Discover Florence with me

My fav things in this breathtaking city.

Florence / Firenze

The city of art and was the capital of Italy in the past.

Florence it’s also the city of my childhood I went there with my fam every year and I never get bored by Florence, infact it’s one of the city in Italy where I go often Florence always helped me to recharge the batteries.

Once I read somewhere that the Family of Medici invested a lot in art, because they didn’t had a good military defence so they thought that no one would destroyed the city after they saw so much beauty.

No idea if it is the truths but in case it is they were brilliant!

I think that the cocktail Negroni is well know in all the world, but do u know that this cocktail born in 1919 in Florence? It took the name by the Conte (Count) Negroni.

To visit the city one of two days are enough two for me are the best, but without more time u have to be more selective and maybe u will visit only one or two museums.

I rarely talk about museums and historical part in the details, because everyone have different tastes, so u have to decide ur own perfect tour.

My purposte it’s to let u know my fav spots and restaurants that really deserved to be know.

The accent

U can understand if a person comes from here by their accent the have a particular pronunciation for the “C”. People in Tuscany are very funny not like in Emilia Romagna (my region) we are funnier, but are wonderful people infact part of my family comes from here 😁😁😁

What u can do here?

The problem is that after the pandemic people seems to be everywhere, before the 2020 go to Galleria Dell’Accademia, inside the Duomo or on the Giotto’s tower was easy u haven’t to wait and there was almost no queue. Now u have to book a lot and a lot of time before to have a chance to visit it.

Galleria dell’Accademia The David

Inside the Galleria u can admire a lot of artworks, I can’t remember any of them because I saw the David here.

When I saw the statue the first time I remember I felt like if I couldn't breathe, my eyes couldn’t stop looking to this marble slab perfectly carved. The position of the arms, how all muscles are tense, the veins on the hand and the hairs that looked so real. I don’t know if u can take pics inside, I was so full of emotions that I haven’t thought if was possible to take pics.

The David have a particular story two sculptors before Michelangelo tried to create a statue this two sculptors was Agostino di Duccio in 1463-64 and Antonio Rossellino in 1476, they both gave up because this enormous slab of marble which to me today seems like perfection was actually full of defects: holes, fragile points and cracks. I don't think there could be a better way to describe human nature. Plus it had a tall, narrow shape that made it difficult to sculpt.

In 1501 the commission went to Michelangelo 🥳

Michelangelo was 25yrs old and he always completed all the tasks assigned to him, so he couldn't not finish this one. If u want to know more about Michelangelo personality I suggest u the book: “L’ingegno e le tenebre” it the best book I ever read about Michelangelo, Da Vinci and other artists.

The marble plate already showed some hints resulting from the tests of his two previous colleagues, but he managed to see beyond the imperfections and created “The David”.

Ponte Vecchio

It’s the oldest bridge in Florence in fact is called: “ponte vecchio” “old bridge”

The first version of this bridge was built in 996 but was destroyed a lot of times with different floods. The last flood was in 1966 luckily wasn’t destroyed this time but only damaged like the other palace of the city. What I appreciated more about this was the fact that all the art’s students of all Italy gave an 1yr of their time to save  and restore all the artworks.

I suggest u of course to visit the bridge and look all the jewellery shop but the best view is near Galleria degli Uffizi.

Fontana del porcellino

This statue represents a boar and after the 2WW tourists started touching the nose of the boar as a good luck gesture hoping to go back in Florence soon. Now the tradition is to touch the nose and put a coin on the tongue of the boar if the coin will go down inside the grate it will bring u good luck. There is a “trick” only the heaviest coins go down like 1-2€.

I always go here to touch the nose.

Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio

On the wall of Palazzo Vecchio there is a brick on which a drawing by Michelangelo is engraved. It is called: “l’importuno” “the importunate” the story say that was a man that every day comes to see and comment the works of Michelangelo, so out of spite he decided to portray it on the palace. So when u will be here u have to find the drawing of Michelangelo.

Food Market

Mercato Centrale

This market is in the city centre of course is full of place where to eat or nice shops where u can buy almost everything: veggie,fruits, olive oil, pasta, wine etc. what I love more is reading the signs of the shops some of them are really funny.

The best view of the city for me:

From Boboli

Boboli is one of the biggest and historical parks in Florence u need to buy a ticket to visit it, it's also the garden of Palazzo Pitti that I suggest u to visit it only if u have more time.

Piazzale Michelangelo

Go here only if u have 2 days, if u have only one I don’t suggest u to go here it takes a while to reach 40minutes walking.

But from that point the view is breathtaking u see all Florence I think that with the sunset have to be incredibly beautiful.

Where to eat

A good morning start with a good breakfast!

How u know the typical Italian breakfast it’s cornetto (croissant) + caffè espresso or cappuccino.

My fav breakfast it’s treat myself with a slice of cake or a pastries.

Iginio Massari

Via De’ Vecchietti, 3

Iginio Massari is one of the best pastry chef in Italy, known by everyone in particular for his funny accent.

The pastry shop it’s in the city centre but a little bit hidden so check on google map for the right direction.

If u want to try the best this is your place, of course the price are higher compared to other bar but we live only once right?

If u want to go big u have to order the Maritozzo that he serve in different version, believe the pastry and croissant are so stunning that u would order everything 😍😍.

Caffè Astra Duomo

Via De’ Cerrettani, 56/r

It’s one of my fav bar in Florence, in particular because here u can find… the GIANT CAPPUCCINO called “CAPPUCCIONE” and it’s really convenient only 3-3,50€.

The brioche are really good they have a big selection of sweet and salty versions.

The problem will be choosing ur favourite, for sure in Florence u will walk a lot so u can also treat yourself with 2 croissants why no? It’s still an holiday right?

Caffè Gilli

Via Roma, 1r

It’s the most historical bar of the city it’s born in 1733.

I went here only once, the price are higher compared Iginio Massari but here u pay for the quality and the historical place.

If u go here u have to go big, so which could be the best breakfast in this case??

TIRAMISÙ AND CAPPUCCINO OF COURSE!!

For me cake at breakfast it’s a special treat but TIRAMISÙ it’s like a Royal treatment.

If u prefer other places for ur breakfast don’t worry u can come back for the aperitif (Aperitivo) and enjoy a delicious Negroni (I think I’m the only one in the world that don’t like negroni 🤪), they also have a big selection of cocktails that can satisfy everyone.

Gelato/Ice Cream

Of course in Italy we are famous for Gelato (ice cream) I always don’t understand why in other countries it’s so expensive.

My suggestion for this is to avoid Gelaterie (ice cream shop) that have mountains of ice cream inside the trays. Those type of ice cream shops are traps for tourists.

I always go in the same ice cream shop since I was a kid, no kidding I'm one of their oldest (I'm still young 😜) customer.

Festival Del Gelato

Via Del Corso, 75

I think that even the name it’s great what’s there is better than a Festival of ice cream?

I went here the first time with my parents when I was 11yrs old.

What can I say? I was love at the first taste, I stil remeber the flavours: wildberries and rose, I never tasted an ice cream that tasted like a flower and that thing was a real surprise for me.

Inside this ice cream shop u will find so many different flavours that you won't know which one to choose, but don’t worry are all incredible delicious.

Restaurants and Street Food:

I always have street food here I went at restaurants only two times.

The majority of the Italian’s dishes are all from poor kitchen, in the past people had few ingredients of great quality to combine together to create tasty and nutritions dishes, that become part of our heritage.

If u check our recipes u will see that u haven’t to a professional chef to cook an Italian dish.

One of the most typical street food it’s “Lampredotto”, it’s an experience that u have to do once in ur life, it’s like a stew made with offal served with green or chilli sauce or with both.

Antico Ristorante Sasso Di Dante

Piazza delle Pallotte, 6R

It’s located where there is the Duomo I went here a lot of yrs ago. I remember that the restaurant is really small so now for sure is better to book a table.

They serve typical dishes like: pici all’aglione, fiorentina (T-Bone), pappa al pomodoro and peposo; if u go for lunch I suggest u to eat pasta I had peposo that was delicious but I would loved to have an 1h for a nap later 😅😂😂.

Trippaio del porcellino

Piazza del Mercato Nuovo

It’s an institution in Florence since 1893 no kidding, they serve different type of lampredotto. Their chart is exactly back the Fontana del Porcellino.

I don’t think there is a better street food to represent Tuscany is one of those experiences to make once in ur life. I will explain what it’s later.

Antico Vinaio

Via dei Neri 65r

In the last yrs this became a franchising u can find them everywhere in the world.

Their video are always viral, u can check on YouTue the owner is famous for the phrase: “BADA COME LA FUMA” that mean: “Look how warm it is”.

They serve a wonderful schiacciata filled with cheese and cured meat.

U can choose different filling options, if u choose this place I suggest u to go at the opening time and to bring schiaccia with u for later.

Lampredotto Cart

Via dell’Ariento, 24

I went here the last time in Florence, the owner is a great woman she love talking with everyone.

Of course she serves lampredotto and also boiled meat u can choose to add salsa verde that is a sauce made with garlic, olive oil and parsley or the chilli sauce or both.

Cernacchio

Via della Condotta, 38R

I found this place a lot of time ago during a day of rain, I was so cold that day that I wanted only two things: something warm to eat and an hot bath.

What I had was a wonderful, warm and delicious panino scodella with lampredotto, panino scodella it’s a type of bread empty inside filled with diffent topping: lampredotto, sausage and chicory, meatballs etc.

It was the best comfort food I could find in that rainy day, my mum instead ordered a dish of rice with saffron and veggies.

They serve also: pappa al pomodoro, panzanella, peposo, of course sandwiches, meatballs every day there is something different.

They have few seats inside so go here early if u didn’t want to stay standing up waiting.

Buca del Vino/ The hole of wine

After the pandemic people from Florence decided to reopen the hole of Wine.

What it is? It’s a small window where u can order ur glass of wine and u see only the hand of the waiter, more or less like being served at the house of Family Addams 😂.

U find this little window in all the city centre but check the point on the map to be sure to go in one of those.

My suggestion

My suggestion for this city like for other it’s to forget to have a map in ur phone, simply get lost, just walk following the flow and u will discover even more gorgeus spot.

If u liked my first and official post don’t forget to leave a ❤️ and to share.

And of course if u will visit Florence soon or later u have to telling me if u loved this city like I do.

Have a wonderful day folks! 😊