Top 5: Florence Edition
In this roundup, I share the best bite, sip, sight, experience, and day trip from my two months in Florence, Italy.
In this new series, I share my top 5 in the form of the best bite, sip, sight, experience, and day trip from the destinations that truly delivered for me.
After nearly two months of coming and going from Florence, plus that lovely two weeks I had in the city in 2023, this is a city I can’t help but feel right at home within. It’s become familiar, a favorite, and full of memories for me at every turn. It’s also left me with a handful of recommendations I’d love to pass on to you. And I will, as I continue to update my Florence City Guide, but for now, here’s a roundup of my Florence top 5: the best bite, sip, sight, experience, and city break. Ready to save a whole bunch of spots to your Google Maps? Let’s go!
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The Best Bite
Source: Wikimedia Commons
If we’re talking food, torta di ceci (also known as cecina). It’s a thin, unleavened pancake or flatbread made from a batter of chickpea flour, water, salt, and olive oil…and my mouth is watering just writing about it. I didn’t actually try this for the first time in Florence, but you’ll find it at bakeries and pizzerias all over town that cater to locals. If they offer it, ask for yours inside of a ciabatta or focaccia-like bread with a sprinkle of black pepper. That’s my favorite way to enjoy this Tuscan treat.
Source: Trattoria Za Za
If we’re talking restaurants, Trattoria Za Za wins every time. Maybe it’s because of the fond memory I have of dining there with my mom and sister back in 2023, or maybe it’s the sheer number of times I’ve dined there (current count is 3). There’s almost always a wait to get a table, but the wait is worth it. My go-to dish on their menu is the ravioli in a creamy walnut sauce, but the truffled spaghetti a la carbonara is also great. It’s also a spot you could try Florentine steak, just bring a few friends to share it with.
The Best Sip
This one’s tough, because there are so many categories I could run with. If we’re talking specialty coffee, anything with Todo Modo’s touch or for something truly decadent and caffeinated Le Ménagère’s mocaccino made with espresso, chocolate, milk, and cacao. If we’re talking wine, that glass of barolo suggested to me at Le Volpi e l’Uva. If it’s cocktails, Locale has some of the most creative, and if it’s craft beer, whatever Birreria Art. 17 has on tap. I’ll also mention that I’ve developed an addiction to this lemon soda served at restaurants and grocery stores all over Italy, but also Birra Moretti for a light and refreshing accompaniment to my pizza.
The Best Sight
It’s really no contest. Seeing Florence from the Piazzale Michelangelo at sunset is the most incredible view on offer in this gorgeous city. Sure, it’s crowded up there and a bit of a hike to get to, but the minute the sky glows its signature spectrum of pink, purple, and orange, that chaos and ache in your legs magically fade away. It’s just you and a showstopping view. And maybe an Aperol spritz if you remembered to grab one from the guy selling the €5 jumbo size spritz on the walk up (see how I slipped that insider tip in there ;)…you’ll pay way more at the top for far less).
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Because there’s a very close second for me in this category, I’m including my runner-up: The Chapel of the Princes inside the Medici Chapels. This is the only place in Florence (besides maybe my first glimpse of the Duomo in 2023), that I felt what’s known as an “art attack”, or Stendhal Syndrome. As I entered The Chapel of the Princes, I swear my heart started racing, my breath caught in a frightening way, and my knees nearly buckled. It’s just that overwhelmingly striking. It’s actually the very ornate mausoleum of the Medici envisioned by Cosimo I de Medici, and not even completely finished. Pay the €9 and see it for yourself, just have something or someone nearby to catch you if you faint.
The Best Experience
So, the best thing I did in Florence, I’ve done twice. That was crafting my own perfume at a Florentine perfumery. What I loved about the process each time is that it happens solely by instinct. The scents aren’t labeled as you select, and so it’s just your nose and how that scent makes you feel that determines the ultimate scent profile of your perfume. This means no two perfumes are alike, which is really fun if you’re there with friends, family, or even people you’re still getting to know. It’s like baring your soul through scent, and such a surprisingly fun experience.
The first perfume-making workshop I did was at Antica Spezieria Erboristeria San Simone. It’s €70 per person for a 1.5-hour workshop that includes the perfume you create and walk away with. The second perfume-making workshop I did was much more luxe at Profumoir. Their 2-hour workshop includes a special selection of essences from their impressive olfactory library to create with and a gorgeous 100ml bottle, complete with Carrara marble cap, to store your perfume creation in.
The Best Break From Florence
There are so many gorgeous Tuscan towns in Florence’s vicinity, but my favorite has to be Lucca. It’s about an hour and a half west of Florence by train and, though touristy, feels far less crowded than Florence. During medieval times, it was the capital of Tuscany. Today, it’s known as the “city of a 100 churches” due to the dense concentration of historic churches ranging from grand cathedrals like Duomo di San Martino to charming little chapels tucked into narrow streets. Besides poking my head inside its bountiful churches or positioning myself with a cappucino in one of the piazzas looking up at one, I loved walking Lucca’s walls, a remnant of the early 16th century. Today, these walls are more like an elevated and tree-lined hike and bike path, offering some of the best views of sunset and the surrounding Apuan Alps.
Still in the planning process for your own trip to Florence?
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What to Read Next
Whether you’re working or studying, Florence has more than a few spots that welcome the laptop-clad crowd. In this post, I share the coffee shops, study nooks, and cafe-restaurants that served as my “office” in Florence.