Opera at St Mark's English Church — Florence, Summer 2026

<p>These intimate opera evenings bring the great Italian repertoire to a small, atmospheric venue: St Mark's English Church, a Victorian Anglican church tucked away on Via Maggio in the Oltrarno, a few minutes south of the Ponte Vecchio. Behind an unassuming facade lies a richly decorated interior that makes a jewel-box setting for a night of arias and duets. Programmes draw on the pillars of Italian opera, Puccini, Verdi, Rossini and Donizetti, and range from full staged productions to concert-style recitals.</p><p>Because the space is so small, the experience is strikingly personal. A handful of soloists, often with piano accompaniment, perform just metres from the audience, so you catch every nuance of the voices without amplification. For travellers who find grand opera houses daunting or expensive, it is an approachable and moving way to hear this music in the city where so much of it belongs.</p><h3>Practical tips</h3><p>Performances take place on selected evenings through the season, so check the schedule and book ahead, as the limited seating fills quickly in peak months. Seating is often general admission, so arrive early for a central pew with a clear view of the performers. The church is compact and can be warm in summer, so dress comfortably. The venue is genuinely central, within easy walking distance of most Oltrarno and city-centre hotels, so you can stroll back across the river afterward. As with any working church, treat the setting with respect and keep phones silenced during the music.</p>

Florence is served by Amerigo Vespucci Airport (FLR), 5 km from the centre, with Pisa (PSA) a train ride away. Performances are held at St Mark's English Church on Via Maggio, in the Oltrarno just south of the Ponte Vecchio. From FLR, the T2 tram runs to Santa Maria Novella, Florence's main station, in about 20 minutes; from there the church is a 15-minute walk across the river. Taxis from the airport take around 15 minutes. The venue is small and central, so most city-centre hotels sit within comfortable walking distance.