Throwing the Budget Out the Window in Florence
Long ago, I worked on Wall Street at Salomon Brothers with a friend who, upon hearing about our trip, generously invited us to stay at his newly renovated apartment overlooking The Duomo in Florence. His residence was so close, it felt like we could leap from the balcony to the top of the iconic, terra-cotta tiled dome with a single bound. We knew when we set out on the trip that we wanted to see the history of Florence, but finally experiencing it blew us away on multiple levels and became one of the favorite places that we visited in the world. A short train ride from Venice (2 hours) and we could immediately feel the Renaissance come to life.
Cuisine. Best of the Best.
The food was second to none and although expensive, worth every penny. In some cities the food is expensive and bad. But in Florence, the extreme pride that they take in their food is palpable and the aromas wafting from brick streets of centuries ago filled the air. Best yet, it’s big enough that there's more than enough quality places to satisfy every budget point.
We saved our money for this part of the trip. The museums in Florence were something that we didn’t want to miss. This was no time to pinch pennies. We researched and knew that we could get a good meal in any city with enough Googling, but there is such rich history in Florence that we decided to hit all the major art galleries like the Uffizi and the Accademi and considered it “Once in a Lifetime". David Byrne (The Talking Heads Frontman, I hear you, brother). This is a great motto when traveling abroad on a budget. Cherish the things unique to your visit and make them a priority. Seeing the oversized right hand of Michael Angelo’s David in person (and the Israelites most prized jewels up close and personal) was a perfect example of bringing history to life in the flesh (or marble). Despite overwhelming crowds, it's all worth it. Florence is an absolute classic to be seen once in one’s life.
2. Cold Air is King when you Need It.
Really? Well, when it's nearly 100 degrees in the summer, you betcha it does. Florence can easily be dry and over 100 degrees in the summer. Make sure you stay somewhere with air conditioning and one that is working. Lots of AirbNB’s say they have air only to find out that its “not working” when you get there. Read all the reviews.
2. Gelato Taste Testing.
Another idea - we went on a gelato tasting journey around Venice and after walking, tasting and sweating through our shirts we had a winner. This was a fun thing to do for the kids and we wouldn't have made it without our sweet treats. The gelato can definitely help. But better yet, visiting the museums can have an added benefit for the A/C and you may actually learn something too!
4. Food…… Again. The Bistecca.
Sometimes you just have to go for it. When looking for what Florence was known for- Bistecca a la Florentina or Florentine Steak, was apparently a “must eat” and we weren't about to miss it. Aged 30 months, part porterhouse, part tenderloin, it wasn't cheap. But the boys felt like King David during this splurge and so did we. We made it a celebratory dinner for our last night in Florence. We dressed up despite stifling temperatures and had the meal of our lives. After traveling for 4 months up until this point, we made it our mid-point celebration. After crippling the food budget in Italy before this, we were finally dining in style at one of the most beautiful cities on Earth. Special meals like this with a purpose are important on long journeys. As parents, when you don't go all out frequently, it has more meaning. Great lesson for traveling families.
During dinner, we talked about my late father who had recently passed and how he loved Andrea Bocelli. After the feast we went into the Piazza Della Signoria where amazing artists play live music into the evening in a piazza (a square courtyard) surrounded by Renaissance statues and intricate architecture. As soon as we sat down on the wall looking into the square, the most beautiful street artist started playing Con Te Partirló by Bocelli. It was so special. Our tears were pouring out like the water flowing under the Ponte Vecchio. We felt so much gratitude for knowing my father. We felt His Spirit with us. Music can be so moving. Now every time we hear that song, we all cry instantly.
Arrividerci Firenze. We'll never forget you.
Cheers to dreaming- Matt