Posts by author Laura Mongillo
Know how to spot the best Tuscan wines. Photo: Jason Parrish
Tuscany is world-famous for its wine, so it make sense that every restaurant, bar, cafe, bottega, supermarket and even hotel in Florence is trying to sell you a couple of bottles. But how do you know the good stuff from the vinegar? Here are a few tips for navigating the dangerous (and delicious) waters of » Read more
Skip the line at the Uffizi Gallery. Photo: foundin_a_attic
With so many must-see museums, churches and palaces, Florence is a treasure trove for art and history lovers. It’s almost impossible to visit them all in a lifetime, much less a weekend trip! How do you choose which museums are worth your time–and budget? There are a few ways to skip the lines and minimize » Read more
Breakfast in Florence. Photo: Neeta Lind
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, than when in Florence why not do it the Italian way and start your morning with some pastries? Pastries for breakfast? That’s right. I’m not talking about the old doughnut and drip coffee ritual (although you can simulate that with a caffe’ americano and a » Read more
By Laura Mongillo in Florence—Feel like catching a movie in fair Firenze without having to first get a degree in Italian? Ha! This can prove to be more difficult than getting into the Uffizi on a Saturday. Most movies in Italy are shown almost exclusively in the Italian language, meaning they are dubbed and translated » Read more
A night out with the Fiorentina! Photo: Laura Mongillo
What’s the best way to rub shoulders with Florentines, far from the museums and tourist traps of central Florence? Head out to the stadium and watch the city’s soccer team Fiorentina play against some of the best teams in the world! Fiorentina’s fan base is still very proudly Florentine and is a constant topic of » Read more
A night at Il Vegetariano, in Florence. Photo by Jed Baxter
Even though Florence is the home of the “bistecca fiorentina,” a steak that is sold by the kilo and never to just one person, the city is quite welcoming to vegetarians, vegans, people who eat kosher and various other diets. Oddly enough, almost all of the vegetarian and vegan fare that Florence has to offer in centered » Read more
Vintage ties for less at Vintage Selection. Photo by tuscanytrends
By Laura Mongillo in Florence What would you rather take home as a souvenir from Florence? A pair of boxer shorts with the David’s (ahem) jewels printed on the front OR a gorgeous Florentine-made Italian leather handbag from the ’60s? Ok, I guess that may be a gender-biased question, but is it really that hard of » Read more
Tram in Florence. Photo: Philip Mallis
Florence is a medieval fairy tale city of churches, palazzos and cobblestones. However, like in other cities, it has had to adapt to modern times and technology. In January 2010, Florence took a giant leap into the future by christening the first of three tramway lines servicing the city center and surrounding areas. Despite much » Read more
So many flavors to choose from! Photo:
My name is Laura and I’m addicted to gelato. I’d eat it morning, afternoon or night, winter, spring, summer or fall. I’d eat any flavor you hand me, even though I’m a picky eater. So trust me, I’ve done my research for finding the best gelaterias in Florence. Tips for finding good gelato Gelato is » Read more
Gelato in Florence. Derek Key
It’s a pretty well known fact that Italy, like most of Europe, goes on vacation in August. Everything closes up, everybody checks out and heads to the beach. So if you’re a tourist traveling through Florence during the month of August, you’ll just have to get used to the phrase chiuso per ferie (“closed for » Read more
Once you’ve spent some time in Florence, a day trip provides a nice break from the crowds of tourists and shoppers flooding the city. Poggio a Caiano, a small town about 30-40 minutes northwest of Florence, is a great example of amazing Tuscan history integrated into a modern Italian town. The highlight of the town » Read more
A line of hungry customers at I Fratellini. Photo: Dan Costin
There’s a reason that the word “panini” is well known in the English-speaking world, and that’s because Italians really know how to make a good sandwich. A savory “panino” is the perfect cheap and quick lunch in Florence, and thankfully there are many options from which to choose. Here are our favorite sandwich shops in » Read more
The loggia at Florence's Horticulture Garden. Photos by Laura Mongillo.
Florence is an amazing city that has it all … well, almost. One thing missing from this city is green space. There are many piazzas and small gardens, but central Florence is void of real open, green space. Luckily, the Giardino dell’Orticultura (Horiculture Gaden) offers some much-needed greenery not far from the city center. So » Read more
A "Signori Otto" plaque at Via Verrazzano. Photos by Laura Mongillo.
When you visit the historic center of Florence, it can sometimes feel like you’re following your map from one must-see destination to another. But Florence is full of fascinating details, and it’s worth it to stop and look around. In this walking tour, you start and end at two key sights in Florence (the Palazzo » Read more
Aperitivos in Florence. Photo by • Moes •
Florence is not a cheap city. With so many tourists and foreign students studying abroad, many of the city’s restaurants and bars have morphed into over-priced, low-quality tourist traps. However, there’s one not-so-secret Italian tradition that provides an alternative to a plate of €20 pasta and rancid wine: the aperitivo. Between 7 PM and 9 » Read more
A bus in Florence. Photo: Kylie and Rob
Florence is a small and very walkable city, but that doesn’t mean you’ll never need a break from treading the cobblestone streets. Thus, visitors to Florence will benefit from understanding the city’s bus network. Here’s a warning: it’s not easy, but it can be done. It’s always tempting to take the hop-on hop-off tourist buses, » Read more
Outside the Santa Margherita dei Cerchi. Photos by Laura Mongillo.
Florence, along with the rest of Italy, is famous for its churches. Upon arriving in Florence, most tourists head to the Duomo for its giant brick dome, the Santa Maria Novella for its artwork, and Santa Croce for its crypt. While these churches are the most well-known in Florence, they are certainly not the only » Read more
