Tuscan Roadtrip: Florence

The birthplace of the Renaissance, Florence is for art lovers, history and architecture buff, coffee connoisseurs, and oenophiles. 

We have both been to Florence years ago, but not together and certainly not as parents. Some decades ago, I visited Florence with my good friend on her post-Bar exam trip. Kenz came to Florence on a work trip. Nearly a decade later Florence is exactly how I remembered it: an open-air museum with amazing architecture and a lively atmosphere. 

North Side of River Arno: Art & Architecture

The River Arno flows through many Tuscan cities. But in Florence, it divides the city to the north side and Oltrarno or ‘the other side”. North of the river is the location of all the famous landmark buildings and museums. You cannot miss the Piazza della Signoria, Florence’s main city square flanked by Palazzo Vecchio. An open air-museum adorned with Renaissance statues, Piazza della Signoria hosts numerous events throughout the year including a fantastic New Years’ Eve celebration. A stone’s throw away is the famous Uffizi Gallery, housing art work by Michalangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. 

Florence’s iconic Duomo is just off Via dei Calzaiouli. You cannot miss the famous red dome of this beautiful medieval cathedral, or the Campanile di Giotto. We marvelled at  this 13th century gothic cathedral designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, whilst enjoying our gelato from Grom. There are numerous piazza all around Florence such as Piazza di Santa Croce with the beautiful Basilica di Santa Croce and Piazza della Repubblica. Florence is just lovely to meander around with no agenda, unless you have a timed entry to the Uffizi or Galleria dell’Accademia. A splendid example of Renaissance architecture with a blend of Gothic influence. 

Oltrarno: Views and Gardens

We had a fun-filled walking tour via Ponte Vecchio to Piazzale Michelangelo for the lovely views over Florence and the iconic red-dome of the Duomo. From there we continued up the path to Abbazia di San Miniato dal Monte where more glorious views awaited us.

Working up an appetite, it was then time for lunch. We walked towards Ponte Vecchio to find a suitable lunch spot and came across Palazzo Tempi Ristorante Pizzeria. A bit more touristy than we like on Piazza di Santa Maria Soprarno, but we were happy to rest our feet and nourish our bodies after a long walk. Afterwards, we carried on to Palazzo Pitti and Giardino di Boboli before heading back to our AirBnB for the rest of the afternoon. 

The quieter side of the River Arno is the neighborhood of Oltrarno. Several bridges take you across the River Arno, but the most famous historic bridge is Ponte Vecchio. The iconic bridge is a perfect place for all those instagram-worthy photos. 

As it was our last evening in Florence, we booked Trattoria dall’Oste Chianineria for ‘last (Firenze) supper.’ We were excited to try the Bistecca alla Florentina (all 1.3kg!) alongside pappardelle al sugo di cinghale (wild boar) and insalata mista. The atmosphere was buzzing with a hipster vibe and friendly staff. A lovely meal to end our time in beautiful Florence, a city full of charm, history, culture, and art. 

Next Up: Lucca