After (mostly) painlessly finding a parking spot, we checked into our hotel, dropped our bags off and headed for our first mission: to find lunch. We ate at the cutest panini shop. All of the bread, meats, and cheeses were high-quality and locally sourced from small vendors. They also had some delicious spreads: olives, eggplant, onion, etc. The men making the sandwiches were also super friendly and helpful when we asked questions about what toppings would go best together. It was one of the best, if not the best, panini I have ever had! With our hunger satisfied, we were ready to sight-see.
We made sure to visit some of the most popular sights in Venice, including the Duomo (Santa Maria del Fiori), which is the large domed cathedral in the city. The fresco on the inside of the dome is really stunning. We also strolled through some of the city’s most popular squares: ….. We also “window-shopped” through Florence’s famous street market. Though we didn’t buy any leather goods (the market’s specialty), we did a good deal on some scarves! In the late afternoon, we walked across the Ponte Vecchio and over the Arno river. Although this bridge is very crowded with tourists, it is one of our favorite parts of the city. The small shops that line both sides of it make it look so unique. I’ve still never seen another quite like it!
We continued on (and up) to the Piazza Michaelangelo, where we were treated to stunning views of the entire city and rolling Tuscan hills in the distance.
Since the walk up involves quite a few steps, we decided to take a local bus back down to the city center. We missed the first one because we assumed we could buy tickets on the bus – not so. Once we found where to purchase the tickets, we had to wait for the next bus. As we watched the expected arrival time standstill, and the group of pushy tourists that was waiting for it with us grow, we decided we needed an alternative plan. We decided to walk back down the steps and stop for refreshments at a wine bar at the bottom. Best plan ever. We all enjoyed some bruschetta and delicious Italian wine while we rested for a bit. Soon after, it was time to head to dinner. We had a really nice dinner with lots of pasta: Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce, lasagna, ravioli in an eggplant sauce, and spaghetti with artichokes in a spicy tomato sauce. Delicious!
On our second day in Florence, we checked out the city’s indoor food market. It reminded us a lot of Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, but with Italian gourmet specialties everywhere. Upstairs, there were some cool cafes and bars. This area had a more modern and hip vibe – it was very cool. I liked how the first level of the market was traditional, but the upstairs was modern. It was a great way to incorporate two very different aspects of the “foodie” scene. Next, we explored the Oltarno district of the city – this is where many of the city’s artisans have small shops and boutiques. We enjoyed admiring many of the unique goods. After that, We stumbled upon a great lunch spot and tried some different dishes: a spaghetti dish with olive oil and red pepper, a veggie Panini with a specialty mozzarella cheese, and a Panzanella-type salad. After lunch, we embarked on a walking tour that featured stories about the Medici family in Florence. The tales were pretty interesting, though I don’t see what fun it is to be the most powerful family when everyone is just trying to kill you. At one point, they extended their palace over the Ponte Vecchio, just so they could get to the other side of the city without having to leave the palace. This was all done because so many people were trying to kill them. Crazy!
We finished our time in Florence with a wonderful dinner. The waitress was friendly and the food was fantastic. They are famous for pear pasta (pasta filled with pear in a cream sauce) – Kristin ordered it and it was delicious! They also had an outstanding cheesecake. It was a great evening out.
The next morning, we got back on the road and headed to explore the rolling hills of Tuscany.
No comments:
Post a Comment