I have thought for a few days how I would sum up my AMAZING week in Florence and I've decided to share the trip in pictures. It was a week filled with beautiful people, weather, places and....oh yeah...with beautiful WINE and FOOD!!!! I will not soon forget the wonderful week spent with some dear friends in one of my favorite places in the world!
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| Off the plane...1st thing to do...eat a GORGEOUS sandwich. |
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| After my sandwich, I enjoyed some gelato in front of the Duomo Florence Cathedral. |
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| La Giostra was our first evening meal. I had Pear and Gorgonzola Ravioli. Not too bad in the food department on my first day. |
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| An interior shot of our restaurant. |
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| Not a bad piazza to walk through every day. |
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| My favorite picture from the whole trip. This man was playing the violin on the street. So perfectly Italian. |
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| This is the Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore which was completed in 1426! They don't make em like that anymore! |
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| Cocquinarius Wine Bar and Enoteca was where I headed for lunch. This shot looks yellow but the tortellini with broad beans, potatoes, pecorino cheese and mint inside...yeah, it was good. |
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| Is it time for Gelato again!?!? Absolutely beautiful! |
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| Beautiful prosciutto ham, mozzarella and basil salad to start dinner |
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| This is called pasta alla Donna Karen because she apparently loves it and orders it often. I had to try it! It is a spaghetti pasta with shrimp, tomato sauce and finished with orange. It was nice and tangy. |
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| This was in the bathroom and I loved how a heart was painted and then people scratched out their messages. |
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| Next night in Balogna we ate at Da Pietro Trattoria, I started with a beet filled ravioli finished with pepper and pecorino cheese. |
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| You are seeing this correctly. This is RARE meat and I LOVED EVERY BITE OF IT!!!! This region of Italy is known for the amazing meat and it did NOT disappoint! |
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| We had beautiful wine all night but this dessert wine was particularly nice. It had a hint of peach...delicious! |
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| Lunch the next day was a smoked meat, cheese and basil sandwich with some fries to keep it real. I can not say enough about the AMAZING food in Italy! |
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| Afternoon cocktails were Prosecco with strawberry puree served with nuts and octopus salad...I mean, I guess it's rude to say no ;)! |
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| I love the narrow streets in Italy. They have so much history and character. |
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| My friends and I headed to the street market in Florence where we saw some interesting things, got scammed into paying too much for a necklace and, best of all...where we stumbled onto a food market!!! |
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| I love beautiful fresh food! We definitely enjoyed Lombardi food market! |
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| MEAT Italian market style! |
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| So many balsamic vinegar options. We tasted one that had a syrup consistency and was intended for drizzling on cheese...absolutely beautiful! |
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| Beautiful Flowers |
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| Back to Cocquinarius Wine Bar and Enoteca (since I loved it so much a few days earlier) to try their pear and Gorgonzola cheese ravioli. It is the house specialty! |
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| Crostini with brie cheese, honey and toasted almonds |
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| The colors in this painting are beautiful. |
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| WINE :) |
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| Beauty where you least expect it...on the streets |
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| College art students create the most beautiful artwork on the streets. |
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| Happiness |
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| Confetti |
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| Beautiful |
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| At the top of a hill overlooking Florence |
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| Glass on the street. |
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| Some more views of the Duomo |
Arrivederci Italy....Until we meet again!
