benvenuti a Firenze
Florence, one of my favourite cities in Italy (mainly due to the colour scheme - totally my vibe). Wonderful cuisine and world class art, being the heart of the Renaissance movement, it has a piece of my heart. The most magical view from the Piazzale Michelangelo.
It was a busy few days for us trying to fit in all the magic this place has to offer. First stop should always be Cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore also known as the Duomo - to be honest its pretty hard to miss! It almost doesn't look real and could be a cardboard cut out on a movie set - it is hard to fathom its size and beauty. We climbed all the 463 stairs to the top of the dome, the steepest stairs in the tiniest space - definitely not for the claustrophobic! The view was incredible and we were lucky enough to time it perfectly for the sunset.
Although it was a steep ascent, it was totally worth it to get up close to the frescoes of the Last Judgement, covering the ceiling of the domes interior. The sheer size and scale of the paintings are amazing - Giorgio Vasari definitely knew what he was doing.
Wandering around the city really allows you to soak in the culture, one of my favourite spots was the Ponte Vecchio, the oldest bridge in Florence. The colour palette was magic.
We had so much fun in Florence from pasta making to eating Florentine steak and the best of all, galleries!
We visited Gallery Uffizi to see the Birth of Venus and a magical room of statues which quickly became my weakness. Galleria dell' Accademia was up next to see Michelangelo's David - actually the most incredible sculpture I have seen, the detail and definition were insane, I think I stood and stared at him for an hour. We then headed through to the Gipsoteca Bartolini room which is a 19th Century hall filled with sculptures and busts made by Lorenzo Bartolini - magic. It was also filled with beautiful paintings showcasing the evolution to Florence's artistic culture ranging from Neoclassicism to Romanticism.
Much love Florence, I will be back xx
