“I think Florence was one of the first trips I’ve taken where I had absolutely no expectations going into it. It was sort of last-minute and wasn’t on my original list of places I wanted to go, but I’m so glad I did. To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what there was to see or do there. Turns out, this city is a real gem.”
Excerpt from 2/11/19
Coming from Rome, the trip to Florence is quick and painless. It only takes about an hour and a half by train, and the trains leave quite frequently. Not to mention, the tickets are cheap. As much as I love the experience of flying, riding a train is much more comfortable. The seats are way bigger with significantly more leg room, and it’s nice not having to worry about strict baggage restrictions.
Probably my favorite thing about Florence was how walkable it is. It’s definitely a lot smaller than I envisioned, especially coming from Rome, but this made it the perfect place to explore for a quick weekend trip.
Places
Galleria dell’Accademia
I arrived to this museum right when they opened. If you visit, I highly recommend doing the same because by the time I left there was already a huge line wrapped around the building.
The Galleria dell’Accademia has a selection of art from various Florentine artists, but it is famous for the David sculpture by Michelangelo. I had obviously heard of this statue before and was curious to see it, but I wouldn’t say it was at the top of my study abroad bucket list or anything. Let me tell you though, it left me absolutely speechless. I can honestly say that’s the first time that has happened to me with a piece of art.
For one thing, the sculpture is absolutely massive (17ft to give a little context). Aside from the sheer size, the details are impeccable and flawless. Every glance reveals something new: the sling around his back, the strands of hair lining his concentrated face, and even the veins on his hand. Not to mention, his expression is both enlightening and baffling. The inscription next to it said no one is sure whether the statue represented David before or after his encounter with Goliath; if I had to guess, I’d say before. There is just such a sense of concentration and determination in his eyes, almost as it he had unfinished business.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The outside of this cathedral is unlike anything I’ve seen before. The attention to detail is remarkable, and its stately dome is one of the defining images of Florence. It is free to go inside, but keep in mind I had to wait in line for probably about half an hour.
If you want, you can also buy tickets to go up to the top of the dome. I personally didn’t do this. If you’re looking for free views, I recommend hiking up to Piazzale Michelangelo which I mention later in this post.
Gucci Museum
I heard about the Gucci Museum from a study abroad friend who had visited the weekend before. I wouldn’t consider myself a fashion guru by any means, but I definitely do appreciate it. Entrance to the museum was also free for students, so that solidified it as a must-do in my book.
The first floor is an actual Gucci store where you can purchase items. I do not have that kind of money, but it was still fun walking around and seeing all the unique pieces. Oh and the dressing room was a work of art.
The second, third and fourth floors had different exhibits showcasing the evolution of the Gucci brand with pieces from various points of their history. The attention to detail was absolutely breathtaking. I can only imagine how long it must have taken to conceptualize, design, and then actually make these intricate pieces of clothing.
In addition to the fashion on display, the walls were also creatively decorated. I especially loved this bright pink neon sign that instantly caught my attention.
Activities
Walking Across the Ponte Vecchio
This gorgeous bridge spans across the Arno River. I was surprised by how opaque and green the water appeared, which starkly contrasted the bright orange and yellow hues of the buildings surrounding it. There are a variety of shops and outdoor stands selling jewelry and other small items on it.
The Ponte Vecchio itself is a bit crowded, so I almost preferred the views of the bridge over actually walking on it. There was more room to breathe as well as take pictures from the bridge adjacent to it.
Hiking Up to Piazzale Michelangelo
If you’re in the mood for some walking, I highly recommend making the hike up to Piazzale Michelangelo. This square is the highest point of the city and offers a gorgeous panoramic view of Florence.
Bargaining at the Outdoor Markets
Florence is known for its high-quality leather, and it is plentiful. Seriously, I lost count of the number of leather stores I saw walking through the streets. There are also a couple different outdoor markets that have a large selection of leather goods, along with clothing, scarves, and other random goods. I ended up bargaining for a cute little black leather backpack that I brought with me on future trips. I also purchased a brown leather journal that became my study abroad travel diary.
I was so busy perusing these markets that I forgot to take any pictures, but I did get a photo of this bronze statue of a boar right next to one of the markets.
The statue is called il Porcellino (Italian for “piglet”). According to tradition, if you place a coin in its open jaws and let it fall into the grate below you’re supposed to receive good luck. Also, if you rub the snout it is supposed to ensure that one-day you’ll return to Florence. You can see how smooth and polished the snout is compared to the rest of the statue, which is a result of the steady stream of tourists that partake in this tradition. I didn’t do the coin part, but I did rub the snout. I guess we’ll have to see if it holds true and I return to Florence at some point!
Food
Italy is known for its gelato, and Florence definitely did not disappoint! Even though the day was quite gloomy and hazy, that definitely didn’t stop my friends and me from sitting by the bridge and enjoying some gelato.
Gelato
Bruschetta
I took an Italian class while studying abroad in Rome, and one of the main things I took away from it was how to correctly pronounce bruschetta. Contrary to popular belief, the correct pronunciation is “broo-sketta” NOT “broo-shetta.”
Memories
- Staying in a hostel for the first time…
The Florence hostel was the first of many I stayed in while traveling around Europe. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one of the best ones. My friends and I booked 3 beds in a 9 person female room so we were with 6 strangers. The experience wasn’t entirely bad, but it also wasn’t pleasant either. For one thing, the entire building had an odd smell that I could not for the life of me describe. I do have a bit of a funny story though:
We first checked into the hostel around 8:30 a.m. The person working the front desk told us it was okay if we dropped our stuff off in the room even though it technically wasn’t ready yet. We walked into the room, and it was pitch black. Not realizing people were in there, my friend flipped the light switch on and flooded the room with light. Turns out there were a few girls in there sleeping that immediately rustled around and tried turning away from the harsh light. My friend’s face was priceless when she realized what she’d done and she quickly flipped the lights back off. We stumbled through the dark to put our bags in the lockers and left as quickly as possible. Definitely not a great first impression haha. - Getting out of my comfort zone…
Looking back, I’m realizing Florence was a trip of many firsts. First time staying in a hostel, trying panna cotta, ordering a caffè coretto, trying pistachio gelato, and bargaining for goods at a market. So even though Florence wasn’t too far away from Rome, it was still very much outside of my comfort zone. I appreciate all the new experiences I was able to have during that short trip.
Check Out My Podcast Episode About This Trip:
Sarah
May 20, 2020 at 8:08 pmThat gelato looks DIVINE! Did you have a favorite flavor?!
Sarah | The Bella Insider | @sarah_thebella
Allison Elizabeth
May 21, 2020 at 7:23 pmOoooo that’s tough! I don’t think I can pick a favorite, but I will say the most unique flavor I tried was probably pistachio.