Not your average Florence, Italy Travel Guide
To many’s surprise, Spring abroad 2021 happened, and we were there to experience it all in the heart of Florence, Italy.
Being abroad during a global pandemic was definitely not the semester we had heard about from years past. However, we left the states with an optimistic and open mindset that it would still be an amazing experience, and it was absolutely that and more.
Our unique time spent in Italy was one full of experiencing intimate & authentic local traditions. Instead of jet-setting on the weekends to Monte Carlo and Barcelona, we truly explore Tuscany as much as possible in the three months we lived there abroad. And because of this, we were able to form exceptional connections with the local people and businesses that make these amazing cities incredible.
Here are 21 ultimate realizations and recommendations about Florence, Italy, not featured on your average Florence travel guide.
Food
1. Italians do not cut their pizza. Seriously, nowhere.
Slim chances you will find a pizza slice in this city–our advice: invests in a pair of pizza scissors. Trust us, it might seem silly, but it’s the easiest way to get the perfect slice. And as for the best pizza in Florence, our go-to was always the primavera pizza from Hortus. Fluffy crust, burrata, and roasted peppers, seriously couldn’t be a better pairing.
2. All’Antico Vinaio is overhyped. The best sandwich is Sandwhichic.
Arguably an extremely controversial claim. If you haven’t heard of All’Antico Vinaio, it’s the most famous sandwich shop in all of Florence. Their three storefronts steps apart from each other, always have lines of people flooding the tiny street. It is a must-see stop on many Florence travel guides. However, if you get past the hype and purely go off the taste you’ll take note of the unsalted bread– a traditional Tuscan delicacy which we weren’t particularly a fan of. We suggest grabbing a sandwich from SandwiChic. Order a classic prosciutto mozzarella or if you’re feeling adventurous try ham and stracchino- a traditional Italian cheese.
3. Florence has other amazing food besides Italian food.
While we probably could eat pizza and pasta for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, sometimes you can’t kick a craving. Our favorite non-Italian food places were: Poke by Unami (poke bowls), Firenzen (Thai food) and Koko (Sushi).
4. The best cure for a hangover is a five-hour brunch.
Hear us out. There is no better hang-anxiety cure than sitting at an Italian cafe for hours on end to recap last night’s occurrences and eat a scrumptious meal (and/or drink mimosas). The spontaneous many hour-long lunches were where some of our favorite memories were created abroad. Our favorite & go-to place for a hungover brunch was Pasowski. Shout out to our favorite waiter Andrea who kept the bubbles flowing the whole time.
5. Host dinner parties + cook at home.
The produce in Italy is unmatched to anything we have here in the states. If you’re interested in exploring your inner Julia Child take advantage of the many cooking classes and fantastic markets in the city center. Mercato di Sant'Ambrogio offers the best veggies and local produce. Italians eat seasonally and this is the best place to see what is in actually in season. Also, check out Giglio Cooking where Marcella will teach you the authentic way to roll your gnocchi and flavor your homemade gelato.
Shopping
6. Zara is not the only store abroad.
Yes, you can frequent Zara every day, and we may have. BUT While exploring the streets of Firenze we also stumbled upon some amazing local shops.
Sciabika is a sustainable fashion brand with unique pieces designed and handmade in Florence. The designer Giorgia is the sweetest human who designs and creates all her garments in her small shop on Via Della Vigna Nuova which by the way, always smells amazing. All of her pieces are absolutely beautiful created with fabric sourced from factories around Italy fabric waste.
Back Firenze is a talented artist who paints custom sneakers. We took him a plain pair of Nike hightops and a Pinterest inspo pic and left the rest up to him. If you are looking for a one-of-a-kind pair of sneakers you won’t find anywhere else you should definitely check Back Firenze out.
Fix You Firenze was hands down our favorite and most frequented boutique in Florence. They offer a unique selection of dresses, tops, jackets, and more. Whenever we needed a new outfit we could always count on Fix You to deliver.
7. Check out the Gucci Gardens and Luisa.
The is no shortcoming of museums in this historic city. Unfortunately for us museums were not open. Luckily the luxury boutiques doubled as beautiful exhibits. Browse the curated collection of coffee table books on display at the Gucci Gardens and get lost in the immaculate selection of Luisaviaroma’s luxury market.
8. Buy yourself flowers.
While you can and probably will find an Italian lover to buy you a dozen roses, also check out the many flower stands that feature a beautiful assortment of bouquets. We created our own bouquet of dried flowers our first week and they still looked amazing the day we left.
Activities & Places to See
9. The hike up to Piazza Michelangelo is worth every gasping breath.
The steps at the top of Piazza Michelangelo are arguable is arguably the most beautiful lookout point in all of Florence. However, the walk-up is rough. Before you start the substantial trek up the steps make sure to stop in I Bastioni di San Niccolò Trattoria & Pizzeria for a bottle of wine and a pizza to enjoy up top.
10. Take the bus to Fiesole.
A short ride on the city bus to the little town located on a hilltop will take you to another fabulous viewpoint offering the most incredible views of the whole city.
11. Hang where the locals hang.
If you’re looking to have a relaxing but entertaining afternoon head over to San Niccolo park. This is the best place to sip on a spritz and people watch. Our other favorite places to people watch were Santo Spirito + Piti Palace.
12. Florence pops off with the best rooftops.
Our favorite & most frequented spots were: Loggia Roof Bar, The Westin Excelsior Rooftop Bar, Rinascente rooftop, Il Caffe del Verone.
13. Get your workout fix with Pilates international.
The workout culture in Florence is minimal to non-existent. Besides the many bikers, you see in the countryside we didn’t find many exercise classes or gym opportunities until we stumbled upon Pilates International. Shout out to Matilde the best instructor ever who constantly told us to “lift, lift, lift” and guided us through each movement. We attended bi-weekly private pilates lessons at the studio which is located on the Arno which was a beautiful walk to and from each day.
14. The best nail salon is hands down the Beauty Lounge.
Recommended by our stunning Italian professor (who will be disappointed that this guide is not written in full Italian) this full-service lounge does impeccable nails and hair. Our manicures lasted 4 weeks and the manicurist was able to master any pinterest image we showed her perfectly. Pro tip: Always make an appointment ahead of time and if you are getting a design block out a good 3 hours.
Getaways
15. Relax and soak in the natural hot springs of Saturnina.
A weekend trip to Saturnina guarantees tranquility and pure bliss. Saturnina is home to Tuscany’s most beautiful natural Terme–a natural hot spring. We rented a car to travel the 2 ½ hour journey through the Tuscan countryside which offers picturesque scenery the whole ride. We opted to stay in an Air BnB located in a private gated community right off the golf Couse, a two-minute walk from the spa resort. We purchased day passes to the spa for Friday and Saturday along with Facial and massage treatments. During the day we soaked in the baths, ate lunch poolside while wearing our fluffy white robes and slippers. (10/10 Recommend the purple Gnocchi–every bite melts in your mouth.)
On Sunday, our AirBNB host Andrea invited us to visit his family’s winery for a tasting of jams, olive oil, wine, and meats, and after we took a quick dip in the natural springs caste Molina.
16. Feel like a queen at Villa Le Piazzole.
Villa Le Piazzole, a residence bed & breakfast is the perfect one-night oasis away from the city center. After a short 13-minute taxi ride we arrive at Villa le Piazzale, located in the surrounding Florence hills. The rooms take you back in time with medieval decorations. Our room was equipped with a spa jacuzzi and Turkish bath, definitely on the wedding venue bucket list. We spent the day journaling in the garden before getting ready for a spectacular dinner accompanied by a special wine tasting led by the fabulous Lucia. Lucia was a character, so welcoming and gracious. She uses to be a singer, and after a couple of glasses of wine, we convinced her to sing a beautiful Italian song that literally brought us to tears, but soon after, we got the tunes going, which,h of course lead to a crazy dance party.
17. Explore the city of Lucca.
While we walk the city streets of this small cit,y the sounds of piano and opera followed us everywhere, we went. The city is an hour train ride away from Florence and is very exciting to explore. Take a ride on the carousel, bike the wall, eat at Antica Locanda, and shop your way down Via Fillungo. You never know what you might find in this special city.
18. Visit Poggio Tre Lune and do a wine tasting at a nearby castle.
We spent an unforgettable easter weekend at Poggio Tre Lune; a unique Farm Villa located 30ish minutes outside of Florence. It was a tranquil and peaceful oasis from the bustling city. The owner helped us arrange private car transportation to and from and a private wine tour and tasting at Torre a Cona, a beautiful wine estate. The weekend was picture perfect and was definitely another spot that made the wedding venue bucket list.
19. Do a prosecco tour.
Chances are Venice, Italy is on your weekend travel list, and if it’s not, it definitely should be. While exploring the inner city was truly one of a kind, a prosecco tour is an absolute must. After a quick train ride, our tour guide and prosecco connoisseur Andrea greeted us at the train station and took us on our way. We started the afternoon with a glass of bubbles at a small restaurant on a hill with the most breathtaking views. There he pointed out a castle where an actual current-day princess still resides. Then we explored the town, checking out local historical sites. THEN we did a wine tasting with FIVE different proseccos accompanied by a selection of meat and cheese. We learned that La Marca is NOT the only type of prosecco and that we like our prosecco ~brut~.
20. If you need another romantic weekend getaway to check out, visit Villa Agape.
Think secret garden meets downtown abbey. Our suggestion go here with your Italian lover. Thank us later.
21. Discover Cinque Terre.
Last but not certainly not least, our favorite and most special getaway was Cinque Terre, five coastal cities all unique with their own flair. The cities can be accessed by the train that runs between them, and if you're feeling adventurous, each city is also connected by trails which you can hike. But be warned, these are not leisure walking trails. We accidentally stumbled upon trailhead for the hike connecting Riomaggiore and Manarola, and it was straight up and straight down, but the view was unbelievable and made the trek completely worth it. Once we hit bottom, we immediately sat for a spritz. And opted to train to the rest of the cities. In Corniglia, we sat for hours at a little bar tucked between the builds which overlooked the water. We ate dinner in Montorossa and never quite made it to Vernazza because soon after dinner, we were right back to Corniglia for a beach party. The next day we saw the cities by sea on a private boat tour with Blulevante. 10/10 recommend this experience. Our captain Damiano was literally our age and running the entire business on his own. He was very knowledgeable about the area and took us to the best spots off the beaten path. We blasted music and enjoyed a spectacular five-star lunch on the boat.