September 1, 2025

The Feast of Rificolona in Florence

Sunday 7 September the city fills with coloured lanterns

The origin of this magical feast of the Rificolona is all Florentine and has been handed down among the boys of Florence the custom of carrying around coloured paper lanterns, modelled in the most varied and bizarre shapes, with a small light inside, hanging from the top of a cane, dates back in all probability to the mid-seventeenth century, and is linked to the arrival in the city of many farmers and mountain dwellers who, with their women, They came to the city to celebrate the Nativity of the Virgin Mary in the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata in Florence, taking advantage of the occasion to sell their wares at the market fair held the next day in the square in front of the Basilica, in Via dei Servi and in the immediate vicinity.

In order to find a good place to sell their wares, these settlers would leave their homes long beforehand and, at night, would light up their uncertain path with lanterns of various shapes hanging from sticks, canes or poles. And it was with these multicoloured paper or cloth lanterns, open at the top to allow the candle or tallow from the bowl to burn, that they arrived in Florence the evening before the fair, bivouacking at night in the loggias of the church of Santissima Annunziata and the other buildings in the square where, by the flickering light of their lanterns, they sang lauds to the Virgin until late at night.

Must-See Events for the Rificolona Festival 2025 in Florence

Friday, September 5, 5:00 pm – BiblioteCaNova Isolotto
Children’s workshop “Ona – ona – ona, ma che bella Rificolona” (ages 3–11).

Saturday, September 6, 4:45 pm – Giardino di Borgo Allegri
Children’s workshop “Let’s build the Rificolona together” with paper, cardboard, and colors. Snack to follow.

Sunday, September 7 – Piazza Santissima Annunziata

7:00 pm: Procession from Impruneta arriving in Piazza Santa Felicita, then joined by Florentines to cross Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, and Piazza Duomo, ending in Piazza Santissima Annunziata.
8:30 pm: Games and activities for children in the square.
9:30 pm: Official opening of the festival, greetings from authorities, and blessing of the lanterns by Archbishop Gherardo Gambelli.
Award ceremony for the Graziano Grazzini Prize for the most beautiful handcrafted Rificolona.
Special prizes: jersey and ball signed by Moise Kean, offered by ACF Fiorentina.
Concert by Tommaso Imperiali & Five Quarters.
Basilica of Santissima Annunziata open until the end of the evening.

Sunday, September 7 – Parco di Villa Vogel, from 8:00 pm
Stalls with lanterns and DJ set.

Pattinaggio Il Boschetto, 6:30 pm: Free skating trial for children, followed by ASD Boschetto parade and a performance by the “Dancing Time” school.
From 9:00 pm: Lantern parade, young talents showcase, awards, and baby dance.
Giardino della Casa del Popolo di Ponte a Greve, 6:30 pm: Free lanterns for all children (offered by association Il Ponte), games, and music. Lantern parade at sunset.
Parco del Gasometro, 5:00 pm: Creative workshop with Angeli del Bello, Mondolfiera, and Donne Ganze. Music and free ice cream offered by Età Libera.
Circolo Pensionati Isolotto, from 6:30 pm: Pasta al pomodoro for attendees, followed by lantern parade to Piazza dell’Isolotto for blessing.

National Archaeological Museum – Florence

Sunday, September 7, special opening 3:00–7:00 pm (last entry 6:15 pm)

Guided tours “In the footsteps of Maria Maddalena de’ Medici” (3:00 pm, 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm).
“Conservation in progress”: visit to the restoration workshop of the Chimera (3:45 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:15 pm).
5:00 pm – “Let there be light!”: Children’s tour (ages 5–11) on ancient lighting techniques.
Reservations required: man-fi@cultura.gov.it.

Events Outside Florence

Calenzano – Sunday, September 7
Festa de La Concordia: Lantern parade through the town streets with the Sganghenga Street Band.

San Giovanni Valdarno – Sunday, September 7

5:00 pm: Workshop for lanterns and pumpkins.
5:30 pm: Vocal concert “Ave donna sanctissima” (Sala La Nonziata).
8:45 pm: Parade through the historic center, arrival in Piazza Masaccio for blessing and torchlight procession.
Contest and award ceremony for lanterns and pumpkins to follow.

Castelfiorentino – Saturday, September 6 & Sunday, September 7
Avis in Festa. Sunday, September 7: Lantern-making workshop (4:30 pm, Parco di viale Roosevelt) with Amici di Castello.

Montespertoli – Sunday, September 7

4:30 pm & 5:45 pm: Workshop “Build your own Rificolona” (E. Balducci Library).
9:30 pm: Lantern parade through the town with the Nuova Filarmonica Amedeo Bassi. Free gelato for all children, offered by Coop Montespertoli.