June 24th – I ‘fochi di S. Giovanni’ (fireworks)
On June 24th , Florence celebrates its patron saint, San Giovanni Battista (St. John the Baptist).If you are not in town, don’t miss the famous ‘fochi’ (fireworks) live on http://live.intoscana.it; reportage starting at 9pm. This year the beginning and end promise to be entirely purple!!… and the show should last one hour. (See full schedule of the day’s events below).
Events are put on by the Societa’ di San Giovanni Battista, founded in 1796 and considered the heir of the Arte di Calimala (wool guild) in terms of its role in putting on local festivals in honour of the city’s patron saint. They are responsible not only for the fabulous fireworks display on June 24th but also for a nocturnal 10k run, water games and other activities year-round (see their website).
The schedule for Saint John the Baptist day is listed only in Italian so I’m translating it’s essence.
MORNING
8am: mass for dead confraternity members
9am: procession departing from via del Corso 1 towards Palazzo Vecchio, with the delivery of the Cross of San Giovanni to the newly elected Mayor of Florence, 34 year old Matteo Renzi. The procession will then head to the Baptistry.
NIGHT
9:15pm: Mozart Concert will be performed along the Lungarno della Zecca
10:30am: mass at the Duomo celebrated by the Archbishop
10pm: fireworks start
