The Christmas season has officially begun in Florence with the reopening of Florence Eye, the city’s festive park at the gardens of the Fortezza da Basso. The attraction, which had moved to the Cascine park for the past two years, returns to its original site with two major highlights — a 320-metre ice-skating track, said to be the longest in Europe, and a 55-metre panoramic wheel, the tallest travelling one in Italy.
The skating rink will remain open until January 31, while the Florence Eye wheel will operate through March 30.
This year’s main addition is a Santa’s Village, a themed area designed for families and children. Built entirely in wood, it features Santa’s house, a chocolate factory and a post office, along with performances, workshops and food stalls serving Tuscan and Christmas specialities.
The initiative is promoted and sponsored by the City of Florence and the association Un Fiore per la Fortezza, supported by Confartigianato Imprese Firenze and organised by The Wheel with coordination by Tiziano Capitani. Mayor Sara Funaro said the event “brings festive cheer to the city” and helps make the Fortezza “a lively, welcoming space for everyone.”
Confartigianato president Serena Vavolo added that the return to the Fortezza “shows care for a symbolic place and supports local businesses.” The association is also behind Natale in Fortezza, offering live music on December 8 and the weekends of December 13–14 and 20–21.
A Santa parade with elves is scheduled for December 23 and 24. The entire site, including the panoramic wheel, will be powered exclusively by renewable energy produced in Italy from solar and wind sources.
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