Tuscany, Italy
After a wonderful few days in Rome, we took the train down to Florence to begin our time in Tuscany. I’d always wanted to visit, and it really was as charming as I’d hoped. We checked into a beautiful apartment right in the centre and headed straight back out into the late afternoon light.
Florence is one of those cities that feels easy straight away, very walkable and layered with history. Renaissance architecture is everywhere you look: clean lines, symmetry, warm stone and that soft golden light that seems to settle over the whole city.
We wandered through the streets and ended up at L'Ortone for dinner. It was our first proper taste of Tuscan food and wine. Pasta, steak, red wine, and then a slow walk back along the river to end the evening.
Walking along the Arno River at night is something special. The bridges are a big part of the city’s character, especially the Ponte Vecchio, lined with small shops and dating back to the 14th century. It’s one of the only bridges in Florence that survived World War II and it is still a charming collection of jewellery and gold stores.
The next day, we spent the morning at the Uffizi Gallery, which holds so many of the works you grow up learning about. Florence was the heart of the Renaissance and you really feel that in the art and architecture here.
After that, we went shopping for white linens to take back to China for my in-laws, before grabbing lunch from All'Antico Vinaio. It’s talked about a lot, but it genuinely delivers. Huge sandwiches, great ingredients and absolutely delicious. We finished the day with gelato near the Florence Cathedral, which dominates the skyline with its red dome and intricate façade.
The following evening, we had dinner at Antico Ristoro di Cambi, and it ended up being one of the standout meals of the whole trip. Florentine steak is a Tuscan classic, very thick-cut, cooked simply over high heat and served rare. We ordered generously (too generously), and my father-in-law, a big fan of both red wine and steak, was completely in his element. The vegetables were as great as the steak, with rich caramelised onions, soft roast potatoes and savoury greens.
We also made time to explore beyond Florence. A day trip to Siena felt quieter with its narrow streets, warm brick buildings and a slower pace. From there, we headed into the Tuscan countryside to a vineyard, where we spent the afternoon doing very little beyond eating, drinking and enjoying the heat of August. Tuscany’s landscape is as much a part of its identity as its cities with its rolling hills, cypress trees and vineyards that have been producing wine for centuries.
We finished with a short visit to San Gimignano, known for its medieval towers that still define its skyline. It felt like stepping back in time and a fitting way to end the trip.
