Thursday 16 January, demonstration and concert in Oltrarno for the Nidiaci, with a parade in Renaissance costume by the "Bianchi", Florence's famous players of an early form of football, buskers and artists.
In 1920, the American Red Cross bought a large garden and the buildings around it - known as "Il Nidiaci" - and gave it to the children of the then very poor San Frediano district of Oltrarno, and ever since it has been the heart of the district, where generations grew up.
In 2012, the "ludoteca" (toy library) and half the garden were taken over by a real estate speculator, who is turning them into luxury flats and a parking lot.
The remaining part of the garden is now kept open for the children and families by a group of volunteers, mainly parents of the district, who are demanding that the mayor of Florence keep his promise of over 2 years ago to return the area to the people of San Frediano.
We shall be meeting in Via della Chiesa near the Torrigiani school at 4.30 p.m. on Thursday January 16, and will then march through Piazza Santo Spirito and Piazza del Carmine, ending up with a concert at the Sala delle Leopoldine in Piazza Tasso, where we can listen to:
- the choir of children violinists of the Oltrarno, conducted by Wendy Yates
- the harpist Barbara Draeger
- the soprano Sabrina Ciavattini and the pianist Riccardo Manzoni.
The event is organized by the families of the Oltrarno together with Associazione Amici del Nidiaci in Oltrarno Onlus, the "Bianchi di Santo Spirito", Comitato Oltrarno Futuro and the singer Piero Pelù, who is a resident of Oltrarno.
Children are welcome!
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