“Florence is so small and feels like you can cover it in a few days, but the truth is that all the treasures are hidden in alleyways and behind the ancient walls...”

—Sael Bartolucci, Founder of House of Hiatus

Part 1:
Going Home

A visit to my childhood hometown of Firenze for a weekend of catching up with friends over art, food, and a few too many negronis.

After getting back from a trip I always need a week or so to settle back in, both physically and with my thoughts. This time even more so because I had the pleasure of traveling to three very special places, all in Italy, but all so different from one another. I have divided this journal entry into 3 episodes so we can dive into #HOWTOHIATUS in each place together! First I went back to my hometown Firenze, where with little time to get over jet lag, I hit the ground running, or shall I say biking!

Art & Culture

In between visiting with old friends, I popped into a florentinian classic, caffe’ Scudieri in front of Brunelleschi’s famous Dome for a cappuccino and ‘budino di riso’ (my fave breakfast pastry). I also made time to visit The Uffizi because if you don’t pay your visit to Botticelli, Caravaggio and Gentileschi’s work you might not capture Florence’s essence…also the views of the Arno river from the halls of the musuem’s are unreal! Another worthy museum is the Opera del Duomo, where you can admire the largest collection in the world of sculpture from the Middle Ages and the Florentine Renaissance.

The List

Café Scudieri
Piazza di San Giovanni, 19R, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

The Uffizi
Piazzale degli Uffizi, 6, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

Opera del Duomo
Piazza del Duomo, 9, 50122 Firenze FI, Italy

Shopping

Of course shopping in Florence is a must, being the home to brands like Ferragamo, Gucci, Cavalli, Pucci and my personal favorite fashion maestro, Capucci. But what I truly love is seeing all the new vintage and second hand shops that have popped up in the last few years, like Hunter Vintage, Epoca, Clochard and Melrose Vintage Ginori. It rained most days though I didn’t mind as I zipped through the cobble-stone streets with a bicycle my best friend lent me, which made me feel like less of a tourist in my hometown. A way to slow down and get away from the touristy crowds is walking across Ponte Vecchio, to the other bank of the Arno river, where you will find the Boboli Gardens. An incredibly beautiful estate of the Medici family, behind Palazzo Pitti. This is the perfect way to wind down at the end of the day.

The List

Hunter Vintage
Via del Moro, 56, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Epoca Vintage Firenze
Via dei Fossi, 6, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Clochard
Via dei Conti, 16r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Melrose Vintage Ginori
Via de' Ginori, 18r, 50123 Firenze FI, Italy

Food & Beverage

In the early evening I had to go to Procacci for a classic negroni with a truffle sandwich and people watch on via Tornabuoni. As per dinner, I preferred getting out of the center for a typical Tuscan bite, Alla Vecchia Bettola or headed to my friend's stunning restaurant, Atelier de’ Nerli, where food and decor meld into the most opulent experience.

Florence is so small and feels like you can cover it in a few days, but the truth is that all the treasures are hidden in alleyways and behind the ancient walls, so taking your time to explore, walking all the way to Piazzale Michelangelo is the most rewarding way to discover it.