Fabulous Florence
An art lover’s city-paradise and foodie’s haven
Located in the popular Italian province of Tuscany, Florence is indeed a culture capital and known the world over for its Renaissance art and architectural marvels…not forgetting its mouth-watering cuisines, delicious delicacies and locally produced vino!
Granted UNESCO World Heritage site status in 1982, Florence really does have something to offer everyone, no matter your interest or taste – and thankfully – budget too! You can walk everywhere here with ease, spend hours meandering through the cobbled streets admiring the picture-perfect buildings, eat and drink your way through the charming neighbourhoods, or spend days in the company of some of the most important masterpieces in the world. Whatever you chose, this city will not fail to delight!
(Photo by stevehdc via Flickr)
Having just returned from my latest adventure travels in Tuscany, I’m delighted to give you a true insight into this magical city – giving you hints and tips. From things to see and places to go – all without putting a huge hole in your pocket giving you the best experience possible. Just remember to come back and tell us what you think when you return home!
Purchase a ‘Firenze Card’. A super-saver card giving you entrance into 72 museums over a 72 hour period…all for the cost of €72, saving you both time and money. We found this also gives you access into the Roman theatre and archaeological site in Fiesole – a 20 minute bus ride away on the No 7 bus – also covered by the Firenze card.
Visit early. Some of the larger sites, such as the Pitti Palace and Uffizi Museum, open at 8.15am. We made the most of our days by visiting these places early, arriving 10 minutes before opening and enjoyed a crowd-free experience – bliss! Leave it even half an hour later and the sites will be swamped with tourists.
Allow time for queuing. Whilst our trip was incredibly well planned, we didn’t allow time for queuing at the various sites within our tight itinerary (oops) and found ourselves rushing. Having a Firenze card did help as there are separate entry lines into each site which took less than 15 minutes…however the line for those without a Firenze card or pre-booked guided tour were very very long – and the average wait could be up to 40 minutes! If you are on a time-limited or bust trip like us, just remember to include the queuing time too!
(Photo by Oleg Sidorenko via Flickr)
Try a gelato. Originating in this very city, it would be rude not to try one of their many delicious ice-cream flavours on offer. We paid a visit to Vivoli gelato bar, which has been around since 1930. Totally scrumptious!
Eat standing up. The culture in Florence (and most of Italy) is very relaxed. Do as the Italian do and simply order a slice of pizza or small bite and eat standing up at the bar or outside. We found this a great way to socialise – brilliant for those not wanting to eat a huge meal…and cheaper than taking a seat as no taxes charged too.
Try an apertivio. An Italian tradition to have a small drink accompanied by snacks before going out for the evening (for example, to a larger restaurant, club, or just walking around chatting with friends). We found the light taste of Lemoncello, a lemon liquor to be most tasty and welcome (although after two you can feel slightly tipsy). Most smaller bars and restaurants offer a drink along with a little buffet for less than €10. We ate at Sei Divinio, near Ponte Vechhio and found this another great way to save money!
Try anything and everything of local origin. Food was the name of our game here! If you are saving money on my points listed above, then would recommend to have at least one ‘splurge’ whilst you are here – we opted for Enoteca pitti gola e cantina – a small but beautiful wine bar and restaurant just opposite the Pitti Palace. The staff will talk you through the long wine list with such enthusiasm you will want to buy a bottle and post it home! Expect to pay around €100 - €140, that includes several glasses of vino each too.
Laura is originally from London and travels the globe as often as she can. When not planning her next adventure she can be found relaxing in the United Arab Emirates, behaving like a tourist in her home city or writing her next article in one of her favourite European cities. You can also find Laura on Twitter.
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