You can’t beat an early morning stroll around Florence.
Tear yourself out of those crisp, white hotel sheets, wolf down a little breakfast and hit the cobbles before the rest of the world’s curious travellers even wake up.
It’s worth it to feel like you have the place to yourself, and to get a little exploring in before it all gets too hot.
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Sit on the Ponte Vecchio and watch boats skim along the river.
Soak it all in, as the streets start to come to life again.
We spent much of the morning catching up with old favourites at Palazzo Vecchio.
No matter how many times you visit the classics, they never get old.
And those sculptures never give up on their squats…
Having indulged in a little culture vulturing, we headed off to a shoot with Luisaviaroma.
I had to waltz around one of my favourite cities, clad in the most beautiful of Italian designers, and have a few pictures taken.
A seriously tough job, I’m sure you’ll agree, that warranted a proper lunch to recover.
My second favourite restaurant in the entire world. (First being this beauty, but Camillo comes very, very close.)
A Florentine institution, with some of the most dapper and charming waiters you’ll ever meet.
The menu changes daily, and they will happily talk you through their favourites.
Let me just say, if the saffron & courgette flower pasta is available – order it! Order it twice. It may not sound like much but it is heartbreakingly spectacular.
Meat lovers go for the enormous T-Bone.
Have the deep fried courgette flowers when they’re in season, and always get a bowl of gnocci to share.
The carpaccio of raw red prawns is as delicious as it is beautiful.
The sage and butter gnocchi is lighter than it sounds, melts on the tongue and will have you closing your eyes with every mouthful, just to savour every second.
The cod in lemon sauce and the chop are exquisite.
And the tiramisu is unmissable.
I tira-miss-u, you beautiful place!
The restaurant itself is small, rustic and always packed.
Book ahead: +39 055 212427
Book for every lunch and dinner you can spare!
Send me pictures and make me jealous.
We left as a rain cloud subsided, and walked out in the glistening streets and the last of the day’s warm supper rain.
Taking our curious feet all the way up the hill, to San Miniato al Monte.
An 11th century church on the highest point of Florence.
Not only is it widely considered one of the most picturesque churches in Italy, but it has the best view of Florence you could ever hope for.
We slowly made our way back down the hill and into the city once more.
Taking in every drop of the view as we went.
The rain we’d hoped was over, started again with abandon.
We picked up the pace as the water sloshed over the streets and pelted into the river.
Ducking back into our hotel for a cup of tea and a roll in those abandoned crisp, white hotel sheets.
Hey, that’s what holidays are for… right?
