It is the beginning of August, the perfect time to marvel at Florence under the Tuscan sun. It did not take me long to fall in love with Florence, Italy. Florence has 3 of my favourite things: Art, Food and Shopping.

The Art

Art is everywhere in Florence which I immediately fell in love with – it would be hard not to. From the architecture to the many masterpieces that were created in the city of Florence, beauty is all around with paintings and sculptures that are displayed in over 80 art museums. There are also many great Florentine writers and poets, the most famous being ‘The Devine Comedy’ by Dante Alighieri. The opera was also born in the city, housing works from the great Leondardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and many other important artists.

It is an experience just to walk around this picturesque city and admire the architecture. I find the beauty that Florence has to offer to be most inspiring – no wonder why it is the birthplace of so many famous artists. So what are the places that you must visit to admire the art in Florence?

The Piazza del Duomo with huge Gothic-style Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, a beautiful cathedral

• Galleria degli Uffizi, the largest and most popular museum in Florence
• Galleria Dell’Accademia, the city’s second largest museum and the home of Michelangelo’s ‘David’
• Duomo Museum, housing a collection of paintings and sculptures, including Michelangelo’s ‘Pieta’ and Donatello’s ‘La Maddalena’
• Piazza della Signoria (an L-shaped square in front of the city hall ‘Palazzo Vecchio’)
• Ponte Vecchio (which means ‘Old Bridge’ and today a host of shops and merchants to display goods)
• Piazzale Michelangelo (meaning ‘Michelangelo square’ with a panoramic view of Florence and is simply breathtaking.
• Piazza Santa Croce, with staggering statue in Dante Alighieri’s honour

There are so many more museums to visit that I have not mentioned on this list. If you have the time, visit more – I can guarantee that it will enrich the experience and your trip will not be complete without them.

The Food

Tuscan cuisine is known as ‘cucina povera’ (which means poor kitchen) and the bland, salt-free bread embodies this concept. Meat is a staple of Florentine cuisine. In Tuscany, the meat and vegetables are sourced from local producers. There are many restaurants which offer great food and panoramic views over the beautiful Florence. You can also try the local produce at the markets such as San Lorenzo Central Market (indoor).

Popular dishes that originated in Florence include Bistecca alla Fiorentina (T-bone steak traditionally from Chianina beef), Trippa alla Fiorentina (Florentine-style Tripe), Ribolita, Pappa al Pomodoro, Panzanella (a Florentine salad) and Pappardelle alla Lepre (Pappardelle with Hare). When in Florence, finish your meal with a glass of Vinsanto (a dessert wine) or espresso coffee and cantucci (almond biscuits). Florence is a ‘gelato lovers’ paradise. Gelato was invented by Buontalenti in Florence during the Renaissance period. Today it is home to some of the best gelaterie (gelato shops) in Italy.

It is evident that Florence has remarkable local produce and the wine is no exception. Tuscany is famous for it’s wine made in the region of Chianti. If you ever want to really treat yourself, try the Brunello di Montalcino or Chianti Classico Marchese Antinori wines – they are amazing.

Want to get the taste of Florence without the travel? With Italian Spoon, you can cook these recipes in your very own home. To enhance the Florentine experience, I recommend buying a Tuscan wine to accompany the meal. My top 5 favourite Tuscan dishes include:

• Antipasto ‘di carne’ (of meat)
• La ribolita
• Bistecca alla Fiorentina
• Pasta ‘e fagioli’ (with beans)
• Florentine biscuits

3. The Shopping

Florence ranks within the top 15 fashion capitals of the world. I love the shopping in Italy. Florence has so much to offer from high-end luxury fashion brands to markets and fashion outlets with great bargains. When in Florence, you really can’t miss out on buying an item of leather. The city is known for quality craftsmanship with artisanal shoemakers, leather markets and don’t forget the luxury Italian brands. You can’t visit Florence without visiting La Rinascente – 6 floors of shopping heaven and a glorious view of the duomo on the rooftop. Shopping for shoes is a must in Florence. The city has as many shoe boutiques as there are art museums, so you are bound to find what you are looking for. Happy shopping!

Florence is definitely a place I will return to. Between the beauty of the art and culture, the food and shopping, I can guarantee that you too will fall in love with Florence. If a trip to Florence is not in the cards for now, not to worry – our recipes will have you cooking like a true Florentine. Buon appetito!

Fall in love with Florence blog authored by Vanessa Bottaro.

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Vanessa Bottaro

Author, Founder and Creative Director at Italian Spoon

In my eyes, Italian cuisine is love on a plate.

Vanessa is Creative Director of the Italian Spoon website and Author of The Italian entertaining cookbook, a collection of home-style Italian recipes and tips for entertaining in true Italian-style. In addition to cooking and taking photographs, Vanessa writes the recipes and blogs to bring the love of Italian cooking to life! The collection of recipes and blogs on the website have been inspired by travels to Italy and desire to share what she has learnt from the great ‘Mamma’s and ‘Nonna’s in her life!

Vanessa is an entrepreneur and wife to husband Simone and the mother of two beautiful kids Dante and Mia. Even so she was born and lives in Melbourne Australia, Vanessa has a deep connection to Italy. Perhaps it is the food, or maybe it is because it is the place where Vanessa met the love of her life, Simone to whom she has been happily married for so many years.

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