Olive harvesting in the Tuscan hills in autumn – October in Florence

October in Florence: Be.Local, support zero-kilometer food in Florence

Events, new olive oil, flavors and local stores: the best of October in Florence with #EnjoyRespectFirenze!

Visiting Florence in October is simply magical: the weather is ideal as the heat and crowds of the summer ease off, and the streets glow with dreamy autumnal colours. Strolling through the museums and squares, soaking up picturesque views, there’s a more peaceful and romantic vibe. And, of course, a bowl of seasonal ribollita in a local restaurant is always a good idea!

Over the month of harvest when olives are picked from the hills to produce this season's extra virgin olive oil, we pay homage to all our local flavours, emphasising the importance for visitors to choose typical Florentine dishes prepared with zero km ingredients to support local businesses. As Dante reminds us, traditional cuisine favours sustainable tourism!.

We recommend our “sciocco” bread, olive oil, beans, finocchiona, Mugello chestnuts…the list goes on and on!

Once your belly is full of the local flavours of Florence, it's time to dedicate yourself to the many things to do in Florence - for example, the artisan workshops that teach centuries-old traditions – they are zero km, too! To help you in this quest, we’ve created a few walking itineraries to discover Florence’s historical activities. Enjoy!

Unmissable Events in Florence This October

Chestnut Festival - every Sunday in October

Amongst the many things to do in Florence, this is a must for those passionate about food and wine! The traditional Chestnut Festival is a Marron buono di Marradi market exhibition. It's a celebration of Mugello's chestnuts, held every Sunday in October in the village of Marradi. (Due to the damage caused by bad weather, it is advisable to check the conditions and the event before going).

OltreCittà: Utopias and Reality from Le Corbusier to Gerhard Richter – until January 19

The new exhibition at Villa Bardini is a journey through painting, sculpture, architecture, photography and music with artists from the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

Firenze Flower Show – October 12 and 13

The fascinating exhibition market dedicated to rare and unusual plants returns to the charming Corsini Gardens. This winter edition welcomes the best national exhibitors, offering two days of entertainment and education on high-quality horticulture and gardening.

Madama Butterfly – from October 24 to November 2

Puccini's grand opera comes to the Teatro del Maggio stage. After attending a similar drama by David Belasco in London, he chose the subject based on John Luther Long’s short story. The tale of a young geisha seduced and abandoned by an American naval officer immediately struck his imagination.

50 Days of Cinema - October 2 to December 14

Produced by Quelli della Compagnia, 50 Days of Cinema was born in Florence in 2007 to provide a “single program” and a unified location for all the main Florentine film festivals with an international vocation: in October, FánHu? Chinese Film Festival, Middle East Now and France Odeon – French Film Festival.

See all the events this October.