Florence is a great mix between the hustle of a big city, and the friendliness of a small town. As a tourist, I had an easy time immersing myself in the feel and culture of the city. Other Italian cities like Venice and Rome are more popular tourist destinations which allows for Florence to stay slightly less crowded by foreigners. Usually when I travel, I’ll have a laundry list of famous sights to visit and an itinerary that covers every hour of every day. But in Florence, it was different. The lifestyle is more relaxed and laid back than Rome which made me feel less concerned about seeing the sights, but more concerned with enjoying the moment. The trip became about immersing myself in the lifestyle instead of the history. This is what I found unique about coming here.
Pasta Making
If you’re looking for something more interactive in Italy, try doing a pasta making class. Our class was about 3 hours from start to finish and we were involved the entire time. Our teacher walked us through every part of the pasta making process from forming the noodles, filling and wrapping the ravioli, and finally the cooking process. The method she used had been passed down in her family for generations.
Being able to dive into the actual process of making pasta by hand, made me admire the people who’ve perfected this art across the country. My hands began to get tired after 30 minutes, I couldn’t imagine doing this for hours preparing for a dinner rush. While you can try to replicate this experience at home, there’s something special about learning a recipe with so much history behind it.
Find a Rooftop
If you’re looking for a great view of the most famous building in Florence, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, there are plenty of rooftops surrounding the area. Fortunately, Florence is not filled with tall buildings, so it’s easy to find a restaurant with a panoramic view. During sunset, it provides unbeatable views of the city and allows you to escape from your itinerary for a bit. Florence is the perfect spot for a rooftop dinner as there are sure to be no other buildings blocking your view.
These pictures are from the View On Art rooftop.
We picked a rooftop located just outside the square where the famous Duomo is.
This was probably my favorite city in Italy and feel like it can be underrated at times, so don’t count it out of your trip!
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