Firenze
There's simply no arguing Florence's stake as a constant member of the top five cities in the world. It's the perfect size, with the perfect amount of sites and well-priced, world-class restaurants. Before this visit, I had only ever gone to Florence on day trips and stayed within the city walls. This time, I had a few days to explore, and stayed in a beautiful hotel in the hills surrounding Florence.
Where to go to buy jewelry on a casual bridge (but not actually buy any): Ponte Vecchio
The quintessential destination in Florence, this historic monument serves as the primary connection between the different parts of the city. Walking across the bridge, you will find almost exclusively jewelry stores, but the real gem of the bridge is actually the views it provides along the river. My personal favorite is from the ledge under the arcade on the north side of the bridge, where you can hop on up and gaze out over the architecturally stunning riverfront framing this legendary bridge-just don’t fall.
Not your average bridge!
Where to buy wine and drink it with pasta and veggies overlooking the Ponte Vecchio: Signorvino
Located in the most perfect spot to view the Ponte Vecchio, this half-restaurant-half-wine-shop is the most reasonably priced dinner with a view you can have in the city. The menu is incredibly diverse in sizes and options, and you can combine it with a bottle of wine that you physically get up yourself to go and chose (brilliantly simple). The views, food, and bang for buck are truly unbeatable, so don’t miss out on this place.
View from dinner, what more can you ask for?
How to get to the top of the Dome (and gladly skip seeing the inside of the Cathedral): I would normally advise against doing this but, on this one occasion, I did it. I listened to an Indian man offering a discounted tour, and actually took him up on his offer. We became abruptly desperate to see the dome after realizing we would not be able to the next day because of closures, and so when this man from Sri Lanka approached me, I reluctantly but gratefully obliged. And there are tons of guys like him attempting to lure the hoards of tourists into the little coffee shop they have partnered with to go on one of their tours. And quite frankly, at the end of the day, it was an absolutely lovely tour with a great guide and for a reasonable price ($50 USD for a guided trip up 500+ steps to the top of the dome and free admission to several different Florentine museums.
Walking around the base of the dome
Views from the top of the city
Where to eat like a local in the cutest piazza in the city: Osteria Santa Spirito
This is where you go if you want to break away (but not too far) from the touristy places of the city. Located in an adorable plaza, we had this sense of comfort in escaping areas otherwise bombarded by Zaras, Starbucks and Asian tour groups. The food is quintessential Italian food, complete with the best, freshest ingredients the city has to offer. My friend studied here for a semester, and she said this was her favorite place, so that, combined with how much me and my girlfriend loved it, you know that this is a place you have to visit.
Where to chase bubbles and watch the sun set from the city's ceiling: Piazza Michelangelo
Sit out by the bar and chose your dish wisely because this place isn’t cheap! But the views and service were some of the best in the city.
Hands down, one of the most beautiful viewpoints anywhere in the world-and it can be found just a 30 minute stroll down the river from the city’s hub. Have some food and drink at Ristorante La Loggia while the sun sets over the beautiful skyline, dominated by the Duomo. Or people watch from the edge of the hilltop terrace and observe the incredibly diverse cultures and personalities you can find in this city.
Where to see the David but not actually the David: Piazza Della Signoria
Considered an outdoor museum, this plaza is really the main heartbeat of the city. This is where you find everything a tourist would need to find, especially shopping. Personally, I loved that there is a to scale replica of the David statue, because frankly, I did not have the desire to wait in line for an hour to see the same thing and lose $20 in doing so. No matter what, you’ll end up in this square, as the city sort of expands around it, so be sure to take in the beautiful (free) sculptures scattered around this public space.
The famous doors in all its golden glory
Where to see the city doors (the actual city doors): Museum dell’Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore
So if you do want to spend money on a museum, this is a solid option. You can see the original Golden Doors by Lorenzo Ghiberti, and get a comprehensive lesson on the beauty of the city’s icon-the Duomo.
What not to do: Avoid any form of public transportation. Just walk, it’s the best city in the world (arguably) to do so.
Getting in, out, and around: We flew in, which I had never done, and it was a breeze. About a $25 15 minute taxi ride from the airport to city center. We took the train out of the city, which is always a breeze no matter where you are.
The rolling hills of Tuscany make for a beautiful landing