Our Trip to Italy, Part One
FLORENCE
Last month, Tony and I went to Italy and had the time of our lives. The idea of visiting Italy began last year because the son of our dear friends planned to get married there. We knew we wanted to attend the wedding and take a trip to celebrate our 35th anniversary. We began by booking our flights six months in advance, and from there, our vacation started to take shape.
Tony and I decided this would mostly be a sightseeing trip with some downtime here and there. We had visited the Tuscany region before but had spent only one day in Florence. We knew we wanted to return again to the city known for its art, history, and architecture. There is SO much to see and do in Florence, so we had to decide what was most important to us. We had a full schedule to maximize our time and visit all the places on our list. Because we traveled to Italy at the tail end of summer, we expected crowds and made advanced reservations for almost everything. The weather was perfect in Florence- warm and sunny, and we walked everywhere.
To Note: This post is relatively detailed (and loaded with photos!) so that if a trip to Florence is in your future, you may find it helpful 🙂 I included links to all the significant places we visited; therefore, I won’t explain all the tiny details of each one, nor the small cathedrals and such that we visited briefly as we wandered around the city. If you have any questions about the specifics of my trip, please email me at everydaynatalie@gmail.com
Here is our itinerary:
Florence
Day 1
We landed in Florence mid-afternoon and took a cab straight to our hotel. Because we were celebrating a big anniversary, we splurged and stayed at the lovely St. Regis Florence. We checked in, quickly unpacked, and headed out into the warm, sunny afternoon to explore. We walked along the Arno River, popped into a cathedral, and then went searching for somewhere to get a bite to eat. After enjoying appetizers and Aperol Spritzes, we wandered more and returned to the hotel to rest before dinner. The St. Regis is known for its Signature Rituals, including the Sabrage Evening Ritual. We went into the hotel bar and watched a bartender open a bottle of sparkling wine with a saber! What fun and so unique! The last event of the day was dinner al fresco at Lorenzo de Medici, where we ate the most delicious Penne Bolognese and Florentine steak.
Day 2
This was one of our busier days and a great way to fight off jet lag. After starting the day with breakfast at the hotel, we walked to our first site of the day, the Medici Chapels. The sacristy was designed by Michelangelo and filled with marble, precious stones, sculptures, and sacred art. It was magnificent! After an hour, we walked next door to La Basilica di San Lorenzo. The basilica is one of the oldest churches in Florence, and it doesn’t look like much from the outside. That all changes once entering in. The artwork, artifacts, and gold ceilings inside the basilica are stunning. We enjoyed the Renaissance architecture of the main cloister as well as the relics in the crypt.
After spending the morning at those sites, we shopped at the outdoor San Lorenzo market and little shops nearby for leather goods. Florentine leather is known for its patina that develops over time, durability, and luxurious feel. After shopping, we dined at Trattoria da Garibaldi for a yummy lunch. We shared a Margherita pizza, fagioli all’olio, and a few refreshing spritzes 😋.
After lunch, we walked to the famous Florence cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, and the Duomo complex for the afternoon. To gain entrance to the complex, you have to choose between three different types of passes: the Ghiberti Pass for access to the Baptistery, museum, and Santa Reparata; the Giotto Pass for access to everything in the Ghiberti Pass plus Giotto’s Bell Tower; and the Brunelleschi Pass for access to everything in the Giotto Pass plus the Dome. This Florentine cathedral is the world's third-largest church and is considered one of the greatest masterpieces of Gothic art and Italian Renaissance. The history! The art! The architecture! All of it was incredible to see!
After all that sightseeing, we went back to the hotel to rest. Next, we enjoyed another Sabrage Evening Ritual and walked to Hostaria Il Desco for a late dinner. This restaurant was charming, and our food was delicious!
Day 3
Day three was another very full day. We walked to the Basilica Santa Maria Novella after breakfast at the hotel. It was nearly empty, which allowed us to take our time to fully enjoy all the artwork, artifacts, architecture, and peace this church held. In the sanctuary, the majesty of God was palpable. None of my photos (or words) do this basilica (or anywhere we went) justice. The frescos, stained glass, and ceilings are phenomenal. We spent about 90 minutes here, but that almost wasn’t enough time.
Our next stop was the Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s sculpture, David. Wow! It’s larger than I expected, so detailed, and almost hard to believe it was sculpted out of marble. The museum displays other sculptures by Michelangelo, an extensive collection of Florentine paintings and musical instruments. Because the Galleria was quite crowded, we zipped through all the rooms and stopped to admire art that caught our eyes.
From there, we walked to find lunch at Mercato Centrale. This building houses local vendor shops, a fresh fish market on the first floor, and a vast, jam-packed, open-air food court on the second floor. It was buzzing with hungry locals and tourists eating at communal dining tables. The food court offered everything from pizza, sushi, sandwiches to burgers, pasta, and pastries.
After lunch, we headed to Basilica San Croce. This large Franciscan church is home to almost 4,000 breathtaking pieces of art, sixteen chapels, and a burial place of famous Italians. Michelangelo, Galileo, and Dante are buried here, along with everyone who was anyone in Florentine history. We wandered around admiring the interiors and walked around the outside courtyard.
Next, we walked to the Uffizi Gallery, one of the largest museums in the world and famous for its collection of ancient sculptures and paintings. Besides all the fantastic collections and masterpieces, the hallways, walls, and ceilings were their own art forms. Visiting is a must if you are in Florence! From there, we returned to the St. Regis to rest and enjoy another Sabrage Evening Ritual. We walked along the Arno River and crossed over to dine at Belguardo Osteria, where we enjoyed sea bass and pasta. This candlelit, riverside restaurant had a fun ambiance, delectable food, and great cocktails.
Day 4
Our last full day began with breakfast at our hotel, and then we walked to Pitti Palace. The somewhat bland exterior was quite the contrast to the exquisite interior. The Pitti Palace houses museums and galleries filled with magnificent paintings, sculptures, costumes, and porcelain objects. Tony and I thoroughly enjoyed slowly roaming from room to room to admire everything from floor to ceiling. Once we finished exploring the palace, we went outside to stroll through the Boboli Gardens. While we didn’t cover all 111 acres of the lavishly landscaped gardens behind the palace, we loved what we did see. It seemed like an oasis in the middle of a busy city.
After all that walking, we worked up an appetite and went to Sgrano for a relaxing, yummy lunch. We both ordered sandwiches, and they were huge! We could have easily split one. It was such a treat to eat delicious, gluten-free focaccia! We briefly wandered around the city center before walking to our next stop: Palazzo Vecchio.
Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence and a massive structure that overlooks the very busy Piazza della Signoria. A copy of Michelangelo’s statue of David is out on the square, along with some other statues and fountains. Palazzo Vecchio was built in the shape of a castle and contains three courtyards, apartments, and the ultra-impressive Hall of the Five Hundred. We spent about 90 minutes there and walked to the famous Ponte Vecchio to wander and shop. Then, we strolled along the streets toward the city center and browsed in shops and small churches. We ended our day by enjoying some Prosecco and dinner again at Lorenzo de Medici.
Day 5
We woke up early, enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, packed, and walked to the city center for the last time. We did some shopping, then returned to the hotel to collect our luggage and catch a cab to the Santa Maria Novella Train Station. We said goodbye to Florence as we boarded a scenic high-speed train to Venice.
Thoughts about Florence
Tony and I both thoroughly enjoyed Florence and will most certainly return! The city itself is vibrant, walkable, and easy to navigate. There are many things to see and do; the cuisine is delicious, and the history and culture are excellent. We couldn’t get over all the beauty! Honestly, the incredible art within Florence is astounding. Everywhere we went, it caused jaw-dropping reactions and was almost overwhelming. I think I’ve run out of adjectives to describe this city 🙃. Florence is unforgettable ❤️
It looks absolutely amazing, Natalie! Italy is definitely on my bucket list... 💖
Wow! I felt like I was there with you! Your descriptions were so vivid and intriguing. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful vacation! Xx