What spirit is so empty and blind, that it cannot recognize the fact that the foot is more noble than the shoe, and skin more beautiful than the garment with which it is clothed ~ Michelangelo
Florence ~ the capital city in the Tuscan region. It happens to be the most populated city in Tuscany. It is considered by many to be the birthplace of the Renaissance. This picturesque destination was the center for medieval European trade along with finance, making it one of the wealthiest cities of the era. It has been referred to as the Athens of the middle ages.
Florence is an easy trip from Rome and without a doubt, a must see destination. We actually took the train from Rome and it was very enjoyable. You have the option of the bullet train or the regional train. On our very first trip (12/2019) we chose not to rent a car and traveled to Florence from Rome ( 5 of us & suitcases).
The Florence Cathedral, formally the Cattedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore known in English as the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Flower. It is the third largest church in the world (after St. Peter’s in Rome and St. Paul’s in London). Dimensions; 153 meters long (502 feet) 90 meters wide (300 feet) and 114 meters high (376 feet). The dimensions include a floor area of 8300 sq meters (89,340 sq ft). It was dedicated to Santa Maria del Fiore, the virgin of the flower in 1412. The first stone on the facade was laid on 1296, and was structurally completed in 1436. Isn’t that simply amazing?
I will never forget the feeling seeing the Cathedral in person. We were all pretty wiped out from the train ride and pulling our suitcases along the crowded streets. As we took the final corner, we were immediately left speechless… Ok, I lied…there was still some complaining going on lol. In the distance we caught our first glimpse of the Duomo. It simply takes your breath away. It’s enormous and something words simply can’t describe. The colors are exquisite and range from white (carrara), green (Prato) and red (Sienna) marble. The style is Gothic Romanesque Renaissance. The arches and the incredible architecture are simply stunning. It is by far my favorite Cathedral I have seen in Italy.
When planning our trip in 2019, we were on a tight budget. Our family of 5 was spending a week in Florence and 4 days in Rome. I searched Airbnb until I was blue in the face looking for the best spot to impress the family. I have to say I did not disappoint! We spent time in 2 parts of Florence. This ended up being a fantastic way to properly see this intriguing city. I mentioned above that we did not rent a car. The 2 Airbnb’s we rented were both walkable from the train station. The 2nd was a bit of a walk, but, it was completely manageable. And as I had said we all had our suitcases. I will attach the links because if you are ever planning a trip, don’t hesitate to book one of these apartments. They were both amazing! The first had the most incredible view of the Duomo. The home was gorgeous, and plenty spacious for a family of 5. Both hosts were wonderful, very accommodating and both homes were impeccable. To note, the first shown was closer to the main piazza with the Duomo. The 2nd was a quick walk across the bridge/Arno River. We found it to be very enjoyable to walk back and forth. I will add that all 3 girls fell in love with the host at the first Airbnb. His name is Lorenzo and if you click the link below, you’ll fall in love with him too! He was charming and a fantastic host.
https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/92134420
https://www.airbnb.com/users/show/488317
Florence at Christmas time was truly magical. We were so blessed to have spent an entire week there. The streets were lined with twinkling lights, life size ornaments and the most beautiful decorations. The city is known for its beauty, but also for its shopping. I was on the hunt for a souvenir for the girls on our trip, but, something they could use while we were there. Mike and I stumbled into a leather shop and the prices had me shocked….a simple purse was in the thousands. However, the very approachable sales woman not only spoke excellent English, she pointed me into the direction of the perfect gift. I found 3 Italian leather crossbody pocketbooks. Small enough to be ideal for a day out and about, but big enough to hold their phones and camera. 3 different beautiful colors and free engraving! The girls all loved them and they were able to have them engraved on the spot with their initials. The best part, they were 10% off and ended up being about $125 each. Not bad at all for genuine Tuscan leather. A perfect Christmas souvenir from Florence. I’m only kicking myself that I didn’t purchase myself one.
Christmas Eve, the girls wanted to stay in and watch of all things….Disney movies lol. So, Mike and I ventured out, it was a crisp evening and it was a favorite memory. We had no idea where we were going, we just walked. The hustle and bustle was awesome. It wasn’t so much shoppers but people enjoying the season. The magic of the surroundings was felt and it was all around us. It was about 9:30 pm and Mike and I came across the most amazing experience we had no idea we would find. A choir of about 80 priests were about to enter a church, so, we followed them in and sat for the most intimate Christmas Eve choir service. It was completely in Italian, it was solely candlelit and a memory to last a lifetime. I was actually brought to tears in the beauty of this service. Not even understanding the lyrics, but feeling the emotions of this sacred night. It was all so stunning and brought such peace over me, until we caused a scene…..Mike’s big 13 got hooked under the old wooden pew and he literally went arse over teakettle and the wooden pew went with him. The sound of the wooden pew hitting the tile/marble floor rang throughout the church. I think I definitely peed my pants laughing, while biting my lip to stop myself! Wherever we go, we’re without a doubt going to draw attention. Usually at the most inopportune time. Jesus, please forgive us. Click on the link below to hear the most beautiful choir ~ Christmas Eve in Florence. The video at the end of this post will have the choir entering the church.
We walked and we walked all over Florence. One of the best locations was the Piazza Michelangelo. It’s a square up the hilltop with the most spectacular panoramic view of beautiful Florence. It was built in 1869, it’s a hike to get there, but definitely worth every step. Just pace yourself, it really can be quite the hike. It gives you a great view of the Arno River below. The square is dedicated to the renaissance sculptor, Michelangelo. Here you’ll find bronze copies of his work found elsewhere in Florence. The “David” is a popular site to see. While up on the hilltop, you’ll also get a wonderful view of the Ponte Vecchio. This is a medieval stone, arched bridge over the Arno River.
The other iconic bridge in Florence is the Ponte Santa Trinita (Italian for Holy Trinity Bridge). This is the oldest elliptic bridge in the entire world. It was constructed in 1567-1569. In 1944 the bridge was destroyed by retreating German troops. The bridge was reconstructed in 1958 with original stones retrieved from the Arno River or taken from the same quarry – Boboli Gardens. This is where you’ll see families gathering for that perfect sunset photo or newlyweds on their photoshoots. At the end of the bridge happens to be the best gelato we tasted while in Florence! We actually ate gelato nightly and we had zero regrets.
Florence is an absolute must when in Italy. It is very tourist friendly. We felt safe and were able to navigate our way throughout the city without any major issues. The train station is an easy walk from our Airbnb’s. There is an abundance of shopping and cafes. We actually even found the Disney Store. That was certainly fun to pop in and hear Anna & Elsa singing “Let it go” in Italian. I highly recommend Florence and you absolutely need a couple of days to fully explore. It’s a large city, but, not as large as Rome. It also doesn’t have that traditional urban feel like Rome. Completely different in so many way, so you’ll just have to visit both! I personally prefer Florence. And if you are lucky enough to go during the Christmas season, it is truly magical.
The only negative, which is a similar negative when in Rome are the street merchants. They are not in stores, just mostly men walking around trying to engage with you to purchase their crap. They are sometimes in your face, aggressive and persistent in hopes of getting you to purchase their items. These range from little braided bracelets to God knows what. You have to almost be rude back, because a polite “no thank you” goes unheard. Our daughter Kailee informed us of this situation and we had one episode that could have got out of hand quickly. While standing on the Ponte Santa Trinita bridge as a family (taking a photo) a gentleman put a bracelet on our 17 year old daughter, Ashtyn’s arm. Ashtyn was aware of how aggressive they were so she pulled her arm away. In doing so, the bracelet fell to the ground. Mind you, it was a yarn bracelet. Immediately the guy yelled “You are disrespecting my family” to which Mike responded, we didn’t ask for your bracelet and to please leave our family alone, as we had already asked. This was after he told me I looked like Shakira lol. I took it as a compliment, but I knew he was only trying to engage us. Still….my hips don’t lie lol.
Be sure to add Florence to your Italian itinerary. I will also be doing a post about Lecce. Another beautiful city in southern Italy, that has been referred to as the “Florence of the south”. I’m in love with both, being a hopeless romantic, I found these cities captivating my heart and soul. We only spent a few hours in Lecce and a whole week in Florence. We certainly look forward to going back to both!! Christmas 2019 was a dream come true. Spending time with my loves in the beautiful renaissance city of Florence.
~ These are streets where poems were written, where stories were born, where people have loved ~
Buon Natale ~ Be sure to click on the video links above.