SAINT JOHN'S DAY: HISTORICAL PARADE AND FIREWORK SHOW

Do you want a special souvenir of your trip in Florence? So, get ready with your camera and follow me for a unique experience.

For Florentine people the most important day on the year is june 24th. It is  Saint John's day, the patron saint of Florence since Lombard age. The Baptistery was built in his honour, and in ancient times heralds would announce the various festivities in key points around the city, while the nobles and upper classes were notified of their obligation to make offerings of candles. As Florence’s power increased, the candles became enormous and more and more richly decorated.

Even today, on the morning of 24 June a small procession goes from Palazzo Vecchio to offer up candles to the city’s patron saint. And, in the afternoon another historic parade (click for pic) through the city center streets by over 500 participants in the typical dress of the 16th century preceds the Florentine historical soccer. This is a unique occasion to take great pictures of Florence as if you were on a movie set, with girls dressed as princesses, men wearing the same dresses Leonardo Da Vinci used to, and dukes, cavaliers, pageboys (click for vid)

And, finally, in the late evening an amazing firework show, in order to salute the saint patron from Piazzale Michelangelo. Below a video from 2011 firework show, you can see Santa Croce church and a big explosion of colours:

Here is the schedule of the day:

Morning (MAP)

8.30 am -  Procession from Via de' Pucci to Palazzo Vecchio

9.30 am - From Palazzo Vecchio to Baptistery (in front of the Duomo, the main cathedral)

Afternoon (MAP)

4.00 pm - Parade from Santa Maria Novella square to Santa Croce square

5.00 pm - Florentine historical soccer (only if you have tickets, but often sold out a few days before)

Evening

10.30 pm (normally at 10 pm but this year 2012, 'cause of the Italian team match at Euro2012 the show starts half an hour late) - Firework show

BEST PLACES TO SEE FIREWORK SHOW

MAP CLICK HERE

The best spot to see firework show is Ponte Santa Trinita (Santa Trinita Bridge) from which you can have a great view of Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge), and behind it the beautiful fireworks reflecting in the Arno river. The bridge and its surrounding streets gets jammed of people, so try to get a good place in time.

For a closer view a good spot is from Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia and Lungarno Guglielmo Pecori (there is a garden right on the riverbank).

Make me happy and click below if you liked it.