If you don’t mind the possible dog days of summer, August is the best of the summer/spring months to be in Florence.
The big perks to being here in August are the freedom and the space to walk the city without feeling claustrophobic due to the crowds. Leisurely strolling through the city without weaving in & out of the path of bike riders is another big plus.
Traditionally Florentines, as most Italians, leave the cities and are off to the the seaside, mountains or exotic destinations around the world. Cities that do not have a large influx of tourists are ghost towns. So what you have is Florence without most of its locals, which can be a negative if one likes to people watch and witness how the locals live. There are some Florentines still in town but the majority of folks that you will see are visitors to the city. However with the extra space, tourists do not seem to be everywhere. Below are some shots taken today and yesterday of the major piazzas :
Piazza Duomo
Piazza della Signoria
Piazza della Repubblica
These spots are usually standing room only.
As many business owners also take vacations, some restaurants are closed. Those that choose to be open therefore can get crowded but still one can always find great food in this city. Just need to do a bit of research to check which of your favs are open.
The heat is the thing to beat in August and innovative restaurant owners have installed “water misters” under their outdoor umbrellas so their customers can continue to enjoy dining al fresco.
Pizzeria I Ghibellini
In my neighborhood of Sant’Ambrogio many restaurants are open such as Trattoria Ceasarino (always on my fav list) and right in the middle of the indoor market, Da Rocco, for lunch. You will find the Florentines who choose to stay in town shopping at the market and the chance to people watch while eating lunch.
Mr. Rocco serving my guy.
Another favorite eatery of mine is Cafe Verrazzano. During the year it a a busy busy place filled with locals. Today I was able to find a free table and savor my fiori di zucca focaccia!
Cafe Verrazzano
There still are lines outside the Uffizzi and at the Academy to see David. The only time to have easy access to everything in Florence and enjoy only the locals is mid January to mid February, my absolute favorite time to have the city all to myself. I guess it’s a matter of which weather you can support: the heat and humidity of the summer or the damp and cold of winter.
Line today at the Uffizzi. It was moving at a quick pace, though…
As recently reported in Time magazine, (http://time.com/5349533/europe-against-tourists/) the overwhelming numbers of tourists filling many choice European travel destinations is a real problem. These cities bulging with tourists have been compared to Disneyland. Both share long waits and long lines to attractions.
Here you see a building in Piazza Duomo undergoing repair with an advertisement for yes, Disney….watch out for what you wish for Florence.
fondlyfromflorence&beyond 