Did I tell you I’m on my way to Florence, Italy today? Yippee!
Ben Blair is presenting a paper at a language learning conference on Friday, so we decided to make a parents-only getaway. Doesn’t that sound romantic? Our dear friends, Audrey & Nic, are taking good care of our children while we’re away. I feel so darn lucky! I plan to eat nothing but pizza and gelato. : )
We’ve never been to Florence before. Any don’t miss recommendations?
Vintage postcard of Florence found here.
oh my heavens! I’m sure it’s been mentioned but you MUST go to the flea market!! so many wonderful things there! and it’s a great place for men’s ties, leather goods, the list goes on! I bought a beautiful watercolor there from a street vendor!
Oh Jealous! I stayed in Florence for about amonth on a Study Abroad. There are the obvious things to go see that you should defininitly visit, but one of my favorite things (besides the gelato!) was visiting the Piaaz Michelangelo. It’s on hill and gives a great overlook of the city. I also really enjoyed the Bobli gardens.
The Accademia and Uffizi Galleries are a must see. We had the BEST bruchetta I have EVER tasted in Florence, unfortunately I can’t remember the name of the restaurant where we had it. Have so much fun, I LOVE Italy!
Ristorante Accademia-amazing food-close to Uffizi.Have fun!!
I highly recommend going to the San Lorenzo church and seeing Michelangelo’s New Sacristy (and read about it beforehand so you know the significance of it all). I found it breathtaking and didn’t want to leave. Reserve your tickets in advance for going to the Academia museum to see The David, you get to skip the long line! And it is definitely worth it for the David alone.
Have a lovely time! Hope you write a post about your trip. I’ve always wanted to go there!
Cheers,
Kristina
Enjoy the time with your husband! I’m excited for you!
Hi! I am from Florence! I can give you many recommendations. For art could be great to visit: Museo degli Uffizzi and Museo dei ragazzi (inside of Palazzo Vecchio). As small museum I like Cappella dei Magi. Moreover you should walk in the centre of the city: Ponte Vecchio, around the Duomo, Santa Croce, piazza Santo Spirito… The centre of my city isn’t very big! If you want also suggestions where eat well, I can say to you that there are good restaurants as Perseus (very famous for meat), Santo Bevitore (a little bit more chic) or La Beppa fioraia! For pizza may try il Pizzaiuolo or Osteria del Caffe’ italiano (but here there are only 3 types of pizza). I hope you will love my city! Enjoy your vacation! Cheers.
Oh it is my husband and my favorite city ever – the streets were the most fun, chalk artists, street art/mimes. everything, wonderful clothes stores to peep into, wonderful coffee shops and wonderful food stores – gotta have their pasta!!! Really the galleries are fine but just street walking and well EATING – every was good to eat!!
Enjoy your trip… I want Italian gelato now!
I love Firenze! There’s so much to see! Definitely get gelato at Grom (right by the Duomo) and see the David!
Two recommendations, one for food and one for inexpensive handmade jewelry:
Da Natalino, Borgo degli Albizi, 17/r (The pear and gorgonzola ravioli will make you swoon, I promise. We discovered this place when we asked some natives where they prefer to eat!)
Fiori del Tempo, Via del Corso (It looks like a closet on the south side of the street, but you’ll love it!)
you must buy a lock and permanent marker at one of the street vendors and then put your names or initials on it, and then take it to one of the places where couples leave the locks – there are bundles of them in several spots around the city – mostly by the river…it’s such a romantic thing to do! locks of love!!!
Golden View Open Bar. Boboli Gardens. The Duomo at night with gelato.
Don’t miss the market! And there is a lovely little silversmiths shop behind the Duomo where I got a great pair of earrings. I also bought a fabulous hand made (blown) glass bowl for my cousin’s wedding, but I can’t remember exactly where the shop was, somewhere in the vicinity of the Duomo.
Of course David is a must see, but I found the best way to appreciate him was to stand and stare for who knows how long – after awhile, you would swear he was breathing.
And if your husband is anything like mine, a side trip to the Ferrari museum at Modena, is a must see. If you are lucky, you’ll see them testing vehicles (actually you’ll hear it first) – just watch for the crowds of men perched on the high fence surrounding the track.
I am a tad envious, I love Florence. Enjoy your stay,
Oh Florence, how i miss thee!!! My husband and I were married in Florence 5 years ago. Everything about this city is romantic. Just embrace the beauty and make wonderful memories with your husband. You can’t go wrong!
I hope you’re having a wonderful time! Enjoy your time without the kids. You will be back with them soon enough.
Don’t miss the beautiful church of Santa Maria Novella – and the beautiful pharmacy of the same name, which has been selling exquisite perfumes since 1612. They’re both near the train station. http://www.smnovella.com/ (I love the Orange Blossom cologne).
I second the Piazza Michelangelo at sunset. Try to go to the Boboli Gardens on the hour – it’s magical to hear all the bells of Florence ringing from up there. The Fra Angelico frescos at the church and convent of San Marco are amazing.
I think the best gelato in Florence is at Grom, Via del Campanile angolo via delle Oche – right near the Duomo. I love the Crema di Grom.
We visited Firenze last October and the art, the streets, the Renaissance ghosts round every corner made it enchanting. Don’t miss the bath and body shop across from the cathedral. Every morning I use the soap I dream of Italy. Ciao!
watch the sunset over the arno.
Woo Hoo!! I can’t wait to read (and see) all about your trip! I LOVE living vicariously through you Gabby!!
awwww, that’s so sweet! I haven’t the slightest idea what I should recommend (given that I have never seen Florence) except: have fun, guys! You really deserve it! Have a great trip, enjoy yourselves and your time together!
My family was living in Florence this time last year. I don’t even know where to start…your days will be filled just visiting the main attractions. Do go up to Piazzale Michelangelo (bus 12 or 13, one takes you up and the other brings you back down, but I think 12 takes you up the faster way). They have a great gelateria and restaurant at the top, there is one at the bottom, but it may have already closed for the season. Have fun. It is such a lovely city…especially at night. One of my favorite things to do was hop on my bike and ride up and down the streets of centro, and be sure to enjoy the night life (the Italians never seem to sleep at night). You never know when a band will go marching by or a parade will start. If the indoor market is open, they have great homemade food and there is a restaurant near Santa Croce that has great pizza. This is making me homesick for Italy. Enjoy!
you can’t go wrong! acqua al due is one of my all time favorite restaurants. it’s at #2 acqua street (hence the name). the pasta tasting is the best way to sample all that is great about italian cooking. inSANEly delicious. i don’t have time to read the other comments, though i’m sure anything you do/eat/see will be great! ahve fun!
oh! and whatever is the name of the museum where the David is, you have to see the unfinished Michelangelo’s that are lining the hall towards it. they are truly extraordinary. please don’t walk by them straight to the David.
If you are looking for a romantic place to have dinner I recommend you http://www.goldenviewopenbar.com/# Golden view opera bar near Ponte Vecchio. We celebrate our first wedding aniversary right there and it was unforgettable. Good italian food, nice music and amazing views of Ponte Vecchio, ask for a table by the window and enjoy Florence!!!! you’ll never forget this city!
Greetings from Spain.
as Italian I think you have to try also the fiorentina (if you like meat), it’s a huge kind of meat and taste also really good!! and you may also try “mozzarella di bufala” it’s a particular kind of mozzarella and I do really love it!! and don’t forget the wine! in Florence you can find really good red wine!!
and as somebody else already said, leather and paper are special there, take a look! :)
sorry for my bad English :P, hope you have fun!!
ps. I really love your blog!! :D
And next to Vivoli is Il Pallotino a cute little restaurant with literally 2 choices and 3 courses on the menu. Communal tables, and very fun. Always great food! Also great to eat is Trattoria ZaZa’. If you’re there at night at trip up to Piazza Michelangelo will give you an amazing view! Have a great trip!
go rub the nose of il porcellino. he is right in a little outdoor market place. it is said if you rub his nose, he will bring you back to florence someday. also, the baptistry doors were some of my favorites. so amazing.
I’m not sure how much time you have there, but if you have an afternoon to spare (or for a future trip)- try to go over to Siena. We were in Italy for 6 weeks and this was one of our very favorite cities. (Partially because it was the longest area my husband was in when he served a mission in Italy.) Our first born is named after this darling city- it may not have as many museums or sites to see as other places, but it really is a quintessential Italian town.
I second Fratellini for sandwiches! It is by the market with the boar that you rub it’s snout. Literally a hole in the wall.