24 hours in Florence (Mini Guide)

11 minutes ago

3 min read

Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. I honestly prefer it to Rome for its elegance, ease, and smaller size. It's a stunning city for art, food, and culture, but its proximity to the Tuscan coast and countryside remains the cherry on top. And while we didn't have the most time to explore, we most certainly used our short time well. (All my recs are at the end.)

Clay sculpture of two draped female figures on a round plinth, in a room with a gilded portrait and a wooden cabinet.

Wine window Florence, carved wooden door set into a stone archway, with an old brass bell and a hand reaching to ring it.

Rooftop terrace with billowing terracotta canopies, guests seated at rattan chairs, and red roofs and sunset sky beyond.

We checked into Hotel Regency, a former 19th-century villa located in the 1st District, right along Piazza Massimo D'Azeglio. It's a quaint area of Florence to stay in, away from the hustle and bustle but only a 15-minute walk into the center of town. Once settled, we freshened up for our first espresso fix of the day and walked a short distance to the gorgeous Four Seasons Florence, a sight in itself. The lobby is stunning, with an elaborate fall foliage display around the replica Bacchus statue by Michelangelo, in the former convent turned palazzo turned luxury hotel. My mother gasped as we wandered to our seats at the bar for a much-needed cappuccino and biscotti fix before gallivanting around the city the rest of the day.

Afterward, we headed out toward the city center for some retail therapy. I had a long list of shops to hit: Loretta Caponi, Recollection by Albrici, The Ginori Flagship, and Alberto Cozzi, to name a few (full list at the bottom). However, I was surprised to stumble into a few random spots we loved, like Ink and Italy with the most beautiful glassware from LOVE Glass, and the gorgeous displays at Sebastian's Flowers. We tried to visit the famous Officina Profumo in Santa Maria Novella, but there was a line of tourists outside, so we opted for a beautiful mocktail spritz instead.

We missed our reservation for lunch at Osteria delle Tre Panche and the Uffizi Galleries. However, walking the Florentine streets at golden hour was magical in itself. As much as I love a plan, I sometimes love opting out of one more. The sunlight behaved perfectly on our one and only night in this romantic city. Fortunately, I had already seen my two favorite paintings housed there by Botticelli, and seeing the sunset on the rooftop at Hotel Palazzo Guadagni felt artful in itself.

After returning to the hotel for a quick refresh before dinner, I enjoyed a quiet robe moment to myself, my favorite hotel room activity, before heading out for a delicious dinner at Cammillo's. I am so glad we didn't miss this reservation. The tiny trattoria had tables tucked side by side, allowing us to chat with a kind British jewelry designer sitting at the next table. Everyone around us seemed happy to be there, and I am still dreaming of the fluffy tiramisu my husband would have certainly refused to share with me. A perfect end to an easy day in a beautiful city I can't wait to return to! Ciao ciao! xx