Florence Travel Diary: Cinque Terre and Tuscany

After spending two weeks exploring the bustling cities of London, Paris, and Zurich, we were excited to head to Italy for a more coastal adventure. Arriving via train in Florence, we could already feel the warmth of the Italian sun, and we were eager to explore all that this beautiful country had to offer.

We spent three nights in Florence, and we made the most of our time there by filling every moment with adventure. Highlights included visiting the stunning Cinque Terre and drinking wine at a Tuscan vineyard.

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Things to do in Florence

Florence is one of the most charming cities in Italy, known for its Renaissance art, delicious food, and picturesque views. It’s an ideal place to base yourself for a trip to Tuscany. One of the great things about Florence is that it’s small enough to walk around, so there’s no need to worry about transport.

During our stay, we at our weight in pizza, gelato, and Aperols – I’m still dreaming about those Margarita pizzas!

At the heart of Florence lies the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, a stunning piece of architecture that is a must-visit when in Florence. The cathedral is located in the Piazza del Duomo, and it’s impossible to miss its distinctive dome. We had planned to climb up the dome for the incredible views of the city, but we found out that you need to book in advance, so unfortunately, we missed out on this experience.

Instead, we found incredible (free) views over the city at the Piazza Michelangelo. From here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the city’s skyline and its iconic landmarks, including the Duomo and Ponte Vecchio. You can reach the Piazza Michelangelo by walking up a steep hill or taking a bus, but we opted to walk and were rewarded with stunning views along the way.

Stay

We had a very central accomodation staying at Hotel Nuova Italia. The staff here were lovely, sending us off with bags of pastries when we skipped breakfast for our early day trips.

Florence is small so you’re going to be central regardless of where you stay. One thing to keep in mind is that it can be quite noisy trying to sleep with restaurants buzzing until the early hours.

Cinque Terre

If you’re planning a trip to Europe and have limited time, I cannot recommend a Cinque Terre day trip more. Our experience was truly the highlight of our entire trip.

The day began at Firenze train station, where we hopped on a coach to La Spezia. From there, we received train passes that granted us access to the five towns of Cinque Terre.

Over the course of the day, we explored each town, indulged in a delicious seafood lunch, hiked between two of the towns, and got to take a refreshing dip in the ocean.

Although it was a long and tiring day, we wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. Our brief visit left us desperate to return to Cinque Terre for a longer stay!

Tuscany Day Trip: Siena, Wine Tasting + Pisa

The second day trip we took from Florence was out of the city exploring the wonders of Tuscany. Departing by coach from Firenze station, we were whisked through the stunning Tuscany countryside.

Our first stop was Siena, a charming medieval town with narrow streets and colourful buildings. A local guide took us on a tour through the town, where we admired stunning architecture and learnt about the Palio horse race, which takes place twice yearly.

After Siena, we drove to Fattoria Poggio Alloro, a farm and winery, where we indulged in a delicious lunch of cheese platters, fresh pasta, and multiple wines. The food was outstanding, and the wine was divine. We learned about the winemaking process and got to know the people on our tour.

Slightly tipsy and high on life, we continued our journey to San Gimignano, another small town famous for its towers and well-preserved medieval architecture. We had time to explore the town, admire the views, and try gelato awarded the “best gelato in the world” (hard agree).

The last stop of the day was the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Similarly to the Eiffel Tower, it’s difficult to describe how incredible it is to see these famous attractions in person.

If you’ve got a day to spare, I highly recommend this tour – it was incredible!