Why Florence Is Our Favorite City In Italy
One twelve-day trip to Italy certainly isn't enough time to see everything. On our recent visit, though, we tried our best to squeeze in as much as possible. We visited Milan, Venice, Florence, and Rome. It was a rapid-fire trip, but Florence was our favorite by far. Keep reading to find out why.
The City
Walking around Florence is an experience in itself. The architecture and feel of the place is incredible. We loved wandering through the winding cobblestone streets and exploring. We also did a Dark Rome walking tour that explained a lot of what we were seeing. The tour took us all over Florence. We strolled by the Duomo, a bridge filled with jewelry stores, and more squares than we could count. We also enjoyed the shops and markets that we stumbled on while walking around. Florence is one of the most beautiful cities we have ever visited.
Brunelleschi's Dome
The markets were fun to look through.
The view from Piazzale Michelangelo.
The Duomo
The Art
The collection of art pieces in Florence is impressive. Most famously, you can find Michelangelo's "David" in The Galleria dell'Accademia. Inside the Uffizi Gallery, you'll see works by Botticelli, Da Vinci, and more Michelangelos. And that's not even counting the abundant works you can find just by walking down the street. We also did a Dark Rome tour of the Accademia and the Uffizi. Our guide did a great job of pointing things out and explaining the history. One great thing about the tours is that because there is so much to see, it's hard to walk away with valuable information, unless you have a guide. If you're going to visit the galleries, do yourself a favor and book a tour.
Michelangelo's David
Damage that was done to the foot by someone who snuck in a hammer.
Botticelli’s “The Birth Of Venus.”
Da Vinci’s unfinished “The Adoration of the Magi.”
The Food
“Five Finger” steak
Florence had the most delicious food of any city on our trip. We didn't have a single bad bite while we were there. Even when we got stuck in touristy areas, the food was still surprisingly good. One of the best meals we've ever had was at a farm-to-table restaurant we found there called "Terre Etruria." Everything they served, from the food to the wine to the oil, was grown and produced on their farm. It was delicious! Gusta Pizza was amazing, as well. Florence is also known for its colossal 3lbs, "five finger" steaks. It was an obscene amount of food, but we finished it. There are fantastic meals all over Italy, but Florence was the best for sure.
Gusta Pizza
“We didn’t have a single bad bite while we were there.”
The markets were full of great food.
Including this burger!
The People
All cities have rude people. That goes without saying. But everyone we met in Florence was so friendly. The restaurant servers, shop owners, and random people on the street were so welcoming. We tried to do our best to speak a little Italian, but most people politely switched to English for us. The Florentine people were a joy to be around.
On our way to the Piazzale Michelangelo for sunset, we came upon this cat just sitting on a ledge beside a sign. The sign asked us not to take the cat. It said that he had a family that fed him, but he preferred to sit on the ledge and interact with people. Even the pets were friendly in Florence!
Conclusion
Our favorite city in Italy, without a doubt, is Florence. When we think of going back to Italy, it's the place we most want to visit. If it's not on your list to travel to Florence, it should be. You'll have a great time! Have you ever been to Florence? What did you like about it? Let us know below.