Reunited with my best friends back in South Carolina!!

From the cobblestone streets, to the terracotta roofs, Florence is a beautiful and historic city filled with the best shopping, dining, and sightseeing destinations. There are more destinations in Florence than I was able to explore in four months; shops, restaurants, vendors, churches – everything that makes up the beautiful city – are perfectly placed around every corner, in every piazza, and on every little side street. These are my favorite places that I discovered throughout my time in Firenze.

Dining – People ask me what my favorite part of Italy was, and I instantly say the food. I never left a restaurant saying that I had a bad meal; they were each more delicious than the previous. While I only got to experience a fraction of the delicious Italian food (because I’m not exaggerating when I say you can’t walk 10 feet without spotting multiple restaurants) these were my favorites of the semester:

Il Gatto e la Volpe
Via Ghibellina, 151r

Known as “Gatto” this restaurant offers a delicious variety of menu options; however, what they are best known for is their family style option. For 15 euro per person, you receive unlimited wine, followed by a delicious assortment of family style breads, antipasti, and pasta samplers.

Acqua Al 2
Via della Vigna Vecchia, 40

While Acqua Al 2 was a little bit of a pricier choice for dinner, we went there a couple times on special occasions. They are known for their delicious steaks (balsamic and blueberry being the favorites); however, you can also try samples of the house favorites with a steak sampler, salad sampler, and pasta sampler. I would definitely recommend each of these samplers, as they are all delicious!

Quattro Leoni
Via de Vellutini 1r / Piazza della Passera

Located in a quaint piazza on the opposite side of the Arno, Quattro Leoni offered a patio with outdoor seating, and a small menu. You must try the pear and cheese filled pasta with asparagus; I am still having daydreams about it. 

Trattoria Pizzeria Dante
Piazza Nazario Sauro 12r

Dante’s seemed a little unfriendly at first, but after our first meal there we were served complementary limoncello shots and complementary desserts. If each person orders an entre, you will receive complementary unlimited house wine.

For faster meals (pizza, paninis, sandwiches that you can eat at the shop or take to go) I would recommend the following:

• Salumeria Verdi (Pino’s) – my favorite
  Via Verdi 36r
• L’Antico Noè
  Volta di San Piero 6r
• Gusta Pizza
  Via Maggio, 46r
• Oil Shoppe
  Via Sant’Egidio, 22r
• Gusto Panino
  Via de’ Michelozzi 13r

Post dinner, I know you’ll want to indulge in some delicious Italian gelato. My favorite gelateria was La Carraia; they have their main location at on the side of the Arno opposite the Duomo (Piazza Nazario Sauro, 25r), as well as a smaller location across the street from Red Garter on Via de’ Benci. Other gelaterias that we frequented to were Gelateria dei Neri and Vivoli (conveniently located directly below our apartment).

(L-R: Salad sampler at Acqua Al 2; Quattro Leoni pasta filled with pear and cheese; heart-shaped pizza from Dante’s)

Shopping – Let me start by saying that Florence is known for its shopping. In the 1950s it was the fashion capital of Italy (before moving to Milan), so the streets are lined with Gucci, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada, Pucci, and Ferragamo. Via Tournabuoni is Florence’s major fashion street, but most study abroad students will just have the luxury of window-shopping there. As far as stores go, I did a lot of shopping in Zara (I know, sounds lame, but the Zaras in Europe are 100 times more amazing than they are in the states). I purchased a beautiful leather jacket from Massimo Leather, and spent lots of time shopping in the San Lorenzo outdoor market (the leather market).

Sights – Florence is filled with beautiful churches, ancient buildings, and countless museums. You can admire the beautiful Santa Croce, which houses the tombs of individuals such as Michelangelo and Dante. After that, head over to Piazza Duomo and climb the 463 steps of the Doumo or the 414 steps of the Belltower (because I know you want to work off that gelato that you just ate!); both climbs provide breathtaking views of Firenze. If it is a sunny day, take a trip to the Boboli Gardens and spend hours getting lost among the cypress trees, fountains, and flowers. Take a walk through Piazza Repubblica and ride the carousel, or enjoy a glass of wine at the rooftop bar of La Rinacenta; visit Piazza Signoria and admire the replica of Michelangelo’s David. Before sunset climb up the steps and view Florence from Piazza Michelangelo; bring up a bottle of wine, listen to live music, and view a breathtaking sunset over a beautiful city.

(L-R: Boboli Gardens; Piazza Repubblica; View from Piazza Michelangelo)

As I mentioned in a previous post, I don’t enjoy the art museums as much. On a cold winter day, however, I did take a trip to Galleria dell’Accademia to see Michelangelo’s David; it was so much more breathtaking than I could have imagined. As far as museums go, my favorites were the fashion museums I visited the Gucci Museum, the Ferragamo Museum, and the Costume Gallery at the Pitti Palace; each was amazing in its own way. One that I unfortunately missed out on was the Roberto Capucci Museum, which, judging by Capucci’s work, I’m sure would have been spectacular, and is one that I will have to go back and visit one day.

(Images from the Salvatore Ferragamo Museum)

Everything about Florence was breathtaking, eye opening, and adventurous; the beautiful, spectacular city will always hold a special place in my heart.

1. Vanishing Acts – Jodi Picoult 2. All Work, No Pay – Lauren Berger 3. The Prince of Tides – Pat Conroy 4. She’s Come Undone – Wally Lamb 5. Mercy – Jodi Picoult 6. Fixing Delilah – Sarah Ockler

Each summer I make my summer reading list, and get through roughly 3-4 books. I am determined this summer to read all six of the books listed above. Of course I included a few by my favorite author, Jodi Picoult, but I am doing my best to expand my “reading horizons.” After reading Pat Conroy’s South of Broad this past semester, I knew I wanted to check out another of his books. Each summer, to get on track for the new school year and into the “work mode,” I also like to include a career-oriented book in my reading list. In the past, I’ve parked myself behind Kelly Cutrone’s cutthroat, tell-it-as-it-is books, or The Teen Vogue Handbook; this summer I am choosing to go with Intern Queen, Lauren Berger’s, All Work, No Pay. Getting through all six books while also completing a full-time internship will be tricky, but I’m determined to get some good reading and relaxation in during my last official summer vacation before I am a college graduate (now that is a scary thought!). I’ll let you know what I think of each of the books as I finish them!

Final nights in Firenze

Acqua Al 2: Check!

Thursday night we went to our final group dinner of the semester. I went with three of my roommates, Courtney and Sarah (who live a couple floors above us in our apartment building) and Zoe to Acqua Al 2, which is one of the most popular restaurants in Florence. Coincidentally, the owner has locations in Washington D.C. and San Diego, so I’ll have to check out one of the United States locations if I’m ever in the area. Acqua Al 2 is known for its blueberry and balsamic steaks, as well as their “pasta sampler” and “salad sampler,” so that’s what we stuck to for this meal. Last time I went to Acqua Al 2 I tried the pasta sampler, so I figured I’d go for the salad this time!

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you - it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you…hopefully, you leave something good behind.

Quattro Leoni: Check!

I know I say this after every meal in Italy, but I’m pretty sure last night’s dinner at Quattro Leoni was the most delicious meal I’ve eaten during my semester here. Liz, Zoe, Emily, and I crossed the Ponte Vecchio and wandered to the other side of the Arno into a quiet little piazza for some delicious food and wine. I got the pasta stuffed with cheese and pear, with a little bit of asparagus on the side; I can’t even describe what it tasted like, it was that delicious. I highly recommend everyone visiting Florence to go there and try it – just make sure you make a reservation before coming, otherwise you will feel very rushed…trust me! 

(of course we had to stop for gelato at our favorite gelateria, La Carraia)

Lo Scudo: Check!

Throughout the semester, my roommate, Rachel, and I called Lo Scudo “the pasta place” – solely because we got pasta there at the beginning of the semester and it was really, really good. We’ve finally started calling it by the restaurant name though! We went there as a group one of our first nights in Florence, and loved it so much that we naturally had to come back for one of our last. After our Faces, Facts, and Places in Italian Fashion final exam yesterday (I know, I can’t believe we are almost done with finals either!) Rachel and I went to Lo Scudo for an early dinner. With both of us being equally indecisive, we could not decide what we wanted to get; I wanted pear and pecorino cheese pasta, but once Rachel mentioned spaghetti carbonara that sounded pretty good as well. So, we made the executive decision to get one of each and split them, and what a good decision it was! We are definitely going to miss “our pasta place” once we leave! 

(Spaghetti Carbonara)

(Pasta with pecorino cheese and pear)

I have officially declared my final week in Italy as “Restaurant Week.” The cost of going out to eat in Florence really adds up, so I cooked the majority of my meals throughout the semester. But with this being my final week, I have made the decision that I am going to eat my way to the end. I am doing a different restaurant every night – several that I’ve tried before and want to go back to, and some that I have yet to try. Here’s what my friends, roommates and I have come up with so far:

Monday May 7: Il Gatto e la Volpe

Tuesday May 8: Lo Scudo

Wednesday May 9: Quattro Leoni

Thursday May 10: Acqua Al 2

Friday May 11 is still up in the air! Study abroad students, Italians, etc. feel free to send any suggestions along!!

Il Gatto e la Volpe: Check!

On Monday night I got together with a few friends from back home in Andover - Jillian, Leanne, Nick, and Kristen. We have all been spending the semester in Florence, and admittedly have not done anything as a group yet. Well, better late than never! We met up at Il Gatto e la Volpe (or just, “Gatto” as most people call it). I had been to Gatto once before and it was delicious, so I was excited to go back. Unbeknownst to me, they have a family style option* and I got quite a few crazed stares when I mentioned that I hadn’t tried it yet. Well, again, better late than never!

For starters, we got a few bottles of wine and homemade bread with olive oil, balsamic, and parmesan. Then came the most delicious antipasti sampler I have had since being in Italy: we were brought a giant platter filled with fresh mozzarella; tomato; bruschetta; grilled zucchini, eggplant, and pepper; and an assortment of salami, prosciutto, and ham. I think I would have been satisfied with just the antipasti as my meal! For the duration of the meal we were served three different pasta dishes - gnocchi, penne, and conchiglie (shell pasta) all in various sauces – and were given complementary limoncello shots. It was great being able to see friends from home – some of which I hadn’t seen since right around high school graduation – and catch up over a great meal during our last week in a beautiful city.

*Family style: Rather than ordering from the menu each person pays a flat charge of 15 euro and you get unlimited wine, a great antipasti sampler, and 3 different pastas, all served family style. 

(Myself, Leanne, Kristen, Nick, and Jillian at Gatto)