Things to do outside of the museums
I have a friend who is a historian and an expert in all things “Ancient Rome.” I asked him one day if he knew anything about Florence and he replied, “I know that there is a lot of art.”
While Florence is the birthplace of the Renaissance, and the complex history of the 16th and 17th Centuries does indeed run through the cobblestone side streets just as antiquity abounds in Rome, there is much more to this city of more than 1 Million people than just art.
In Florence’s city center (which consists of the areas of the Centro Storico, Campo di Marte, Gavinana/Galluzzo, Isolotto/Legnaia, and Rifredi) there are more than 400,000 people – many of them in their 20s and 30s who despite being cultured and well-read, do not spent all of their time discussing the Medicis or gazing at the Birth of Venus in the Uffizi Gallery. Florence presents plenty of non-Renaissance related opportunities to explore and have a wonderful time for people of all ages.
The first and most obvious activity outside of art might be wine and Tuscan cuisine, which with all things considered, is basically a form of art here anyway. Florentines stick to the traditional rustic style that has carried them through thousands of years. It is a basic diet of pasta, beef and hearty ragus and sauces but the ingredients used are so fresh and natural that the taste is out of this world. In fact, many of the “local” restaurants here have small menus with few options such as pecorino with honey, pappardelle pasta with wild boar sauce and maybe a Florentine steak, just dive right in because I guarantee they do a few things, but do them right.
If you are interested in good wine, Florence is located in the heart of Tuscany, particularly in the Chianti sub region. The chianti here ranges in quality and price from 2 Euros per bottle (cheaper than water!) to several hundred Euros per bottle. There are enotecas located throughout town where you can stop and have a few tastes, or wine tours ranging from the crowded bus system stopping in Greve in Chianti, so small 4-10 people tours that venture into lesser-known but fantastic producing regions such as Chianti Rufina and Colli Fiorentini.
(For specific recommendations on restaurants, enotecas and wine tours, ASK US! We’ve got a list of local favorites that you’re unlikely to read about in your guidebooks.)
Okay – so let’s depart from the insanely obvious and talk about some of the things that you just may not think about when you are deciding what to do during your trip to Florence and Tuscany.
It seems like every weekend there are special markets or antique fairs going on throughout Florence and its neighboring towns. On the second Sunday of each month, Piazza Santo Spirito hosts a market with fresh cheeses, honeys, jams, not to mention locally-made clothing and jewelry. There are holiday markets and world markets in Santa Croce such as the Artisan Chocolate Fair, Feb 4-13, and special vendors in Piazza della Republica and Fortezza di Bassa at different times during the year. Then search outside Florence to places like beautiful Lucca, where the third weekend of every month, more than 230 antiques dealers convene to sell furniture, clothing, books and more.
(See bottom for list of upcoming events and festivals.)
There are other wonderful activities to do either solo or with a group. Rent a bike! Take a day to ride along the Arno (one of my favorite Florence activities) or ride outside the city walls and into the beautiful countryside. Florence is gorgeous, but so are the back roads leading into the surrounding hills. After a day of biking, go see live, local musicians perform at during an aperitivo at Kitch Due or while lounging on the couches at the Lochness Club. Another great evening activity is catching a film at the Odeon – a historical theater in the center transformed into a gorgeous movie theater where a couple of nights a week, you can even catch the newest flicks in English. Not in a movie mood? Try Sala Giochi for good old fashions billiards and bowling.
If you’re looking for a spice to the nightlife, there are quite a few places in the center such as YAB and Babylon. But if you want to party like a local, you have to try Tenax Club in Via Pratese or during the summer, check out Flo, which overlooks the city at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Florence is a very proud town – full of proud people. Which is a great thing because they care about their city, their history and their futbol. That’s right, the lean, mean purple fighting machine known as la squadra Fiorentina takes on teams throughout the year at the exciting stadium located in Campo di Marte. Put on your best purple and take in a game.
When you are ready for a little break outside the city walls, grab a car and hit the road. Spend Carnivale in Viareggio, get lost in the hilltop towns throughout Tuscany, or travel farther to the marble quarries of Carrara, eat delicious cacciucco (seafood stew) in Livorno, or pull out the big guns and rent a Ferrari for the day. Plan some overnight visits to the Dolomites in the area of the southern Alps, Cinque Terre for an exquisite day of seaside hiking and incredible pesto dishes, or an overnight visit to Elba Island.
This article could turn into a book if we were to explain all there is to see and do in Florence throughout the year. If you are looking for something in particular or just want ideas, just ask us. We can help you with everything from renting a 500 (the iconic Italian automobile) or taking a hot-air balloon ride over the Tuscan countryside.
Here are a look at a few upcoming events:
Artisan Chocolate Fair, Feb 4-13
Children’s Carnival, February
Giotto Jazz Festival, Feb 18 – March 13
Salone del Mobile (home furnishings), March 5-13
Pitti Immagine Taste (food!), March 12-14
Irlanda in Festa (Irish festival), March
Florence Tango Festival, April 2011
Vespizzatevi (all things Vespa – beep beep!), May
ART (arts and crafts fair), April – May
Boboli’s Fragrances, May
Intercity Festival (connecting world theater), May
International Iris Competition, May
Ice Cream Festival, May
Calcio Storico (not to be missed!), June
Pitti Immagine Uomo (mens fashion), June
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, April – June
Festival of Saint John (city celebration), June 24
Florence Dance Festival, July
info@apartmentsflorence.it
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Things to do in Florence
By Admin Apartments Florence (1/18/2011 2:47:52 PM, in Life & Culture, read 460 times)
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