We’ve officially been in Florence for over a month and no longer feel like tourists in this amazing city. It’s hard to believe that just six weeks ago we anxiously boarded our flight from JFK, not knowing what to expect for the upcoming semester. With so many visitors in and out of Florence over the last few days, we took a break from traveling and spent a lazy weekend exploring the best of Florence:
1. Piazzale Michelangelo
Easily the most breathtaking view of Florence, Piazzale Michelangelo is situated on a hill overlooking the city. On a warm day, strolling over the Ponte Vecchio and up to Piazza Michelangelo is a great way to pass time. From this piazza, you can see the entire city and the rolling hills surrounding Florence.
2. Il Duomo
This week I finally took on the daunting task of climbing the 463 steps to the top of the Duomo. Thinking this would be the death of us, we sported our most athletic clothes, only to discover a woman walking the steps in wedges. The climb was much easier than we expected and didn’t take nearly as long as we had anticipated. At the top, the cupola (dome) provides a great view of the city.
3. Antico Noe
After trying multiple paninoteca (sandwich shops) all over Florence, I have finally settled on my favorite, Antico Noe. Antico Noe was one of my first meals in Florence, under my brother’s suggestion. My favorite is numero nove con molto piccante, turkey, brie, cooked onions and spicy sauce, which I think I’ve had at least once a week since I’ve been here.
4. Acqua al 2
Although there are now two Acqua al 2 chains in the US, the Florence location is still worth trying. The restaurant is famous for their blueberry and balsamic steaks, but also have amazing pastas. My friends and I opted for the pasta sampler, steak sampler, cheese sampler and salad sampler, which was definitely the way to go. A bottle of the house wine topped off the night as we sampled three salads, five pastas, three steaks and four cheeses.
5. Perche no!
I have officially found my favorite gelateria in Florence! Up until this week, I thought I had already discovered the best gelato, but Perche No! blew me away. This is definitely a must have while in Florence.
6. Massimo Leather
Florence is known for genuine leather goods and the eclectic San Lorenzo leather market, so you can’t leave Florence without purchasing a leather jacket. For the best of the best, head to Massimo Leather, right off the San Lorenzo market. Although I’m waiting until my parents visit to pick out the perfect jacket, I’ve already been in Massimo’s store multiple times. Not only are all his jackets beautifully crafted, but Massimo remembers every person who walks in his store, making your purchase much more than just swiping a credit card.