Ahh, Firenze! We meet again. (I knew we would, since I threw a coin in Il Porcellino’s mouth the last time I was there.)
For this trip, we spent less than 24 hours in this beautiful city - only because we had so much more to do! It’s hard to fit in four places in ten days (with six people, might I add).
The ride from Venice to Florence is a breeze with Trenitalia. From Venezie Saint Lucia train station to Firenze S.M.N., it was a quick two hours and ten minutes. It may seem long, but a) it goes by pretty fast, b) the route is super scenic, and c) naps are fully welcomed in a non-stop vacation like this one.
Florence is a very historic city, so there are a few must-sees in this city:
-Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore (Duomo), Giotto’s Bell Tower, Il Battisterio di San Giovanni (these are all next to each other and tickets can be bought for all of them at once, either online beforehand or in the queue at the ticket office)
-Palazzo and Ponte Vecchio
-Piazzale Michelangelo (“David”)
Whether you climb the Duomo or the Bell Tower, do one of them. Yes, it’s A LOT of steps. And yes, your legs are probably going to hurt. But I’m telling you, there’s nothing else like seeing Florence from the top. It’s like being on top of the world.
We saw the sights and then we made our way to THE best sandwich of our lives - no, really. I had the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten, at All'antico Vinaio. There will probably be a line, but it moves pretty quickly AND it is completely worth it.
One of my favorite parts of Florence was sitting in the heart of Piazza della Signoria, sipping on an aperol spritz. Fun fact: everyone in Italy drinks these, also known as Spritz Veneziano. It is an Italian wine-based cocktail with Prosecco, it is delicious (and pretty).
The dinner I had in Florence may be my favorite of the trip. Pear & Gorgonzola Gnocchi, at Trattoria Zaza. Add it to your itinerary when you visit. It was an amazing end to an amazing city.
And now, off to Positano!
