Florence has become one of the go-to places to study abroad, and I hopped on the bandwagon and studied there myself. I had multiple friends study there before me, and I before I left, I had multiple lists from friends with different places to eat, to go, different shops to visit, etc. While I recommend being a total tourist, after being there for a couple of months my friends and I dug a little deeper and found many small shops and restaurants that weren’t as well known. This allowed us to stray away from some of the touristy things, and feel as if we actually lived in Florence.
Ditta Carlo Cecchi di Giuliano Ricchi
The only reason I found this shop was because of my professor. She took us on a field trip to what seemed to be an apartment building, but after venturing inside, it was so much more. Giuliano, the owner, makes many items out of metal, which he stencils himself, such as key chains, jewelry holders, picture frames, jewelry and more. He has been in business for over 50 years and makes items for shops throughout Florence as well as department stores all over the world (such as Nordstrom, Gucci, Christian Dior, and more). I was so shocked that this man in a small basement in Florence makes things for such big corporations. The one thing I truly loved from his shop was the Florence coordinate bracelet, where he etched Florence’s coordinates and the date on the bracelet. It was such a good keepsake for me to bring home, not to mention that all of the pieces in his shop were relatively cheap!
(Photo of the flower bracelet is from Neiman Marcus!)
La Botteghina del Ceramista
I have a huge family, so while I was abroad I made it a point to get each of my family members something from Florence. There are tons of ceramic shops throughout the city with handmade ceramic pieces, but I was looking for a shop that was inexpensive, but still had great pieces. While walking home from class one day, my friend stumbled across this place. I went in for myself, and it had some of the prettiest ceramic pieces I had seen through Florence, and the prices were pretty consistent with the rest of the ceramic shops throughout the city.
Giardino delle Rose
If you have studied/studying/about to study in Florence, everyone is going to tell you about Piazzale Michelangelo. It is at the top of the city of Florence, and not only can you see the amazing sunset from up there, but also it overlooks the entire city. However, not known to most is that just below Piazzale Michelangelo there is a beautiful rose garden. Many of my friends and I have studied or hung out there, it is very peaceful and there are great views of the city.
Todo Modo
Todo Modo is a super trendy little spot that my friends and I found to study at. I spent an entire day here while studying for midterms, and Todo Modo had a great cappuccino and little snacks to keep me energized and able to study all day. It was a very quiet atmosphere that I definitely enjoyed.
La Menagere
Similar to Todo Modo is La Menagere. I passed this restaurant/café hidden on a side street on the way home from class one morning, and I knew I had to stop in. There are huge glass doors that are propped open, and you can grab snacks here or sit down for dinner. It is very well designed and aesthetically pleasing environment for people to hang out in. It isn’t as well known because it’s on a side street and away from the tourist spots, so I liked to do work or study here because I knew I wouldn’t be bothered.
La Burrasca
One of the most important meals to have while in Florence is a Florentina steak, and this is a place to get it. The restaurant has about 10 tables, so its necessary to make a reservation or else you won’t get a table. Instead of the Florentina steak, I opted for a steak with a balsamic glaze and Parmesan cheese, and I was not disappointed at all. I would definitely go here if you were looking for a family run restaurant with all of the Florence food staples.
Studying abroad was an amazing experience, and I would give anything to be able to go back right now. My advice wherever you may be studying abroad is to everything you are able to do, don’t pass up a trip opportunity, that extra slice of pizza, or that extra cannoli. In a couple of months when you’re back at home you’ll be wishing you could do that one more time!