Last year, I was fortunate enough to visit Italy with school. It was a holiday filled with laughter, sun and beautiful new memories with my friends I will forever cherisch in my heart. We travelled around through the country and made stops in Florence, San Gimignano, Siena and Bologna.
Having never visited Italy before, I was in awe of this beautiful culture with its rich history and way of living. There is something in the air that makes you want to enjoy life and go out and explore. The colours of the sunlight matching the ancient walls of the city, made a dreamy background for our adventures. Days were filled with exploring, laughter, delicious food and red wine - with the music of the Italian language as our soundtrack.
Giardino di Boboli
-
To take a break from a city bustling with tourists like Florence, visit the Giardino di Boboli, situated right behind the Palazzo Pitti, on a hill overlooking the beautiful skyline of the roofs of Florence. Try to go there in the afternoon to see the terracotta rooftiles and Duomo basking in a light that seems specialy designed to do just that. The tranquility of these gardens, makes it a perfect place to slumber in the shadows, enjoy a lazy picknick and just simply, be.
Piazza Santo Spirito
-
We were very lucky to stay in the area of Santo Spirito, an area dotted with small restaurants and cafés perfect for hanging out in the scorching sun, and close to the Piazza Santo Spirito. The best way to experience this part of Florence is to grab a pizza from Gusto Pizza, eat it on the steps of the Basilica di Santo Spirito with some Aperol Spritz on the side, and watch - as the evening falls - the passion and emotions of an Italian crowd gathered to watch an amateur boxing competition.
Gelateria de Neri
-
A visit to Italy isn't complete without enjoying some fresh gelato. For the best experience, visit Gelateria de Neri, to savour some of the best tasting flavours and they have an amazing vegan selection! My recommendation: Pompelmo Rosa (grapefruit), Noce di Cocco (coconut) and Cioccolato Fondento (dark chocolate).
Piazzale Michelangelo
-
To get a view of Florence in all it's glory, walk through all the little streets up the hillside to the Piazzale Michelangelo. Again, try to go around eveningfall, as the light of the sun shining on the city, creates a magical spectacle.
