curated from my time in florence, italy

Liv's Firenze
Favorites

✦  what I actually recommend  ✦

Food & Drink

Antica Osteria 1 Rosso

Homemade bread & olive oil is the BEST. Pici aglione only 14€!

Brac

Vegetarian

Gusta Pizza

Spicy salami & pesto pizza

LiVio Pizzeria

Ask for a heart-shaped pizza!

Panini Toscani

My fav sandwich shop!

Shake Cafe

Sweet potato fries are sooo good

Hoseki

My fav sushi place

Il Cuore

Japanese

Ristorante Buca Mario

Grandma's kitchen taste

Ristorante Parione

Eat in the wine cellar

Atto di Vito Mollica

Request the solo room with 1700s original fresco paintings

Locale Firenze

Go early for a drink at the bar!

Cosimo Rooftop

One of the best views of Florence

View on Art Rooftop

Great view of the Duomo

Osteria dell' Orcagna

Behind the restaurant in the alley – super cute!

Barroccino

Unique flavors

Carabè

Citrus chocolate — so refreshing

La Milkeria

Bailey's affogato

Sbrino

Piazza dei Nerli, 28

Vivoli

The affogato!!!

Wellness & Lifestyle

Gina's Workouts

Cool architecture & vibe! TikTok famous

Hara Wholistic Club

My place! Amazing atmosphere, 10/10 community – LOVE

Nine Salon

cheap blowout!

Via Sant'Antonino, 41/R

Nisa Spa

waxing, facials, massages & more

Shopping

Adam Leather Factory

leather jackets

Albizi Pelletteria

jackets; family business

Florence Leather

bags & belts

Toni & Co

Lungarno degli Acciaiuoli

Toro Firenze

my all time fav for purses

Anichini

JellyCat Heaven!

Giunti Odeon

Libreria e Cinema

Day Trips by Train

from Florence — all reachable in a day

The Destinations

~35–40 min

Bologna

A beautiful historic city known for amazing food, colorful streets, and one of the oldest universities in the world.

~1 hr 45 min – 2 hrs

Castiglioncello

A great Tuscan coast escape with beautiful rocky coves and beach clubs. Baia del Quercetano is especially stunning for swimming and relaxing by the sea!

~2.5–3 hrs

Cinque Terre

Five colorful seaside villages along the Ligurian coast known for breathtaking views, hiking trails, and charming harbors. Train to La Spezia + regional train.

~1.5–2 hrs

Cortona

A picturesque hill town made famous by Under the Tuscan Sun, known for its quiet charm, stunning valley views, and less crowded, more authentic Tuscan feel. Train to Camucia-Cortona + short taxi/bus.

~1 hr 20 min

Lucca

A charming walled city perfect for biking along the historic walls, wandering quiet streets, and enjoying a relaxed afternoon.

~1 hr 50 min

Milan

Italy's fashion capital with the iconic Duomo, great shopping, and a fun aperitivo culture :) High speed train.

~1.5–2 hrs

Parco Fluviale dell'Elsa

A hidden natural gem with turquoise water, small waterfalls, and peaceful walking paths through nature.

~50 min – 1 hr

Pisa

Home to the famous Leaning Tower and Piazza dei Miracoli. Fun to visit briefly, but skippable if your time in Italy is limited.

~1 hr 30 min

Rome

Italy's capital filled with incredible history, famous landmarks like the Colosseum and Trevi Fountain, and endless places to explore. High speed train.

~2 hrs

San Gimignano

A beautiful medieval hill town known for its skyline of towers and stunning views of the Tuscan countryside. Train to Poggibonsi + bus.

~1 hr 30 min

Siena

One of Tuscany's most historic cities, famous for the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo and the Palio horse race. Regional train.

varies

Tuscany

The surrounding countryside filled with vineyards, rolling hills, and picturesque hill towns. Guided tours are super affordable and include transportation — a must do in my book!

~2 hrs – 2 hrs 15 min

Venice

A magical city built on canals with gondolas, beautiful architecture, and a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else. Two day trip in my opinion. High speed train.

~1 hr 50 min – 2 hrs

Verona

A romantic city known for its Roman arena, charming streets, and connections to Romeo and Juliet if you're into that.

Travel times are approximate and depend on the specific train route, transfers, and departure time. High-speed trains (Frecciarossa or Italo) are typically faster than regional trains!

Travels & Recs

guides from my adventures across Europe

Destination Guides

Click any destination with a guide to open Liv's full recommendations doc.

Pisa

Italy

Budapest

Hungary

Milan

Italy

Zermatt

Switzerland

Life in Florence

a visual diary

The Gallery

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💡 To get a photo URL from WordPress: go to Media Library → click the photo → copy the "File URL" on the right side.

Reflections

thoughts, stories & things I want to remember

From the Journal

April 2025 Florence

Why I fell in love with Florence

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March 2025 Travel Tips

Things I wish I knew before moving abroad

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