Dec. 26, 2024

147. Italy - Florence - Walking Florence: Hidden Gems, River Views & Local Secrets

Show Notes
Transcript

Join Johnny Mac for an insider's walking tour of Florence, Italy! Discover the magical Arno River views, explore the charming Oltrarno district, find the lucky bronze boar, and learn where to catch the most spectacular sunset in the city. Get insider tips on avoiding tourist traps and finding authentic local experiences.

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Calaroga Shark Media. Hey there, fellow travelers, Johnny mack here

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and today we're hitting the stunning streets of Florence, Italy.

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After exploring Room with Joe Mitchell in our earlier episodes,

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I'm beyond excited to take you on a journey through

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one of Europe's most enchanting cities. Rome to Florence is

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an easy train ride. When I went in October twenty

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twenty four, it costs sixteen euros to take a train

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that zipped along at well over one hundred miles an hour,

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just two hours and change in a nice, comfortable train.

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Trust me, the train is one hundred percent the way

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to get from Rome to Florence. Now, if you've never

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been to Florence, or Forenzi, as the locals call it,

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get ready to fall head over heels in love. This

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isn't just another big city. It's like walking through an

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open air museum where every corner, every alleyway, and every

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piazza tells a story that goes back hundreds of years.

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Before we dive into our walking adventure, let me share

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some quick practice tips that'll make your Florence experience so

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much better. First, and most important, comfortable walking shoes are

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your best friend here. Those charming cobblestone streets look amazing

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in photos, but they can be brutal on your feet.

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I learned this the hard way during my first visit,

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when I thought those new leather shoes I bought would

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be fine. No, alm was a spoiler alert they weren't. Also,

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try to avoid visiting in July and August if you can.

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The heat can be intense and the crowds are at

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their peak. I found that May, September and October are

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absolutely perfect that you get beautiful weather without the crushing

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summer crowds. Let's start our walk where Florence itself began

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at the Arno River. This isn't just any river. It's

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been the heart and soul of Florence since Roman times,

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and it's still the city's lifeline today. The way the

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sunlight hits the water, especially during sunset, is absolutely magical.

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Pro tip get up early one morning and watch the

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sunrise over the Arno. The city is quiet, the light

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is golden, and you might even see local rowing clubs

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gliding across the water. It's one of those perfect travel

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moments you'll never forget. Speaking of the Arno. Let's talk

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about what I consider the crown jewel of our walking tour,

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the ponte Vecchio. This famous bridge isn't just a way

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across the river. It's a piece of living history that's

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been standing since thirteen forty five. Here's something fascinating. The

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only bridge in Florence that survived World War Two. Legend

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has it that Hitler himself ordered it to be spared

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when the Germans were destroying all other bridges during their retreat.

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These days, the Pontevechio is lined with gorgeous jewelry shops.

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But here's a fun fact that'll surprise you. It used

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to be full of butcher shops back in the day.

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Can you imagine the smell In the sixteenth century the

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Medici family. Yeah, those Medichies decided they didn't want to

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smell meat every time they used their private quarter above

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the bridge, so they kicked out the butchers and brought

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in the jewelers. Talk about a fancy upgrade. When you're

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on the bridge, take time to explore the little shops,

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even if you're not buying anything. It's fascinating to see

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the traditional goldsmiths at work. And here's a local sea

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There's a small window halfway across the bridge that gives

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you a perfect view of the river. Most tourists miss

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it because they're too busy looking at the shops. Now

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cross that beautiful bridge and you'll find yourself in what

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locals call the Altranno, literally meaning beyond the Arno. This

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is where the real Florence lives and breathes. While most

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tourists stick to the north side of the river, the

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Oltrano is where you'll find authentic workshops, family run trotterias,

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and streets where you'll actually hear Italian being spoken. One

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of my absolute favorite spots in the Oltranno is Piazza

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Santo Spirito. It's this charming square that perfectly captures the

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soul of local life in Florence. In the mornings, you'll

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find a bustling market Florentine shop for fresh produce, flowers,

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and local specialties. There's this tiny cafe on the corner.

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I won't give away the name because it's really a

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local spot where you can get an espresso for just

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a euro and it might be the best coffee you'll

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ever have in your life. The Santo Spirito Church that

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gives the square its name is a hidden gem. While

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everyone's lining up to see the Duomo, which we'll cover

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in our next episode, you can often have this brune

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Aleski designed masterpiece almost to yourself. It's simple on the outside,

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but absolutely stunning within. Let's wind our way through the

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Eltrono's narrow streets. Keep your eyes open for the artisan workshops.

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You'll see bookbinders, leather workers, and furniture restoreres practicing crafts

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that have been passed down through generations. These workshops usually

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have their doors open, and if you show genuine interest,

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many artisans are happy to chat about their work. Just

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remember to be respectful. These are working spaces, not tourist attractions.

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Now Here comes the part that might make you break

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a sweat, but I promise it's worth it. The climb

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up to Piazzale Michelangelo. Yes, it's a bit of a hike,

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about twenty minutes of stairs and uphill walking, but the

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view you get at the top is absolutely spectacular. From

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up here you get the most incredible panorama of Florence.

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The Duomo rises majestically above the sea of terracotta roofs.

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The Arno snakes through the city like a ribbon, and

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on a clear day you can see all the way

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to the Tuscan Hills. Pro tip time your visit for sunset.

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Bring a bottle of local wine. You can get a

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good kianti from any small grocery store, some snacks, and

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find a spot on the steps. Watch as the sun

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paints the city and shades of golden pink. You'll be

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joining plenty of locals who come up here regularly. It

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never gets old even for them. While you're up here,

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don't miss the beautiful San Miniato Almonte Church, just a

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short walk further up the hill. It's one of the

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finest examples of Romanesque architecture in Tuscany, and the view

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from here is even better than Piazzale Michelangelo. Plus, if

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you time it right, you might catch the Benedictine monks

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performing Gregorian chance. Talk about a magical moment. Making our

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way back down into the city, we've got to talk

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about one of Florence's most beloved residents, Il port Sellino.

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This famous bronze bar statue sits near the Mercato Nuovo,

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and it's been bringing good luck to travelers for centuries.

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The tradition is to rub its snout and put a

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coin in its mouth. If the coin falls through the

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grating below into the right spot, legend says you're guaranteed

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to return to Florence. That noses super shiny from all

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the rubbing over the years, And let me tell you

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it worked for me. The Mercado Nuovo itself is worth exploring.

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This sixteenth century Loggi is still a market and you

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can find beautiful local leather goods, scarves and souvenirs. Just

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remember to bargain, it's expected. And speaking of shopping, let

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me share a local tip. The best leather shops aren't

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around the market. Head back to the Oltrarno, particularly the

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Santa Croce area for the real deal. Now, let's talk

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about the Porta del Paradiso, the Gates of Paradise. These

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incredible bronze doors that the baptistery are actually replicas of

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the originals, which are safely kept in the Museo del

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Opera del Duomo, but they're still spectacular. Created by Lorenzo Giberti,

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these doors took twenty seven years to complete. Talk about dedication.

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The detail in these biblical scenes is mind blowing and

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they got their name when Michelangelo himself said they were

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beautiful enough to be the gates of Paradise. One thing

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I absolutely love about Florence is how walkable it is.

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You might see tourists zipping around on those electric scooters

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or taking taxis, but trust me, walking is the way

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to go. You'll discover tiny streets with names like Via

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de la more Love Street, or stumble upon a hidden

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courtyard with a Renaissance fountain. These are the moments that

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make Florence special. Let me share some insider tips that'll

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make your walking adventures even better. The best gelatto isn't

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always the most obvious. Look for places where the gelato

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isn't piled high in mountains. That's usually a tourist trap.

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Real Italian gelato is stored in metal containers with lids.

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Take advantage of the public water fountains. Florence has these

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great fountains with clean drinking water all over the city.

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Just bring a reusable water bottle and fill up as

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you go. Don't be afraid to get lost. The historic

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center of Florence is relatively small, and you can always

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find your way back by looking for the Duomo's Dome.

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Morning is the best time for photos. The light beautiful

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and the streets are quiet. Plus you'll see locals going

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about their daily routines, stopping for coffee, picking up fresh bread,

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heading to work. Before we wrap up, let me tell

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you about my favorite evening walk. Start at Santa Croce

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as the sun begins to set. Walk along the Arno

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towards the Ponte Vecchio, cross over to the Old Charno,

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and wind your way up to Piazzale Michelangelo. The whole

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walk takes about an hour if you don't stop, but

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trust me, you'll want to stop. Watch the city transform

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from day to night, see the lights come on along

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the river, and experience Florence at its most romantic. In

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our next episode, we'll dive deep into the magnificent Duomo.

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Trust me, there's so much to talk about there that

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it deserves its own episode. We'll explore the cathedral, the dome,

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the baptistry, and all the incredible stories behind this architectural marvel.

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This is Johnny Mack reminding you that sometimes the best

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travel experience happen when you just wander and let the

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city surprise you. Until next time, keep exploring

147. Italy - Florence - Walking Florence: Hidden Gems, River Views & Local Secrets

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