Paris
may be known as the City of Light, but Florence has its own particular
illuminating beauty. Any visitor to the city is easily influenced by the way
the Tuscan sunlight mingles with the air over the slow-flowing Arno. Pastel palazzos compete
with the artistic treasures they house inside, giving fresh meaning to the
phrase al fresco. At no time is the light of the city more magical than
during the Festa della Rificolona, a paper lantern festival held in Florence’s main piazza each September as
part of the commemoration of the Virgin Mary’s birthday.
The
Festa della Rificolona is traditionally held on the 7th of September,
the day before the Catholic Church’s
observation of the Virgin Mary’s birthday
on September 8th. In 2015, September 7th falls on a Monday, but the festivities
begin on Sunday when the square outside of the Basilica della Santissima
Annunziata is filled with local agricultural products, including fresh cheeses
and ripe figs and blackberries. The tradition dates back to the 12th century,
when peasants offered gifts to the mother of Jesus from their fields and
gardens.
What
distinguishes this festa from others in Tuscany is the parade of bright
lanterns which light the night sky on the evening of September 7th. The parade
is led by the local cardinal, recreating the path of the peasants and pilgrims
who would leave their villages before the light of dawn centuries ago, to
present their gifts to the Virgin Mary and to pray in the basilica. In modern
times when streets are lit by electricity, the lanterns are more decorative
than functional. However, one cannot underestimate the impression they leave in
the memory.
The
Virgin Mary is revered by religious people all over the world, and images of
her and the Holy Child are omnipresent in Italian churches. Adding joy to the
Festa della Rificolona is the music of children’s voices as they hoist the lanterns
above their heads to create a moving river of light through the evening
streets. Street performers and magicians contribute to the festive atmosphere,
and modern citizens from all over the world gather to participate in a medieval
tradition in the city known as the heart of the Renaissance.
Florentine
hotels fill quickly in advance of the festival, especially since the mild
weather of September makes it an ideal time for visiting the city. Many
tourists have returned home for work and the start of school, so there is
easier to feel like a local when walking the streets. Bybooking one of the available long term apartment rentals in FlorenceItaly, you not only guarantee your own home base for the days
surrounding the paper lantern festival, but can take advantage of the many
other local happenings that begin to fill the calendar with the approach of
autumn and the holiday season.
