I didn't fall for Florence at first sight when the train was slowly approaching Santa Maria Novella station, but I was spellbound while our taxi wove into the city's famous Piazza della Repubblica. Our taxi dropped us off at one of the medieval buildings and I couldn't wait to soak up the utterly characterful city centre..
I found myself standing next to one of the popular cafes, bathing in the golden Tuscan sunlight and watching the blue of the sky grows into a deep velvet twilight. Street artists were selling canvas to tourists and children pitched up around the carousel, I know it might look a bit touristy, but this is how I find the city alive and dynamic.
There are many cafes, chocolatiers, gelaterias as well as some mid-range priced fashion boutiques lined up around the Piazza della Repubblica. After a generous dose of window shopping I ventured into Eaterly, an independent food store that selling everything from Italian made aperitif to fine confectioneries. It's such a gourmet emporium that every food lover will adore, and I really hope we can have something similar here in Australia.
I couldn't get my eyes away from Gilli's beautiful Christmas display window. This is an old-school cafe dated back in the 1730s. Frequented by visitors to Florence through the ages, it's one of the most historic cafes in town. The antique chandeliers and wooden walls ensure the cafe retains its charming ambience as an elegant 18th century salon.
After a stroll around Piazza del Duomo we arrived at the unmissable Florence Cathedral : Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, the icon that was captured in a million post cards... Its impressive dome and intricate facade made up with marbles left me speechless. Can you imagine the construction begun in 1296 and took 7 generations to complete ?! It's surely the most beautiful Gothic style architecture I have ever seen !
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