Author: Lourdes Flores

I'm from California but have called Florence my home for over a decade. I love to explore Italy; it is a lot of fun to try to see everything like I'm seeing it for the first time, keeping you, our readers, always in mind. I enjoy sharing what I know and helping others as they make their travel plans for Tuscany through our Forum. If you have itinerary-related questions, please post them there and I'll answer!

Thanksgiving at the Hard Rock Cafe

November 13, 2021

This year if you’re looking for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in Florence, I suggest you head to the Hard Rock Cafe in Piazza della Repubblica. Their menu includes slow-roasted turkey breast, roasted fresh vegetables, classic stuffing, creamy sweet potato mash, cranberry sauce and gravy. End your meal with a delicious slice of classic pumpkin pie…

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Halloween 2021 in Florence

October 26, 2021

This Sunday is Halloween! While the tradition has slowly picked up over the past few years here in Florence, it isn’t widely celebrated in any shape or form as Americans are used to celebrating. No one goes to homes and knocks for candies, the closest thing is that some shops on the most popular shopping…

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October is Pinktober®

October 11, 2021

October is breast cancer awareness month. Early detection with screenings is important as well as supporting research to continue the fight against this disease that impacts 1 out of every 8 women. Hard Rock International participates in this month’s PINKTOBER® awareness campaign supporting breast cancer research with a month-long special menu and limited edition merchandising…

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Are you ready to Freddie?

August 29, 2021

From September 5-12, the Hard Rock Cafe in Florence dedicates a week to celebrating legendary Freddie Mercury If you’re a Freddie Mercury fan just like us, then take note: Freddie’s 75th birthday is coming up! It is the perfect occasion to join in the party on September 5 to enjoy a Killer Queen concert, Italy’s…

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European Night at the Museum returns this Saturday

July 1, 2021

This Saturday, July 3, several museums in Florence are open for the European Night at the Museum 2021, with extended evening hours and an entrance fee of 1 euro. Normally this event, begun to promote the artistic heritage of the Old Continent, takes place in May, but this edition was moved to the height of…

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Italy reopens across its regions

April 30, 2021

Exciting news! Most of Italy’s regions “reopened” just 3 days ago, easing the restrictive measures that have characterized the past winter and spring months. Signs of falling infection numbers and the vaccine effort accelerating (over a quarter of all Italians have received their first dose, and nearly 5 million are now fully vaccinated) have led…

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Museums reopen in Florence

January 19, 2021

Finally, some happy news from the cultural front in Florence! I am so excited to report that between yesterday and today lots of Florence’s museums are now open (and others opening later this week). This is because we are currently a “yellow” zone – and museums will remain open dependent on whether we remain in…

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Welcoming in 2021

December 31, 2020

Here in Florence, the last day of the year is full of expectation of the new year, we bundle up into jackets and head out to one of the main squares to hear some lovely music (music genres vary across the piazzas, so you can head to Piazza della Signoria for classical, to Santissima Annunziata…

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Covid-19: New Rules in Italy Starting November 6

November 6, 2020

Nationwide curfew and clamping down by region On Tuesday night, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte signed a new presidential decree in an effort to curb the growing Covid-19 numbers throughout Italy. The Prime Minister explained these measures in a live address in the evening of November 4, with measures to go into force today Friday,…

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Dante 700: Portraits of Dante and his places

October 30, 2020

A photographic exhibition by Massimo Sestini Santa Maria Novella, from October 29, 2020 to January 6, 2021 Update 2020-11-06: the exhibit is closed from November 6th, as are all museums and exhibitions nationwide. Don’t worry, you can still see the virtual tour of the exhibit (while it was in Rome) on Musefirenze’s website. In what…

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