florence

Florence, Italy Weekend Guide

Published on April 4, 2019January 8, 2025 by Skylar M. BeckLeave a comment

Florence has become one of my favorite cities. I’ve had the opportunity to live here for several months and each day I discover something new and memorable. Most of my exploring happens during my weekends, and I thought I’d share a weekend guide for those traveling to Florence for only a few days.

To Do’s in Florence

Wander around the stunning Santa Maria del Fiore Catherdral, aka, the Duomo! It’s one of the most beautiful Cathedrals you’ll ever see. There are so many details in the architecture that still shock me every time I walk by. If you have some extra time, I suggest either climbing to the top of the Bell Tower or climbing to the top of the Duomo, both are great experiences.

Catch the sunset at Piazzale Michelangelo. This piazzale is popular for good reason, it’s one of the best spots to view Florence. Although it’s always crowded with people, it’s the best spot to watch a stunning sunset. I suggest bringing along some wine and snacks too!

Walk along the Arno River. No trip to Florence is complete without a visit to the Ponte Vecchio. Personally, I love to view the Ponte Vecchio from a distance. It’s so beautiful and makes for the perfect postcard picture.

Where to Eat

Osteria All’antico Vinaio

Neri Gelato

Osteria All’antico Vinaio. One of the best sandwiches I’ve ever tasted and well worth the wait in the long line! Bonus: only 5 euros!

Gusta Pizza. My favorite pizza in Florence!

Gelato Di Neri. One of the best spots to grab a cone of gelato. There are several amazing flavors to pick from, my favorite is the ricotta and pear.

La Menagere. An incredible place worth stopping by for coffee, a meal, drinks, or just to see the beautiful interior. On the weekend, I recommend going to one of their jazz nights. Every Friday and Saturday, a live Jazz band plays, it’s such a great way to enjoy some music and drinks with friends.

Things you Cannot Miss

Wine Tour through Tuscany. A wine tour is one of the most unique and special
experiences to have while visiting Florence. Spend the day visiting Tuscan towns, tasting delicious wine and cheese, and stepping into an Italian lifestyle. Most tours do take all day but it’s an experience you will not regret!

Visit one of Florence’s many museums. Of course The Birth of Venus at the Uffizi and the David at the Galleria dell’Academia are the two top attractions to see. But if you’re looking for a slightly less crowded museum experience or have extra time, I suggest visiting the San Lorenzo church and Medici Chapels or Museum of Opera of Saint Maria of Fiore. Both are special museums that illustrate the rich history of Florence. Of course during high season they will be crowded too but nowhere near the crowds at the Uffizi and Galleria dell’Academia.

My top 5 favorite travel destinations

Published on September 13, 2017March 12, 2018 by Skylar M. Beck3 Comments

I was fortunate enough to travel a lot this summer and recently I’ve been thinking about all of the experiences and memories I had. Everywhere I went was special but there are certain places that make me feel happiest when I look back on the pictures. I decided to share a list of my top 5 favorite travel destinations from this summer:

Florence, Italy. Florence was my favorite city in Italy. Florence was also the first city I visited alone so it will always be significant to me. I immediately felt welcomed from the moment I stepped off the train. I am hoping to be back in Florence very soon in the next year or so.
Procida Island, Naples, Italy. Procida was the most colorful place I visited. The vibrant pastel colors on the buildings throughout the island always makes me happy to look at. Procida also had the best pizza I’ve ever tasted, which made the island even more enjoyable!
Paris, France. I had high expectations of Paris, mostly because I had been wanting to visit since I was little. I was not disappointed. Paris offered a charming atmosphere unlike any other city I visited.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland. Ever since I returned home to the USA all of my friends and family have been asking what country was my favorite. My answer has been Ireland. I went to several cities around Ireland, but of course, the Cliffs of Moher was the most breathtaking place. Ireland was my favorite mostly because of the calm environment and because it was much different than every other place I visited in Europe.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida. I’m a huge Harry Potter fan. The books, the movies, the aesthetic it has created for it’s fans over the years make me so overwhelmingly happy. The Harry Potter World has been on my bucket list for a few years now and I’m thrilled this summer I was finally able to go with my family.

Top 5 things you MUST do in Florence, Italy

Published on June 13, 2017March 27, 2019 by Skylar M. Beck2 Comments

Ah, Firenze, you stole my heart. Florence is truly a magical city that is worth a visit when traveling to Italy. Here are 5 things that you must do if you are planning on visiting Florence:

Spend time in the Duomo di Firenze. This is located in the central area of Florence and it is breathtaking. I bought a ticket online that allowed me to enter the cathedral, bell tower, and the duomo (the dome). I highly recommend this, it wasn’t expensive at all and the views from up top are incredible, especially from the bell tower. Be prepared to walk up a lot of stairs though because there aren’t any elevators!
Visit the famous man of Florence–David. David is located in the Galleria Dell’Academia. Again, I bought my ticket online and didn’t have to stand in line at all, definitely worth buying ahead! I ended up staying for about 2 hours just staring at David. He truly was the greatest work of art I have ever seen.
Go see Ponte Vecchio. One of the oldest bridges in Italy and the prettiest. For the best view of Ponte Vecchio, I suggest walking across to Ponte Santa Trinita so you can capture a great picture. It’s also beautiful to see at sunset.
For another amazing view of Florence, walk through the Bardini Gardens. A little far from the central area of town, but in my opinion worth the walk. This garden is full of beautiful plants and flowers and it offers a stunning view of Florence.
Try some gelato from the famous Vivoli. Hands down some of the best gelato I have ever tasted. Located at via dell’Isola delle Stinche