If you are ever given the opportunity to visit Florence, Italy, do not walk but RUN to this majestic city. This city showcases all of Italy’s best qualities: art, food, hospitality, goods, and rich culture. Florence is an absolutely beautiful place, and my day trip there with fellow Forum-Nexus friends is an experience I will never forget.
After a short train ride from Bologna, a few friends and I arrived in Firenze to begin our day of exploration. After a few blocks of walking, we soon found ourselves emerged in the heart of Florence. Everywhere we looked there were beautifully aged buildings which gave off a very Renaissance feel. Little shops and cart markets were set up on nearly every street corner. Artists were sprinkled throughout the town selling their work. There was a unique sense of energy in the air. I knew it was going to be an unforgettable day of exposing myself to more incredible European culture.
Thanks to a few art history classes, I had my heart set on seeing a few historic sites such as the Bell Tower, Ponte Vecchio across the Arno river, and Florence Cathedral. Yes, Florence is home to the Statue of David, but due to costs and an unreasonable entrance wait time, my group decided to spend the day seeing as much of Florence as possible.
Our first group feat was Giotto’s Bell Tower. My friends and I bravely set out to climb the 414 steps to the very top of the Bell Tower. Climbing that many steps in the middle of summer was definitely challenging. However, when we finally reached the top, the view was beyond rewarding. Speechless, I gazed over the sprawling, colorful landscape of Florence. The great thing about the tower is that you can walk around the edge and see every angle of the city. It is truly the most beautiful view of Florence and forever a high point in my Forum-Nexus adventure. I encourage every future traveler to climb the Bell Tower, you won’t regret it!
Once the climb was accomplished, we waltzed into a few shops and wandered around the city until our appetites became too much to ignore. We refueled at a cute and cozy Italian pizzeria. Florence has an abundance of casual restaurants to grub on amazing Italian cuisine; in fact, everywhere in Italy has great food, really. But no surprise there. Afterwards, we went in search of gelato. *Important traveler tip: eat gelato after every meal in Italy to get the full Italian experience*. That’s when I discovered the “Festival del Gelato”. This mesmerizing shop harbored the most decadent gelato I’ve ever tried in my entire life. Plus, the shop was incredibly vibrant and fun! It felt like a night club that served gelato. In all honesty, I would revisit Florence just to swing by Festival del Gelato again.
The remainder of my day trip adventure was spent gazing over the Arno river, visiting the town market square, and taking in all the art I could see. A few particularly beautiful spots included the Palazzo Vecchio and the Loggia dei Lanzi which feature several ornate sculptures.
Florence has so much to offer; beauty to the eye, culture to the mind, and entertainment to the soul. To get a true sense of Italian history and culture, Florence is a prime spot. The experience was far different from my stops in Milan, Venice, Bologna, and Rome, but in the best way. Though my time there was short, every second was worth it! Until my next return, I’ll be dreaming of gelato and the irresistible charm of Firenze.
