Category: Florence

BAKERY RULES:
• The running rate for pastries is €1. Just keep a few euros but no large bills.
• Keep your (drunken) mouth shut. If you’re loud and disruptive, not only will the bakers not serve you, they’ll shut their doors/windows to everyone else.
• Do not question what you are given. Once you hand your money over, you eat whatever they give you.

What sets Florence apart from other cities in Italy are its secret bakeries! Every night as the city goes to sleep, the secret (and illegal) bakeries get down to business, ready to quietly serve customers from behind closed doors solely at night. Only if you’re well behaved, though. Seriously – you’re not allowed to talk. Bakers aren’t allowed to sell their pastries directly to the public so the exchange is pretty quick. They can be hard to find—usually hidden down tiny side streets and alleyways—but you can always follow them by smell. Continue reading “Uffizi Gallery and Secret Bakeries” →

TIP #1:
Cappuccinos are only €1,20

There are a few things to note regarding the coffee culture in Italy. First off, don’t order a latte if you are expecting the American kind with a lot of milk. Latte literally means “milk” in Italian so you will only receive a cup filled with steamed milk. I actually had to clarify to the baristas that I wanted just the latte since my sister requires drinking a glass of milk with breakfast every morning (she doesn’t drink coffee). It was quite funny to have to explain that yes, I do know what I meant to order, and yes, I really do just mean a glass of milk. Milk in Italy is really interesting! I’m not a huge dairy fan but my sister said it is much creamier than the milk in the States, even the fat-free kind.  Continue reading “Museums, Tours, and Towers” →

Again, all museum tickets should be purchased in advance to avoid long lines. One thing to note in Florence is that Michelangelo’s David is in the Galleria dell’Accademia (Accademia Gallery). A lot of tourists think it’s the David in the main square but it’s actually in a museum. I was actually astonished looking at the magnificent sculpture because the craftsmanship of the marble was just, utter perfection – it really took my breath away! Continue reading “Exploring Florence” →