After an overnight flight and a layover in Paris (where we did not get to see the Eiffel Tower from the air). We arrived in Florence. The customs in Florence was surprisingly easy to navigate. So much so that we didn't even get a stamp in our passports!
The views that welcomed us off the plane were pleasant and unexpected. The first sights of Florence off the plane are mountains and trees.
The atmosphere on the other side of the airport is much more fast paced! Our driver met us at baggage claim and we got on the road to our hotel. The way people drove around Florence was not completely unexpected, but holy woah do they move fast. Between the cars, scooters, bikes and people, it gets a little chaotic.
We checked in and found our room through a few crazy and historic hallways. The hotel has been around since before World War 2. Photos lined the hallways of the streets surrounding the hotel hanging Nazi flags and cars carrying Adolf Hitler through Florence. Our porter brought us up a few small winding stairs to a door that led us out to a rooftop area.
It was a quiet outdoor patio area with three rooms. Ours was right across from us.
The outdoor patio overlooked the entire city and left me almost breathless. The Duomo or the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, was right there! The porter brought us into our room and the view from our room was perfect in every way.
It was a quiet outdoor patio area with three rooms. Ours was right across from us.
We freshened up (being on a plane overnight really makes your skin glow.. not) and began to explore. Steve got gelato and
dinner recommendations from the front desk so we just walked in that direction and wandered until
dinner.
For dinner, we ate at Restorante Buca Maria. I was nervous initially, eating at our first legitimate Italian restaurant! We had bruschetta for an appetizer, and I had white wine and Steven had a red. For our first course, Steve had spaghetti and I had cappellaci with meat sauce (which was amazing!). I shared steak Florentine with Steve and he said it was probably the best steak he’s ever had. On our way out, the wait staff gave us an complementary apron.
When we left, we got our first gelato and walked around the city. We stayed near the Duomo – which is beautiful at night.It is covered in green marble and so much larger than we originally thought it would be. They shine spotlights on it at night so it stands out! We did a lot of wandering just taking everything in. We found one open, outdoor gallery near the Uffizi that had a ton of statues. Overall, a great first night in Florence!
For dinner, we ate at Restorante Buca Maria. I was nervous initially, eating at our first legitimate Italian restaurant! We had bruschetta for an appetizer, and I had white wine and Steven had a red. For our first course, Steve had spaghetti and I had cappellaci with meat sauce (which was amazing!). I shared steak Florentine with Steve and he said it was probably the best steak he’s ever had. On our way out, the wait staff gave us an complementary apron.
When we left, we got our first gelato and walked around the city. We stayed near the Duomo – which is beautiful at night.It is covered in green marble and so much larger than we originally thought it would be. They shine spotlights on it at night so it stands out! We did a lot of wandering just taking everything in. We found one open, outdoor gallery near the Uffizi that had a ton of statues. Overall, a great first night in Florence!
Hillary’s favorite thing: My pasta dinner!
Steve’s favorite thing: Steak Florentine
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