A Picture Perfect Day In Florence

There are some places that are difficult to put into words. They hold too much history, too much beauty.  Florence Italy, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, is one of those places.  So today, a walk down those incredible winding streets and a peek at some of the hidden gems in the middle of this beautiful country.

First, the iconic Ponte Vecchio bridge.

This bridge over the Arno River is home to jewellers, art dealers and countless souvenir sellers.  

The Duomo and the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore.

The art work in the Uffizi Gallery and the Accademia.  Not to be missed, Botticelli’s “The Birth of Venus” and Michelangelo’s “David” ~ Breathtaking.

Beyond the art, there’s the shopping.   Don’t miss the leather goods.  Oh. My.  High end shops and teeny unique boutiques.  Have you ever dreamed of creating your own purse.  Yes, creating your very own.  In Florence there is a little boutique where you can choose pieces of beautiful leather, your front piece, back, and handles until you have created your own custom bag.  It’s purse nirvana.

Florence is also one of those great places where one of the best things you can do, is get lost.  If you do, just be like Joey?

When you are lost, perhaps you will be lucky enough to stumble upon a little piece of folk lore.  Hidden away in the Mercato Nuovo is the Il Porcellino, or Little Piglet, a bronze boar.  Travellers are encouraged to put a coin into the boar’s gaping jaws, with the intent to let it fall through the underlying grates for good luck.  You then rub the boar’s snout to ensure a return to Florence.

End your exquisite day of touring, shopping and photo taking by stopping at the very best sandwich shop in all of Florence. When the locals are lining up at 5pm to buy one of these sandwiches, you know they’re good.

The only problem with  a photo tour of one of the most beautiful cities in the center of Italian Renaissance?

It makes you want to go back.  Until next time.  Ciao Bella!