Italy

Florence

After hearing about my cousin's upcoming History of Art course in Florence I thought it would be shame not to go and visit her for a weekend - this was an offer i was not going to turn down and I'm so glad i didn't.

A two and a half hour flight and one train journey later i landed in Santa Maria Novella train station and after walking for a mere moment I was surrounded by the culture and architecture of Florence - at last!

  

Being a small city definitely has its advantages - it meant i could walk everywhere I wanted to plus it made it easy to see the sights in under 48 hrs, a task which i first thought impossible. However having my cousin as my tour guide definitely made navigating myself round easier!

 

Places to see when in Florence: When in Florence one must go to The Uffizi Gallery - an extraordinary container of paintings and sculptures that embrace an historical period from the 1200's onwards. Expect to find work from Caravaggio, Botticelli, Leonardo Di Vinci and Michelangelo!

Take a walk through Piazza del Duomo - the Cathedral from the outside is definitely a sight to be seen, however the inside in my option doesn't compare to other European cathedrals. Id suggest paying the 7€ to visit the Baptistry instead - the ceiling is one of a kind!

 

In my eyes its definitely worth a trip to the Medici Family Chapel - Basilica of San Lorenzo - a place which is truly full of history. If you are not a fan of the church visits then its still worth going to the area to visit the markets. Even though they sell familiar pieces on each stall there are definitely bargains to be found! I myself found a black leather rucksack - something id be trawling through the shops for for a while!

Take a stroll up to The Basillica di San Minito al Monte - it might seem like a long walk but its most definitely worth it once you reach the top. Not only is this structure one of the finest examples of Tuscan Romanesque Architecture in Italy, it is also the oldest church is Florence. The views from the top are something special, stretching out across Florence and Tuscany -  however if you are going for the views and not the church i would recommend visiting The Westin. On the top floor you can have coffee on a terrace looking out over Florence and San Minito, plus you save your legs from having to walk up all those stairs!

The Ponte Vecchio is Florence's oldest bridge and maybe one of the biggest tourist attractions the city has to offer - the jewellery shops will make any girl swoon! My first visit was terribly over exciting, boring my cousin to death as i dragged her into every shop, however after venturing back and forth over the bridge everyday (i was staying directly south of it!), the tourist traffic became slightly overwhelming! I would recommend going early in order to stroll down in a leisurely fashion.

When it comes to hitting the Florence bars I would insist you go to Santo Spirito - Florence's most lively square. On any given night, this Piazze is buzzing with Italians! All the bars are heaving, the drinks cheap, the people friendly and the music playing in the background - this is a destination, not a stop off!

Basilica of Santa Croce, another beautiful church. Worth a visit but if your just looking for a coffee the Piazze is perfect for people watching and taking in the views. For you sushi lovers, just round the corner from Santa Croce is a 10€ all you can eat sushi bar.. Not very italian but damn good sushi!

Just take a stroll in this beautiful city - rest assured, there is always something exciting round every corner. Florence is yet another Italian gem - Im very much looking forward to my next trip!

Bon Vovage x