From a young age, our parents brought us travelling. We were never the type of family who sat by the pool or beach all day, instead we liked to explore the area and often needed rest on our return home from holidays after the adventures we embarked on! At this point, I have travelled the length and breath of France, explored many cities, Island hopped, skied through the Alps, walked the Camino de Santiago and this coming summer hope to jet off again on a new adventure.
So... Why am i telling you this? Well, I have caught the travelling bug and I completely blame my parents! When the opportunity arose a few months ago to embark on an Art Trip to Florence, Italy, I didn't hesitate. A small city bursting with life, both fresh and historic, it wasn't long before I felt at home among the artists who inhabit the city. The essence of the historic city, lies in the deep roots established by the Romans and the endless stories surrounding the wealthy Medici family. The beauty of Florence is endless and the short time I spent there proved that.
On arrival, a night walk around the city is definitely in order! Florence at night is a spectacle never to be missed. The moonlight and stars light up the buildings. The city comes alive and dances under the moonlight. The end of our walk brought us to The Dumo, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral in the centre of the city. The view is incredible and is sure to take your breath away...
The art which floods this city, is the main attraction that draws thousands of people to it's doorstep. Works As enthusiastic art students, we were eager to view as much art that we could. We were lucky, five days was the perfect amount of time to fit everything into our schedule. In my opinion, the top 5 places to see while in Florence would have to be:by Michelangelo, Massacio, Botticelli, Donatello, Brunelleschi and Raphael dominate the galleries and streets of Florence.
1. The Duomo, Santa Maria del Fiore Cathedral
3. The Ponte Vecchio
5. The Medicci Palace
You can't travel to Italy and not experience the real Italian Gelato (although in our case it became an addiction) As we are teenagers (with no money) we spent time searching for the largest quantity ice-creams for the cheapest price. Something, I may say, we became quite talented at. So, if you're looking for some delicious gelato at a reasonable price I recommend:
While we're on the topic of food, pizza is a must have at least one night (well, there's no escaping it anyway) Try something different! Don't go for the typical Margarita that can be found anywhere in the world. Looking for something 'Typically Italian", we found a fabulous little restaurant called MaMMa Mia Pizzeria. This restaurant served a range of gorgeous Italian food and only a five minute walk from The Duomo. I can't forget to mention the service, or I would be disowned by my friends. As only Irish girls can be, the seven of us spent our time trying to catch the eye of the lovely (really hot) waiter who worked there. So, if you're looking for some delicious food and eye candy, MaMMa Mia is the place to go.
Firenze or Florence, is one of the most picturesque places you'll ever visit. It's an Art lovers paradise with endless opportunities to view some Renaissance art. If you've never shown any interest in art before your visit, be prepared to fall in love with the statue of David by Michelangelo... So, if you're wondering where to visit this year, Firenze is a city worth taking some selfies in!
