I pit-stopped in Florence before a friends’ wedding, and whilst I was only there for one night, it was magical. The surroundings are stunning, the lyrical intonation of the Italian language is beautiful, the gelato was perfect on such a warm summer’s night and the food, bellissimo! Here’s are my top tips for a short trip.
THINGS TO DO
Galleries: Galleria degli Uffizi which is a Renaissance hot spot with paintings by Da Vinci, Raphael and Titian. Palazzo Strozzi
Places: Piazza della Signoria with its replica of Michelangelo’s David; Via Por Santa Maria for the shops; Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli; Piazzale Michelangelo for incredible views; stroll along Lungorno Serristori to admire the beautiful buildings, former palaces and small squares.
Churches: The Basilica di Santa Croce and The Duomo the world’s third biggest cathedral
EAT
Gelateria La Carraia Gelato baby! Delicious flavours and an abundance of choice
Trattoria Sostanza Without a doubt, the best butter chicken in the world. I know, you’re probably thinking, why would I want to eat butter chicken in Italy? Just, TRUST ME. The trattoria dates back to 1869 and serves a mean Florentine steak too. It’s tiny, so you’ll need to book
All’ Antico Vinaio Be prepared to queue at this well known sandwich spot. Order ‘La Favolosa’
Neither tried nor tested, but researched & recommended…
Trattoria 13 Gobbi Another rustic traditional Tuscan trattoria. Next door to Sostanza if you aren’t lucky enough to get a table there
Trattoria Cammillo Same same, but different
Mercato Centrale More than just a food court. The first floor of the market is rife with food stalls for foodies
DRINK
Il Santino Cute lil’ wine spot
SLEEP
Soprarno Suites Awesome, cool, chic rooms in an Italian townhouse. Really friendly receptionist with a killer playlist
I visited Florence in June 2018