La Festa di San Giovanni (Feast of Saint John) fills Florence, Italy each June 24, honoring St. John the Baptist with a Renaissance costume parade, the hard-hitting Calcio Storico final in Piazza Santa Croce, and the dazzling Fochi di San Giovanni fireworks over the Arno River near Ponte Vecchio. Start with cathedral rituals at the Duomo/Battistero, then join locals for street food and late-night celebrations under the Tuscan sky.
DATES & TIMES
• Feast day: Wednesday, 24 June 2026 (annual celebration on 24 June).
• Morning: Historical parade and the traditional Offerta dei Ceri at the Baptistery, followed by solemn mass (times announced annually). What happens on the day.
• Afternoon: Calcio Storico Fiorentino final in Piazza Santa Croce (traditionally around 18:00). About the final · Official Calcio Storico.
• Evening: Fireworks — the Fochi di San Giovanni — launched from Piazzale Michelangelo, visible along the Arno (often around 22:00; exact time confirmed each year). Fireworks info · Organizer.
LOCATION
• Where: Historic centre of Florence — parade from Piazza della Signoria to the Baptistery; Calcio in Piazza Santa Croce; fireworks from Piazzale Michelangelo with viewing along the Lungarni.
• Open in Google Maps (Piazzale Michelangelo).
TICKETS & ENTRY
• Public celebrations are free (parade, fireworks). The Calcio Storico final is ticketed (bleachers in Piazza Santa Croce). Tickets & info.
GOOD TO KNOW
• Crowds & closures: Expect road closures, traffic changes and restricted areas in the centre — check city notices before you go. Recent guidance.
• Best viewpoints: Along the Arno (Ponte alle Grazie, Lungarno della Zecca), the Oltrarno side and hills near San Miniato offer classic angles for the fireworks. Local tips.
• Dress code & tradition: June 24 is the city’s patron feast — expect formal elements (parade, mass) and lively crowds by evening. Learn more.