Firenze, Tuscany

10:04 PM Kristina 0 Comments

The train to Florence from Rome takes you through a beautiful Tuscan countryside. Vineyards and small Italian towns were visible for most of the train ride, which kept me awake for the one and a half hour journey. The train served cappuccinos and pastries to the passengers, and the ride was very comfortable, which I was happy about.

Once we arrived in Firenze, we followed the crowds of people leaving the train station, hoping to run into il Duomo along the way. On our walk, we passed tons of small street cafés and restaurants as well as street markets and vendor stands. Our first stop was at a café near the Cattredale di Santa Maria del Fiore. The church is big, beautiful, and so incredibly detailed. It definitely was one of my favorite monuments we encountered on our entire trip. After we finished drinking our coffee and examining il Duomo, we explored a bunch of hidden side streets, stopping every once in a while in a church or a courtyard to take a break from the heat (we even ran into a wedding party in one of the courtyards we visited!).

We made a stop to explore the Uffizi Gallery. I loved the Uffizi because it wasn't too large or overwhelming yet it still had some really incredible paintings and sculptures from artists such as Giotto, Botticelli, and Michelangelo. It also had some amazing views of the Arno River and the buildings on the other side of the river from the Uffizi, and there was barely a line to get into the museum!

After the Uffizi, we decided to grab some street food. We went to a deli called All'Antico Vinaio, which was packed with customers (a good sign). It was about a 2 minute walk from the Uffizi Gallery. I didn't understand the menu at all so I just told the guy behind the counter to make me the most popular sandwich on the menu. I ended up with a fresh salami sandwich on focaccia bread with spreadable cheese and olives. It was incredible. The salami wasn't hard, overly-salted, or dry, like the salami I am used to, but instead, it was soft and smooth and amazing. We sat on some steps near the deli to eat our sandwiches and later went for some chocolate gelato.

Though Florence is fairly large, it does not have the same big city feel that Rome does. It feels more like a town and is much less commercialized and touristy than Rome (in my opinion). Though there were tons of tourists, there did not seem to be as many stores dedicated to souvenirs as there were in Rome. I prefer buying things from unique little shops rather than throwing money away on meaningless plastic souvenirs at tourist hubs, so it was a lot easier for me to shop in Florence than in Rome. I ended up buying a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted plate for my mom from a short little Italian woman in a shop we found on a side street. I also bought a yellow leather purse and a small painting of the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore.

Everything about Florence is charming; from the old, rustic buildings, to the tile roofs and shutters found on each house, to the grand churches, the plazas and courtyards, and the the gardens and gelaterias. I couldn't think of any reason for someone not to fall in love with Florence.

Some tips for your next Florentine adventure
1. Florence cannot be seen in one day, it deserves a few days of exploration.
2. Go to the Uffizi Gallery! No line, not huge, yet still has incredible art!
3. Book your trains through italiarail.com
4. Eat like a local and try street food!
5. Take time to shop in Florence, you won't be disappointed

Snapshots from Firenze, Italia