I really only had 2 and ½ days in Florence this trip despite staying 4 nights because of a daytrip to Cortona (which I’m soo glad I did) and having to travel to Rome on the last day for my flight home. This was a bit of a tease, especially since it was a holiday weekend and many shops and restaurants were closed both Sunday and Monday.
However, I packed a lot of favorites into that time frame:
Revisiting my favorite frescoes by Ghirlandiao in Santa Maria Novella. I had a great guide that I bought there last year and it was so wonderful to read about exactly what was being depicted in each fresco.
Enjoying the beauty of Brunelleschi’s Piazza Santissima Annunziata in the early morning hours when it was deserted. I had not been there before and it was lovely.
The Florence Evening Transect tour by art historian student Eve from Context Rome/Florence. A very enjoyable and informative early evening tour when most of the crowds were gone.
Lunch at Mario’s. I LOVE this restaurant. It is always, fresh simple and delicious food. The family is so nice and the price unbelievably low. Can’t imagine visiting Florence without eating here. It was my best meal in Florence hands down.
Chocolate gelato at Vestri (too bad the adorable Leonardo wasn’t there) and strawberry and lemon gelato at GROM. Yummy!
ST dinner with Angie, Judy, Winnie and friends. Great company, fabulous steak at Perseus.
The Last Supper fresco at the Ognissanti Church’s chapel by Ghirlandio. The cloister is only open, Monday, Tuesday and Saturday mornings so I was happy to get to see it again. Love the fresco by Botticello in the main church too.
Hot chocolate with cream at Gilli’s.
The Arno and Ponte Vecchio at sunset.
Dinner at Casalingua in Santo Spirito. Simple, very good and cheap.
I did see the Palazzo Vecchio for the first time this trip and was amazed at its vastness. Probably not a good idea to tour this after lunch with wine-too much to take in!
I would have liked to have had the time to try many more restaurants, get to San Miniato and Fieosle but I’m sure there will be a next time as I am always enthralled with Florence and feel so at “home” there.
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