March 2, 2026

International Women's Day in Florence

What to do and where to go on Sanday, March 8 among special events and initiatives

International Women's Day occurs every year on March 8 and is celebrated around the world to commemorate the social, political and economic achievements made by women in recent decades. The idea of celebrating Women's Day originated in the United States in 1909 when women began demonstrating to claim their right to vote. Today this has become an occasion for coming together, celebrating and uniting.

On Sunday, March 8, in celebration of International Women's Day, the Florentine Civic Museums and Palazzo Medici Riccardi will open their doors free of charge to all women. At the Palazzo Vecchio Museum and the Murate Complex, the MUS.E Foundation is offering special tours for women: at Palazzo Vecchio, visitors will be able to learn more about the life and role of Duchess Eleonora de Toledo, with a tour dedicated to her apartments and the chapel decorated by Agnolo Bronzino. At MAD – Murate Art District, the Musei in musica (Museums in Music) cycle will offer a journey through history and music, with readings from the 1598 chronicles of the convent by Sister Giustina Niccolini and a concert by mezzo-soprano Beatriz Oyarzabal Piñan accompanied by guitarist Guido Menestrina. Participation in the guided tours is free, but reservations are required: info@musefirenze.it – 055 0541450. Admission is free until capacity is reached. (Here is our unpublished itinerary to discover the must-see museums in Florence)

On Sunday, March 8, at 4:30 p.m., Mercato Centrale Firenze presents “Top Notes, Heart Notes,” a sensory workshop to celebrate Women's Day. In the Gallery Area of the Terrazza Pizzeria, Elena Cesca of Via delle Spezie will guide participants in creating personalized fragrances, combining floral, spicy, woody, and fruity essential oils to create a unique scent. The masterclass also offers a journey through the history of perfume in Florence, from its origins linked to Caterina de' Medici to contemporary interpretations, combining tradition, creativity, and feminine identity. The cost is €25 and includes the masterclass, the perfume you create to take home, and refreshments featuring the Mercato Centrale's finest products. You can book HERE.

Also on Sunday, March 8, at Toscanino in Rinascente, an evening where taste and wellness come together: a refined gastronomic journey accompanied by a regenerating sound experience. The menu celebrates the flavors of Tuscany and beyond: from shrimp in pink sauce and mimosa to bottarga with Mimosa cocktail, to saffron fregola with caramelized octopus, burrata, and Jerusalem artichoke chips accompanied by Particolare Rosé - Tenuta del Buonamico. The oven-baked umbrina fillet with orange crumble and spinach and carrot flan are paired with Rosato Campo Maccione Rocca delle Macie, and the meal concludes with a delicious chocolate Mimosa cake accompanied by a Woman cocktail. A multisensory experience that transforms dinner into a moment of pure harmony between taste and sound vibrations.

On the occasion of Women's Day, March 8, the Bunker Gallery is hosting an exhibition featuring around 100 artifacts made by women artisans from Sejnan, a Tunisian village known for a thousand-year-old tradition recognized as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2018 and now at risk of disappearing. The exhibition recounts a culture handed down from mother to daughter: vases, animals, and containers modeled by hand, smoothed with seashells, decorated with natural pigments, and fired in open kilns. The characteristic black color is obtained by smoking the pieces under burning straw. MALLES: the soul of Tunisian ceramics is a project by the non-profit association Malles Design Mediterraneo. The works will be on sale and the proceeds will directly support the artisans, helping to preserve this ancestral tradition.

On the other hand, for those who wish to surprise their sweetheart, mother or friend with a special thought, here are the best florists in town to express your love with a flower and here are the jewelry stores to stop by if you are looking for a sparkling gift.