Blog

Slow travel in Florence: a week based in one neighborhood, artisan workshops, markets, long lunches and villa stays in the hills.

Florence craft cocktail bars worth a visit, plus the story of the Negroni, born here. House drinks, vibe and when to go.

Florence bakeries for Tuscan bread, schiacciata, bomboloni and cornetti, plus what to order at breakfast like a local.

Stay fit in Florence: gyms open to visitors, running routes on the Arno and to Piazzale Michelangelo, and healthy places to eat.

Which Florence tours are worth it: Duomo terraces, Vasari Corridor, Uffizi and David, food walks and Chianti, and when to go solo.

Vegetarian and vegan Florence: naturally meat-free Tuscan dishes like ribollita and pappa al pomodoro, and where to eat them.

The Tuscan pasta shapes worth ordering and the six Florence trattorie and restaurants where I eat them, with addresses and opening days.

How Florentines celebrate: Christmas Eve dinner, panforte and cantucci, Santo Stefano, Epiphany and the Befana, plus where to taste them.

Friday night to Sunday in Florence: aperitivo, a market lunch, the Oltrarno and a sunset, from a local who has done it many times.

Choose a Florence cooking class: half-day pasta lessons, market-to-table classes and longer culinary school courses, and what to expect.

How Florentines actually live: morning coffee at the bar, market shopping, aperitivo hour and the evening passeggiata, with etiquette tips.

How to order bistecca alla fiorentina, why it is served rare and sold by weight, and the Florence trattorie and steakhouses locals trust.

Where to eat the best sandwiches in Florence: schiacciata shops, lampredotto stands and how to order like a local at lunch.

How to spot real gelato in Florence (metal tins, natural colors) and the best gelaterie by neighborhood, from a local who tests often.