The next stop on our travels was Florence, or so we thought… Prior to setting off on our European adventure we had planned out every detail so we could fit so much into a tight schedule. This included many late nights researching and booking our hotels and hostels. It must have been on one of these late nights that i booked the Chianti Tavarnelle hostel, just 5 minutes from Florence.
Chianti Tavarnelle turned out to be a 20 minute train trip followed by 30 minute bus ride away from the Tuscan capital. Slightly disappointed at how far away from Florence we were staying it didn’t take long to get over the disappointment. The hostel is situated in the beautiful Chianti countryside and offered the perfect retreat after days of city-hopping.
In the morning we had a look around Tavarnelle before making our way to Florence. Florence is the city of amazing art and architecture. The Galleria degli Uffizi is among the most famous art galleries in the worls, which includes works by Botticelli. The Galleria dell’Accademia is famous because of Michelangelo’s famous statue, David. I’d recommend arriving early to avoid the long queues! The Duomo di Firenze is the fourth largest church in Europe and has a famous towering cupola, known as Brunelleschi’s Dome. Opposite is the Battistero di San Giovanni, which is famous for its golden doors, the ‘Gates of Paradise’.
Ponte Vecchio is a bridge across the River Arno, which is almost brsting with character. The structure has shops built on to the edge of the bridge, all held up by stilts. Just over the river, I would recommend taking the time to explore Palazzo Pitti and, in particular, the impressive Boboli gardens. It’s an opportunity to leave the bustling city life behind, whilst enjoying some great views across the city.
