Leaving Rome for Florence was bittersweet but exciting. A short train ride will bring you right to the Duomo, the famous David and yes…more gelato.
We went right into the city after getting settled. Flower covered carriages pulled by chestnut horses, cappuccino cheers, couples walking arm in arm, little children chasing bubbles…everything felt alive here.
Where to stay
We stayed at the Hotel Lungarno Vespucci 50. This hotel is in a Renaissance house that overlooks the River Arno. The hotel is near the picture perfect Ponte Vecchio bridge as well as the Duomo. It was a decent walk but a short bike ride. The location was tucked away from the busy city. The service here was amazing. The front desk was so helpful and kind. There was a beautiful terrace, private parking, bike rental, as well as a patio for guests. The terrace is the perfect spot to read and sip on your freshly brewed espresso with a view. Below are some pictures from online! Check out my instagram travel highlight for some videos!
Where to go
The Tower of Palazzo Vecchio → Your own stair master for the day but this one is ancient with a view. This was a spiraling adventure to the top.
The Duomo (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore) → You can’t miss this one, especially if you have a view of the skyline! The Duomo was a masterpiece. Keep a lookout for the gates of paradise as well. Click here for some facts about the Duomo, including who won the public competition for the special design.
Galleria dell’Accademia → The home of Michelangelo’s towering David. This spot is a few blocks from the Duomo. Tickets can be reserved in advance here. We were able to explore this gallery with our tour guide who managed to have us skip the line! Such an angel! Our tour guide took us through so much of this museum in such detail. If you take the time to do your research prior, you will find so many beautiful pieces here!
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday from 8:15 AM to 6:50 PM.
$ –> 12 euros (about $14.40) for adults; free for kids 18 and younger
Gucci Garden → I only knew about this until after leaving Florence…I guess that means I have to go back? This was a popular spot I saw on social media!
Piazza Della Signoria – This is a beautiful open piazza. Some statues found here include the David replica, perseus with medusas head (avoid looking her in the eyes) and the Rape of the Sabine Women. This is a great place to people watch and research some more about these statues.
Bolbi Gardens → Check this out you are looking for a day to trade the busy city streets for some green sanctuary. Home to beautiful gardens, fountains and more.
Stibbert Museum → This is a spot for the history major. This felt like stepping into the movie a night at the museum. Time stood still here. This museum has endless artifacts. This collection of armour from different civilizations and parts of the globe was wildly impressive. Worth the bike ride to the top of the hill of Montughi!
Shopping Things
Ricami Veronica → Here was a cute spot to shop for a customized gift to bring back home. Aprons, oven mits, bibs, etc! I got my Nonna a personalized apron with our family saying in Italian. She loved it! If you have a Nonna who you love to make tiramisu with she will love this! (Picture proof below)
Leather! Leather Leather! → Florence is known for their great leather. If you need a new bag stop in one of the many shops.
Massimo Rovinale → Our tour guide brought us to this little shop. Here you can buy scarves, gloves, and all sorts of accessories. They were so kind and helpful here. The style scarf I ended up buying reminded me of a Monet painting. The prices in here were reasonable as well.
Scarpelli Mosaici → Stop in here if you have some money to spend on a one of a kind gift or art piece for your home. This workshop continues a long tradition that dates back from the Renaissance period. These mosaics are unbelievably unique and beautiful. We were lucky enough to visit when one of the artists was cutting stone. Not many artists still practice this intricate stone cutting technique, so this is a true gem of Florence. Each color is a different carved out stone. The picture on the left is a work in progress which gives you a better idea of the detailed process.
Food
La Bottega del Buon Caffè → If you want to skip out on the $5 pizza and treat yourself to one of the best meals in Florence, this is your next stop. The staff was unbelievably gracious towards us. Our server even gave us some treats on the house. (Pictured on the right…I thought the entire thing was some chocolate block dessert…to my discovery it was only the little truffles.) The food was unbelievable. If you are looking for a more upscale restaurant to try new things and get the best of the best in Florence, this is your next reservation.
Venchi → If you think a chocolate fountain is impressive you have to visit for Venchi’s chocolate wall. The chocolate wall was enough for the visit! The gelato was delicious!
Ristorante Caffè Pitti → A great spot to sit outside for lunch before heading into the Bolbi Gardens.
Ristorante Il Paiolo → We stopped here for dinner. This restaurant had a cozy and rustic feel. There were long white candles burning at every table. Quite the romantic touch!
Click here for some more Italy travel tips!
One night we were biking back home and got caught in the rain. I remember pedaling as fast as I could, soaked to the bone…I finally slowed my eager feet. I threw my head back, eyes on the stars and just laughed. Sometimes we are pedaling so fast to get out of the storm that we forget to just live in it or dance in it. Life isn’t perfect and travel is far from perfect. Take the time to soak in the little messy moments of adventure…sometimes literally.
Always,
Madison
