Where to Stay
Airbnb is the perfect option for Florence. Staying in an Airbnb allows for an authentic Florence experience, creating the feel of living like a local. The city is perfectly compact meaning you don’t have to being staying in a hotel or hostel in a central location, you can get very reasonably priced places to stay all just a short walk to the city centre. The apartment I stayed in with two friends was newly furnished, equipped with a sofa bed, a double bed, and I was particularly impressed by the well equipped kitchen. This allowed for cooked breakfasts, and evening meals to save money.
Where to Eat
Panini Toscani – Hands down the best sandwich shop in the world! This isn’t just a sandwich shop, this is a sandwich experience. Every panini will contain ham and cheese, but while this may seem simple, there is nothing simple about it. Upon entry to the shop you will be greeted by an old man who runs the shop. He will invite a small group over to a chopping board at the end of the counter. With the most soft spoken Italian accent he will take you through the cheese and ham selection they have, giving everyone a small taste and explaining the origins of production. You then select your ham and cheese choices, and are then invited to choose your additional fillings. All of this for less than five euros, there really is no better way to have lunch in Florence.
Gelateria La Carraia – Everybody thinks they like ice cream, but you don’t truly know ice cream until you’ve been to an authentic Italian gelateria. Sitting on the river bank La Carraia lays claim to being the first ice cream shop in the world, their Ice cream is made in store, giving it the rich creaminess you come to expect of italian ice cream. As you wait in the inevitable queue trying to decide from the long list of flavours proves a challenge and this decision will change a number of times before you get served. If still undecided they are happy to give you a little taster. This is a great spot as you can enjoy your ice cream sat in the sun overlooking the river.
Il Mercato Centrale Firenze – The options available at Il Mercato Centrale are endless, with such a wide range of culinary delights there is something here for everyone. The surrounding streets are swamped with small market stalls selling clothing and other small items. Inside you’ll find all the food. It’s extremely modern, with outlets lining the perimeter of the building, then loads of chairs and tables and a big bar in the centre. I went for one of the woodfire pizzas. You can see one chef rolling dough, one putting on all the toppings and another rotating them in the oven, as fresh as pizza can get!
What to See
Explore the Art Galleries – Florence has a rich history of art and this tradition has been maintained to this day. There are enormous greek statues located around the city, and Michelangelo’s David is a must see. Just around the corner is the Uffizi Gallery which houses some of the best art in the world. Make sure to either prebook your tickets or get there early, or risk being stuck in a long queue (two hours at the least). Finally check out the Palazzo Strozzi, a smaller gallery hosting different exhibitions through the year. When I visited there was a Kandinisky to Pollock exhibition. The current exhibition is on Ai Weiwei.
Religious Landmarks – Grab a ticket to see all the key religious landmarks in central Florence. For just €15 you have access to the Cathedral, Dome, Bell Tower, Crypt and the Museum over a 48 hour period, so you can either do them all in one day, or spread them over a couple of days. The architecture of these buildings is like none other. The scale and design of the buildings will leave you in awe. Make sure you’ve had a big breakfast to give you the energy to climb the steps of the Dome and the Bell Tower. The effort is worth it as you’re rewarded with wonderful panoramic views over the city. The crypts and the museum are a great way to learn more about the history of Florence.
Explore Florence at Night – One of the best ways to see Florence is at night. On a warm summers night the vibe of the city is so chilled and the mad rush of tourists has died down which makes for a much more enjoyable time. Start by heading up to the Piazzalle Michelangelo. It’s slightly outside of the city centre and quite a long walk up. You get a perfect view over the city, the best way to see the sun set in Florence. Then head back down into Florence to cross the Ponte Vecchio Bridge. The bridge is hundreds of years old, and lined with shops. At night it’s nice and quiet, a great place to relax with friends. Head down through the city centre to find some nighttime food and drink. We spent our night dancing in the square whilst listening to a jazz band, the nighttime makes for a truly remarkable experience.
By Thomas Rofe
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