The Best Live Music Venues in Florence
While Florence is known for its opera houses and Renaissance art, few visitors know about its live music venues. This is a city that nurtures talented musicians and artists from all over the world, bringing its cobbled streets alive with music and song. Here are our top picks of avant-garde spaces for live music in Florence.
Florence Jazz Club: perfect for jazz lovers
For those looking to discover new music, grab a seat at Florence Jazz Club. A favourite among locals, its brick walls, neon lights and blues’ bands offer an unbeatable old-school vibe. Staying true to its promise of a relaxed setting, the club has limited seating allowing you to truly enjoy the performers in an intimate setting.
La Ménagère: perfect for foodies
Located in a historic building in the neighbourhood of Via de’ Ginori, La Ménagère has a rustic charm, with unplastered walls, vintage furniture and a concrete floor brightened up by blooms from its in-house florist. While listening to local jazz bands and pianists, enjoy fruity cocktails and an experimental take on traditional cuisine with dishes such as roasted gnocchi, beef cheek and Black Forest cake.
Le Murate: perfect for history buffs
A former convent and prison complex, Le Murate incorporates its rich history into its contemporary design by retaining elements such as old prison doors and window bars. Architects removed a ceiling in a walkway to allow natural light to flow in while the courtyard has been revamped into a buzzing café. Catch live music, poetry readings and film screenings on an outdoor stage or wander through neighbouring streets which house independent boutiques and galleries.
Opera di Firenze in Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre: perfect for opera lovers
Inaugurated in 2011, Opera di Firenze in Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre is an award-winning theatre that harmonises the city’s love for classical music with contemporary design. It’s best known for hosting the annual Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, which is a renowned arts festival in Italy featuring notable operas between April and June.
Teatro Niccolini: perfect for theatre enthusiasts
Fuel your love for the stage with a visit to the oldest theatre in Florence, Teatro Niccolini, located a few steps from Florence Cathedral. A 2016 restoration preserved the theatre’s original mid 1600s design. A dramatic staircase leads to the main hall where the curtains rise for some of Italy’s best musical and theatrical performances.
Opera di Firenze in Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre: perfect for opera lovers
Inaugurated in 2011, Opera di Firenze in Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Theatre is an award-winning theatre that harmonises the city’s love for classical music with contemporary design. It’s best known for hosting the annual Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, which is a renowned arts festival in Italy featuring notable operas between April and June.
Teatro della Pergola: perfect for architecture fans
When Teatro della Pergola was completed in 1656, it was the first opera house in Italy to feature boxes surrounding the auditorium. The Pergola was designed by Ferdinando Tacca, the son of the architect behind the two fountains of marine sea creatures outside the basilica of Santissima Annunziata. Declared a national monument in 1925, the theatre continues to cultivate Florence’s love for the arts.
Puccini Festival 2022: perfect for Puccini fans
For a captivating experience, visit the Great Open Air Theatre by Massaciuccoli Lake in Torre del Lago, a coastal town 90 minutes’ drive west of Florence. The theatre is just a few steps from the house in which Puccini lived and composed masterpieces and it is hosting the Puccini Festival from 15 July to 27 August 2022 in honour of the eponymous composer. The event poses an opportunity to appreciate operas from Madama Butterfly and Turandot to La Bohème and Tosca.
Discover the rhythmic wonders of Florence at these live music venues during a stay at Hotel Savoy, and enjoy an evening under the stars with Andrea Bocelli. Call our Concierge team on +39 055 465 2165 or email reservations.savoy@roccofortehotels.com
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