by Ann and Leanardo, guest bloggers
After you have seen the Uffizzi, The David, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, a walking tour through historic neighborhoods is a delight!
Like Hansel and Gretel, we have recreated our steps. Guided by native Florentines, we took a leisurely stroll through the neighborhoods, back streets and piazzas, enjoying some of the most interesting shops along the way.
Handy Map tracing our steps!
It was a sunny Sunday morning when we started from the 19th century Piazza Becheria.
Following the idea of Georges Haussmann’s plan for Paris, this neighborhood, and grand boulevards, such as the “Viale di Circonvalazione” were created from 1865 to 1871, during the time when Florence was the temporary capital of Italy.
By removing the medieval stone fortress walls, many new districts were built, streets enlarged, and houses that crowded around churches were demolished to create spacious squares, and luxurious boulevards stretching up to the beautiful hills south of Florence.
From our “Forte 16” hotel adjacent to the old Jewish quarter, we could see the synagogue’s green copper dome overlapping “The Duomo” beyond.
And By Night!
First stop- The Loggia del Pesce, by Giorgio Vasari, at the north end of Piazza dei Ciompi
Visit the nearby St. Ambrogio Market too, a beautiful covered market, where locals do their weekly shopping, full of permanent vendors where you’ll find exceptional traditional products.
Next stop was “Aqua Flor- Casa Del Profumo” a factory and laboratory specializing in organic perfumes near the Santa Croce and Leather Goods district.
Aqua Flor’s “perfume mixing desk”
https://www.aquaflorexperience.com/
Aqua Flor’s Courtyard
Historic “Flatiron”
Lunch at “Tre Panche” on the rooftop terrace with wonderful views of the city.
Views from Tre Panche terrace
Views from Tre Panche’s window
Wall Art along the way!
Modern and Historic!
Next stop: Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica di Santa Maria Novella, also known as the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy. This establishment is considered one of the world’s oldest operating pharmacies. Dominican monks founded the church in the year 1221. Here they had private gardens that included various types of medicinal herbs that were used to create early forms of medications as well as balms and tinctures. Traditionally reserved for treating the monks within the monastery, by the 14th century news of the healing qualities of the remedies at Santa Maria Novella was beginning to spread outside the walls of the monastery. Perfumed waters were used for all kinds of medicinal treatments, including to fight off the plague in 1381. For more about their history and products that continue to be produced today: https://us.smnovella.com/
Officina Profumo-Farmaceutica
Well, Ciao, to you too!
Our street wise journey ended but was rewarded with an afternoon tea at an elegant café near the Hotel Roma in Piazza S. Maria Novella
