Danielle & Fabio
Things To Do
Uffizi Galleries
The Uffizi Gallery houses an amazing collection of ancient and Italian Renaissance art, including masterworks by Caravaggio, Botticeli, and Artemsia Gentileschi.
Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore
The Florence cathedral is one of the most beautiful churches in Italy and well-deserving of its fame. The oldest parts of the cathedral date to 1296 with the majority of the structure completed by 1436. Tours are timed and should be booked online in advance. You can see the inside of the church, venture up the bell tower, and even climb to the very top of the iconic terracotta tiled dome to see Florence from above.
Galleria dell’Accademia di Firenze
The Galleria dell'Accademia houses Michaelangelo's world-famous David statue, as well as numerous other statues and paintings by famous Florentines of the Italian Renaissance. Entrance to the museum is timed and must be booked in advance online.
Boboli Gardens
Just across the Arno river from the historic city center are the Boboli Gardens. Spanning 11 acres, the gardens house an impressive collection of 16th century Italian gardening styles, small woods, greenhouses, fountains, and plants of all kinds. May is a perfect time to visit since many of the spring plants are lingering in their final blooms as the summer flowers begin to make their appearance.
Officina Profumo - Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella
One of Dani's favorite shops in Florence, the Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella can trace its origins back to 1381 when the monks of Santa Maria Novella began making botanical products from the monastery gardens such as rose scented waters to combat the Black Death. Santa Maria Novella quickly became renowned within Renaissance Italy for their perfumes, pot pourris, and even liqueurs. In fact, their flagship scent still made today, Aqua della Regina, was designed specifically for Catherine de Medici. The modern iteration of the shop specializes in perfumes, skincare, home fragrances, and botanical liqueurs.
La Prosciutteria Firenze
A hole-in-the-wall non-restaurant restaurant, La Prosciutteria is a great lunch spot for sandwiches or their iconic meat and cheeseboard. We recommend the latter, especially the "Tagliere Gourmet" which comes with multiple types of cheese, salumi, marmalades, tapenade and spreads on bread, and grilled veggies according to the season. With a bottle of prosecco or a crisp white to share, you can't go wrong.
il Mercato Centrale Firenze
The Mercato Centrale and neighboring outdoor leather market are musts in Florence. The indoor market is filled with fresh food, produce, and an array of other products like cheeses, fish, meat, and wine. The leather market next door is a great spot to grab a great new bag or jacket. Beware, however! The leather market vendors carry a lot of the same items which can be a great chance to haggle, though we recommend finding the smaller, family owned shops in brick and mortar stores just behind the market tents. You can also find artisans making custom leather sandals and belts in the area.
Rome
As archaeologists, we simply must recommend you go to Rome. The city is a mesmerizing blend of history with ancient buildings encased within and surrounded by later structures that rose up atop the ancient capital of the Roman Empire. Here we suggest any and all Roman ruins (Pantheon, Colosseum, Forum), Vatican City and its many museums, the Villa Borghese, the Trastevere neighborhood, and eating all the carbonara and amatriciana you can find. If you are not versed in ancient history or archaeology, we highly suggest finding a reputable tour of the city to help you understand the ruins to the fullest extent!
Venice
Venice is easily one of our favorite cities to see in Italy. From the canals and bridges, to the picturesque islands scattered across the lagoon, Venice still positively exudes a sense of old-world Italian charm. We recommend catching an iconic gondola tour, eating as much seafood as you can, and hopping a ferry out to the islands of Murano and Burano to see the centuries old traditions of glass and textile manufacturing on each respective island.
Milan
Fabio's hometown, the city of Milan is famous for its magnificent cathedral, fashion scene, and risotto dishes. Milan is the most hustle and bustle of all Italian cities and there really is something for everyone. There is plenty of shopping, flea markets, and museums throughout the city and Milanese culture is around every bend. We suggest looking for a show at the Milan Opera House (La Scala), walking the grounds around the Castello Sforzesco, or just exploring the city's many diverse neighborhoods.
Autonomous Province of Bolzano – South Tyrol
The Italian Dolomites and South Tyrol have a very special place in our hearts and we cannot recommend enough that people try and visit. The region has a unique cultural history and almost everything within the region is bi-lingual between Italian and German. There is a huge emphasis on eco-tourism here and you will not be lacking for gorgeous landscapes to hike, bike, or drive. The food specialties here are for more Germano-Austrian, so be sure to find knödel, sausages, spaetzle, and kraut salad!