/ AUGUST 23–25, 2017 /
Ideally, we would have tried to plan a trip that didn't focus on big cities — though of course, big cities are the easiest places to travel to. But Florence doesn't feel like a big city to me, and that meant we didn't feel so drained after walking around every day.
The giant doors to our apartment building
...which opened with this old-timey key
The admirable men of All'Antico Vinaio, the best sandwich shop in Florence. There's always a huge line out the door, but they work fast and sandwiches are only €5.
Inordinately pleased with our giant sandwiches and cans of Moretti, which we enjoyed on the curb.
I took Brandon to La Specola, an 18th-century natural history museum (and the oldest science museum in Europe). There were only a handful of people there; I'm grateful my art teachers introduced me or we might not have heard of it!
A temporary gemstone exhibit where we got to see some exciting minerals from Illinois, among other places.
Brandon kept wanting me to stand next to things to give a sense of scale.
Hey there, tiger.
The crazy thing about visiting a museum full of 18th-century taxidermy is knowing that a lot of these species are probably extinct.
An ancient Galapagos tortoise
La Specola's main attraction: wax anatomical models from the 17th century. Apparently medical students still visit to see them.
All of the bodies are rendered like Baroque sculptures, so they look like they have personalities; they're not just lying there.
My stomach was always vaguely unsettled so I drank a lot of acqua frizzante. This bottle was only 40 cents!
Florentine street art
At a fancy pizza place
Santa Maria Novella, where we met our walking tour group
Our guide explaining that this tiny door used to be a walk-up wine bar.
Santa Maria del Fiore
Brandon found some doors
Enjoying the Arno
Brandon by the Ponte Vecchio
We found a cool bar with free snacks
Our walking tour guide pointed out his favorite gelato place, which we both immediately marked on Google Maps. The pistacchio is good stuff.
Late-night sculpture reflection
Santa Maria del Fiore again
Colazione (breakfast)
Mary Magdalene, by Donatello
We shared a taxi with another young couple who recommended this restaurant
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