Carrie and I are Heading to Florence – Any Tips? – RedDotBlog

From October 6–21, Carrie and I will be traveling with her parents and sister to Italy. We’ll be staying just outside Florence near the village of Montespertoli, tucked into a villa in the countryside.

Our plan? See as much art as possible, of course. Florence alone offers enough to keep any art lover busy for a lifetime—The Uffizi, Accademia (hello, Michelangelo’s David), the Duomo, Santa Croce, and the Bargello. Beyond Florence, we’re hoping to explore hill towns and castles scattered across Tuscany.

I’ve been brushing up on my Italian during my commute. At this point my biggest accomplishment is being able to say, “Non parlo molto bene” almost perfectly. I’m also reading Renaissance Florence by Gene A. Brucker to give myself a little historical grounding before walking the same streets where so much of Western art was born.

I know many of you have spent time in Tuscany. What advice do you have? What sights, experiences, or practical tips should we make sure not to miss? They don’t all have to be art-related—I’m just as eager to hear about the small villages, the food, and those hidden corners you only discover by wandering.

On the blog front, I’ve banked and scheduled posts so the art business content will continue while I’m away. I’ll also try to share some of our travel impressions as we go.

Looking forward to your suggestions—drop your Tuscany wisdom in the comments!