(apologies, I still need to add photos)
DAY 1:
In typical “Bex & Jo in Italia” style, we arrived, dumped our bags and went straight out for pizza and Aperol spritz, this time by the Basilica di Santa Maria Del Fiore under the shadow of its famous Duomo.
It’s very warm, and very beautiful, and we might’ve been a bit tipsy and went shopping but that’s definitely ok, Michelangelo would approve.
For our first night in Florence we went for a wander to Piazza Della Signoria, to see the amazing monumental statues including one of the replicas of Michelangelo’s David. We also saw the Palazzo Vecchio which I got excited about because it features the balcony from the film Hannibal where Hannibal Lecter shoves Pazzi to his death on the square below (most of my knowledge of Florence is based on the novel/film Hannibal).
We then walked up to the Piazzale Michelangelo which is a spot renowned for its incredible views of Florence. Everyone goes up there to grab a spot to watch the sunset and hang out drinking Aperol spritz and it’s absolutely beautiful, well worth the harrowing walk uphill to get there (I thought Jo was going to kill me at one point).
There’s another replica of David there, and its also (unsurprisingly) a hotspot for Instagrammers, so we saw a couple of people who were either getting married or pretending to get married.
After sunset we wandered back down the hill to have dinner in a beautiful restaurant (fun fact: it was on the same road where Hannibal Lecter lives and works at the Capponi Library), then home across the Ponte Vecchio where everyone was either getting engaged or snogging.
We have a busy day ahead of us today, and it’s 26 degrees and sunny! Perfect for climbing up over 450 steps of the Duomo 🙈
DAY 2:
The best/most exhausting day. We climbed up the cupola of the Duomo of Santa Maria del Fiore. This is not for the faint hearted, especially if you aren’t keen on heights, or small enclosed spaces. This was the second time on this trip that Jo nearly ended our friendship, but luckily the view from the top of the dome across Florence and to the hills of Tuscany was breathtaking, and well worth nearly killing your best mate. The views of the frescos covering the inside of the dome are also stunning, and you’re so close you can reach up and touch them, which I obviously did and obviously got told off.
We needed a stiff drink and food after such a harrowing leg trembling experience. I had wild boar pasta, a Florence speciality dish due to the large amount of wild boar roaming the Tuscan hills.
Quick wander through the streets to rub the nose of the Fontana del Porcellino (wild boar fountain). Tradition has it that it’s good luck to touch the statue’s nose. This is also where Pazzi washes his hands after orchestrating a murder in the film Hannibal, so I did that too.
They bloody love their wild boar here.
We also saw all the incredible statues in the Piazza Della Signoria, including Perseus & Medusa, the incredible Neptune fountain and a replica of David. There’s also a bit of Michelangelo’s “graffiti” on the wall of a bloke’s face who he used to see every day who annoyed him. There’s ancient sculptures of lions that I also touched and got told off for, but that’s become a yearly tradition.
We also FINALLY got some Italian gelato, after intending to have it every time we have come to Italy since 2019 and never managed it.
In the afternoon we went to the Uffizi Gallery, where I got very excited indeed to see Botticelli’s Birth of Venus. Exhaustion levels at this point reached critical and we got a bit hysterical, taking the piss out of many of the sculptures and pictures, so we headed straight to a bar for more Aperol spritz.
DAY 3:
When I was in my early 20s my friend Micqui had been to Florence and had a model of Michelangelo’s David, and since then I’ve always wanted to visit Florence and see David for myself. Today we saw him!!! Oh he’s so fucking glorious. I got very excited indeed. Look at his massive hand! And his tiny, tiny penis! What a man. Apparently he was originally intended to go on the top of the Duomo, though fuck knows how they’d have got him up there.
The guide also told us in beautiful heavily accented Italian that “Michelangelo was one hundred per cent gay, as were all the famous artists of the time”. Brilliant. Go Mike.
We checked out some other sculptures and then headed to an indoor market, visited the Baptistery, had the most INCREDIBLE food in a gorgeous trattoria then wandered to the Pharmacy of Santa Maria Novella. (If you’ve seen the film Hannibal, this is where Lecter creates a scent that enables the FBI to track him down.)
We also ran into the couple we keep seeing everywhere wandering around with their wedding bouquet. Starting to wonder if they really are newlyweds or just instagrammers with a following for wedding pics in exotic locations.
DAY 4:
Our last full day, and we said goodbye to Florence and headed to Pisa. Not a lot to see here except the tower, but to be fair it is incredibly beautiful, in a really peaceful location with a great relaxed atmosphere, not too busy, just a really lovely way to spend the afternoon. By night Pisa actually really comes into its own, with a really cool atmosphere, lots of great places to eat, drink and hang out, and a chilled local vibe.
Arrivederci Italia, once again you have been incredible 🍕🇮🇹🍝🍹