GETTING THERE //
We were a bit sad to leave Siena, but everyone said we would love Florence and we still had so much left to see. We boarded at the same bus stop where we arrived just a couple days prior and headed north. For some reason, we always had a tough time finding the tickets, to the point that it kind of became a joke. No worries, though: for around €10, you can't beat the cost of the ticket! A couple of hours went by, and once we got into Florence, we cautiously listened for our stop. To make sure we didn’t miss it, we found it helpful to use the GPS on our phone periodically. As we were about to arrive, I took a photo of myself to remember just how happy I was at that moment, riding on the bus surrounded by strangers and not knowing for sure where we were going. I understand many people would hate that situation, but at that moment, I was soaking it all up. I thought about my family and how I wished so badly they could all be there, taking in those new experiences with me.
ACCOMODATIONS //
We stayed at an Airbnb in Santa Spirito, which couldn't have been in a better location. The place itself wasn't the best; it had a bit of a musty smell and was pretty dark. It also didn't help that it rained on and off the first two days, we were there. However, it was within walking distance to everything, yet far enough out of the touristy areas that we could relax. There were many fantastic restaurant options just minutes from the apartment. Just down the street, there was a local pub that offered a long list of beers that included IPAs, which were hard to come by in Italy!
EXPLORING //
Once we settled in, we freshened up and set off exploring. By exploring, I mean aimlessly wandering while people-watching. Along the way, we found some places of interest.
MERCATO CENTRALE - A food lovers dream and the perfect way to spend a rainy day in Florence! We arrived at Mercato Centrale a little late, and the wet market was closed downstairs, but we walked around the outside and looked at all the goods, then went into the market and up to the food court. We grabbed a beer and sat and people-watched for a couple of hours. There were tons of different food to make our mouths water, and the atmosphere was lively for an overcast, rainy day.
Outside you can go shopping at the San Lorenzo market where you can find leather goods, pottery, and souvenirs. It’s a great place to walk around for a few hours.
BOBOLI GARDENS - I had such high hopes for the Boboli Gardens. We were staying about 15 minutes away, so it was an easy walk over. After waiting in a long line, however, we finally entered, and I honestly felt a little letdown. There was a lot of grass and bushes, but beyond that, I wasn't impressed with the greenery. The fountains were all turned off and full of murky brown water. Granted it was October, but I expected a bit more life. On a positive note, it was a lovely place to walk around and see some of the sculptures. The mountain views looking out over the city were beautiful. I would suggest going if you have multiple days in Florence.
PONTE VECCHIO BRIDGE - One of the most popular bridges in the world, the Ponte Vecchio, which mean “old bridge,” joins the center city with the district of Oltrarno, on the south bank of the Arno River. From a distance, it looks slightly like a bunch of little homes stuck between two banks of the river. The bridge is home mostly to jewelers selling gold and silver. Although the area was really crowded, it's worth the walk over. Rumor has it that, in World War II, it was the only bridge not bombed in Florence because Adolf Hitler took a liking to it. Further history of this bridge is fascinating and worth reading about.
PIAZZA DELLA SIGNORIA - A free, open-air museum centrally located in Florence, the Piazza Della Signoria is home to some really beautiful sculptures. There is a giant replica of Michelangelo's David, the admirable Fountain of Neptune, and our favorite: Perseus with the Head of Medusa. Seeing the square in the evening is magical. It's the perfect place to have some gelato or coffee and take in the surroundings. Don't miss this!
Uffizi Gallery - Italy's most famous art museum. Expect long lines at the Uffizi Gallery, as they have over 1.5 million visitors each year. They suggest buying your tickets online (€4-8) ahead of time. Unfortunately, the museum was closed the day we had planned to go, so check hours of operation in advance.
DUOMO - Cathedral of Santa Maria deli Fiore - The Duomo is massive – almost unreal. We didn't go in as the lines wrapped around the back of the Duomo, but we walked around and admired every intricate detail. The colors and features that filled every inch left me speechless. Once inside, the views from the top are supposed to be breathtaking. I've added this to my list for next time I find myself in Florence.
EATS //
Santo Spirito / San Frediano Neighborhood
RISTRANTE TRATTORIA ANGIOLINO - DINNER - We had dinner here twice, and if we had stayed another night, it would have been three times. It was so close to where we stayed, and the atmosphere was warm and cozy, making it an incredible experience. The service was exceptional and made it feel like dining with family. The second time around we had the same waiter, who remembered we were there a couple of nights prior and said, “since you already had the mushroom ravioli, I would suggest the rigatoni.”
IL SANTO BEVITORE - DINNER - We randomly passed by this place on the way home one night and saw people waiting out front. We loved how buoyant the atmosphere felt just from outside. The next evening, we passed by around 5pm and made a last minute reservation for 7pm. They only take one seating for the night, because that's just how long Italian meals last.
WESTIN EXCELSIOR - ROOFTOP DRINKS - We had been on our feet all day, and I needed to sit and relax. Coty said, “we are going there,” and pointed up to a rooftop. We took the elevator up and rested for a couple of hours until sunset, drinking overpriced wine. I figured we were paying for the view during the golden hour and quickly got over the price. I'm sure there are way cooler rooftop bars, but this one was nice for the view.
PIAZZA SANTO SPIRITO MARKET - GRAB & GO - The market was just around the corner from us. We enjoyed some mystery meat sandwich (I think it was sausage) with a mayo-like sauce and grilled peppers. We never found out what it was, but it was delicious and well worth a couple of euros.
VENCHI - GELATO - Gelato shop right near the leather market. Oh my, this place was excellent. Good luck picking your flavor(s)! But let's be real – most gelato in Italy is on point! Eat as you walk through the market or go upstairs to see if you can claim a window seat overlooking the market.
WHAT WE BROUGHT HOME //
I picked up a little leather crossover bag for my mom at the leather market. I was able to bargain with them and purchased the purse for €20. Across the street, we picked up a small bag of chocolates from Venchi. The one thing we got for ourselves was a letter opener from the Santo Spirito market – something we knew we could use around the office.
TIPS FOR VISITING FLORENCE //
If you want the climb one of the towers, visit one or a few of the museums, or see the gardens you need to book a ticket/time slot in advance to assure you don’t miss you.
Don’t pack your itinerary full of museums and galleries. Yes, there is a lot to see, but our favorite way to explore Florence was just walking around.
Eat as much gelato as possible. The more you walk, the more gelato you earn.
WHAT WE SPENT //
BUDGETING: A general outline of what we spent in USD.
Airbnb for four nights - $426 total - $106/night
Meals for 2 - Breakfast $10 (pastry and a cappuccino), Lunch $20-30 (Usually pasta or pizza), Average Dinner $50 (Usually bread, an appetizer, two mains, wine, and dessert)
Tickets for Boboli Gardens - $15
Bus ticket - From Siena to Florence - $10
Train ticket - High speed from Florence to Venice - $70 each
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN TO FLORENCE OR ARE PLANNING WHAT ARE SOME THINGS I MISSED? COMMENT BELOW. xx ASH
