Florence – A foodies dream destination for all the divine flavors Italy has to offer. I spent 3 days here in May 2022 and needless to say, calories were consumed and I have absolutely no regrets. Florence, or Firenze as the locals call it, is a city of culture, history, architecture, art and of course, food. Here are my recommendations for the City of Lilies. Florence is located in the heart of Tuscany, a very famous wine region in Italy and so needless to say, a wine tasting is inevitable.
How to get there
By Air: Arrive at Aeroporto di Firenze-Peretola (FLR) direct from all over Europe. From there take the train directly into the City Center.
By Train: Florence has three train stations – The main and the biggest one is Florence Santa Maria Novella, as well as Firenze Campo di Marte, and Campo di Marte train station. They are all located in City Center. You can reach Florence from any other big city in Italy very easily.
By Bus: We arrived by bus from Milan and let me just say, it was a very uncomfortable and long journey and I can’t recommend it. However, it is the cheapest method of arrival if you are already in Italy. Check out Omio.com for times and tickets.
Where to Stay
Unfortunately, I can’t recommend any specific lodgings as the hostel I stayed in was pretty terrible and I don’t want to name and shame. However, It was located a few steps from the Florence Santa Maria Novella Train Station which was very helpful for entering and exiting Florence itself, without having to lug my backpack too much from train to accommodation so I would definitely recommend the Santa Maria Novella neighborhood. It’s also in walking distance to all the other main attractions in the city. The city itself is very walkable and we didn’t use any public transport to get around but we did rack up quite a few steps each day so again, I would definitely consider comfortable shoes for this city.
Side note: we visited in May and it rained consistently so just a heads up.
What to do (& eat)
These are my personal recommendations and I am aware I have barely scratched the surface of what Florence has to offer but you have to start somewhere and I promise you, the amount of walking you will be doing will definitely balance out all the foodie gems you will undoubtedly encounter. I am not a big history buff so I didn’t visit any of the museums, don’t @ me!
1. Eat and Drink at Mercato Centrale
Run, don’t walk, to the Mercato Centrale Firenze (aka Central Markets). Mercato Centrale, also referred to as San Lorenzo Market or Mercato di San Lorenzo, is Florence’s historic food and produce market and you simply can not miss this on your trip to Florence. The building is doused in history and a sight for sore eyes. I’ll let the phots do the talking. You can’t miss out on some fresh pasta, pizza, meat, truffle everything, supplìs, cheese and of course, delicious Tuscan wine. We ate here multiple times during our trip and I’m still dreaming about the fresh pasta.
2. Explore the Streets of Florence
Directly outside the food markets, the streets are lined with vendors selling leather goods, jewelry, souvenirs and anything else you can think of. Stroll through, treat yourself or just take some photos.
A stones throw from the markets lies the famous Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. This historical landmark was constructed between the 1200’s and the 1400’s by Architect Arnolfo di Cambio. It is supposedly one of the largest churches in world! Excuse my photography but it was raining and miserable when I went to see it so my photos do it no justice. It is free to enter the main part of the Cathedral but I didn’t have time to go in during my visit. You can also buy tickets to climb the duomo and get amazing views of the city. The real treat is seeing the building lit up at night, it is simply stunning.
Keep wandering around the cobbled streets near the Cathedral and you will find more charming sights and architecture of Florence. If you love history, you should consider doing a walking tour but if you are an explorer like me, you can wing it.
Next stop, on the banks of the Arno River is Ponte Vecchio, the oldest and most famous bridge in Florence. Historically this bridge housed butcher and fish shops but in 1593 it was decided that the bridge would only house Goldsmiths and Jewelers, who remain there to this day. Now, it might be a good idea to visit this site first thing in the morning if you are trying to get some good photos because it is thronged during the day with tourists alike but it is a treat to cross the bridge and admire the shopfronts and if you’re lucky, maybe even treat yourself.
3. Admire the views from Piazzale Michelangelo
Piazzale Michelangelo is a square situated on a hill on the south side of the River Arno with spectacular views of the Florence cityscape. The square is decorated with replicas of Michelangelo’s work including the Statue of David, and you will usually find buskers playing live music during you visit. You can also admire the Rose Gardens on the way up if you are visiting by foot.
4. Eat everything
Here are my specific foodie recommendations if you can tear yourself from the Central Markets.
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Trattoria Marione – Located in the heart of Florence, this restaurant embodies the warm Italian welcome with friendly service, cured meats sliced freshly upon order and house wine that would put a rosy glow on your cheeks. This was one of my favorite restaurant experiences ever. The meat & cheese platter was divine and the ravioli and roast beef dishes drool-worthy. We were even treated to a free shot of fresh limoncello after our meal to cleanse the palette. It was busy so I recommend calling in advance to make a reservation. The staff all seemed to speak very good English as well as Italian (obviously).
2. Pizza Napoli 1955 – Read these words carefully, This was the nicest Pizza I ever had. Ever! I spent 3 weeks in Italy during this trip and nothing came close, not even pizza from Naples itself. And to add to the joy, the pizza’s are super cheap, 6-8euro. Do not miss this place on your visit to Florence. If you are a female, they will make your pizza into a heart shape, take that how you will but I personally, loved it.
5. Wine tasting in Tuscany
One simply cannot visit Florence with out tasting wine in the countryside. Tuscany is famous for producing Chianti wine as well as some of the best Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar in the world. We booked a tour through Airbnb, link here. This particular tour required you to use local public transport to get to the area where the vineyard was which was a bit of a pain but the food spread they provided was beyond excellent. There are 100’s of tours to choose from online though so do your research and choose what best suits your needs and budget.
Having spent 3 weeks in Italy, travelling from top to bottom and exploring many of the major cities, Florence was by far my favorite. It’s is a visual delight with warm people and the most delicious food, what more could you want? The perfect destination for a weekend away, if you live in Europe, and a must-do as part of a larger trip if you are flying in from further afield. I hope my suggestions serve you well.
Buon viaggio!
Olivia