Hello my dearest readers
If you have already seen my other posts, you would’ve known that I travelled to Italy just before summer.
This Florence trip was part 2 of the trip. For the first leg, we headed to Milan which you can read all about it here.
Hi, my dearest readers,
If you already saw my other post, you would’ve known that I travelled to Italy just before summer.
My first stop was Milan as my plane landed and I was here only for one day. In my opinion, if you are just visiting Florence, the city alone, one day is more than sufficient. However, if you’re looking at visiting the nearby cities, you can always extend the trip as we did.
We took a road trip from Milan to Florence which was about a 4 hours drive. We made plenty of stops along the way.
The objective of the trip was to visit as many places as possible and admire its architecture. It’s less of a trip whereby we visited each individual cathedral and museum (there are way too many of them!). So you’ll need to cater more time than we have if you’re planning on visiting the inside of these landmarks.
We also took some day trips out of Florence to The Firenze Outlet Mall, Siena, Venice, and Pisa.
GETTING AROUND FLORENCE
Car: We had the car towards the end of our Milan trip. We then drove to Florence on the second day and took day trips out to the Firenze Mall, Siena, Venice, and Pisa.
Regional trains: Both the regional and local trains are very convenient for us to navigate. On the regional trains, there were two types that we came across. The first is the kind where you either fit your luggage in the overhead railings (my big luggage fit) as the train came with built-in tables. I felt safer but it took so much to get it up. You can fit your luggage at the back of your seats if it’s small enough as well. My friends placed theirs in a luggage compartment instead. On the second train we boarded, I managed to fit our luggage in front of the seats as there isn’t a table. There also isn’t a luggage compartment (not that we know of, after asking a local). However, this was a tight squeeze as we didn’t have much space to place our feet and opted to curl up in the seat. But I felt safer knowing that our luggage was in our sight.
Local trains and trams: We did not take any of this in Florence (only in Naples and Rome) but on the local trains, I’ll suggest being more vigilant to your surroundings. There are lots of petty pickpockets around and you can read about my experience with one here.
Walk (a lot): Predominately, be it after train travel or a car ride, we walked around the cities. Their cities are very walkable and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by what you’ll see in each corner. There’s no better way to explore the city!
Tours: I know this doesn’t really count as transportation but some of the tours do come with a pickup point and they’ll drive you around the area.
Taxi: This was a lifesaver for us when we were moving in between the cities and had to lug our hefty luggage to the main train stations. We got an app called Freenow (which works like Uber or Grab). Within minutes, I was able to get a taxi. But a trip from my hotel/ Airbnb (less than 5 minutes away), costs at least €15 so this is a pricy option. For taxis to the airports, there is a flat rate of €40 to €50, depending on the location of each airport.
Airport Transfers: Airports in Italy were pretty far away from their main cities. While there was the option of taking the trains, the comfort of the Airport Transfer buses outweighed the pros on cons. I got mine off Klook under Terravision which cost me €6 instead of the €10 that I saw people paying on the spot. So, if you don’t want to miss the bus to the airport and you want a cheaper yet affordable alternative, this will be it!
DAY 1: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore | Basilica of Santa Maria Novella | Piazza della Repubblica | Venchi | Piazza della Signoria | Palazzo Vecchio | Ponte Vecchio
We had a car by this time and took a road trip across the cities. The time that we set off was 9:30 am.
Along the way, there were rest stops called Autogrill which had available toilets (which I was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness of). There, you’ll find all the snacks you’ll want and can even pick up some souvenirs that are from the surrounding region. I spotted some snacks which were similar to Singapore’s but under a different name which was interesting.
We reached Florence around 2:15 pm but we struggled to navigate the area because of the parking and the ZTL which was active in the afternoon. This meant that there were several areas that we cannot enter without a car unless we have a permit or we risk a fine. In the end, we opted to park at the parking across the Florence station and dragged our luggage across the cobbled walkways to our Airbnb.
Address: Garage delle Nazioni Via Luigi Alamanni, 37R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
You can read about my stay in Italy here.
Tip: Remember to ask the garage about the opening and closing hours, lest you won’t be able to get in and out of the garage after you complete your itinerary for the day. We were put off by the service at the garage near our Airbnb as they did not tell us about how difficult it will be to get out of the garage due to the marathon that happened the day after (which led to the closure of the surrounding roads). We had to resort to bribing a taxi driver (who drove really quickly through the small streets) to get us onto the highway.
You can read about my stay in Italy here.
By 3:30 pm, we settled at a restaurant just in front of the Basilica of Santa Maria Novella. The Basilica was just a stone’s throw away from our Airbnb. In fact, we went past it when we walked from the car park.
Address: Basilica of Santa Maria Novella P.za di Santa Maria Novella, 18, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
4:15 pm was when we started exploring the beautiful Florence where everyone says it’s the prettiest city and I can see why.
Our second stop was the beautiful Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore which was another iconic structure and a must-see one in Florence.
Address: Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Piazza del Duomo, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Note: For most of these cathedrals, it can be difficult to get tickets on the spot to enter so do pre-book the available tickets online to enter. Booking them directly on their official site will get you the cheapest tickets. If you didn’t manage to get them but don’t mind paying a premium, you can get them off third-party sites like Tiquets or Viator.
A short walk away is the whimsical Piazza della Repubblica.
Address: Piazza della Repubblica Piazza della Repubblica, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Can you believe that this is only my first gelato spot in Italy? I definitely had to try Venchi in its original form! We did also walk past a truffle shop (where there are branches all over Italy) which had yummy truffles for tastin
Address: Venchi Via Calimaruzza, 18, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Piazza della Signoria and Palazzo Vecchio us the heart of Florence and where you can find many stone sculptures including the famous replica of the Statue of David and Fountain of Neptune.
Address: Piazza della Signoria P.za della Signoria, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy
Don’t forget to stop along the way and admire the gorgeous alleyways.
Last but not least, the Ponte Vecchio, a charming old bridge filled with jewelers and antique boutiques.
Address: Ponte Vecchio Ponte Vecchio, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
Note: In Florence, there are many sellers who’d place pictures or paintings on the floor where it catches unsuspecting people from stepping on them.
Our Airbnb host was suggesting that we head up to see Piazzale Michelangelo for a gorgeous view of the city but we didn’t have the time.
Address: Piazzale Michelangelo Piazzale Michelangelo, 50125 Firenze FI, Italy
DAY 2: The Mall Firenze | Osteria Il Postiglione | Random Vineyard | Piazza Del Campo | Duomo di Siena
This was going to be one of the big shopping moments that we were taking specially for the trip. Especially when we hear that the price difference with the retail stores differs largely, we knew we had to go.
This outlet is one of the biggest ones in Italy with renowned brands including Gucci, Prada, Chloe, Versace and so many more.
Address: The Mall Firenze Via Europa, 8, 50066 Leccio FI, Italy
Along the way, we stopped by and accidentally trespassed. The nice host was gracious to let us stay just a bit longer to take a photo of the gorgeous scenery.
After the outlet shopping, we went for lunch at Osteria Il Postiglione which was hands down one of our favourite lunches.
Their T-bone was grilled nicely (although a bit too raw for our tastebuds, you can request for them to grill it longer). Paired with the sea salt, the combination was simply yummy.
What we loved was the service provided. The waiter brought out the cut of the meat before it was cooked and was so attentive to us throughout the whole dining experience.
Address: Osteria Il Postiglione La Massa, P. P. Pasolini, 15, 50064 Figline e Incisa Valdarno FI, Italy
We set off for a wine yard nearby but we were unable to catch it in time to enter. We did stop by along the road to admire the view of the number plus vineyards along the way, so it wasn’t a trip wasted.
We ended up in the memorable city of Siena where their medieval architecture was stunning. There are lots of steep slopes up, leading to the city centre but once you’re there, I promise, it’s all worth it.
The city centre is UNESCO listed and I can definitely see why.
Tap water are all readily available for you to refill your bottles or just a quick drink to rehydrate here. There is a fountain in the plaza where you can make a wish.
Address: Piazza del Campo Il Campo, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
The other site not to be missed is the Duomo di Siena. Italy’s filled with them, and each one so unique and filled with character of its own. This cathedral was built in the 13th century and even has some uncompleted areas which were meant for expansion. Meaning that this cathedral is actually unfinished.
Address: Duomo di Siena Piazza del Duomo, 8, 53100 Siena SI, Italy
Day 3: Bridge of Sighs | Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore | Palazzo Ducale | Basilica di San Marco | Piazza San Marco | Gelato Fantasy | Gondola Rides
Initially, this day was planned to head for the Imola Grandprix. However, due to the severe weather, floods warranted the race’s unable to proceed. Hence, we made alternative plans to visit Venice instead.
We took a road trip up from Florence, expecting to stay a day there. However, we ended up staying the night as well.
Although we completed this itinerary in 2 days, rest assured that you can complete them in just one.
As our objective for the trip is to just visit the places without entering them, this itinerary might be too fast-paced for those who will be entering the basilica or the doge’s palace.
Tip: Bring a hat, sunglasses and put on lots of sunscreen. The main areas leading to the main piazza were unshaded and the heat got to us.
Our first stop was to take the vaporette (water bus) from the parking. A 24-hour ticket cost €25 per person which is what we got. Although, we did not actually use it that frequently. Only when we headed into the city and exited it to return back to the car. The rest of the time, we just walked the entire place. Although I’ll be honest, no one checks to see whether you tap in and out so if you’re feeling a bit brave, you can always jump onto the boat without the tickets and save that extra buck.
We parked at Venezia Tronchetto Parking, a multi-story car park, buying our Vaporette tickets here too.
Address: Venezia Tronchetto Parking Isola Nova del Tronchetto, 33/m, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy
We stopped at the Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore, a white Palladian church overseeing the city in its skylines.
The church is free to visit but do observe some silence when you’re in there as a form of respect.
Address: Abbazia di San Giorgio Maggiore Isola di S.Giorgio Maggiore, 30133 Venezia VE, Italy
We headed back onto the Vaporette and made our way into the city.
Whilst walking from the boat terminal, we went past the Monument to Victor Emmanuel II before seeing the Bridge of Sighs.
Address: Bridge of Sighs P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Further down is the Doge’s Palace (part of the outside is still under construction). I only heard of the good reviews to go for the Doge Palace’s Secret Itineraries tour and would love to go for that the next time I’m in Venice again.
Address: Doge Palace P.za San Marco, 1, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Finally, we saw the Basilica di San Marco, St Mark’s Campanile, and Piazza San Marco. There are many cute little restaurants surrounding the plaza, each with its own bands playing classical music, riveting and serenading the crowd. You can enter the Doge’s Palace and the Basilica di San Marco, however, do make sure that you get the tickets beforehand.
Address: Basilica di San Marco P.za San Marco, 328, 30100 Venezia VE, Italy
We opted to get some gelato from Gelato Fantasy nearby (only found out about it after seeing a long queue). Have you really been to Italy if you don’t have 93848294 gelatos?
Address: Gelato Fantasy S. Marco, 929, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
After our lil’ dessert, we headed for a gondola ride. Just walk through the alley at the back of the piazza, you should see a fleet of gondolas. The ride itself takes about 30 minutes costing €80 per boat.
Address: Gondola Bacino Orseolo Bacino Orseolo, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Tip: If there’s more than one of you, sit at each end of the gondola so you can help each other take photos! We move around and were scolded by the guy helming the boat.
There are several shops, mainly Zara we wanted to look at as it is cheaper in Europe and a much better quality. So don’t be shy to pop by.
After shopping, we went for dinner. For the restaurants along the coastline, you’ll need to make reservations for them. However, we just opted to go to a local restaurant instead. I love the homely vibe of the restaurant and their food was really good!
Address: Ristorante Piccolo Martini P.za San Marco, 1501, 30124 Venezia VE, Italy
Since we made a last-minute stop, we had to buy some necessities. Fortunately, there’s still a supermart open, just at the corner of Gelato Fantasy, which is open till 10 pm.
We walked around for the rest of the night, wandering through the alleys and over the bridges scattered all over the city. We ended the night along the coastline, listening to the waves crashing lightly against the walls.
Day 4: Libreria Acqua Alta | Ponte di Rialto | Leaning Tower of Pisa | La Grotta di Leo
We set off early in the morning for a bit of brekkie and continued exploring the rest of Venice. The renowned bookstore, Libreria Acqua Alta features Instagrammable stacks of books. When I went around 10 am, it was relatively quiet. I took my time around the bookstore and got myself a copy of the little prince in Italian and a postcard. I had to get the stamps for the postcards in a tobacco store and posted them there too.
Address: Libreria Acqua Alta C. Longa Santa Maria Formosa, 5176b, 30122 Venezia VE, Italy
We did a quick walk to the Ponte di Rialto to see the gorgeous bridge but there were a lot of people and tours who just started their day. I’d recommend waking up earlier to do that.
Address: Ponte di Rialto Sestiere San Polo, 30125 Venezia VE, Italy
Finally, we took another road trip to Pisa. That took about 4 hours. We were only in Pisa to see the tower as we didn’t get the tickets to go up. Plus, it also started raining heavily. We parked at this parking which was outside their ZTL.
Address: Leaning Tower of Pisa Piazza del Duomo, 56126 Pisa PI, Italy
Address: Pisa Tower Parking Via Andrea Pisano, 17, 56122 Pisa PI, Italy
We headed back to Florence and had our final dinner in the city.
The food was good here and one of the best that we’ve had so far in Italy. We tried their sambuca and grappa, oof both are strong so you’ve been warned. Dessert was also not to be missed, their Tiramisu has a very strong coffee taste, which can be a bit too strong for non-coffee drinkers. while the panna cotta was so light and yummy.
Address: La Grotta di Leo Via della Scala, 41/43r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy
Another thing that we saw just below our Airbnb was this Buchette del vino, Wine Window, a sight unique to Florence. They are commonly found in areas of nobility where the families sold the wine with minimal contact.
DAY 5: BYE BYE FLORENCE AND HELLO NAPLES
We were going to explore and get some lunch takeaways from the nearby restaurant but of course, we overslept. We set off in the afternoon to Naples and you can read all about the Naples trip here.
TIPS WHEN NAVIGATING ITALY
- No COVID regulations as of 17 May 2023. Although you should constantly check on travel advisories as the governments are changing as and when the situation develops.
- If it’s a takeaway, pay for your food first before you collect them.
- Italians bring their dogs everywhere. This was so different everywhere else because, in Singapore, you can’t do that unless they are guide dogs.
- They smoke everywhere, although most don’t smoke while they are indoors.
- If there’s no traffic light, just walk across the road confidently. Don’t hesitate, the cars will stop naturally. If you’re afraid, then walk with the locals there.
- Italians eat one pizza each. We were quite shocked to see this, seeing that all of us can barely finish one, let alone one each. To save some cost, we often ordered two mains as we also didn’t have a big appetite.
- Toilets are hard to find and if you do need one, pop by the hotel or ask the restaurants. They are typically okay with it. If you’re near a hotel, just walk in confidently, they never stopped us
There you have it, the second part of the itinerary for my wonderful Italian trip. Do keep a look out for the next as I navigate Milan, Naples, Rome and the day trips out of these cities to Siena, Venice, Pisa, Amalfi, and Pompeii.
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