Return to Firenze (and surroundings)
Firenze -2025
After months of planning and anticipation, my family and I met in Italy in May, 2025. Some flew in from Colombia, others from Canada, and somehow, we all landed in Firenze within hours of each other—no flights missed, no buses lost. For my mom, it was her first time setting foot in the city she had read so much about in the letters my dad sent her during his undergrad years here. It’s also the city that made her pick up Italian, back when they entertained the idea of building a life together in Italy. That plan never came to be, but Firenze stayed with them, and eventually, with us all.
View of the city from Piazzale Michelangelo
This visit was less about checking off every landmark and more about being together. But, of course, we did visit the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’Accademia. We stood in front of Botticelli’s masterpieces, admired Michelangelo’s David (which still looks ready to walk off his pedestal), and paused often—not just to take pictures but to soak it all in.
We wandered through the leather markets, browsed stalls full of jackets and bags, and paid a visit to the Mercato Centrale to eat everything we could. We tried Tuscan classics, took breaks for gelato, and even made sure to squeeze in as many aperitivi as humanly possible (Lampredotto didn’t make the cut this time… but next time, for sure).
Fontana del Porcellino
One of the most memorable parts of the trip was simply doing nothing—il dolce far niente, as they say. We sat on stairs in plazas or spread out in the Boboli Gardens, just talking and laughing. Sometimes we reminisced about what Dad might have been doing at that exact moment, decades ago, as a young student in this city. A lot of those memories came to us through music. My brothers and I grew up listening to Italian songs my parents loved—singing along long before we knew what the lyrics meant.
Taking a break and people watching at Piazza di San Lorenzo
Lucca, Pisa & a Little Chianti
Beyond Firenze, we managed a few day trips. In Lucca, we walked along the famous city walls and strolled through its charming streets until we found a spot for Aperol Spritz and snacks—classic. Pisa was a quick visit but a fun one. We couldn’t resist the cliché: taking pictures pretending to hold up the Leaning Tower. Watching everyone else doing the same was just as entertaining.
Greve in Chianti
Here, we were able to get a taste of the countryside. We wandered through the small town, browsed local shops, and went for a peaceful hike surrounded by those postcard-worthy Tuscan hills.
The trip came to an end faster than what we expected and although we had some rainy days—Madonna come piove!—we had an amazing time and left Firenze with just enough reasons to come back again.
Arno river and the Ponte Vecchio on the background
Here is a google maps’ link with all the place we ate at, visited and discovered in Firenze. Some are new and some were from my previous trip.
More from this trip on my instagram 📸🎥—would love to have you along!
🇮🇹 Alla prossima, Italia! 🇮🇹
