Fantastic Firenze - We Thought It Was Good...

Despite the drizzling rain that we have had since our arrival in Florence on Saturday, we have had a wonderful time. Highlights have included climbing to the top of the Duomo, (especially Nick being able to join me this time!), delicious Tuscan meals and the amazing views of the Tuscan hillsides! After a early morning departure from the villa, minus two students – eek! Don’t worry they eventually found their way to the train station with a few minutes to spare prior to departure, we set out for Pisa where we had a transfer, and then onto Florence! The students were interested in eating lunches with Luca, they quickly learned that he knows a lot about Florence, as well as where it’s best restaurants are! We even ran into a group of the grad students before dinner on Saturday night and we invited them to join us – we had a great time. We went to a restaurant suggested by Silvia, Aquacotta, and it did not disappoint! I had the most delicious eggplant Parmesan, which I was thrilled since my initial choice of ravioli was the only item on the menu that didn’t have that night.

Firenze Duomo

View of Florence from Piazzale Michelangelo

Eggplant Paremesan

One of the highlights of both my trips to Florence has been the visits to San Minitato, it sits above Florence, and not only gives you an amazing view of the city below, but the church itself is just stunning! It is a romantic style church – must be why I like it so much 😉

One thing we did this semester that we didn’t last was visited the Boboli Gardens, although the flowers weren’t in bloom, this space was incredible, hard to believe that these were the gardens of one family – complete with a zoo on their grounds. And the views of Tuscany were to die for! Mom – we are coming back!!!

I should have been blogging a little bit everyday as I realize I am forgetting everything that we have done, our days are wonderfully jam packed! This time around I have been buying a lot of postcards as many places we have visited won’t allow photography (David, Michangelo’s chapel, as well as many of the churches)

Handmade pasta… it was delicious!

Also on the itinerary this semester that we didn’t make it to last was Santa Maria Novella Chiesa, I had been eyeing this church since we stepped off the train and was thrilled when we stopped in! Although I was sad as we didn’t get much time in here and I found myself most of that time in its bookstore, I hope to be able to stop back on my future travels to Florence.

Santa Maria Novella

Lite a candle for Timm & Jan

And finally I owe a special thank you to Kristen Harding for bringing the perfumery to Luca’s attention, we made a special stop and my wonderful husband treated me to a bottle of Angels of Florence, so that I can remember our awesome time in his wonderful city!

Beautiful chandelier in perfumery

Ooooh the selection

Our last morning we had free, which I think that everyone appreciated. Nick, one of the students and I set out for Santo Spirito, one of the churches that got axed on our schedule due to one of the several delicious lengthy lunches we had, we ran out of time. I was grateful we made the trip over there though as it gave me another opportunity to walk over Ponte Vecchio again and I found THE purse in a small shop, it was handmade in the shop and nothing like I had ever seen from the various venders on the streets of Florence – it’s “almost” one-of-a-kind! We then had another hot chocolate and leisurely walked the streets of Florence (where I bought another purse – I might have done too much damage this time around), before meeting up with the students for our last group lunch. The night before I looked up restaurant suggestions on Trip Advisor and the number one place was a small sandwich shop close to The Uffizi. It was amazing, the fresh hot focaccia, with a spread and your meat of choice. The night before I played it safe and with went turkey, mozzarella, and then let them create the rest…. I have no idea what was on it, but of my goodness… For lunch I requested their house made fennel salami with whatever they suggested and again… Delicious! The only way I can describe the place was a small sandwich shop run by Italian hipsters – this was of course Nicks jam! The best part was that this sandwich, which was bigger than my face and the serve-yourself-wine bar was only €7!!!!! What?!?!?!