Pizza ‘n’ Pitti

The best pizza is almost never found in fancy restaurants.

Forget white linen table cloths, silverware and extensive menus. If you want real, Italian pizza, you’ve gotta think small.

The tiny-hole-in-the-wall joints where you order at the counter and rip off slices with your fingers, that’s where you’ll find the really good stuff.

In Florence, that means Gusta.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t firmly agree that they serve up some of the best pizza in Italy.

And the restaurant is as basic as they come.

There’s a simple, cheap menu nailed to the wall, a counter and a few barrels to use as tables.

There’s a small staff of waiters who love to chat and tell anything in a skirt just how “belllllaaa!” she is!

Pizzas are made to order with the freshest, local ingredients.

They take a few moments to put together, and just a couple more in the flaming oven.

The chef pulls out a pizza to check how it’s doing, before thrusting it back in and holding the dough up into the smoke, to char the edges.

It only takes a few seconds, and before you know it… it’s crisped to perfection.

All lined up and ready to be devoured!

Margarita, Napoli and Calabrese.

Fresh, light but powerful flavors piled on top of pillowy soft, salty, flame kissed crust.

Perfect down to the very last bite.

You’ll find Gusta Pizza at 46R Via Maggio, (on your right if you’re walking from the river, about 3/4 of the way down), Florence.

And when you’ve stuffed yourself silly, you can pop literally around the corner to Palazzto Pitti and walk it all off in The Boboli Gardens!

The palace is one of the most exceptionally beautiful buildings.

Almost like a mini Versialles but without all the people.

Time your visit to coincide with the sunset and just watch the whole place glow…

You can roam the enormous grounds watched over by sculptures and the occasional guard cat.

Climb the hill (no easy task after all that pizza!) and you’ll be treated to some of the most breathtaking views of the city as it stretches out before you.

I even stumbled upon my dream house, perched halfway up a hill.

Couldn’t you just see yourself drinking in the warm evening light, sitting on that terrace with a glass of wine in hand, and a vase of scented flowers, cut from the gardens, sitting on the table beside you?

That green and those windows are what dreams are made of!

Burberry Coat

(I know, I wear this all the time but I think it’s one of the best clothing investments I’ve ever made!)

Black poloneck // Button up skirt

Lanvin Bag // Sunglasses

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Overknee Boots

(Personally I think Stuart Weitzman makes the best overknee boots in the world; they’re soft, strong, warm and beautifully made. They never sag or fall down. They’re the best.

But… they are pricey, so I’ve included a bundle of budget friendly options below.)

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At the very peak of the gardens, you’ll find a sleepy little porcelain museum, with a lovely guard who can’t bear to put his book down, so patrols with his nose firmly buried in it!

But as far as I’m concerned, the best bit is the view outside.

You can see for miles in every direction.

We watched as the evening cooled and the mists rolled in between the Tuscan trees.

Inside, you can visit the Costume Institute, and marvel over dresses almost as ornate as their surroundings.

When we visited, we had the entire place almost to ourselves.

But don’t worry ladies, there’s still plenty of eye candy on offer…

Turtley gorgeous.