Oh my dear Florence how do I love thee let me count the ways…..

Okay, maybe I am smitten and overrun with love and joy just arriving in Italy because of the pedestal I have had the country on for so many years, but almost instantly I fell in love with Florence. Therefore, making it a perfect first stop for my country tour.

I fell in love from the beginning and intend on staying that way all the way down to Sicily.

It does help of course when amazing friends connect you with their amazing friends to host you in the city. I had the most wonderful hosts in Florence thanks to a connection from my good friends at Nukanti Foundation for Children. One of my hosts was from India and the other two from Southern Italy. They were a lively bunch in their 30’s who made sure I didn’t leave Florence without experiencing the artistic musical vibe that you can find all over the city if you know where to go.

Check out the video of my host, Letizia rocking the saxaphone during a street performance!

If you can’t see the video below, click here to view it on youtube.

A view of Florence on the Arno River

Florence is a city to be enjoyed walking for sure. Crossing the Arno river and the Ponte Vecchio  to see the brightly colored apartments, shops, and churches that line the division of the city. Cobblestone streets, University students full of passion for music and the art, the markets that bring all the visitors in too aww over all of the Italian leather, and of course Florence having the best Renaissance art in Europe. Even if you don’t go into the museums, every corner you turn is full of Florentine art and amazing architecture. I also just fell in love with Florence for the sheer amount of bicycles with baskets and vespas zipping around the city. Young, old, everyone rides a bike!

Vespas lining the street in Florence

I think Florence is a city I could go back to over and over and always find something new to discover. This time, I made sure I did all the biggies. I ate endless gelato, sat and gazed in amazement at Michelangelo’s David, admired the art in The Uffizi that is home to Michelangelo’s Birth of Venus, also known as the greatest collection of Italian painters anywhere in the world. Climbed the Dome of the Duomo to see a stunning view of the city, watched the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo, and did my own leisurely Renaissance walk through Florence only to stumble upon Dante’s house, the man who brought us The Divine Comedy. Basically, the Shakespeare of Italy.

A View of Piazza Michelangelo and a replica of The David

The Duomo - where I walked 463 stairs up a Renaissance stair master

Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - Florence's Gothic Cathedral

Florence of course, was also my introduction to the Italian Way – coffee and cigarettes for breakfast (well for me minus the cigarettes), taking STRONG coffee like shots endlessly throughout the day, eating pasta or pizza for every meal, Italian tango swing bands, wine on every occasion, and Italian hospitality!

Florence was the perfect combination for me of sophisticated art and fashion without losing the musical artsy creative vibe that keeps the city grounded. I spent almost a week in Florence, and I know for sure, I will go back to discover parts of the city that I left untouched.

Related posts: