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Ted and I celebrated our 25th anniversary with a trip to Italy! This series is part travel diary, part field guide. For each city, I’ll share places to go, food worth finding, and a few practical tips.
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First stop: Florence.
Getting there. We flew into Rome, took a short train ride from the airport to Rome’s main train station, then rode the train about 90 minutes to Florence. From the station, we walked to our Airbnb.
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Florence was a storybook. From the cobblestone streets to the magnificent cathedrals, everywhere you look there’s another detail and another reason to stop and take it in. We soaked up the beauty, made memories with friends, and felt grateful to be there.
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Florence is compact enough to cross on foot in under an hour, yet it holds more art per square block than almost anywhere on Earth.
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Day One: We visited the Duomo, wandered the streets, watched live opera singers, had an amazing dinner at La Tenda Rossa, and finished the day with gelato.
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Day Two: We started with a delightful breakfast at Caffe Gilli, a beautiful spot right in the piazza (heart of Florence), where my coffee arrived in a silver teapot!
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After, we did more wandering. Florence is an incredible city to get lost in.
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The Ponte Vecchio. We crossed the famous “jewelry bridge,” which has shops on the bottom and homes on top. It was originally home to the city’s butchers, who could toss their waste straight into the river. In 1593, Grand Duke Ferdinand I de’ Medici replaced the butcher shops with goldsmiths and jewelers, to make the city feel more distinguished and ‘upscale.’ The bridge has been a jewelry destination for over 400 years now!
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Forte di Belvedere. We climbed some stairs, wandered a bit more, and stumbled upon the Forte di Belvedere. We climbed to the top and found sweeping views of Florence.
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Lunch and a treat. We had amazing sandwiches at Il Girone De’ Ghiotti, and afterward, the most delicious affogato from Vivoli.
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The Bargello. Next, we visited the Bargello Museum, inside one of Florence’s oldest buildings. It holds ancient artifacts and sculptures by Donatello and Michelangelo.
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Shopping and a wine window. We wandered more streets, shopped, admired the architecture, and stopped at one of Florence’s famous wine windows, a tiny hole-in-the-wall where you can order a glass right from the street. What a unique experience!
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Our last dinner: Pasta Class Florence. We wrapped up our time in Florence by rolling up our sleeves and making our own pasta from scratch. It was fun, informative and, best of all, delicious. We learned the techniques behind the dough, shaped our own noodles by hand, and then sat down to enjoy the fruits of our labor. It was the perfect way to end our stay, and a reminder that some of the best travel memories happen around a table.
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Tips for Florence
- Bring ear plugs. The city doesn’t sleep. We heard loud engines, sirens and people having a great time at all hours. If you want a good night’s sleep, wear ear plugs!
- Bring plug adapters. The European outlets are different than what we use in the US. This is my favorite one.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes. You’ll be on your feet all day. These shoes kept me comfortable for 20K+ daily steps! Ted wore these and said they were as comfortable as sneakers.
- Pack hand sanitizer. You won’t always find soap or a sink to wash your hands.
- Carry small bills. Get euros in 1s, 5s, 10s and 20s, not 50s.
- Take photos of your passports in case anything goes missing.
- Two nights in Florence was great for hitting the highlights.
Up Next: Tuscany!
From Florence, the journey continues to Tuscany.
If you’ve been to Italy, I’d love to hear your favorites in the comments.
