets: in the second half of the month, the first Christmas markets in Florence start to open, including the traditional German-style market in Piazza Santa Croce.
Autumn food festivals near Florence
- White Truffle Fair, San Miniato, 14–15, 21–22 and 28–29 November: the 55th edition of one of Italy’s best-known truffle fairs, about 45 km from Florence, with stalls, tastings and truffle dishes across the hilltop town. A good reason for a day out.
- Autumnia, Figline e Incisa Valdarno, 6–8 November: a free autumn festival with a farmers’ market, animals for children and local food, about 30 km from Florence.
More things to do in Florence in November
- November is the season of new olive oil, and the best way to taste it is with someone who knows the city’s food. Join our Florence food tour through the market stalls.
- On a rainy afternoon, learn to make dough and gelato with a pizza and gelato class.
- If the weather holds, the vineyards of Chianti turn red and gold in November: see them on our Tuscany by Vespa tour.
Discover all our Florence tours and experiences.
Florence in November: FAQ
Is November a good time to visit Florence?
Yes, especially if you prefer culture to crowds. Hotels are cheaper than in spring and summer, queues at the major museums are shorter, and the city’s film festivals, opera season and autumn exhibitions are all running at the same time.
What is the weather like in Florence in November?
November is one of the rainiest months of the year in Florence. Daytime temperatures are usually around 13–15°C, dropping to 5–6°C at night. Pack a warm layer, waterproof shoes and an umbrella.
What can I do for free in Florence in November?
State museums, including the Uffizi and Palazzo Pitti, are free on Sunday 1 November. Many events in the Autunno Fiorentino programme are free, as are Saturday guided mediations at Palazzo Strozzi and the Autumnia festival in Figline e Incisa Valdarno.
What to do in Florence on a rainy day in November?
Head to one of the autumn exhibitions, such as Artemisia Gentileschi at the Museo degli Innocenti or Broken at Palazzo Strozzi, catch a film festival screening at Cinema La Compagnia, or book a cooking class and spend the afternoon indoors.
