Live Music · OPERA PERFORMANCES IN FLORENCE
The 15 best opera performances in Florence you can book tonight, with what a seat costs, how long it runs and who it suits. Number one is top for a reason; start there.
Spend an hour hearing professional opera singers and a pianist perform Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, Bellini, and Mascagni inside Santa Monaca Church. The small 15th-century setting, frescoes, printed program, short intermission, and optional wine make this an easy, affordable introduction to opera.
“the pianist and singer were both incredible a much bette”
Meet in Piazza San Giovanni for a guided visit to Florence’s Baptistery and Opera del Duomo Museum. Hear live commentary in Italian or English, use multilingual audio content, and see Ghiberti’s Gates of Paradise, Michelangelo’s Pietà, the Cathedral, and optional Dome or Bell Tower climbs.
“Active and informative and presented in a lucid and exciting fashion. Guide is an asset to your company”
Arrive at Santa Monaca Church in Florence’s Oltrarno by 8:45pm for a 9:15pm concert lasting about 70 minutes. Professional singers and musicians perform arias from La Traviata, Tosca, La Bohème, Madame Butterfly, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Barber of Seville.
“It was very Intimate and great ! Wish we could take pics I highly recommended someone to definitely do this on their visit to Florence”
Spend one hour at 21:15 in Florence’s Santa Croce neighborhood, hearing professional opera singers and pianist perform arias from Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Puccini, and more inside Chiesa Santa Maria al Tempio. The singers and program change nightly.
“We thoroughly enjoyed our opera experience in Florence. It was difficult to find music experiences on a Monday night but glad I persevered and found this it was excellent.”
Start with a fixed-menu pizza dinner, drinks, and dessert in Florence’s Oltrarno district. Then walk a few minutes to Santa Monaca Church for a live concert of arias by Verdi, Puccini, Rossini, and others, performed by opera singers with piano accompaniment.
“restaurant and food was great. communication regarding the opera was poor. We had to rely on the restaurant staff to tell us where to go. Timings that were given to us were also not accurate.”
Visit Florence’s Opera del Duomo Museum and Baptistery at your own pace with an e-ticket and offline audio guide. Use your phone to hear stories about major artworks, the Baptistery’s mosaics, and the city. English and German audio are available, with an optional Florence walking tour.
“der ticket-erwarb sollte unter den verschiedenen Museen koordiniert werden und denselben Ablauf erhalten”
Meet at noon in Piazza San Giovanni for a two to three-hour guided visit to Florence’s Baptistery, cathedral, Santa Reparata Crypt, and Opera del Duomo Museum. English and Italian commentary, entry tickets, and an optional 414-step climb of Giotto’s Bell Tower are available. The cathedral dome climb is not included.
“Locating our guide, or more accurately the assistant assigned to meet us before the guide arrives and tour begins, did not go very smoothly. Once the tour started we were very pleased with our guide and were awestruck by the art/architecture/history.”
Begin with a Tuscan dinner at Trattoria Napoleone in Carmine Square, then walk to Santa Monaca Church for about an hour of Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, Mozart, and Bellini, performed by professional singers with piano. Confirm the exact concert entrance and start time before you go.
“The restaurant was not good food the opera was great but it was very hot in the church We had front row seats which was great it was all in Italian”
Spend an evening with soprano Alessia Battini, baritone David Ciarrocchi, and pianist Gianni Cigna as they perform famous arias and duets by Puccini, Verdi, Mozart, and Rossini. The concert takes place at the Zeffirelli Concert Hall or Santo Stefano Auditorium, depending on your booking.
“It was amazing: the acoustics in the beautiful church next to the famous bridge Veccio. The singer from Armenia had amazing voice and him together with nice Italian singer-soprano accompanied by charming piano player they created very special atmosphere. I took VIP ticket being afraid that it will one of those overcrowded events but it was a nice surprise how few chairs were there and therefore any ticket would be good although I still recommend either VIP or middle seats. True soul of amazing Florence, highly recommended!”
Use a mobile ticket and three self-guided audio commentaries to explore Florence’s Opera del Duomo Museum, Baptistery, Santa Reparata, and the city. You’ll hear stories about works such as the Column of San Zanobi and Madonna with Glass Eyes, with offline maps and narration for Android and iOS.
“Great Tour, I really enjoyed it! Very fun and interesting stories. I was not tired with overflowing information, they kept it just right. The Baptistery is a must-visit when in Florence. Overall, an amazing experience!”
Begin at 7:30 pm with pizza, tiramisu, and drinks near Piazza del Carmine in Florence’s Oltrarno. Then walk to Santa Monaca Church for 90 minutes of famous opera arias, including music from La Traviata and Madame Butterfly, performed by singers with piano.
“I saw you can book this opera separately from the dinner.. I would book just the opera. Dinner was okayish and we didn’t really feel welcome in the restaurant. The opera was awesome!”
Join an English-speaking art historian for a two-hour tour of Florence’s Duomo complex. You’ll visit the Baptistery, museum, Santa Reparata crypt, cathedral, and dome, with timed entry and a group capped at eight.
“Giana, our guide, did a wonderful job both showing us the most interesting sights in/around the Duomo, but also mixed in stories to help bring medieval Florence to life. Her command of the English language was adequate, and she worked hard to ensure we understood her stories. The buildings were amazing and the views from the top of the dome are breathtaking.”
Spend 3.5 hours at Opera in the Kitchen near Florence, cooking four traditional courses with chef Irene, gathering seasonal herbs, tasting family olive oil and wine, and eating dinner during a professional live opera performance. The small group is limited to 10.
“Beautiful surroundings, wonderful music and the cooking activity was fun and easy”
Spend one hour with a live guide exploring Florence’s Opera del Duomo Complex, then use your 72-hour Giotto Pass to visit the museum, cathedral, crypt, baptistry, and Giotto Bell Tower. Meet at My Green Tour in front of Eataly. English, Italian, Spanish, and French tours are available.
“Tour had to be cancelled. The tour guide could not get in the site. She did not have the needed paperwork or the tickets.”
Attend a one-hour evening concert at Florence’s Oratorio di Santa Maria Vergine della Croce al Tempio. Professional opera singers perform arias by Haydn, Mozart, Puccini, and Verdi with piano accompaniment. Choose your seat inside the historic church, then enjoy an elegant performance beginning at 9:15 pm.
“Amazing experience! Stunning performance by the opera singer and pianist. An absolute must if you’re visiting Florence. Highly recommended! ❤️”
Pick a genre, a room or a night of the week.
