SALE – The Festival

SALE – SANT’AMBROGIO IN FESTIVAL

FROM THURSDAY 15th TO SUNDAY 18th JUNE 2023
TWENTY YEARS AFTER THE OPENING OF TEATRO DEL SALE
THE FIRST EDITION OF THE FESTIVAL DEDICATED TO THE COMMUNITY OF SANT’AMBROGIO,

TO ITS WORKSHOPS, ITS STREETS, ITS MARKET, ITS SOULS

AND FABIO PICCHI

The event is part of the Estate Fiorentina 2023 events program of Florence Municipality.
The project was co-financed by the European Union – European Social Fund, under the Operational Programme Metropolitan Cities 2014-2020

A community event, an ode to life. SALE is the first festival dedicated to all those who give flavour to the neighbourhood and community of Sant’Ambrogio. The people, their souls, the events of an entire community, the brimming of daily life that unleashes from the market, in short, the everyday SALE that year after year has transformed Sant’Ambrogio into something more than just a neighbourhood.

Sant’Ambrogio, a place where food has always been the main character: from first quality, fresh ingredients of the market to the tasty dishes of the many dining options present. A unique historical centre, where humanity is strongly present, with its religious communities, its spirituality and its confrontation with a sometimes disruptive secularity. A place where you can breathe art in every workshop, by every craftsman, in its Teatro del Sale, in the theatre of life. A place where ‘making food’ and ‘getting your hands dirty’ are the values taught to us all by Fabio Picchi.

SALE is a popular festival dedicated to Saint Ambrose and Florence, shared with Florentines and non-Florentines, tourists and the curious, where moments of cheerful and festive conviviality will alternate with theatrical and musical performances. Teatro del Sale, created by Maria Cassi and Fabio Picchi as a large theatre, dance and music backshop, leaves its walls and for three days lives in the streets and squares of the district, bringing out its art and its food.
On its 20th anniversary, Teatro del Sale Firenze Città Aperta celebrates. Celebrates food. Celebrates Fabio. Celebrates with the communities of the neighbourhood, the Church, the Synagogue and the Mosque. The artistic direction of the festival is by Maria Cassi, the essence and creative soul of Teatro del Sale, who will involve everyone in that collective and revolutionary emotion that only live performance can unleash.

“…Thus for all of us the imperative with which we must face the next millennium: to protect food and art, artisan knowledge and talents of all kinds. It will be important to preserve what has been given to each one of us by those who have lived before, with an intimate need to leave the same heritage gained from our experiences to those who will come after us. In this, believe me, Florence provides the whole world with a perennial memory that becomes active every day with its community of citizens who are the first to hold it close in their hearts, caring for it and loving it immensely. And you know love is an absolutely good thing, especially if it is combined with freedom.” Fabio Picchi (from the book “Firenze passeggiate tra cibo e laica civiltà” Giunti Editore 2015).

A very special memory about Fabio Picchi, was also left by his dear friend Roberto Naldi, CEO of Toscana Aeroporti

“And what of Fabio: his wide culture of quality products, of Tuscan tradition, of his genius and his hands able to turn a simple thing in absolute excellence. His great humanity  and generosity made simple dishes become real caresses for our soul.
It is also but not only for this reason that Toscana Aeroporti embarked on a path of creation of the “Vola” brand under his direction so as to allow passengers to receive his caresses”.
Roberto Naldi

Fabio Picchi with Roberto Naldi

From the 15th to the 22nd of June, moreover, in each of our Cibrèo* restaurants you will be able to discover one of Fabio Picchi’s favourite plates to choose either as a single dish of the day, or as an entire 6-course menu to be enjoyed in a travelling formula in each of our restaurants. And this is not all: our festival days will take place on the same dates as World Sustainable Food Day and the National Day of Food Districts, which represent so many Producer Communities dear to us. These have wished to participate in the Festival and will honour Fabio and our Community with products from many territories.

*Cibrèo Ristorante, Cibrèo Trattoria, Cibrèo Caffè and Ciblèo in Sant’Ambrogio; Cibrèo Ristorante & Cocktail Bar and Cibrèo Caffè inside the Hotel Helvetia & Bristol.

Among the most salient events planned, not to be missed is the dinner that will bring all together, the religious communities of the district in a great collective evening without barriers that will be held as a preview on Thursday 15 June starting at 8 pm. And more: the official opening that will feature the famous street band Funk Off, followed by the exhibition of the Flag who won the competition organised for the students of the Accademia di Belle Arti of Florence, as well as the dinner dedicated to Fabio Picchi and the unedited show by Maria Cassi, all on Friday 16 June, the official opening day of the SALE Festival. Last but not least, the vegan dinner by the extraordinary Holistic Nutritionist Sridevi Jasti, realised in collaboration with Oscar Severini, Executive Chef of the Cibrèo Group, as well as the show Le Interviste Possibili (Possible Interviews) on Saturday 17 June involving well-known professionals and masters in a debate without taboos.
Lastly, the great collective lunch Sant’Ambrogio a Tavola -dedicated to charities- and the Il Ballo del SALE, which will be held on Sunday 18th of June to close the Festival under the market loggia in Piazza Ghiberti, dressed up for the occasion.

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