My study abroad group spent 4th of July in Florence. Surprisingly, most of the bars and restaurants were throwing celebrations so us Americans still got to commemorate our country’s independence 4,430 miles away from home.
Below, I compiled a list of the best things to do while in Florence:
Visit Santa Croce- I felt honored to enter the church of the final resting place of Michelangelo, Machiavelli, and Galileo. For me, this is the best part about Europe. I am constantly stunned and humbled. History and the works of the original celebrities (before Kim K took over) nonchalantly fill each country. You can walk in the same footsteps and breathe the same air as the masters and creators of history. If that is not inspiration, I don’t know what is.
Experience Galleria dell’Accademia- Here you can see tons of amazing art by the infamous Michelangelo. The David and his- uh- body is front and center within the museum so you can’t miss this gigantic piece.
Climb the stairs at the Duomo- If Medici family history interests you, make sure to take a tour of the Duomo.
Walk along the Arno River and cross Ponte Vecchio- also intertwined with the ruling family of the Renaissance, the Medici. Now, you can get jewels or gelato (personally, I prefer gelato) within the shops located on the bridge.
Watch the sunset at Piazza Del Michelangelo- settle in with a nice picnic and wine to watch oranges and pinks dance along the Arno River. On this particular night, cameramen were filming a Housewives of Beverly Hills episode. We got to meet Lisa Vanderpump and her dog and Kyle Richards and her family. It was very unexpected and I hadn’t realized I was in the background of filming for about an hour. I was likely just too preoccupied with the wine and cheese on my picnic blanket.
Day Trip from Florence- Florence is surrounded by beautiful countrysides, vineyards, and the Adriatic Sea. With only one free day from class, three friends and I decided to get the maximum Tuscan experience and combine all three of the idyllic Tuscan sceneries above into a day trip. We decided to go to Cinque Terre, which was about two hours outside of Florence. We passed the Carrara Mountains, where Michelangelo would handpick his statue’s marble. We also passed the town of Lucca, home to the famous opera composer, Giacomo Puccini. As we drew nearer to Cinque Terre, we passed the iconic home of writers Percy Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley. If you’ve never heard of them, you ought to read Frankenstein- written by Mary even though her husband wanted to take the credit. Four years after the book was published, Percy died in his boat, The Don Juan, from a storm. Coincidentally, he was likely having an affair so Don Juan was an appropriate name. This sounds like karma at play.
Continue to part two of this blog: Cinque Terre
Blurry Housewives
Lisa Vanderpump and Kyle Richards!
