A Quick Guide to Florence
Florence is one of my favorite cities in Italy/ Europe. It is the perfect combination of modern and historical. There is an abundance of things to see, do and of course, eat!! I was in Florence over the holidays and had the most magical time. I had only ever been to Italy in the summer time but it was especially magical during the Christmas season.
Here is a quick guide to fill a short trip to Florence!
What we did:
*beyond all the amazing museums and other must-see tourist attractions*
Ponte Vecchio: Ponte Vecchio is a bridge that crosses the Arno River and is covered with jewelry shops. You can find gold pieces for a very reasonable price, plus it is absolutely beautiful and has great views of the city.
Shopping and MORE shopping: There is SO much shopping in Florence. If you walk towards the river from the Duomo, there is shopping galore! You can find your traditional shops (Zara, etc), your high-end goods and shops that are unique to Florence (leather market).
Go to a soccer game: This was such an amazing and unique experience! I had no idea what to expect but it was super fun and the energy was great! We went to see Firenze vs. Roma. Note: I would bring your own food/ snacks.
Take a cooking class: What better place to take a pasta cooking class than Florence? We did an Airbnb Cooking Experience and made gnocchi and it was really something special.
What we ate:
Osteria Belle Donna: What a treat Belle Donna is! It is a tiny restaurant that is almost in a cozy cave and the food is absolutely delicious. We had a lot to eat but the Florentine steak and white beans stood out!
Mercato Centrale: Mercato Centrale is a food lovers dream, AND it is all under one roof. In the middle of the market there is a bar, which makes the best spritzes (Aperol spritzes, limoncello spritzes and raspberry spritzes). We tried a variety of restaurant stalls but our favorites included the pizza from the pizzeria , the fritto misto from “The Fried Specialties”, and the hand-held pizza filled with meatball from Il Trapizzino.
All’antico Vinaio: This was probably one of the most delicious sandwiches I have ever tried. EVER. The bread is light and crispy, the meat is fresh and flavorful and they have a wonderful variety of unique spreads (eggplant, mushroom and truffle, garlic aioli, etc). I would have gone here every day for lunch if we could/ there wasn’t such a long line!
BBQ Trattoria Barbeque: BBQ Trattoria Barbeque is a total local’s spot and off the beaten path. It is deep in a beautiful neighborhood on the Santo Spirito side of Florence and you definitely go for meat. I would recommend any of the in-house butchered steaks and the roasted veggies.
I Fratellini: Because one sandwich place wasn’t enough… try I Fratellini! These sandwiches are absolutely delicious as well! The meat is fresh and perfectly sliced and the cheese and condiments are amazing. There are slightly less options but simple is best! The bread is also a bit different and more like a roll.
