Mercato Central is literally the mecca of Italian food in Florence. It has everything you could ever want, all fresh and made daily! It is also home to the nutella muffin, the Italian breakfast of champions! I took in the last of the central market and wandered as much as possible until it closed at 2! After this we headed to the San Lorenzo market for some last minute shopping. San Lorenzo is home to tons of stalls offering everything from simple souvenirs to leather goods and conveniently located right next to the central market!
After spending some time in the market we headed to Santa Croce to finally see the inside of the church, which we had been meaning to do all semester! Not only is Santa Croce an incredible backdrop for Florence's annual Christmas festival, but it holds some very important people. Santa Croce was built in the mid 1400s and not only is this church important, but it is just as beautiful on the inside as it is from the outside!
Santa Croce holds the tombs of famous Florentines like Michelangelo and Galileo!
Santa Croce holds the tombs of famous Florentines like Michelangelo and Galileo!
If you ever get a chance to see Santa Croce don't miss our on the garden area behind it! It's stunning and makes the visit that much more incredible!
After a day of last minute sightseeing and shopping we stopped for a true Italian snack at La Prosciutteria!
After a day of last minute sightseeing and shopping we stopped for a true Italian snack at La Prosciutteria!
La Prosciutteria not only offers amazing food and wine, but a killer atmosphere as well. This is also one of my favorite and best meals in Florence. Its menu is filled with all amazing local Tuscan meats and cheeses paired with incredible wines of course!
After an amazing day and amazing food we headed back to the apartment for some last minute packing and reminiscing! After a few hours of packing we gathered the apartment and headed to our farewell meal at Mama Napoli's, a local restaurant we had been eyeing all semester. All twelve of us sat at a long table and shared tons of wine and food! My last Italian meal? Pizza of course!
After an amazing meal, we headed to the duomo to join the rest of our program in saying our final goodbyes to the city we called home and the cathedral that helped us get home many late nights, and yes we are kissing the duomo goodbye!
And that's where my semester story ends, kissing the duomo goodbye with my roommates that started as strangers and turned into family, or that's how I thought it would end. Florence had one more suprise in store for me as per usual! After kissing the duomo goodbye (literally) nostalgia got the best of my roommate Amber and I and we headed to the Ponte Vecchio for our last Florentine Farewell. We walked across the bridge and headed one bridge over so we could sit and see the Ponte Vecchio all lit up one last time!
As we sat there staring at the bridge and taking in the last of Florence, we hear yelling and see a group of what seems like drunken guys heading our way. We kept staring and ignored them hoping they would keep walking. As they got closer they kept chanting Firenze and cheering, so naturally we joined in! After a minute or so of cheering one of the guys pulls out a lighter and proceeded to light this crate on fire right there on the bridge. We realized soon enough they were fireworks! After a few minutes of stunning fireworks exploding over the Ponte Vecchio the group of guys left just as quickly as the came, and Florence managed to give us the most amazing goodbye. After having our own personal firework show there wasn't much more we could do, so we took our one last walk home to Via Santa Reparata, taking the long way of course!
So there you have it, all four incredible life changing months pictures and all! Now the big question seems to be if I found love in Florence. Where would eat, pray, Liz be without the final L? Well I did fall in love, not with an Italian man, or some beautiful exchange student, but with the city and all the amazing people it showed me, the perfect happily ever after to my Florence fairy tale!
"Travel...the best way to be lost and found all at the same time."
Brenna Smith
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