*Disclaimer*: This post may contain affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase we may earn a commission. Thank you for your purchase!
This is the last piece of the puzzle to my first Italy experience. One thing I can promise is that it’s not the end of Italy for me. I will continue to return to Italy more than once, and hopefully more in the future. Read on to hear the end of this particular story, for there is more to come.
FLORENCE
I LOVE FLORENCE. After our 3rd week of classes ended we were off to beautiful Firenze. The Galleria degli Uffizi, Basilica di San Lorenzo, il duomo: Catedrale di Santa Maria del Fiore, and the baptistery of San Giovanni were the major sites to see and boy was it worth it. Everything was so beautiful words will never do it justice. The Dome of the Cathedral, il duomo was commissioned by Cosimo Medici and completed by none other than Filippo Brunelleschi. Il duomo is Gothic in design, and you can pay a little extra if you want to climb all 463 steps to the top. I have a fear of heights, but if you climb it let me know how you enjoyed your experience. You’ll get to see Vasari’s Last Judgement up close! The baptistery is Romanesque and most famous for the bronze doors Gates of Paradise.
I have to say they are probably the most beautiful and intricate pieces of art I’ve ever seen to this day. I actually almost lost the group because I was still taking pictures and admiring the beauty. They depict the sacrifice of Isaac and images of the New Testament. Many artists including Donatello helped create these masterpieces. The gates on display outside in Florence today, are replicas to preserve the originals.
The Uffizi
The Uffizi is a MUST if you’re an art lover in any capacity. Botticelli, Raffaello, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, etc.. all present in this enormous museum. I could spend the whole day in there. Botticelli is one of my all time favorites so I bought a canvas of La Primavera in the gift shop. There are over 40 museum halls to go through so it difficult to see everything however Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, and La Primavera are must sees. As well as Madonna of The Goldfinch by Raphael, The Ognissanti Madonna by Giotto, and of course anything by Michelangelo of Da Vinci. They have themed tours you can take through the museum or you can go it alone. The Galleria dell’Academia holds Michelangelo’s David I never had the opportunity to experience this gallery but I’d love to hear of your experience if you have.
Shopping
There is excellent shopping in Florence. That is where I go when I want new clothes living in Italy. They have shops that are both unique boutiques and chain stores, as well as the world famous leather market. The craftsmen and shop owners take their product very seriously and all leather products sold in the market are legitimate. I myself have purchased items and still have them to this day in wonderful condition.
Our next weekend was a free weekend and as a group we all returned to Florence and stayed in a hostel together. We did some great shopping, saw the famous Ponte Vecchio, ate the best pizza I’ve ever had (still true) and had a blast with the nightlife. Unfortunately Space the nightclub we frequented is no longer open. That’s something I found in Siena where was living when I wrote this originally. A lot of the bars and clubs shut down due to the drop in the economy in Europe. The Irish pub and the dance club that used to exist in Siena I spent some time in, are no longer open either.
It’s not the end
This is the finale of my first study abroad experience in Italy! After our last week of classes and our final, we packed up and went back to Rome for our last few days. Scholars was our favorite spot, an Irish pub in Rome. The American football on tv and karaoke was absolutely a plus to the typical bar scene. We met up with some other UD groups at the end of their trips as well, seeing some familiar faces.
Returning home was hard for me, because I felt that I had found a piece of my heart I’d been missing. I felt I was meant to have this experience from the moment I stepped off the plan in Rome for the first time. Getting back on the plane to come home I thought I may never be able to go back, and yet I have a second study abroad trip and living in Italy under my belt. It’s not the end of my travel adventures, not by a long shot. I’ve learned how to make things happen for myself, and I’d love to share my love of travel with you. Follow my posts, check out my Instagram and my FB page and we’ll get you travelling too!
Until the next adventure <3
PS: If I’ve inspired you through my first travel series in Italy, check out my Need A Travel Agent Page, and we’ll start working on your magical travel journey!
