FLORENCE | JUNE 2015

IN JUNE I SPENT A WEEK IN FLORENCE IMPROVING MY ITALIAN ON A SHORT LANGUAGE COURSE. I'D VISITED THE CITY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, BUT ONLY FOR 2 NIGHTS DOING MOST OF THE TOURISTY STUFF (THE DUOMO, UFFIZZI GALLERY, ETC.), SO HAVING A WEEK TO DISCOVER NEW PARTS OF THE CITY AT A RELAXED PACE WAS REALLY GREAT.

I'VE COMPILED A SHORT LIST BELOW OF A FEW THINGS I'D REALLY RECOMMEND YOU TO CHECK OUT IF YOU'RE EVER IN FLORENCE!

WALK AROUND | FLORENCE IS A VERY SMALL CITY IN COMPARISON TO MOST EUROPEAN CITIES I HAVE VISITED, SO WALKING EVERYWHERE IS DEFINITELY DO-ABLE. I FIND WALKING IS THE BEST WAY TO DISCOVER NEW PLACES AND YOU GET A REAL FEEL FOR THE CULTURE AND ATMOSPHERE THIS WAY.

IL MERCATO CENTRALE 

TEMPIO MAGGIORE FIRENZE 

FOTO AUTOMATICA

BJORK  | INDEPENDANT STORE MOSTLY SELLING CLOTHING, BUT IT ALSO HAS THE MOST INCREDIBLE SELECTION OF MAGAZINES. REALLY NICE STAFF TOO. IT IS IN THE OLTRARNO AREA OF FLORENCE (ACROSS THE RIVER), WHICH IS A LOVELY QUIET AREA. I'D HIGHLY RECOMMEND TAKING A TRIP OVER THERE, BUT DON'T GO VIA THE TOURIST TRAP THAT IS THE PONTE VECCHIO. I PROMISE IT LOOKS BETTER PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A NEIGHBOURING BRIDGE. 

LIBERIA BRAC | A TINY RESTAURANT/BAR IN A BEAUTIFUL SETTING. THROUGH THE COURTYARD (PICTURED ABOVE) IS THE RESTAURANT, COVERED WITH BOOKSHELVES HOUSING HUNDREDS OF BOOKS FOR SALE ON ART/MUSIC/DESIGN. THE FOOD IS AMAZING; ALL VEGETARIAN AND VEGAN, AND IT IS EXCELLENT VALUE FOR MONEY TOO. DEFINITELY BOOK IN ADVANCE. 

FOR GELATO | LA MILKERIA, BORGO DEGLI ALBIZI 87.

FOR COFFEE | CAFE 19.26, VIA GIOVAN BATTISTA NICCOLINI 30. 

                         | L'ARTE DEL SOGNO, BORGO LA CROCE 24-26.

FOR CLOTHES | SOCIETE ANONYME, VIA GIOVAN BATTISTA NICCOLINI 3.