Okay - I could go on and on...
by steph4867
Okay - I could go on and on about Florence. It is probably the most beautiful city I have ever seen. Easy to navigate (just look for the top of the Duomo) and flat so walking is a real joy. Explore that street to your left or the sit for hours in one of the cafes around the Duomo and enjoy a bottle of table wine (no need to splurge, I found ordinary table wine quite tasty - of course, it could have been the environment I was in). If you do nothing else, treat yourself to a hike up to Piazza Michaelangelo for a picture postcard view of the rooftops (like the photo I included). If you have energy left over, climb the stairs to the top of the Camponelli (Duomo bell tower) or take the tour of the Duomo dome (not for those afraid of heights, but definitely worth conquering that fear). And don't miss the Ponte Vecchio and the Uffizi Gallery (note - the statue of David in front of the gallery is a replica. The real thing is inside, and will take your breath away. Look for a gash in David's knee - rumor is Michaelangelo was enraged by his benefactor and struck his masterpiece with a saber, scarring it forever). Fondest memory? It is impossible to pick just one - I spent three days wandering the city and never saw the same thing twice (except the Duomo, which was my landmark). I could have sat for hours in Piazza Michaelangelo taking in the view and people watching. Italians like to bask in the sun and rendezvous with their loved ones. Don't be turned off by public display of affection - you too will be overcome with romance. If you aren't, ask for your money back!
Cafes and Bars
by HORSCHECK
In Italy it is very popular to have a pastry and a cappuccino in the morning or during the day in a cafe or bar. The price depends on whether you consume it standing at the bar or sitting at a table. Sitting at a table doubles or triples the price.
Often you have to pay the cashier first before ordering with the recipt at the bar.
Bardini Gardens
by fgfi
These beautiful gardens, have only recently re-opened after a long restoration.
They dates back from the medieval times and they are full of statues, fountains, grottoes, a small amphitheatre and breathtaking views.
Antiquarian Stefano Bardini purchased the gardens in 1913 and proceeded to restore them. You can enter there from Via dei Bardi, 1r and from the Boboli Gardens passing through Costa San Giorgio, 4.
tel. 055.294883 - 055.290112.
Drunkest Happy Hour Bar/Only Legit Latenight
by Fritzanity about Lochness
Lots of American study abroad kids congregate here to prepare for a night on the town. Has pool, foosball, and ridiculously cheap alcohol special til 10pm. 2-1 or one GIGANTIC drink. $5 for biggest vodka red bull ever. Ask for Sarah, coolass bartender. Great international mix, great way to start your night. Easy to meet people here too. Only catch is tough to find and need a cheap membership. none
A Taste of Mexico...in Florence?
by diemusikerin about El Taco
For a tiny Mexican food joint in Italy, it was probably one of the best burritos I've had! There's only one table and a couple of bar stools at a counter, but the ingredients were fresh and boy was it tasty! My friend remembered eating there when she went to Florence so she took me there because she thought I would like it, and I definitely did. The guy behind the counter was wearing some sort of Mexican garb and the place looked more authentic than the Mexican places I eat at in Chicago. So, if you need a break from pasta, go here! I had an awesome chicken burrito with guacamole, beans, sour cream, cheese, and other typical burrito ingredients. The cool part was that they make it into a sort of triangle and it's wrapped up nicely so it's not a total mess when you eat it. Yum!
Pietro Tacca's "Fontana del Porcellino"
View of the Castle
Palazzo Pitti
The cellar
