Our trip began with 10 hours of overnight flights including a layover in Munich, allowing us to get a few hours of shut-eye before landing in Florence. Upon our arrival, we hopped on a local train, taking us from the airport to the stop nearest the hotel….which was still nearly half a mile away. Bear in mind, we were traveling with three suitcases and two backpack split between the two of us.
During our three days in Florence, we stayed at the Marriott AC Hotel right outside the center of the city. This was perfectly situated for us to walk anywhere without the noise of the busy streets. Though the hotel does not exhibit the charming old architecture of the city, it is modern, comfortable, and clean.
Our visit to Florence began relaxed but ended in a bit of a whirlwind. The day we arrived, our top priority was lunch as the airplane food was nearly inedible. Once we checked into the hotel, we showered the airplane germs off and walked to the center of the city for a schiacciata sandwich, a sandwich similar to a panino but with Florentine bread called schiacciata. We stopped at Fratellini’s and sat on the street curb with all of the other locals eating our lunch.
After getting washed and being fed, we were finally ready to explore. Since the tickets were sold out for much of the Santa Maria Del Fiore, we decided that we would visit the following day and find something else to do instead.
We wandered into the Medici Palace, bought tickets at the front desk and spent the rest of the day exploring the grounds. The intricately carved and gilded ceilings and walls transport you back to the fifteenth-century when Marquis Gabriello Riccardi commissioned the renovation of the palazzo. Awestruck by the intricate detail and inspiration behind each fresco, we could have spent days exploring and admiring the inspired works of centuries past.
On our bucket list for things to do while visiting, the top food to try was Florentine steak, so we decided to go for a walk and find a place. After many miles of walking and multiple full restaurants, we decided to cut our loses and find somewhere to eat before they all closed.
Before going to bed that night, we took the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Santa Maria del Fiore on their website to ensure we got a chance to visit.
The following morning, we woke up and got ready and ate breakfast in the hotel before making our way to the center of Florence. We scheduled our tickets for a morning climb of the tower of the Santa Maria del Fiore to escape the heat of the midafternoon sun.
The stairs up to each lookout are tight with very little airflow, not to mention the hundred plus people ascending and descending, so it was best to schedule the morning slot. (I would not suggest this tour for any claustrophobic, as the stairways are quite tight with people going one direction, let alone people heading in both directions at the same time. You must walk sideways up the stairs to carefully pass by people.) Despite not personally being a fan of heights, the views were worth it.
The trip up and down with stops at each lookout took around an hour. By the time we made it down, it was nearly noon and the weather was starting to heat up quickly. This was timed perfectly as we decided to head into the duomo where the heat could rise all 100 meters to the top of the dome leaving the center of the cathedral perfectly cool. The wonderful reprieve from the warmth created the ideal environment to view the beautiful inlaid mosaic, gothic arches, and dome adorned by the fresco paintings of The Last Judgment by the famed Giorgio Vasari and Federico Zuccari for hours. Despite our desire to examine every detail of the cathedral, we were on a tight schedule to explore most of Florence in under 3 days. With this in mind, we made our way below the cathedral to the ancient basilica of Santa Reparata. Here, we had the opportunity to go back to fifth century where the first Christian temple in Florence was erected. The original temple passed through many changes until 1379 when the temple was demolished to prepare for the creation of the Santa Maria del Fiore. Underneath the Duomo, the original mosaic floors laid in rest until 1965 when they were unearthed by an archaeological campaign, allowing the world to see the craftsmanship and skill of humans long ago.
Following the Cathedral and ancient ruins of the basillica past, the rest of our days was spent exploring the Santa Maria del Fiore Museum (included in our ticket prices) before finding a local pizza restaurant named Corte dei Pazzi. Here we spent time conversing about the sights of the morning over slices of pizzas and a bottle of Le Tenute wine.
The remainder of the evening was quiet. A glass of Tuscan wine overlooking the cityscape from the rooftop of the hotel. Partially packing our suitcases for an easy departure the next morning. Heading our to our dinner reservations at La Carabaccia.
Recommended by the concierge at the AC Marriott, La Carabaccia was the perfect little osteria. A short walk from our accommodations, it served simple yet delectable fresh pastas, iconic Florentine steaks, and the best cold limoncello I have ever enjoyed.
With our stomachs full, we strolled back to the hotel for a short night before awakening. At 4:45 am the following morning, we arose groggy but on a mission. We had a photoshoot at the Santa Maria del Fiore scheduled for 7 am sharp, and had to get our hair primped, makeup applied, and fully dressed before taking a taxi to the Centro Storico, the city center.
Upon arrival, we met up with Rita, our photographer. She took the time to explain her process to us and began shooting. A few photos later, and suddenly I turn around to see Matt down on one knee proposing. There is nothing I have been prepared to say “yes!” to more than this.
The photoshoot continued through the ancient streets and alleyways of Firenze, as we celebrated the engagement and our future together.
After the photos wrapped up, we thanked Rita and went on to hectically make our way back to the hotel, finish packing, eat breakfast and check out before rushing off to our train to Portofino.
Thoughts about our Time in Florence
Though the hotel is a typical Marriott, we were able to utilize our hotel points to decrease the cost of our stay. Additionally, the mornings were scheduled and busy, so the hotel breakfast was the perfect convenience. Being a traditional hotel European Breakfast, there were delicious fresh squeezed juices made from seasonal fruit such as apricots, sliced cheeses and meats, a large selection of breads, pastries, and cakes, and a selection of coffees and teas. Perfect for anyone and any diet!
We should have made a reservation in advance for Florentine steak. There were a few places we wanted to try, but they were booked about a day in advance during the week and two days in advance on the weekend. In the future, we will be mindful and ensure we have made a reservation for a night or two. On the upside, La Carabaccia was phenomenal and was exactly what we were looking for.
If we had more time, we would have explored the Uffizi gallery. And if we planned in advance, we would have booked tickets to walk the outer rim of the duomo.
If we were not hopping on a cruise for a week and attending a photoshoot, we would have packed lighter. We would have condensed everything into two small, checked bags which would be easier to transport around Florence, Portofino, and the train station at Genoa.
All in all, it was a wonderful trip with exciting life changes. Florence will always hold a special place in our hearts, and we will certainly come back to visit the rest of what the city has in store.
