From Duomo to Dinner: A Florence love story.

Florence is one of those cities where you don't just walk, you wander. You don't just eat, you savor. You don't just see, you feel. The moment when the golden light bouncing off centuries-old buildings, the scent of fresh espresso and the sound of "grazie mille" from the Italian guy a few streets away creates a unique experience as a tourist.

First things first, what should you have seen, when you visit Florence. As the birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is a masterpiece when it come to architecture. Legends like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Botticelli left their spirit in the city. One of the most famous landmarks is the Duomo, also known as Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. It remains the largest brick dome ever constructed without scaffolding. There is no elevator, but 463 steps are definitely worth the view. Unfortunately, this place is usually super crowded. Therefore I have an insider tip for you. Go to Basilica of San Miniato al Monte. It is standing atop one of the highest points in the city. From there you can get an uninterrupted view of the Duomo, the Arno River, Ponte Vecchio and the beautiful Tuscan hills. By the way, the author of Pinocchio (Carlo Collodi) is buried in the cemetery just outside the Basilica.

Duomo

At sunset, you should cross Ponte Vecchio. Florence oldest bridge is the only bridge in the world where you can window-shop jewelry that seem to float above the water. I loved to stroll over that bridge, while musicians play and to see how the sun sets on the Arno River.

Maybe you also heard about the Uffizi Gallery. A famous museum where you can stare at iconic renaissance painting like Botticelli's Birth of Venus, gothic works and many sculptures. One of them is the famous David created by Michelangelo. To be honest, I would save the money for other things like the awesome Italian food. The Gallery is, as the Duomo, usually very crowded. People fight to get the best photo of David while you're standing in the middle of the scramble. Not a fun experience. You can see a replica of the original sculpture in front of Palazzo Vecchio in Piazza della Signoria. It looks almost the same and is free of charge.

David statue

Now that I introduced you to some culture highlights of the city, I want to go on with my personal highlight - Italian food. Honestly, I have never eaten such good food. I highly recommend Pizza with cheese, truffles, garlic oil and burrata. Usually, you get some bread and olive oil as starter. But don't miss out on the real Italian Tiramisu ( so good!!). If you are more an ice cream person, go to ice-cream parlors where the ice-cream is covered with a lid. You can't see the ice-cream from the outside because it is stored in iron containers. A local told me that they do it to maintain the aroma. And I can tell you - you taste the difference! My favorite flavor was pistachio and chocolate. One of these parlors is called "Rivareno Gelato". If you like to eat meat, try the T-Bone steak with a glass of red vine from the Chianti region in a traditional trattoria. They are also offering wine-tasting tours in the vineyards around Florence. It takes 4-6 hours, depending on how many wineries you will visit. If you have time left, definitely recommended.

Now, I hope you are already planning your trip to this marvelous city.

Until next time, grazie Firenze!