Florence Blog

Aperitivo/Happy Hour in Florence

Danielle — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 16:03:18 +0000

There's nothing Florentines love more than to see and be seen. To satisfy that need there are several chic and trendy places to go after work to show off your accomplishments. I go for the food. My favorite is Bar Moyo, the drinks are great, the atmosphere is lounge and the food is so deliciously good that it passes as dinner. Nabucco offers a plethora of dishes, Italia n and international, and a calm and inviting atmosphere. For the ultimate in Florentine trendiness and good food go to Noir, the former Capocaccia. They offer the best of cheeses and pasta and at a certain point in the night start passing out the most delectable tartufo, ham and cheese sandwiches. I don't even like ham and I didn't think I liked tartufo but I take one every single time. By 9pm on a weekend night, the wall of the Arno is overflowing with glasses and people.

Gelato Heaven

Danielle — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 08:27:12 +0000

It’s pointless to talk about the good old days, before the euro, when you could get a gigantic cone for 7,000 lira. Now you are lucky to find a decent helping for 2.50€ but it is still worth every euro cent when you find a real artisan. My gelato heaven is Gelateria dei Neri. Abundant flavors, lactose free and soy gelato, mousse to die for, and the best prices in town; it is the very definition of value. If you are a dark chocolate lover you cannot leave without tasting their version that is so rich it seems milk free. Crostata di fragola is the perfect strawberry shortcake impersonation and for tropical goodness only available in the summer months, try passion fruit, delightful when mixed with cream or fior di latte. They are always experimenting and have offered unique flavors like cannoli, chocolate with pistachios and peperoncino, and stracchino.

While Gelateria dei Neri is great for everything there are some gelaterias that are good for one flavor. While I dislike the high prices and constant flow of tourists all carrying the same guide book, the very famous Vivoli does have an incredible cinnamon flavor which of course is not always available. If you like cinnamon and catch them at the right time, it’s absolutely delicious. Gelato Mezzanotte located two steps from the Duomo has a wonderful signature flavor strangely enough called mezzanotte that taste like an oreo cookie in a creamy eggnog ice cream with chocolate swirl. The prices are high and the hours are unpredictable but the flavor is a real treat. Just up the street from San Lorenzo is Antica Gelateria Fiorentina; the chocolate and caramel flavors are spot on and the prices are decent. A little further outside the center is the Badiani where you can find the amazing flavor, Buon Talenti. It’s a delicate sweet butter cream that can be mixed with just about any other flavor and will leave your mouth wanting more.

Where there is heaven there is also gelato purgatory. Avoid it by avoiding gelato freezers in bars, gelato piled high in artificial looking mounds of red and brown toppings, and for gelato’s sake the Festival of Gelato might look great, but it’s not!

Enjoy.

Getting Around in Florence

Danielle — Tue, 22 May 2007 21:25:03 +0000

The red double-decker tourist bus (City Sightseeing) is not going to take you anywhere or show you anything that you can't see walking around or taking a regular bus, it's better to save your $27 for a great dinner. Bus #12 or 13 will take you to Piazzale Michelangelo and bus #7 will take you to Fiesole. If you are up and down again in 70 minutes you don't even have to pay more than the 1.20€ for a single ride ticket. With the exception of the two mentioned the buses are inconvenient, crowded, and hot and should be avoided at all times unless you have mobility problems. Walking is the best way to make your way around to all of the town's attractions. Taking a taxi even to the airport is resigning yourself to overpaying. If you don't have much luggage the Airport Shuttle Bus (4.50€) leaves from the SITA bus station across the street from the central train station and runs frequently. If you are flying to/from Pisa the train is the most convenient way to reach Pisa Galilei Airport. Don't forget to change trains at Pisa Centrale to continue the 5 minute ride to the airport. If you miss the train you can take the Terravision Shuttle.

Welcome to Florence

Danielle — Sat, 19 May 2007 10:19:02 +0000

Florence is never void of visitors and for good reason. The city or better yet, town is the Renaissance capital of Italy. You cannot walk through the center streets without being overwhelmed by the art, history and architecture that surrounds you. For art buffs and historians it is a sensory overload but even if you have no expertise or particular interest in either the sheer aesthetic splendor of Florence will capture you and if you're like me, never let go.

Whether you want to take a touristy carriage ride through the narrow center streets or have a romantic meal in a trattoria where no tourist has ever stepped foot, this blog will document the good, the bad and the ugly (if possible) about Florence. So if you are planning a trip please return for ideas, suggestions, and the occasional warning.

Benvenuto a Firenze!