I studied abroad in Florence the summer before my junior year of college. So arriving back there felt a lot like being home again! I have so much love for that city and had the best time sharing all the things I love about it with Cameron. He took me on this trip for my graduation present and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world the entire time. It was truly the most unforgettable trip and I’m so excited to share it.

We stayed in Florence for a total of two and a half weeks and took day trips by train to various cities. Our first Florence apartment was in the Santa Croce/Sant’Ambrosio area. It had the most STUNNING view of the city with the Duomo in the background. We might have had to climb 11+ flights of stairs to get to it, but the view made it totally worth it. Each morning Cam would wake me up with a cappuccino, warm croissant, and fresh fruit from the market down the street.

I could go on and on about all the fun things we did (and food we ate) in Florence, but I’ll just highlight a few of my favorites. We took a cooking class in a villa in Tuscany where we learned to make authentic Italian pizza and gelato… aka the two most important food groups. Alex, our chef, taught us about the history of pizza making and the distinct characteristics between pies from each Italian region. We learned how to make our own from scratch and finished the class with a homemade chocolate gelato that was to die for.

No matter where we were staying in the city, we kept finding ourselves at La Menagere (pictured below). This place has it ALL! It’s a restaurant, coffee shop, bar, household goods store, and flower shop all wrapped into one shabby chic venue. It’s definitely one of the coolest places I’ve ever been to and they didn’t miss one single detail. From the vintage record players to the rustic yet elegant decor…this place is a must see when visiting Florence!

Last but definitely not least… Gusta Pizza. If you know anyone who has studied abroad in Florence, chances are they can’t mention Gusta without drooling. I think we frequented Gusta more than any other spot on our trip. No shame!

If you get the chance to visit, keep in mind some of my Florence Favorites: La Menagere, Cucina Torcicado, Le Botteghe di Leonardo, Osteria del Gatto e la Volpe,  Pizza & Gelato Cooking Class, Central Market, Palazzo Vecchio, Gusta Pizza, Palazzo Pitti

Photos by Cameron Premo

FELT HAT // Urban Outfitters

STRAW HAT // Forever 21

DRESS // Forever 21 (not available online)