Not to be missed in Florence ...

Art, Shops, Restaurants

Florence is an enormous museum and gallery, and it’s easy to find art treasures turning any corner in the centre of town. After the Uffizi, after the Academy, the Duomo, the Bargello, Palazzo Pitti (www.firenzemusei.it) and Cathedrals like Santa Croce or Santa Maria Novella, our city also means other lesser-known sights.

Here we offer a short list of small places we love, where you will appreciate Florentine art and way-of-life:

ART - Short walking distance from the B&B

• Cenacolo di Santa Apollonia: admission free - Tue-Sat 8.30am-1.30pm. From our door turn on the left and at the corner (Via XXVVII Aprile) turn on your right. The first door you see is the cenacle entrance (in case it’s close ring the bell). Frescoes of Passion of Christ and Andrea del Castagno’s Last Supper (1445-1450), together with the Crucifixion, Deposition ad Resurrection, also by A. del Castagno.

• Giardino dei Semplici: admission E.3,oo – Mon-Tue-Thur-Fri-Sun 9am-1pm; Sat 9am-5pm. Located less than 5 min. walk from San Marco sq. (enter in Via Lamarmora and then turn on your right in Via Micheli 3). It’s a 16th cent. garden, a lovely place full of trees, exotic plants and are variety of flowers.

• Museo Archeologico: admission E.4,oo – Mon. 2-7pm; Tue, Thur. 8.30am-7pm; Wed, Fri, Sun. 8.30am-2pm. Recently renovated, the new entrance is in Via della Colonna, Piazza SS.Annunziata square, church side (we suggest you to visit the church too, since it’s between S. Marco sq. and the Archeological Museum). It’s the best place to see important Etruscan art. The Orator (bronze) and the Chimera (bronze, mythical beast) are here, and there is a very important collection of Greek ceramics.

• San Lorenzo Basilica: admission E.2,5o - Mon-Sat 10am-5pm. Located in San Lorenzo square, less than 5 min. walk from the B&B. Artworks of Donatello, Bronzino, the Annunciation of Filippo Lippi, and our favourite Marriage of the Virgin of Rosso Fiorentino.

• Palazzo Medici Riccardi: admission E.4,oo – Mon, Tue, Thu, Sun. 9am-7pm. Located 2 steps from San Lorenzo church. Entrance in Via Cavour 1. The charming Chapel of Michelozzo is covered with frescoes by Benozzo Gozzoli and show the Journey of the Magi which is superb. Don’t miss the Lippi’s Madonna and Child.

• Palazzo Davanzati: admission free – Mon-Sun, 8-15am-1.50pm. Closet 1st, 3rd, 5th Mon. of the month, 2nd and 4th Sun. An ancient typical Florentine aristocrathic house recently restored. 3 floors, enormous “salotti”, a completely frescoed bedroom, ancient fireplaces and much more.

ART - On the other side of the river

• Chiesa di Santa Felicita: admission free – Mon-Sat 9am-noon and 3-6pm. The main reason to visit this small church is Pontormo’s Deposition altarpiece in the Cappella Barbadori-Capponi. Pontormo is one of the most important artists in Florence during the Mannerism style.

• La Specola Museum: admission E.4,oo – Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun 9am-1pm; Sat 9am-5pm. If you’re on holiday with kids, maybe it’s not a bad idea to visit this zoology museum, which, from the room 24 exposes also realistic body parts and anatomical models. Elementary schools are used to visit La Specola during the year.

• Chiesa di San Miniato al Monte: up the hill where Piazzale Michelangelo is located, overlooking all the city. Bus n. 13 from the train station; address of the church: Via delle Porte Sante 34, a very short walk from the piazzale. It’s one of the loveliest church in Florence, with the Carrara and Prato marbles façade, together with glittering mosaics of the 13th cent. The interior is frescoed and there is an 11th cent. crypt. Gregorian chant sung daily by the monks at 4.30pm in winter and 5.30pm in summer.

SHOPS & RESTAURANTS

• L’Olandese volante: Via San Gallo, 3 min. walk from here. Chocolate, chocolate, chocolate! But not only; together with a good choice of pralines from Holland, you will find smoked fish, some kind of cheese, and other delicious things.

• Gabs: Via San Gallo. Handmade funny bags in all sizes and colours, wallets, earings, hair clips. A very nice place with good prices.

• Herbalists’ shop Doctor Vranjes: Via San Gallo. Home Italian essences (our favourite is “fiori di Sicilia”) and eau de toilette, body lotions and special face creams for all skin types, lip balms. Also: special “tisanas” (infusions).

• Café “I’Birba”: Via San Gallo. The place is nice, convenient and offers genuine sandwiches and maybe the best home-made “torta di mele” (apple pie) in the area, available after 1pm. No fees for the table service.

• Pugi bakery: Via San Gallo and Piazza San Marco. If you’re looking for a slice of good pizza or a very good sandwich, Pugi shop is what you need. All the pizzas are great, and their famous “schiacciata” (savoury) is one of the favourite light-lunch for Florentine people.

• Restaurant “Il Vegetariano”: Via delle Ruote 30; about 5 min. walk from the B&B, Via S. Gallo area. Tue-Fri 12.30-2pm and 7.30-10.30pm (average E.15-20, no c.cards). If you prefere not to eat another 1kilo-Florentine-steak, or just want to try something different, this is the best vegetarian restaurant in Florence.

• Ice-cream “Carabé”: Via Ricasoli, after the cross-road with the Academy street, less than 5 min. walk from the B&B. One of the 3 best “gelaterie” in Florence, with organic Sicilian products. Fruit water-ices are superb.

• Giorgia Atelier: Via dei Ginori, 2 steps from here. A lovely boutique with handmade clothes. The accessories (bags, ear-rings, hats, scarfes) are unique pieces. Not too expensive.

• Trattoria “Nerbone”: if you love Italian food, you can’t miss the main food market in town, located in Piazza del Mercato Centrale, just 2 min. walk from us, and the trattoria Nerbone inside it. The place opens at 7am and closed around 1pm: pasta and soups well coocked, but everybody come here for the “panino al lampredotto” (cow’s intestine) with special sauces, “trippa” (tripe), and “bollito misto” (a mixed boiled cow’s meat, tongue, trotter, etc.).

• Restaurant “Pepò”: Via Rosina-Piazza del Mercato Centrale. Mon-Sun 12.30-2pm and 7.30-10.30pm. (average E. 40,oo). It’s one of our favourite place to eat, good value for money. Home cuisine, tuscan food with an excellent steak, some fish dishes. The menu changes day by day and everything is fresh. Nice small place. Could be crowded after 8.30pm.

• Restaurant “Coquinarius”: Duomo square, Via delle Oche 15R.(small street) Mon-Sat 12 - 11.00pm. Not expensive at all, it offers pastas, salads, smoked fish and Italian cheeses. Own-made cakes. Bistrot atmosphere, very very nice. It can be considered as a Café and not only as a restaurant.

• Ice-cream “Grom”: Duomo sq., Via delle Oche. Simply delicious. Try the “torroncino cream” or the dark chocolate, or the “cassata siciliana”, or the “crema di Grom”….

• Café “Procacci”: Via de’Tornabuoni 64R. Mon-Sat 10.30am-8pm. Small traditional fiorentine bar and shop, ideal place to relax after the expensive shopping in Via Tornabuoni, where all the main boutiques and jewelleries are located. PS. not cheap.

• Da ‘Ino: Via dei Georgofili 3R- Uffizi area(jan and feb. Tue-Fri 12-5pm Sat.11am-7pm; during the other months 11am-7pm Tue-Sat) High quality artisanal enogastronomical products to taste and/or to take away.

• “Spazio A” Boutique: Via di Porta Rossa 107R. Mon 3-7pm and Tue-Sat 10am-7pm. Creations for women by Alberta Ferretti, Moschino, J.P. Gaultier. The staff is friendly and the clothes are fab! Expensive, of course, but not exaggerate.

• Aspesi Boutique: Via di Porta Rossa 81R. Mon 3-7pm and Tue-Sat 10am-2pm; 3-7pm. If you’re looking for clothes in special very elegant colours, this is the right place. Linen, silk, velvet, light wool. Expensive, but the quality is high.

• Calvani Shoes: Via degli Speziali 7R, Piazza della Repubblica area. Mon-Sat 9am-7.30pm. Sun 3-7pm. Men’s and women’s shoes, different styles, from eccentric to elegant. Sport foot-wear, boots, slippers… Very chic!

FIESOLE

Up the hill, bus n. 7 from S. Marco sq. An interesting walk from the central square of this small town (piazza Mino), following the direction for San Francesco church, which has the most enchanting view of Florence. Visit also the archeological area with its roman theatre.