By Meaghan Hinder
Infused with infectious energy, Florence ticks to an upbeat rhythm your heart can’t help but parallel. The moment my friend Mary and I exited the Santa Maria Novella Train Station, Firenze became my favorite city to date.
Tall pines straight out of Dr. Suess’ Hooville keep vendors cool and shoppers comfortable during the daily bustle of Florence’s outdoor street markets. Bargains are negotiated while arms reach one over another to sift through displays of brightly colored leather purses, notebooks, money clips…etc. I buckled and bought a navy tri-fold wallet stamped with the enchanted Fleur-di-lis symbol to replace a shabby cloth one given to me for being an outstanding nanny in the summer 2007. Additional purchases included a striped pashmina scarf shaded with lavender to deep violet tones, a plethora of postcards, and 30 leather bracelets at one-euro a piece to give as the perfect gift for girlfriends back home.
The perpetually popular Yellow Bar was recommended to Mary for our first night in town. The menu was cramped with creative salads and mouth-watering pizza combinations. The place was crowded, noisy, and fun; we snatched a table as soon as we spotted one. The paper placemats and piano player set the scene for an arousing Thursday evening in Florence.
After the Yellow we walked along Via del Proconsolo toward the red-doored Duomo, which can be seen from any corner of the city. The moonlight reflected off the hunter green and white marble, creating a mystical aura around the masterpiece. We stopped for a minute just to soak it all in.
When strolling in the direction of the Archi Rossi Mary and I stumbled upon J.J.’s Cathedral, a hole-in-the-wall pub packed for a weekday. We decided to order their famous sweet and sour Snakebite cocktail. Three ‘bites’ later and lounging on a tiny balcony small enough for two, I inhaled the March air slowly: hoping to never forget what it was like to breath in Florence.
Friday began with a 10 am free walking tour provided by The Archi Rossi. The Santa Maria Novella Church was our first stop. Built in 1279 it is white and hunter green marble, much like the Duomo and almost all Renaissance architecture. I learned that baroque stylistic designs used in Prague and Rome would not be found here; Firenze’s buildings were less fanciful and more simplistic.
Next we passed the Medici Palace. Huge and exteriorly simplistic, I pictured horses and carriages lined and anchored to the sturdy iron rings along the palace’s outside walls. Just around the corner stands the Davanzati Palace. Free entry provided answers for curious minds. The medieval foyer housed the royal family’s small army in the event that an invasion took place. By day, ‘peep’ holes in the high ceiling allowed the Davanzati’s to see who was coming and going.
With the Trinity Bridge a close distance ahead, the group reached the Arno River. Down in the fast moving current, we spotted otters swimming below. I felt like it was my first visit to the zoo. The tour ended at the Pitti Palace and backyard Boboli Gardens. Mary and I decided to hit some hot spots before spending hours there. A straight shot from the palace, we crossed Ponte Vecchio (ancient bridge lined with gold and silver vendors). We learned that it once housed all of Florence’s butchers before the Pitti’s complaints about the stench turned it into a scentless bridge for jewelry only. I loved seeing the Arno through front doors and far windows of the tiny expensive shops. Uneven terre cotte roofs and mismatching flowerpots lined the zigzag borders of each shop.
After successfully ignoring temptations to buy everything we liked, Mary and I made it back to the Duomo. The cathedral was massive and offered free tours from Antonio, a hunched-over charming Italian well into his 70s. Although he was closing shop, Antonio agreed to give a quick tour of his favorite facts. I learned about the cathedral’s medieval clock that still ticks on a 24-hour clock. Therefore, roughly 5 pm our time was 1 am their time. Four pm our time would be the start of the 24th hour.
It was perfect timing to climb up inside Brunelleschi’s famous dome for sunset over Florence. Mary and I pointed out everything we’d seen that day and all that we planned to see Saturday- Accedemia, Uffizi Gallery, Santa Croce church…etc. Each picture we snapped included the beaming sun disappearing into Tuscany’s rolling hills.
Infused with infectious energy, Florence ticks to an upbeat rhythm your heart can’t help but parallel. The moment my friend Mary and I exited the Santa Maria Novella Train Station, Firenze became my favorite city to date.
Tall pines straight out of Dr. Suess’ Hooville keep vendors cool and shoppers comfortable during the daily bustle of Florence’s outdoor street markets. Bargains are negotiated while arms reach one over another to sift through displays of brightly colored leather purses, notebooks, money clips…etc. I buckled and bought a navy tri-fold wallet stamped with the enchanted Fleur-di-lis symbol to replace a shabby cloth one given to me for being an outstanding nanny in the summer 2007. Additional purchases included a striped pashmina scarf shaded with lavender to deep violet tones, a plethora of postcards, and 30 leather bracelets at one-euro a piece to give as the perfect gift for girlfriends back home.
The perpetually popular Yellow Bar was recommended to Mary for our first night in town. The menu was cramped with creative salads and mouth-watering pizza combinations. The place was crowded, noisy, and fun; we snatched a table as soon as we spotted one. The paper placemats and piano player set the scene for an arousing Thursday evening in Florence.
Charming Piano Player
After the Yellow we walked along Via del Proconsolo toward the red-doored Duomo, which can be seen from any corner of the city. The moonlight reflected off the hunter green and white marble, creating a mystical aura around the masterpiece. We stopped for a minute just to soak it all in.
When strolling in the direction of the Archi Rossi Mary and I stumbled upon J.J.’s Cathedral, a hole-in-the-wall pub packed for a weekday. We decided to order their famous sweet and sour Snakebite cocktail. Three ‘bites’ later and lounging on a tiny balcony small enough for two, I inhaled the March air slowly: hoping to never forget what it was like to breath in Florence.
Friday began with a 10 am free walking tour provided by The Archi Rossi. The Santa Maria Novella Church was our first stop. Built in 1279 it is white and hunter green marble, much like the Duomo and almost all Renaissance architecture. I learned that baroque stylistic designs used in Prague and Rome would not be found here; Firenze’s buildings were less fanciful and more simplistic.
Next we passed the Medici Palace. Huge and exteriorly simplistic, I pictured horses and carriages lined and anchored to the sturdy iron rings along the palace’s outside walls. Just around the corner stands the Davanzati Palace. Free entry provided answers for curious minds. The medieval foyer housed the royal family’s small army in the event that an invasion took place. By day, ‘peep’ holes in the high ceiling allowed the Davanzati’s to see who was coming and going.
With the Trinity Bridge a close distance ahead, the group reached the Arno River. Down in the fast moving current, we spotted otters swimming below. I felt like it was my first visit to the zoo. The tour ended at the Pitti Palace and backyard Boboli Gardens. Mary and I decided to hit some hot spots before spending hours there. A straight shot from the palace, we crossed Ponte Vecchio (ancient bridge lined with gold and silver vendors). We learned that it once housed all of Florence’s butchers before the Pitti’s complaints about the stench turned it into a scentless bridge for jewelry only. I loved seeing the Arno through front doors and far windows of the tiny expensive shops. Uneven terre cotte roofs and mismatching flowerpots lined the zigzag borders of each shop.
After successfully ignoring temptations to buy everything we liked, Mary and I made it back to the Duomo. The cathedral was massive and offered free tours from Antonio, a hunched-over charming Italian well into his 70s. Although he was closing shop, Antonio agreed to give a quick tour of his favorite facts. I learned about the cathedral’s medieval clock that still ticks on a 24-hour clock. Therefore, roughly 5 pm our time was 1 am their time. Four pm our time would be the start of the 24th hour.
It was perfect timing to climb up inside Brunelleschi’s famous dome for sunset over Florence. Mary and I pointed out everything we’d seen that day and all that we planned to see Saturday- Accedemia, Uffizi Gallery, Santa Croce church…etc. Each picture we snapped included the beaming sun disappearing into Tuscany’s rolling hills.
It was a weekend I will never forget in an unforgettable city. I cannot wait to return.
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