Florence Autumn 2026: Nine Film Festivals, and Giotto's Bell Tower Under Repair

Florence's film festivals return

The 20th edition of 50 Giorni di Cinema brings nine international film festivals to Florence across autumn and winter 2026, according to The Florentine. For a trip, that means choice rather than one fixed event week. If you are in Florence for three or four days, pick one festival and build your evenings around it. Jumping between several usually means long gaps and too much time in queues. Check the programme before you lock in train tickets, because the festivals run alongside the city's normal exhibition and concert calendar. Titles and venues vary by festival, so the official programme is more reliable than hotel flyers.

Giotto's Bell Tower under restoration

A five-year restoration is under way on Giotto's Bell Tower, the 14th-century campanile beside Florence Cathedral. The Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore is carrying out the first complete restoration of the structure, focusing on the external surfaces, according to Wanted in Rome. Expect scaffolding and possible changes to access or views. The project is set to run five years, so this is a long-term change, not a quick patch. The report does not say whether the climb is affected, so check the Opera's official site before you book a timed entry. If the climb is open, go early. The staircase is narrow and queues can take an hour.

What to book first

Use film screenings for evening plans and keep daytime for the Duomo complex. Book any tower or dome visit on the official site, and treat resale platforms as a last resort. If tower access is limited during the restoration, the cathedral and nearby museums can fill a morning. Autumn daylight fades earlier, so put outdoor views before late afternoon.