Florence, 13 June 2024 – “If this year too the Florentines say that, yes, theFires‘They were beautiful, but perhaps last year’s were more beautiful, it means that this time too we will have done an excellent job.” Maria Oliva Scaramuzzi, vice president of the CR Firenze Foundation smiles. After all, yes, Florentines are argumentative by nature.
The city is preparing for to celebrate the Patron Saint, San Giovanni Battista, with a program full of events that will culminate in the traditional ones ‘Fireworks’, organized by the San Giovanni Battista Society with the support of the CR Firenze Foundation, which has supported the celebrations for over 90 years. From 16 to 27 Junethe city will be brought to life by a series of demonstrations, ceremonies and celebrations that will involve residents and tourists. “An event that renews the collective love for Florence”, he has no doubts Alessia Bettini, deputy mayor of our city.
Meanwhile, one nice occasion pfor the new members of the San Giovanni Battista Society. 200 exclusive seats have been made available, out of the 1,900 set up on the Lungarno of the Zecca Vecchia, to admire the fireworks display from a privileged position. The invitation to join is open to all, with a reduced fee for young people up to 27 years of age, the San Giovanni company says.
June 24th will be a day of particular importance with the ordination of Don Gherardo Gambelli as the new archbishop from Florence. The ceremony will take place in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, adding a further touch of solemnity to the celebrations. The day will see the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic parade through the city and, then, the offering of the candles at the Baptistery of San Giovanni, one of the oldest and most heartfelt traditions of the city.
In the evening, after the concert by the State Police musical band, at 9pm on the Lungarno della Zecca Vecchia, from 10pm the lights of Florence will be turned off to make way for the fireworks display, which this year promises to surprise with new luminous choreographies.
The fireworks will pay homage to the city with the classic colored lilies and the Tricolore, and will be tinged with yellow to celebrate the start of the 2024 Tour de France. The completely renewed “final volley” is a great surprise. In short, forty minutes with your nose in the air.
The rich program of events
The celebrations begin on June 16th with the Coronation of Marzocco in Piazza della Signoria, followed by the parade of the Historical Parade of the Florentine Republic. The Corona del Marzocco award will be awarded to Silvia Daddi and Gianmaria Vassallo. Then there will be space for the performance of the Bandierai degli Uffizi. Again, for the fourth consecutive year, the ancient ceremony is back, brought back to life by the Municipality of Florence on the initiative of the San Giovanni Battista Society, in collaboration with the Historical Procession of the Florentine Republic and the Calcio Storico Fiorentino and the Paolo Penko goldsmith shop who creates the masterpiece of goldsmith’s art adorned with pearls, garnets, crystals of various cuts and shapes and a lapis lazuli. The prize, awarded to two young people who tell the story of Tuscany with their work and their profession, is also the work of the Paolo Penko goldsmith’s shop. It’s about a miniature reproduction of the Corona del Marzocco made of golden alloy with the ancient lost wax casting technique and finished by hand. The wooden base is the work of the historic Falegnameria Biagioni, hand painted by Francesco Forconi, aka Skim. The contemporary Florentine artist uses the style of “Harmonic Chaos” which distinguishes him and the color green, following the order of the Calcio Storico districts, after the blue and red of past years.
On June 22nd, at 9pm, don’t miss the Cetilar Run Notturna di San Giovanni, an evocative 10 kilometer run among the city’s monuments. The program continues on the morning of June 24th with the Procession of Homage which, starting from via Folco Portinari, will parade towards Piazza Duomo. Here, at 10am, the Exhibition of the Reliquary of the Society of Saint John the Baptist will finally return after the pandemic. The procession will then move to the Baptistery of San Giovanni for the traditional Offering of the Ceri. At 10.30, in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, the Solemn Mass will be held in honor of the Patron Saint, with the delivery of the Cross of Saint John, created by the Paolo Penko goldsmith’s shop, to the Archbishop of Florence.
On the afternoon of June 27th, at the end of the celebrations at the Società Canottieri Firenze, an appointment on the banks of the Arno for the Challenge – Trofeo San Giovanni, a regatta between boats with eight rowers, coming from as many Nations – Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain with the historic crew of the University of Cambridge, Holland, Slovenia, Spain and of course Italy – in a mixed crew of 4 women and 4 men, over a distance of 500 metres. Grand finale at night with the lights of Ponte Vecchio which will be the backdrop to the awards ceremony.
“This year too we have organized a great calendar of events to celebrate the Patron Saint – he says Claudio Bini, president of the San Giovanni Society -. It is a moment of joy, an opportunity to be close to citizens. Heartfelt thanks to the CR Firenze Foundation which has financially supported the fireworks display for over 90 years.” The contribution is around 100 thousand euros. “We share with the San Giovanni Society the same desire to promote, especially among young people, the historical heritage of our illustrious city – continued Scaramuzzi – This year, moreover, we will be able to see the Loggia del Bigallo again decorated, which our Foundation has contribution to restoration. It is a place of cultural memory, within which you can admire the oldest image of Florence.”
“Through the universal language expressed with music, we enhance and consolidate once again the culture of dialogue and the strong bond with Florence of women and men in uniform at the service of legality”, intervened Vanessa Pellegrino Monti, spokesperson for the police commissioner Maurizio Auriemma .
