Florence

RENAISSANCE city with tuscan flair

 

A cradle of the Renaissance, Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and is filled with enchanting treasures at every corner. Come here and feast on the city’s world-class art and gourmet Tuscan cuisine.

 
 

The breakdown

Language
Italian. Frequented by tourists, you won’t have a problem getting by with English.

Currency
Euro.

Best time to go
Considering the weather, we suggest going from April-June or September-October. These are also Florence’s busiest and most expensive travel months.

 
 

STAY

We came for a long weekend and decided to stay in a beautiful loft-style Airbnb directly overlooking the Duomo cathedral.

Some lustworthy stays include Hotel AdAstra, a converted early 19th-century palazzo, and the boutique bed & breakfast Soprano Suites, with its 11 individually-designed rooms.

 
 
 
 

EAT & DRINK
From lunch ‘till dinner
Whenever we are in Italy, we know we are about to eat well. Florence is no exception.

Whether for breakfast or lunch we can highly recommend La Ménagere 1896. A relaxed café, decorated with vintage furniture, doles out pastries and coffee, while the more glamorous adjoined bar offers up experimental cocktails.

Floret (inside Luisa Via Roma), Enoteca Pitti Gola e Cantina and Santa Rosa Bistrot (with a secret garden) all offer delicious food and seating outside, which is a must during the warmer months.   

An absolute must for dinner is Trattoria Cammillo. Full of history, Cammillo opened in 1945 and is an institutional Florentine keepsake. Their tagliata di filetto di manzo con carciofi is mouthwatering, as is their carpaccio di gamberi.

Il Santo Bevitore is another must-try with an extensive wine selection to boast. At La Giostra you are greeted by walls filled with pictures of all the celebrities that have dined here. Offering traditional dishes from the Tuscan and Austrian tradition, it always promises an amusing night.

If you are looking for a casual night of Pizza try Pizzeria Tamero and for no-frills Tuscan food Trattoria Sostanza hits the mark.

Aperitivo

Italy is the land of aperitivo – in our minds at least – which means lots of pre-dinner drinks as the sun begins to set, and the occasional grappa after dinner. When in Florence we love to stop by Da Florence, Il Locale, Manifattura, or Le Volpi e l’Uva for pre- or post-dinner drinks. Walking along the River Arno you will also find dozens of cafes suited for an aperitif. When the sun is out La Terrazza is one of our favorite rooftop lounge bars.

Rasputin is a go to for a solid late-night drink. The bar is located in an unmarked building one street over on Via Maggio. Find the gold plaque and knock twice on the door.

Gelaterias 
Italy is also the land of gelato. Some of our favorite gelaterias worth a visit include:

  • Gelateria Eduardo (their cinnamon gelato is to die for)

  • Gelateria La Carraia at Piazza Nazario Sauro

  • Gelateria dei Neri

 
 

SEE & EXPLORE

If it’s your first time in Florence the iconic Uffizi Gallery is a must, boasting an extensive collection with paintings by 15th-century Italian master like Giovanni Bellini and Andrea Mantegna, as well as ancient Roman sculptures.

Florence’s only modern art museum, the Museo Novecento chronicles 100 years of Italian painting. If you love the works of the likes of Lucio Fontana and Giorgio Morandi, this one is for you. The contemporary art scene in Florence is small but worth exploring at Biagiotti Progetto Arte and Galleria il Ponte.

On a sunny day, stroll through the serene Giardino di Boboli, where valuable sculptures like the "Bathing Venus" of Giambologna are exhibited.

Taking a fresh approach to the classical city, we visited the Museo Salvatore Ferragamo and the Gucci Garden, a combination of restaurant, museum, and shop, for an immersive experience into the House of Gucci.

If food is still on your mind (because when isn’t it), stop by the Mercato Centrale for fresh ricotta from Franco Parola, handmade tortellini from Raimondo Mendolia to take home with you, and some pine-nut gelato from Cristian Beduschi.

Stop by AquaFlor Firenze for masterfully created scents or Lorenzo Villoresi if you prefer a bespoke scent. Richard Ginori, now owned by Gucci, for classic high-end porcelain tableware, and the small men’s shoe store Stefano Bemer.

Florence is the kind of city where you should let yourself get lost; there is always a hidden gem waiting for you around every corner.