ACCOMMODATION

The important thing about your accommodation in Florence is location, where is it in relation to everything else you want to do.

There are so many places to stay in Florence itself and the surrounding area that it all comes down to location and budget. The center of town is very easy to walk around, but further out and you will get fed up with walking or trying to squeeze everyone onto a bus. The pavements in Florence are wide enough for a small dog, but not that conducive to groups of girls all chatting and eating ice-cream! If you can afford to then find a hotel in the central pedestrian zone.

The idea is to indicate what different parts of the city are like so you know what to expect from the environment of your accommodation.

City Map: Click on the link.
Make sure your accommodation is in the Central or South East quarter of the city. This means everything is in walking distance, and you are away from the overly busy/or particularly grubby areas.

Out of Town: If you are getting accommodation out of town, don't forget to bear in mind how you are going to get into town. Parking and road restrictions make driving a hire car into the center is a bit of a headache. There is public transport, but it is not particularly frequent, and may not go to where you hotel is. The hotel/residence may be able to organize transfers into town for you, check before you book what the prices are, and how many people they can take at one time.

 

 APERITIVO

Before Dinner Drink - Aperitivo

The Aperitivo
(the before dinner drink with culinary delights)

Florence has a great before dinner drinks scene. There are lots of places to choose from, and a wide variety in quality and price....

The 6.30 pm to 9 pm (roughly) evening slot has become part of the evening scene for locals and visitors. With bars and restaurant/bars competing for clients there is quite a variety of vibes to choose from.


Sort of like happy hour....but that would be misleading in the worst sense...it is more chic (and expensive than that) .here is the background:

8pm is the traditional family evening meal time. Since office jobs tend to knock-off at 7pm, there in lies the origin of friends meeting for an Aperitivo after work. So it is kind of that happy hour time of day, without the cheapness or nasty cocktail connotations.

This is how it works:

• Choose you bar ( a few suggestions can be found below)
• Pay between 8 and 10 Euro for your first drink, and then less for each of the drinks after that. (normally, although some bars - NOIR for example, like to carry on charging you the 9 Euro price even on your second drink...which is a bit cheeky...(Noir is good though, so perhaps one drink there.....then on to somewhere else)
• Then you get a plate and join the throng of people at the buffet! This is where your 10Euro price tag is supposedly justified....so make sure you choose a place that serves some good food. (which is ultimately why It is worth trying to write this).

So where does the best Apperitivo and Buffet in Town:
Obviously things change rapidly in a town like Florence.  If you buy the FIRENZE SPETACOLO (a kind of time-out, only not as good) it does tell you what is on where round town.  You can buy it from the stalls that sell newspapers and magazines in the street.

Rifrullo: San Nicolo area: Good, slightly older funky local crowd. Well known with Florence Locals.  Lovely area!
Noir: along the river, can be expensive for more than one drink, but the buffet is good.

DANCING

TWICE: Great if you are under 25, like to be surrounded by awkward boys sporting the latest in silly jeans and 'fashion hair'. Also great if you have money to BURN on drinks ( mini bottle of coke cost 10 Euro....it was aperitivo time...but still ....a coke is a coke whatever time of day it is). The music is OK, but the DJ can't spin for toffee.

By half past midnight, what was amazing, but not surprising was the queue of youth outside the door waiting to get in......there is no accounting for taste in the teen years!

MONTE CARLA: Near Ponte alle Grazie, south side. This place doesn't get going until after 1am......and it has a naughty reputation.

GLAMOUR:  Near the Uffizi Gallery. Recommended by some locals, so that is quite a good start.....

The blog site that mirrors this information is http://hen-weekend.blogspot.com

 

shops

You can buy Gucci and Prada at home, or you can go to the MALL to get some designer discounts.  There is lots of info about getting to the MALL online.  So this section of info won't deal with that.  

 Here we are talking about FLORENTINE UNIQUE SHOPS. 

These are shops that are HERE and nowhere else.  

1. Mrs Macis, closed monday and sunday.  Borgo Pinti 28 R.  Eclectiv/Vintage feel.  Colours, free shapes.
2. Catwalk Collection.  closed sunday, borgoognissanti 69 R.  Underwear, shoes evening wear from Paris and London....quite over the top... but interesting
3. In general try VIA SANTO SPIRITO for unique little shops selling all sorts of things, lots of it hand-made on the premesis.
   

Group activities

• Pre- wedding work out......up all the steps to the top of the Duomo.... Lovely.  Really fun and great views, go early to avoid queues (as wiht most things in town)
• Pampering, Spa. www.soulspace.it.  Right in the centre of florence. Quite the oasis.
• Fun...laugh till you cry.  Get super stylish with a Fiat 500 Tour. Cruise round town and country in your own head turning vintage fiat 500.  These people are really great, and can help arrange something perfect just for your group, from winetastng to picnics. www.500touringclub.com
• And rest....Giardino Bardini.  To keep away from the crowds after a heavy night a walk in Giardino Bardini is perfect.  Central, but not crowded, a lovely cared for Italian garden, perfect for a bit of calm and peace.
• Another great group event is food and wine at the Rowing Club.  It is an exclusive location, providing a very memorable backdrop.   THe ponte vecchio and the Uffizi gallery above your heads.  For more info contact Societa Canottieri di Firenze.