🇮🇹 Florence | My First Taste of Aesthetic Overwhelm 🎨✨

If you're going to Italy, you CANNOT skip Florence! This city is literally the capital of Italian church art 🏛️—and the hometown of Dante, Da Vinci, and Michelangelo. The beauty, the architecture, the cultural atmosphere—it’s next level. Most attractions are within walking distance. Take your time and soak it all in 🚶♀️💫. ✅ Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore Built in 1296 in Gothic style. Climb 463 steps to the top of the dome for a breathtaking view of the city. The Giotto’s Bell Tower stands proudly beside it. ✅ Uffizi Gallery Known as the “Treasure House of Renaissance Art.” Home to masterpieces by Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticelli, Titian, Caravaggio, and more 🖼️. ✅ Baptistery of St. John One of the oldest buildings in Florence—shaped like a candy box 🍬! The octagonal font is gone, but you can stand right under the magnificent dome and gaze up. ✅ Giotto’s Campanile 85 meters tall with 414 steps—slightly easier than the dome climb. On the way up, you get gradual reveals of the dome. The view from the top is literally unforgettable. ✅ Piazza della Signoria Surrounded by Palazzo Vecchio, Loggia dei Lanzi, and Gucci Garden (the former Gucci Museum). Includes a Michelin-star restaurant and exclusive Gucci items you won’t find anywhere else 🛍️. ✅ Ponte Vecchio Lined with exquisite goldsmith shops ✨. Around Christmas, the bridge becomes a canvas for magical light shows—absolute fairy-tale stuff. ✅ Piazzale Michelangelo “If you haven’t seen the sunset from Piazzale Michelangelo, you haven’t been to Florence.” That says it all 🌇. Overlooks the whole city: the Duomo, Ponte Vecchio, Santa Croce, Palazzo Vecchio… Best at golden hour. ✅ Boboli Gardens An iconic Italian garden with an open-air theater, lemon trees, grottos, fountains, sculptures, and even a café 🍋🌿—pure elegance. 💡 Bottom line: Florence has so much to offer. Don’t rush. Don’t be a speed-tourist. This city deserves slow, soulful days. #Italy #TravelItaly #Florence #EuropeTravel #Michelangelo #SunsetGoals