Florence is a city in central Italy and the capital of the Tuscany region..
We arrived in Florence by way of train from Venice. This was my second time in Florence. The first time I was passing through to connect to a bus so I had no idea what to expect.
After leaving the train station, Diana and I realized the wheels on her luggage were not going to make it to the hotel. Just outside the train station was a vendor who happened to sell purses and luggage. While Diana picked out a new case, I was busy googling the directions to the hotel and noticed out of the corner of my eye that the vendor was closely watching Diana as she removed her belongings from the old luggage to the new luggage, paying particular attention to her undergarments!
We laughed about it for a few blocks as we approached the bustling center of Florence. We had to stay alert as all of a sudden we needed to navigate through impatient drivers on the actual sidewalk, their was one old Italian man in particular that got especially angry at us and proceeded to grumble and honk from his bicycle! We found this hilarious. There was no cause for alarm for this is Italy!
Diana picked the lovely modern decor styled Hotel Della Signoria which was central to everything. It took us awhile to find it even with google maps. The hotel concierge was very welcoming and after checking in Diana and I excitedly unpacked and prepped for our evening out on the town.
We window shopped for a few hours before looking for a spot to have dinner. There were so many restaurants to choose from but one in particular called Ristorante Cimatori 30 lured us in with its decor that looked more like the inside of an italian family home rather than a traditional restaurant interior. I ordered boar and tagliatelle pasta in a cream sauce. Delicious!
Now that our bellies were full and heads were buzzing, we took a night stroll through the beautiful city. While trying to find a route back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a beautiful Italian woman singing operatic music at the corner with a microphone and amp. We stood there in amazement along with a crowd of others. Her voice was as gorgeous as she was.
I only took a few night shots (below).
When it comes to Florence, I got two words for you………….eye candy.
The next morning turned out to be a gorgeous day for exploring. I don’t even remember having breakfast. Our first stop was in the Piazza della Signoria. The energy was galvanizing. We were surrounded by phenomenally crafted century old statues. We stayed in this area for over an hour taking photos and carefully studying the intricate detailing of these wonderfully sculptured figures.
Diana and I spent most of the day in silence. There was just too much to see. We walked for hours.
The photos below are just a handful out of hundreds that we took throughout the day:
Palazzo Vecchio is the town hall of Florence. It overlooks the Piazza della Signoria.
The Piazza is home to the (replica) David. The original is in the Galleria dell'Accademia, Michelangelo worked on it from 1501 to 1504.
The Equestrian Monument of Cosimo I, was commissioned by Cosimo's son Ferdinando I, the sculptor was Giambologna, who also completed the Rape of the Sabines in the adjacent Loggia dei Lanzi.
Loggia dei Lanzi which was designed by Orcagna in 1376. Behind the Loggia is the Uffizi Gallery.
The Fountain of Neptune, commissioned in 1565 and designed by Baccio Bandinelli.
Giotto’s Campanile building; a masterpiece of Gothic Architecture.
Constructed in 1334 through to 1359, the building was designed by the famous artist Giotto, but finished by Talenti who added the last levels after Giotto died 1343
The Fountain of the Marine Monsters located in the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata Florence, are two masterpieces of Pietro Tacca (1577-1640). The monsters can be seen kneeling back to back.
In 1641 the two Fountains were placed in the square in front of the Spedale degli Innocenti [Hospital of the Innocents]. This was my favorite statue in Italy. I was fascinated by its unique and eerie presence.
Later in the afternoon we grabbed some lunch at a place called La Congrega Lounge Bar. It had this moroccan themed decor and a chic sophisticated bar tucked in the back of the dining area. The man who waited on us was a cool dude who invited us back in the evening where the upstairs turns into a night spot after 9pm.
We took down his info as an option. There was more to see and the day was still young so we took another road leading to a row of fashion boutiques. We went in and out of quite a few. Everyone of them was architecturally exquisite. Not only were the clothes cute but the buildings were also an experience. Miss Sixty had multiple themed levels with eclectic and unique furniture and displays.
After a long day, we headed back to the hotel for a rest.
Later that evening we ate at a restaurant called Osteria de Peccatori. We were invited in by a strikingly handsome guy named Govanni stationed at the front entrance.
Our waiter, who’s name eludes me was an attractive 6’2” long silver haired Japanese man with a smile that could make you melt. Our food was delicious as we expected.
The Owner of the establishment accidentally overcharged us but instead of returning the money, we agreed to two shots of his best limoncello. Govanni approached me as we started to leave to see if we I had any plans. He then proceeded to write down a list of cool hangouts, Babylon, Virgin Pub, Res, Red Carter and Bamboo.
Although the invitation was enticing, we decided to call it a night.
Fashion.
Now that I can look back on the shoulda woulda coulda’s, I had no idea what was in store especially when it came to the fashion districts of Italy. I spent more time in the country side on my first trip so I had very little exposure.
This time however I was able to see and experience the famous Italian fashion scene with my own eyes. And I was in shock from overload. The scene in Venice was nothing compared to Florence. There were so many boutiques at every corner that I didn’t bother taking photos. I knew I’d be back to immerse myself in the splendor that the lucky Florentini call home.
My love for fashion began when I was a toddler. My mom loves to tell me the story when shortly after I turned 2, I started picking out my own outfits.
It was at that moment a fashionista was born. I was a natural stylist and could put an outfit together with accessories instinctively.
By 17 I realized my passion went far beyond the clothes themselves. It was about self expression. Clothing is a way of how I express who I am and how I feel. I don’t practice traditions like trends, forecasting or seasons. I believe you should wear what you want, when you want and how you want. When I put together an outfit, I am wearing a mood. I am telling a story.
Whether it be about business, playtime, comfort or feeling frisky. Wear it. And wear it with confidence.
In my twenties, I started to design and make clothes for myself, family and friends. For me it just felt like a natural progression.
However, for some time before this journey my production of inventory had all but halted, purpose was lost and inspiration was missing. Many people have experienced some sort of creative block or at the very least a sense of stagnation. Perhaps its due to the monotony of our every day lives, sometimes It may be a deeper internal barrier that needs to be torn down before you can begin again. In my case I felt the american fashion industry had become bland and the temperature of american culture had dropped while the tension of the nation had begun to rise. Italy changed all that, upon my return the floodgates opened and creative joy was back in my life.
Last day in Florence.
It was a big day for us! We were about to rent a car and brave the notorious Italian roads. I was fortunate enough to have met some cool folks during my first trip who drove me everywhere. I did however drive a Vespa on occasion. But, we were pretty excited about driving ourselves.
We only had time for some breakfast and a few hours or so to spare before it was time to take off to our next destination………Villa S. Andrea. The Winery
Favorite breakfast cafe in Florence.
Caffe La Posia (Vino Pane E Salame)….this enticing cafe was just what Diana and I were looking for, another one of the many happy accidents we had.
The cappuccino was perfect, the tart was the best I’ve ever tasted, in my life! And as you can see below in the photo, we also ordered an omelette with cheese that came with avocado, bread and a mixed green salad.
I would have to say this sumptuous meal set the tone of the day.
I do hope this place is there when I return to Florence. I highly recommend it.
The hotel ordered the cab to take us to the car rental. Even though it took a little less than 20 minutes to get there, we managed to see a whole other side of Florence we weren’t able to explore on foot.
After processing our rental paperwork, we walked a few blocks to the car lot. Once we got to the parking structure we were told our car would be ready shortly.
Diana agreed to take the wheel first as we had discussed me driving to and from Cinque Terra or anywhere with steep winding highways and once we were out on the road with google directions guiding the way the next stop was the winery, Villa S. Andrea. It was fun getting used to the roundabouts, we couldn’t stop giggling at how bizarre they seemed to us American tourists. A roundabout is a circular intersection where drivers travel counterclockwise around a center island. There are no traffic signals or stop signs.
We managed to make a wrong turn that took us on an interesting one way road detour through a mountainous region that to our surprise led us right back to where we made the wrong turn. It was our first encounter of how stunning the outskirts of this city really were! The elevated and narrow road leading to the winery gave the illusion we weren’t actually driving but simply gliding through the trees, both beautiful and surreal.