Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Summer Season

One of Italy's oldest and most prestigious music festivals, the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino moves outdoors each July for a summer season in the Cavea, the open-air amphitheatre on the roof terrace of Florence's modern Teatro del Maggio. Warm evenings, a starlit setting and the ensembles of one of the country's great opera houses make this a more relaxed counterpart to the main spring festival — serious music-making in shirtsleeves rather than the formal indoor auditorium.

What to expect

The summer programme runs for a few weeks in July and mixes staged opera with concerts and crossover events, including evenings that range beyond the standard repertoire. The dates and programme are usually announced in May or June. The Cavea has been fitted with comfortable fixed seating, and its rooftop position gives an airy, informal atmosphere.

Performances are typically staged in the evening; book through the Teatro del Maggio's official channels, as individual nights in the intimate Cavea can sell out. The theatre sits in the Cascine park area, a short tram ride or walk west of the city centre.

Fly into Florence Airport (FLR), just northwest of the city; the T2 tram runs from the airport to the main Santa Maria Novella (SMN) railway station in about 20 minutes. Performances are held at the Teatro del Maggio (Opera di Firenze) in the Cascine park area. The nearest tram stop is Porta al Prato–Leopolda on the T1 line, a short walk from the theatre. From SMN it is about a 15-minute walk or a couple of tram stops. Larger international connections come via Pisa or Bologna, both linked to Florence by frequent trains.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Italy (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.