Rificolona Festival
The paper lantern festival that illuminates Florence on the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
About Rificolona
A centuries-old Florentine tradition
The Rificolona Festival is one of the most heartfelt events in the popular calendar of Florence, in the heart of Tuscany. It takes place every year on September 7th, the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, which the Church celebrates on September 8th. Its origins date back to the mid-17th century, when farmers and mountain dwellers from the countryside around Florence would travel to the city at night to venerate the Virgin Mary at the Basilica of Santissima Annunziata and sell their goods at the fair. To light their way at night, they carried paper lanterns attached to long poles: these were the ancestors of today's rificolone.
What is a rificolona
The rificolona is a lantern made of colored tissue paper with a small candle inside, mounted on a reed. In the past, it caricatured the country women dressed in their festive best; today, the shapes have multiplied, ranging from watermelons and moons to cartoon characters. The name is thought to derive from "fierucolona," a reference to the "fierucola," the small market that once enlivened the square.
The pilgrimage and the procession
The historical heart of the festival is the pilgrimage on foot that departs in the afternoon from the Sanctuary of Impruneta and covers about sixteen kilometers to Piazza Santissima Annunziata. Along the way, the pilgrims join the city procession in Piazza Santa Felicita and cross the historic center, passing through Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Via de' Calzaiuoli, and Piazza del Duomo, before reaching the basilica.
Peashooters and evening festivities
An unmistakable custom of the evening is the game of peashooters: children try to hit and set fire to others' rificolone with pellets made of putty or paper, shouting the ancient rhyme "ona, ona, ona, ma che bella rificolona". The festival culminates in Piazza Santissima Annunziata with the blessing of the rificolone, the awarding of prizes for the most beautiful and original lanterns, musical performances, and moments of celebration for all ages. Several districts of Florence also organize processions, workshops to build your own lantern, and dedicated initiatives, such as the parade and the burning of the effigy in the Mensola park.
A Florentine identity heritage
More than just a folkloric event, the Rificolona represents a deep bond between the city and its surrounding countryside, between religious devotion and popular celebration. For Florentines, it is a childhood tradition passed down from generation to generation, still capable today of filling the squares of the Municipality of Florence with lights, colors, and the voices of children.
Rificolona — edition 2026
The 2026 edition of the Rificolona Festival will be held on Monday, September 7, 2026, in Florence, following the fixed date of the eve of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. The detailed program, including the times for the pilgrimage from Impruneta, the route of the city procession, and the appointments of the individual districts, is traditionally published by the Municipality of Florence in the weeks preceding the event.
Based on recent editions, the day includes the pilgrimage on foot from the Sanctuary of Impruneta in the afternoon, the reunion with the city procession in Piazza Santa Felicita, the crossing of the historic center to Piazza Santissima Annunziata, and, in the evening, the blessing of the rificolone with awards and a musical show. Further details will be announced closer to the event.
Programme Rificolona 2026
The detailed program for the 2026 edition will be published by the Municipality of Florence in the weeks preceding the event. Based on the consolidated structure of the event, the day of September 7th traditionally includes:
- Afternoon — Departure of the pilgrimage on foot from the Sanctuary of Impruneta (approx. 16 km) towards Florence.
- Evening — Reunion with the city procession in Piazza Santa Felicita and crossing of the historic center (Ponte Vecchio, Piazza della Signoria, Via de' Calzaiuoli, Piazza del Duomo).
- In Piazza Santissima Annunziata — Games and entertainment, blessing of the rificolone, awarding of the most beautiful and original lanterns, musical show.
- In the Districts — Processions, workshops to build your own rificolona, and dedicated initiatives (including the parade and the burning of the effigy in the Mensola park).
The times and names of the artists involved will be officially announced later.
Highlights Rificolona 2026
- Historic pilgrimage on foot from the Sanctuary of Impruneta to Florence
- Procession of paper lanterns in the historic center to Piazza Santissima Annunziata
- Blessing of the rificolone and awarding of the most beautiful and original ones
- The traditional game of peashooters and the rhyme "ona, ona, ona, ma che bella rificolona"
Prices Rificolona 2026
Practical information — Rificolona
How to get there
Piazza Santissima Annunziata is located in the historic center of Florence, just a few minutes' walk from the Duomo. Those arriving by train at the Santa Maria Novella station can reach the square with a 15-minute walk. The center is a limited traffic zone (ZTL): it is recommended to use park-and-ride facilities and public transport.
When
The festival is held every year on September 7th, with the main festivities taking place in the late afternoon and evening. The pilgrimage from Impruneta starts in the early afternoon.
Costs
Participation is free and open to all; no reservation is required. The only optional expense is the purchase of a rificolona to carry in the procession.
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Where does it take place — Rificolona
Piazza Santissima Annunziata
Piazza Santissima Annunziata, 50122 Firenze