Hope Schmitt is an ISA Florence alumna at Arizona State University. In the following blog, Hope highlights some of her favorite places around Florence, while providing some general insights into the experience of studying abroad in Italy.
I remember months before I traveled abroad to my new home for the next 4 months, I was saving several Instagram reel recommendations about the best restaurants, museums, and shops in Florence. However, my favorite spots ended up being the ones that I found accidentally by wandering the maze of streets. There is an unparalleled joy in discovering a hole-in-the-wall spot that becomes your new favorite place, and of course, telling your friends about it and insisting they try it. In addition, I found that asking professors in my classes for suggestions or attending the ISA scheduled visits were the best ways to get authentic recommendations as well.
This comprehensive guide consists of my favorite miscellaneous spots in Florence, discovered either as a stumbled-upon gem or from the thoughtful guidance of other residents in the area. I hope it serves as a useful tool in finding some of your Florence favorites.
My Favorite Bar
I’m sure that the title might be a tad misleading considering that in the United States, we think of a bar as a place to have alcoholic drinks. However, in Italy, a bar is considered a café or coffee shop, and I thought it was only fitting to start with my favorite Italian bar, since Italy has the best coffee I’ve ever had.
La Ménagère is my favorite study/café spot in all of Florence. Its charming location contains a restaurant, bistro, boutique, and flower shop. There are differently styled rooms you can sit in and it accommodates two floors with free Wi-Fi. My friends and I would frequent this spot almost every week because of the delicious pastries and beautifully elegant and relaxing interior.
My Favorite Study Spot
While we all know studying is the last thing on anyone’s mind abroad, finding a spot to do those last-minute papers and study for finals is a great way to experience some more of Florentine culture and hidden gems.
Todo Modo is a lovely bookshop with an eclectic, cozy, and nature-inspired interior space. Whether you’re searching for your new favorite book or writing your midterm paper, this is my favorite spot to do both in Florence. The bookshop contains a bookshop in the front and a bar in the back, where customers can study or chat with friends while enjoying a warm pastry or coffee. This shop also hosts events in their theater including book discussions and movies.
My Favorite Teatro
Teatros are a wonderful way to experience the beautiful and rich musical culture of Florence. As someone who loves music, this was a great way to experience the difference between American and Florentine theaters and musical shows.
Teatro del Sale is a charming theater that was founded by Maria and her husband Fabio Picchi to combine their love of art, culture, and food. All of the concerts are in Italian, however it is still a great show to see whether you are familiar with the language or not. I had the pleasure of seeing a jazz, swing, reggae, and folk concert by the Ragazzi Schemmi band with my friends and we had the best time.
My Favorite Gelato Spot
If there is one certainty from my time abroad, it is that I consumed as much gelato as I possibly could. I hope my exquisite taste in ice cream and all things dairy will prove itself in my favorite gelato spot.
La Sorbetteria is an artisan ice cream shop in Florence that is based on a family history of gelato-making since 1934. Antonio Ciabattoni opened the shop in 2008 with his wife and created some of the most ingenious and flavourful gelato I have ever tasted. The ingredients are high-quality and it is made fresh every day based on farmer’s market ingredients. My favorite flavors are pistachio and hazelnut and I have my professor to thank for this recommendation.
My Favorite Market
Local markets are a fantastic way to practice your Italian with locals and truly embrace Italian culture and cuisine. Community markets usually have the freshest and highest-quality ingredients in my opinion and the vendors are always kind and helpful.
Mercato di Sant’Ambrogio is the oldest market in Florence and is in my favorite Florence neighborhood, Sant’Ambrogio. I discovered this during a scheduled ISA tour and immediately fell in love. The market has an indoor and outdoor component with the outdoor market selling vintage clothing, home goods, and other assortments of items. The indoor market has some delicious specialty food items and a range of food stalls with premade meals and pastries that are to die for.
My Favorite Souvenir Shop
Of course, you cannot leave Florence without some souvenirs for yourself, and why not get something that Florence is known for? My personal favorite three souvenirs to look out for when purchasing an authentic Florentine gift are leather, stationery, and pottery. While there are many great options to choose from, I found the one listed below was my personal favorite.
Sbigoli Terrecotte is a quaint pottery shop that is owned by two lovely sisters. I have my professor to thank for showing me this gem as it was part of our walking class tour one day. All of the pottery is handmade and painted with stylish and timeless designs that are the perfect accent to any home. I picked a beautiful yellow and blue pitcher here to take home for my sister.
My Favorite Vintage Shop
Finding a shop in Florence that has unique pieces requires some browsing around to find the local and smaller shops. Luckily my fashion class was located on the street of many eccentric and appealing vintage shops, including the one below.
Lady Jane B Vintage Store is a petite shop that has several unique and beautiful pieces to choose from. I loved the selection of sweaters and purchased a colorful sweater for myself that I wore on all my trips to Northern Europe. The shop owner is also so kind and helpful in choosing pieces according to your style.
I hope these Florence Favorites of mine serve as a beneficial guide to discovering some of your most-loved spots as well, and I encourage anyone studying abroad in Florence to keep an open mind and wander the streets as much as possible because you never know what you’ll discover.
Curious to hear more from ISA/TEAN alumni? Read more blogs from Italy Alumni.
Inspired by Hope’s experience and want to go abroad? Fill out your details below to let our team know and we’ll help you find your adventure today!
Source link
All Materials on this website/blog are only for Learning & Educational purposes. It is strictly recommended to buy the products from the original owner/publisher of these products. Our intention is not to infringe any copyright policy. If you are the copyright holder of any of the content uploaded on this site and don’t want it to be here. Instead of taking any other action, please contact us. Your complaint would be honored, and the highlighted content will be removed instantly.