Firenze - Florence, Italy - Fav 5 {Travel Guide}

Fav 5 Travel Guides are a short list of the best things I've found to do, see, eat, or drink in a particular location. This guide is for Firenze - Florence, Italy. 

Additional Italian cities include Rome, Naples, and Palermo.

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Firenze or Florence is a city in Central Italy. It's located in the Tuscany region in the middle of "the boot."

I visited Florence for three jam-packed days in 2016 with both of my parents and my husband, Bryce. 

We all LOVED Florence because of its manageable size and walkability. It is a city that's equal parts gorgeous and historic. We hopped between sites and museums, ate as often as we could, and walked several miles each day in Florence.

This was my parents' first trip out of the US and Florence was a perfect first destination. Our second stop was Rome, in all of its grandeur, so we appreciated the slower pace of Florence before the real craziness crept in. 

Firenze, Florence, and the Duomo await your arrival to Italy

Now before I dive into my Fav 5, just know that there are things that everyone who visits Florence must do. They're in every list and guide book on the earth so I haven't included them in my list.

While in Florence you must visit the Piazzale Michaelangelo for a view from above the city, visit Michaelangelo's David sculpture, and walk across the Ponte Vecchio aka old bridge. 

If you're into fashion and/or Gucci you'll love the Gucci Museo (museum), too.

​Ok, let's do it!

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1. Giotto's Bell Tower

The Santa Maria del Fiore or Cathedral of Florence is the third largest church in the WORLD. The collection of many majestic buildings feels like the heart of Florence and seeing them for the first time is something I'll never forget.

You can explore so much of the complex and their website makes it quite easy to chose your adventure and secure tickets. We took on Giotto's Bell Tower on our first morning in Florence. We bought our tickets in advance and picked the very first ticket time for the day. There were very few other people inside, it was ideal. 

​For this and all other attractions in Florence we booked our tickets in advance. There were HUGE lines outside of all of them for visitors without tickets. Don't go all the way to Italy and spend your days waiting in lines - get those tickets before you go!

The climb up the tower is 414 stairs and each landing along the way includes another amazing view to the outside and a unique view inside the tower. The climb isn't too bad at all. The stairwells wrap around the widest parts of the square building and you get to a  break each time you reach another interior space. Take your time and be sure to look up, down, and out at each junction. (There aren't elevators so don't do this climb if you're unsure of your ability to do so.)

The view from the top is AMAZING! Breathtaking. Astounding. You get a great look at the duomo, too! Getting back down is much quicker, obviously. 

Santa Maria del Fiore or Cathedral of Florence - a whole complex of stunning churches and buildings

Giotto's Bell Tower in Florence, Italy

Giotto's Bell Tower - the stairs and climb isn't bad at all!

The first look out from Giotto's Bell Tower

The first look UP inside of Giotto's Bell Tower

Looking down from close to the top of Giotto's Bell Tower

The view from the top of Giotto's Bell Tower - the Tuscan sun shining on the terra cotta roofs

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2. The Duomo

Later that same day we climbed the Duomo, the centerpiece of Florence! It's an octagonal dome and an architectural masterpiece that's a top the Cathedral of Florence.

There are 463 stairs to the top via a small and very cramped stairwell. The passageways inside the duomo are very narrow and short. You share every space on your way up with folks who are on their way back down, and vice versa. Be prepared to stand aside and take turns on skinny sets of stairs. You do get to walk through the cathedral itself before you start climbing upward. 

We again booked the first ticket time of the day (in advance of our visit) to avoid a crowd. Because mass takes place in the actual cathedral below the tickets didn't start until later in the day. I'm moderately claustrophobic so I was concerned about this visit. On our way up the Duomo there was nobody coming down, it was a luxury! The way down was a little nerve wracking when we were standing still and waiting our turn but it was all totally doable in the end. 

The view from the Duomo is even BETTER than the bell tower. You emerge on an odd shaped little landing that wraps around the circular top of the dome. The open air and panoramic view make you feel like you're on top the world! Ok, maybe just the top of Italy which is still just as great. 

The Duomo in Florence, Italy (photo taken from Giotto's Bell Tower)

Momma and I atop the Duomo - what a VIEW

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3. Mercado Centrale

The Mercato Centrale is paradise for any food lover. It's a giant building and market of all things food.

I've spoken so much about Italian fruit stands and the superiority of Italian produce over all others and this, the Mercato Centrale, is a GIANT collection of delicious produce, baked goods, and fresh foods for your eating and enjoyment. You'll see fresh fruit and vegetables like you've never seen before, all of the nuts and seeds imaginable, giant biscotti, Italian baked goods, freshly cut meat, freshly caught fish, and so much more. 

We had our morning cappuccino and tea. We bought snacks and souvenirs to take home. We took photos of everything. I would have loved to grocery shop and cook at Mercato Centrale! Next time, Florence, next time.

Mercato Centrale in Florence, Italy

Italian produce is so beautiful it looks fake

Giant biscotti at Mercato Centrale

These Italian muffins look AMAZING

Nuts and seeds and dried fruits for days at Mercato Centrale

A few Americans taking too much time at the coffee bar!

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4. La Carraria Gelato

We ate a ton of gelato in Italy and the very best we had was at La Carraia in Florence. We actually ate gelato there twice in one day!

The whole experience is enjoyable. The shop is right on the water, everything inside is adorable, and the gelato is spectacular. 

A favorite combination of mine and the best gelato I had at La Carraia is chocolate and orange or cioccoarancia. 

Don't skip the other gelato spots in Florence but definitely make your way here!

La Carraia - the best gelato we had in Firenze, Florence, Italy

GELATO. Everyday while in Italy.

Chocolate orange gelato perfection

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5. Vintage Fiat 500 Driving Tour

The highlight of our time in Florence was out Vintage Fiat 500 afternoon tour. We piled into adorable little cars and drove off into the Tuscan hills for an adventure of a lifetime.

We visited vineyards and admired olive tress. We parked next to wild Italian poppies at lookouts worthy of romantic proposals and movie scenes. We took those little Fiats down tiny roads squeezed between ancient rock walls. 

I thought my driving might get us all killed but it DIDN'T! I'll have to make a Figs and Flights {Video} to explain the whole hilarious situation of how I became the only driver in my family.

This adventure is a favorite memory for all four of us: Mom, Dad, Bryce, and myself. If you end up in Florence you've got to take this Fiat tour. You'll actually never forget it. 

Getting ready for our Vintage Fiat 500 driving tour!

Two of the three Fiats in our caravan as we left the city!

A Tuscan lookout with vintage Fiats and wild poppies!

The little old Fiats fit just perfectly on walled country roads

It was so nice to escape the city and actually walk amongst the vineyards in Tuscany

We made it to Italy. I drove and nobody was harmed!

Thanks for visiting Florence with me!

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