The CC's Insider Guide to Florence
MEET MARTINA
Martina Piemonti, a TCC Tastemaker in Italy, is a copywriter with a background in finance and accounting but her greatest passion is traveling and she knows Florence inside and out.
While based near Milan, Florence is one of Martina’s favorite cities and she has put together an insider’s guide for The CC community of where to eat, sleep and play in the gorgeous city of Florence.
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Favorite part of Florence?
I love picturesque skylines and sunsets so I would say Piazzale Michelangelo. Be sure to take something to snack on and your favorite drink and enjoy the spectacle of the setting sun while listening to one of the many eclectic entertainers singing and playing music in the square.
What should we see while visiting?
You must visit Boboli Gardens behind Pitti Palace. It was built for the Medici family in the 1500s and is one of the most important examples of an Italian garden in the world. It is like an open-air museum as this point with it’s architecture, landscaping and sculptures, all ranging from Roman antiquities to the 20th century.
Favorite type of local food and place to get it?
If you want to taste the best schiacciata in the world, head to All’Antico Vinaio in the heart of the city. Schiacciata is a typical type of Tuscan flatbread and All’Antico Vinaio makes sandwiches with cold cuts, cheese and toppings that have conquered the palate of visitors from around the world. You'll have to queue up a little bit to taste one but it's worth it!
Top brunch spots?
There are plenty of places to have a delicious brunch in Florence but my favorites are La Ménagère and Shake Cafe
Best day trips?
If you want to visit a typical Tuscan winery, then Antinori Winery is a great choice. For only 45€ you can enjoy a 90-minute tour, wine tasting from their cellar and platters of meat, cold cuts and Italian cheeses.
Where do you go for an amazing lunch?
If you want to have lunch with a breathtaking view, La Loggia is where you should head. Located in Piazzale Michelangelo, you can enjoy typical Italian dishes and delicious Tuscan red wine while enjoying the best view in all of Florence.
Best museums or galleries?
If you go to Florence as an art lover, you will be enchanted with ancient works and monuments simply by walking through its streets. But the museum you really cannot miss is the Uffizi Gallery, one of the oldest and most famous museum in the world for its extraordinary collection of ancient sculptures and paintings by artists like Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael.
Favorite area to shop?
Via de Calzaiuoli is an elegant shopping street in Florence, it is centrally located and runs from the Duomo to Piazza della Signoria. It is charming and full of great shops as well as Florentine Renaissance architecture along the way.
Favorite restaurants for dinner?
You are spoiled for choice in Florence. Tuscany is know for its fine meat and exquisite, full-bodied red wine. A typical, delicious diner would be a Florentine steak (a thick, juicy cut cooked to perfection) accompanied by a glass of classic Chianti. My top recommendations for dinner are Trattoria dall’Oste, Auditore Ristorante Braceria and Brandolino
Favorite cocktail bar?
The city is youthful so there are many nice, cozy places to have a drink. My top picks are Picteau Bistrot & Cocktail Bar in Hotel Lungarno (they also have a cool rooftop bar called La Terrazza) , Santa Cocktail Club, Locale and MAD Soul & Spirits.
Best views of the city?
As I mentioned, Piazzale Michelangelo has amazing views of Florence but you can also catch amazing vistas from San Miniato al Monte Basilica, the Cupola del Brunelleschi, Campanile di Giotto and the second floor terrace of the Uffizi Gallery.
Cool events that only happen once a year (or seasonally)?
Historic Florentine football is played once a year in Piazza Santa Croce with the two semi-finals preceding the grand final on June 2th, which is the day of the city’s patron saint, St. John.
Even though it is an extremely high-contact sport, it is a tradition that the whole town participates in as they gather in the square to watch and cheer on their team.