Quick Bites in Florence

I'm on vacation... In the meantime, read these reviews of restaurants:

* Use TuttoCitta To Map Street Address

Primer on Florentine Cuisine

Lunch To-Go
IL TRIPPAIO Florence's many mobile tripe (yes, tripe) vendors. (For a quick bite and eats...)

Enoteche (Wine Bars)
I FRATELLINI Via dei Cimatori 38r. 055) 239-6096. (Side street.)
ENOTECA FUORI PORTA Via Monte alle Croci 10r. 055) 234-2483. fuoriporta.it
LE VOLPI E L'UVA Piazza dei Rossi 1r. 055) 239-8132. levolpieluva.com
PROCACCI Via dei Tornabuoni 64r. 055) 211-656. antinori.it

Caffe'
RIVOIRE Via Vacchereccia 4r, Piazza della Signoria. 055) 214-412. (Near Uffizi Gallery.)
CAFFE GIACOSA Via della Spada 10r. 055) 277-6328. (Designed by Italian fashion designer Roberto Cavalli.)
CAFFETTERIA PIANSA Viale Europa 128/130. 055) 653-2117. caffepiansa.com
HEMINGWAY Piazza Piattellina 9r. 055) 284-781. hemingway.fi.it

Dolci (Sweets)
GELATERIA CARABE' Via Ricasoli 60r and Piazza San Jacopino 9. 055) 289-476. gelatocarabe.com (Visit them for a free scoop!)
BAR VIVOLI GELATERIA Via Isola delle Stinche 7r. 055) 292-334. vivoli.it
GELATERIA LA CARRAIA Piazza N. Sauro 25r. 055) 280-695.
DOLCI & DOLCEZZE Piazza Beccaria 8r. 055) 234-5458. Closed Monday.

Mercati (For more markets in Florence, click on "Mercati") e Alementari
MERCATO CENTRALE Piazza del Mercato Centrale. Monday through Friday (7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.), Saturday (7:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) 2-story building full of food stalls and vendors. Biggest and most varied market.

MERCATO DI SANT'AMBROGIO Piazza Ghiberti. Monday through Saturday (7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.) Small, neighborhood market.

LA FIERUCOLA Piazza Santo Spirito (Third Sunday of the month). Piazza Santissima Annunziata (First Saturday of the month). Ask hotel concierge for information.

For eating advice on other Italian towns, clicca qui!

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Buone Feste - Happy Holidays

© vinorosso 2000-2006

Buone Feste

Happy Holidays

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Sightseeing Tips

Il Duomo (Firenze)

Sightseeing Tips

* Reservations: Book ahead for the most popular sights (Uffizi, Accademia, Bargello, Medici Chapels, Pitti Palace - all official sites are in Italian. For English descriptions, visit YourwaytoFlorence.Com). Call Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., Saturday 8:30 - 12:30 p.m. (Florence Time): 055/294.883. You may get busy signals, so keep dialing. The Uffizi and Accademia close on Mondays. Check schedules of other museums.

* Florence is an extremely walkable city. However, if you want to ride the bus purchase your ticket at the tabacchi shops. 1 euro allows you to ride one hour on the bus; 1.80 euro = 3 hours on the bus; 4 euros = 24 hours. For more info on transportation to, from and within Florence, click here.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Day Trips from Florence

If you need a break from the crowds of Florence, escape to these towns in Tuscany for a day or longer. While renting a car would be nice, most of these towns can be reached by public transport (bus or train).

BUS: SITA (Via Santa Caterina da Siena 17r, tel. 055/214.721, www.sita-on-line.it) and Lazzi (Piazza della Stazione 4-6, across the train staion, tel. 055/16685.6010)
TRAIN: Stazione Centrale di Santa Maria Novella (Piazza della Stazione, 055/14788.8088)

First, review this list of towns in Umbria and Tuscany by Frommers.

Here are some other towns to consider a visit for day trips:
Fiesole - Closest escape from Florence. Take bus # 7 from Florence train station, which lets you off in the town's main square, Piazza Mino. Main sights: Church of San Francesco, Duomo, Roman Theater, Civic Museum, Bandini Museum. For restaurant recommendations, go here.

Sansepolcro - The town of Sansepolcro, which developed around the large Benedictine Abbey, has conserved its medieval urbanistic structure and has, over the centuries, been enriched by important Renaissance and Baroque buildings. Weekly market Tuesday and Saturday mornings. (120 km from Florence.) Visit Sansepolcro.net for more info. (For more info. on the area of Arezzo, click here.)

Collodi - The birthplace of Carlo Lorenzini, the father of the most famous puppet of all, there is a park, the Park of Pinocchio.

Montecatini Terme - Thermal baths. Here is more info. on this spa town.

Torre del Lago Puccini/Viareggio - on the west (Ligurian Sea), next to Lago Massaciuccoli. Can go swank or rough it (camping). Home to Puccini Opera Festival.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Additional Suggested Self-Guided Walks Through Florence

The first selection is offered through AboutFlorence.com's site. It has several suggested itineraries through the city of flowers. Check them out! Here's a sample itinerary:

Brunelleschi's Florence
Brunelleschi's works in Florence:
The dome of Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral, piazza del Duomo.
Bargello Museum, via del Proconsolo, 4.
Church of Santa Maria Novella, Gondi Chapel, piazza Santa Maria Novella.
Hospital of the Innocenti (Founding Hospital), piazza Santissima Annunziata.
Church of San Lorenzo and the Old Sacristy, piazza San Lorenzo.
Palazzo di Parte Guelfa, via di Carpaccio.
Pazzi Chapel, Museo dell'Opera di Santa Croce, piazza Santa Croce, 16.
Rotonda of Santa Maria degli Angeli, piazza Brunelleschi.
Church of Santo Spirito, piazza Santo Spirito.

The second suggested itinerary is from Your way to Florence's site. (It's also the same site that suggests a 3-day itinerary.)

This one is a short self-guided tour, that should orient you to the area near the Duomo.
From the website: Start your tour with the religious center of the city - the Cathedral of S. M. del Fiore (Duomo), the bell-tower of Giotto, the Baptistery and the Golden Doors. Then, along Via Calzaiuoli, make your way to Signoria Square, the political center of Florence which is also an open-air Museum. Then through the Uffizi Square, get to the river Arno and to the world-known Ponte Vecchio with its wonderful jeweler's shops. Afterwards along Via Porsanta Maria reach the Straw Market and the little fountain with the famous wild-boar, one of the symbols of Florence. Continue along Via Calimala, Piazza Repubblica, (the most modern square in the historical part of the city, since the original buildings were knocked down at the end of XIX century and new ones, neoclassical style, were built over), Via Roma and make your way back to Duomo.

If you want to take a break from all the walking around, here are some parks Florence has to offer.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Eats in Florence (by Neighborhood)

Restaurants in Florence (by neighborhood)

* Map It at TuttoCitta'!

Primer on Florentine Cuisine

Restaurants In the Historic Center (Centro Historico)

Da Pennello Via Dante Alighieri 4r 50100. 055/294848. T-Sat lunch and dinner; Sun lunch. NO CC. Reservations recommended. Also known as "Da Dante" - Da Pennello has great antipasti and Tuscan specialities.

Caffe-Pasticceria Gilli Piazza della Repubblica 39r at Via Roma 1r. 055/2396310. Closed Tuesday. 73oam-midnight (shorter hours Nov-Feb.)

Gran Caffe Giubbe Rosse Piazza della Repubblica 13-14r. 055/212.280. Daily 8am-1am. Caffe' in the piazza.

Caffe Rivoire Piazza della Signoria 4r. 055/214412. Closed Monday. (THE place for chocolate in Firenze! This place must be good, as it has been on several Food lists. Oldest chocolatier in Florence.)

Cantinetta dei Verrazzano Via dei Tavolini 18-20r. 055/268590. 8-20h. Closed Sun. No CC. Cheap. (Its review has links to other Tuscan food links.) Wine bar and bread store make for good inexpensive eats in city center.

Vini del Chianti Via dei Cimatori 38. 8am-8pm. Closed Sun. Panini/crostini/vin santo.

Pizzaiuolo Via dei Macci 113r. 055/241.171. Closed Sunday.

Le Mossacce Via del Proconsolo 55r. 055/294.361. M-F lunch and dinner. Inexpensive rustic Tuscan cuisine.

Restaurants In Santa Maria Novella

Baccus Via Borgo Ognissanti 45r. Moderate. 055/283.714. Tuesday-Sunday 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., 7 p.m. – midnight. Closed Monday. Go for the pizza.

Buca Mario Piazza degli Ottaviani 16r. 055/214.179. Closed: Wed. (all day), Thur. (lunch).

Il Latini Via dei Palchetti 6r. 055/210916. Closed Monday, 12/24-1/5. (I saw this restaurant profiled on an episode of Rachel Ray's TV show when she visited Florence-although I don't know if it was a $40 episode?)

Pepolino Borgo Ognissanti 1r. 055/290978. Closed Sun. No CC. Moderate. (Listed under "Moderate." Not really a review of restaurants, but rather an extensive list of restaurants in Florence categorized by budget.)

La Carabaccia Via Palazzuolo 190r. (50123 zip) 055/214782. (reservations nec.) Closed Monday noon/Sun. Moderate.

Trattoria Sostanza Via Porcellana 25r. 055/212.691. near the Borgo Ognissanti end, Near Santa Maria Novella. Closed August. (Highly recommended by friends, natives, and Frommers) Reservations highly recommended. (From Frommers: Sostanza is popularly called Il Troia (the trough) because people have been lining up at the long communal tables since 1869 to enjoy huge amounts of some of the best traditional food in the city.)

Restaurants In Santa Croce

Acquacotta Via dei Pilastri 51r 50124 055.242907

Osteria de’ Benci Via de’ Benci 13r. 055/234.4923. 12-20 Euros. M-Sat 1-2:45 p.m., 8-11 p.m. Closed Sun.

Acqua al Due - Via della Vigna Vecchia 40r. 055/284.170. 16-25 Euros. 7:30 p.m.-1:00 a.m. daily. Closed Monday and 1 week in August. They have a restaurant in San Diego, CA. (For review, read Osteria Santo Spirito's.)

Del Fagioli Corso dei Tintori 47r. (50122 zip) 055/244285. Closed Sat/Sun/August.

Trattoria Cibreo Via dei Macci 122r. 055/2341100. Closed Sun/Mon, 12/31-1/6 some in July.

Restaurants In San Niccolo'

Enoteca Fuori Porta Via Monte Alle Croci 10r 50122 055.234.2483. The wine bar in Florence.

Enoteca Pane e Vino - Via San Niccolo 60-70r. 055/2476956. 12pm-2pm, 10pm-1am. Closed Sunday and August. Moderate. Extensive wine list. Interesting interpretations of Tuscan dishes.

La Beppa Via dell'Erta Canina 6r. 055/2342.906 Closed Wed. Homestyle Tuscan cooking at this trattoria.

Restaurants In San Lorenzo Market Area

Friggitoria Luisa Via Sant'Antonino 50-52r. 055/211.630. Closed Sun. NO CC. For a quick bite, stop by Luisa's eatery. Deep-fried sweets are her specialities: cimballe (doughnuts), crochette di riso (rice croquettes). She also has sandwiches.

Le Fonticine Via Nazionale 79r. 055/282.106. Tuscan and Emilian-Romagnan cuisines. For a review.

Trattoria Za-Za (San Giovanni) Piazza del Mercato Centrale 6r. 055/215.411. M-Sat 11:30 a.m.-11p.m. Closed Sun. For more info. click here.

Miro Ristorante Via San Gallo 57. 055/481030. Closed Sun. Moderate.

Nerbone Ground floor of Central Market (Mercato Centrale). 055/219.949. Closed Sunday. Lunch only. NO CC. For a quick bite, stop by the Mercato Centrale. (Downstairs are butchers, a fish market and other grocers. Upstairs are fruit and other veggie vendors.) Have a glass of vino, some pasta and soup - all at low prices.

Restaurants In Oltrarno

Osteria Santo Spirito Piazza Santo Spirito 16r. 055/238.2383. Daily 12:30-2:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m.-11:30 p.m. (Note: There are reviews of Acqua al Due, Osteria Cinghiale Bianco, Il Fratellini (sandwiches in the street), Trattoria Quattro Leoni, Trattoria Baldovino, and Trattoria Mario in this thread.)

Trattoria la Casalinga Via dei Michelozzi 9r. 055/218.624. M-Sat 12-2:30 p.m., 7-10 p.m. Closed Sun, 3 weeks in August. (reviews)

Antico Ristoro di Cambi Via San Onofrio 1r. 055/217134. Close Sunday. Inexpensive to moderate.

Restaurants Outside the City Center

La Capannina da Sante - Piazza Ravenna (south of Ponte Giovanni da Verrazzano). 055/688.345. Closed Sun. Specializes in seafood, Tuscan style. Moderate.

Omero - Via del Pian de' Giullari 11r (south of Via della Torre del Gallo), Arcetri. 055/220.053. Closed Tue.

Ruggero - Via Senese 89r (south of Via del Gelsomino). 055/220.542. Closed Tue and Wed. Rustic Tuscan cuisine.

Stefano - Via Senese 271, Galluzzo. 055/204.9105. Closed Sunday and August. Specializes in seafood (oysters/raw bar).

SlowTrav's Florence Restaurant and Caffe' Reviews

NYT Restaurant Review

For restaurant info. on other Italian towns, click here.

(* LINKED restaurants are linked to their websites or reviews.)

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Benvenuti a Firenze!

Most of the main links will be on the page for Rome, this page will be dedicated to Florence for you two.

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture

Florence Must See Sights

Il Duomo - including the Campanile and the Baptistry (Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore - in the Historic Center)
To see more photos of this church and other ones in Florence, clicca qui (see you're already Italiano!).

Uffizi Museum (book tickets online):
Uffizi Museum General Info
Virtual Uffizi (see the Museum Collection online)


Accademia Gallery (Michelangelo's David is here)

Bargello Museum

View this 3 day Itinerary to help you in your planning.

Also, check out Weekend a Firenze. (Museum Ticket Booking Services, Florence Tours)

If you're only in Florence for a few days, I can understand why you want to see the "must see" sights. Good luck!

Categories: italy, florence, travel, reference, research, culture