Lorenzo the Magnificent is to Florence what yeast is to bread.

Firenze Magnifica, pulsating heart of the Renaissance, is a monument to beauty.

A friend recently asked me about Firenze, for he was planning a romantic holiday.

So… here’s a summary that others may find helpful.

CULTURE

• Cappella Brancacci (chapel that inspired Michelangelo to paint Sistine Chapel)
• Boboli gardens
• Palazzo Pitti museum
• Cappella di Palazzo Medici Riccardi
• San Marco Convent
• Any church… But in particular Santa Maria Novella and Santa Croce (and you can’t miss Santa Maria del Fiore and its magnificent dome)

FOOD

• Ristorante La Giostra
• Ristorante Ponte Vecchio
• Osteria di Giovanni
• Buca Mario
• Buca Lapi
• Enoteca Pinchiorri

STREET FOOD

• Mercato Coperto di San Lorenzo
• For lovers of tripe, try the “lampredottai”:
  • MARIO – @ Porta Romana, next to the art institute
  • PIER PAOLO – @ Via de’ Macci, next to ristorante Cibreo
  • I’ TRIPPAIO DI SAN FREDIANO – @ Piazza dei Nerli
  • NERBONE – Perhaps the best known in Florence. Inside the Mercato Coperto di San Lorenzo (see above).
  • L’ANTICO TRIPPAIO – Via di Cimatori
  • I’ TRIPPAIO FIORENTINO – Via Gioberti

LIFESTYLE

• In the morning: get up early, enjoy the morning views over a nice cappuccino, chill, make love.
• Lunch: take your time.
• Late afternoon: stroll out for aperitivo (check out Procacci).
• Dine late (8-9pm), then walk round for ice-cream, go over Ponte Vecchio, Porta Rossa, etc…
• After dinner: late drinks at caffé (bars) in Piazza della Signoria or Piazza della Repubblica (here there’s typically music) — check out caffè “Giubbe Rosse”.
• Later: make love, sleep.

TOURS

And here’s a magnificent plug for my old friend Mario Bernardi, a travel agent with a brain whose company, “The Grand Tour“, can make you experience the cultural jewels of Italy in true Italian style: “I can arrange a half-day private walking tour of Florence that can be a good introduction to the city and to see off-the-beaten-track local gems, or a full day private driving tour of Chianti with visit to Panzano, Greve etc. including winery tour and tasting and visit to Dario Cecchini Butcher. The tour can include also Monteriggioni and San Gimignano”.

Mario’s email: mario@thegrandtour.it.  If you mention my name he’ll give you the royal treatment.

Also, if you are spending a week in the area, the cities of Lucca and Siena are kind of unmissable.

Have a magnificent time in Florence!