By Our Editorial Staff
Figline welcomes back its major environment, agriculture and food fair.
For 27 years, one regular event in the Florentine Valdarno, held in the second week of November, has earned a special place in the diaries – and hearts – of families across Tuscany and beyond. That event is Autumnia, the fair devoted to the Environment, Agriculture and Food, taking place on 6, 7 and 8 November in the historic centre of Figline, in the municipality of Figline e Incisa Valdarno.
Here, the event’s three themes — Environment, Agriculture e Nutrition— come to life through exhibitions, market stalls and entertainment, with a focus on healthy, sustainable living, health, food culture, local specialities and rediscovered traditional recipes, as well as the beauty of the surrounding area and its main cultural attractions.
This year, the event also looks towards Europe, with the slogan “Local tradition, a European outlook” and two related initiatives: a presentation of Paolo Gentiloni’s latest book, Diventare una potenza. Istruzioni per una rivoluzione europea (“Becoming a Power: Instructions for a European Revolution”), and the naming of a square after David Sassoli, former President of the European Parliament.
Piazza Marsilio Ficino will host cooking demonstrations and talks alongside stalls offering regional specialities from across Italy. The farmers’ market, featuring locally sourced produce, will be held in Viale Galilei, while wine and olive oil tastings will take place in Piazza San Francesco.
Traditional crafts will take centre stage, with blacksmiths, carpenters and basket makers, markets in Corso Mazzini and Via Santa Croce, and live chainsaw woodcarving demonstrations. As always, the flags and drums of the traditional flag throwers will be a highlight of Saturday’s opening ceremony.
The much-loved Animal Farm returns with educational workshops, alongside Pompieropoli’s fun, handson learning activities, eco-themed fairy tales at Teatro Garibaldi, and spectacular Civil Protection demonstrations, including firefighting exercises, emergency rescue operations, and search-and-rescue dog units.
The programme also includes an art exhibition at the theatre, a photography exhibition at Palazzo Pretorio and another exhibition in the friars’ cloister. Visitors can enjoy free health screenings and consultations in the Health and Wellbeing area, explore environmental stands focusing on woodland conservation, waste, river clean-ups and mushroom picking, and watch a varied programme of sporting and artistic performances in Piazza delle Associazioni.
Meanwhile, the infectious music of a street band will bring a festive atmosphere to the entire fair.
Info: www.autumnia.it
Figline’s Teatro Comunale Garibaldi
By Our Editorial Staff
Some stories are told, others come to life on stage. In Figline and Incisa Valdarno, the Municipal Garibaldi Theatre raises the curtain on a new season of captivating performances, featuring great classics, music and shows for all ages.
A jewel set within medieval walls raises the curtain on its 2026/27 season: Great classics such as Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Francis Veber’s The Dinner Game, Eduardo De Filippo’s Ditegli sempre di sì (“Always Say Yes to Him”) and Arthur Miller’s All My Sons join a host of well-known performers, including Alessandro Benvenuti, Marina Massironi, Claudio “Greg” Gregori, Ugo Dighero, Vanessa Gravina, Antonio Ornano, Paolo Kessisoglu and Rossella Brescia. Add the Orchestra della Toscana, with conductor Ceretta among those taking the podium, and a wealth of events for children aged 12 and under, and the result is a programme of 10 theatre productions, five children’s shows and 13 concerts. This is how the Teatro Comunale Garibaldi in Figline e Incisa Valdarno is preparing to launch a new season that will entertain audiences through to spring 2027.
There are plenty of musical highlights, too, including the traditional Christmas and Carnival concerts, alongside appearances by internationally acclaimed soloists and conductors, among them Silvia Chiesa, Federico Colli and Eva Gevorgyan. Contemporary sounds also feature, with Naomi Berrill’s eclectic concert spanning Bach and Björk. The programme includes events for schools and performances in the Ridotto by Il Rossignolo—an ensemble specialising in Baroque and Classical music played on original period instruments or faithful replicas—and Amici della Musica Firenze.
Younger audiences can look forward to five shows featuring reimagined fairy tales, such as Il nuovo vestito dell’imperatrice (“The Empress’s New Clothes”), fresh takes on Shakespeare’s
masterpieces, including Amletino (“Little Hamlet”), science fiction, shadow theatre, masks and puppetry.
Built on the town’s 14th-century medieval walls with the fortified keep still visible behind the dressing rooms, Teatro Garibaldi was founded on the initiative of the Accademia dei Risorti, under the presidency of Count Serristori. It opened in 1872 with a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Ernani.
Following its closure in 1957 and a long period of neglect, the theatre was reborn on 7 October 1995, when it reopened its doors, restoring both its historic Italian-style main auditorium and its elegant Ridotto to the town. Today, every part of the building, including the foyer and attic, is used for shows and live performances.
The full season programme, subscriptions and tickets are available at www.teatrogaribaldi.org