A few tips for traveling with a baby:

· Sack of potatoes- A Baby Bjorn (or another type of sling or carrier) is a “must have” given it allows you to easily carry your baby, frees your hands for carrying luggage and also makes meal time easier, given your hands are free. Clara spent a lot of time in it while we were in Europe and did great. Also, it’s a great way to get your baby to go to sleep; they love the motion and being close to your chest.

· Extra clothing- Take additional clothes for both you and your baby. You never know when your little one is going to spit up, and you could be hours away from a change of clothes. So, take an extra outfit (or two) for both you and baby on the airplane. 

· On-the-go medicine cabinet- Take along children’s Tylenol and Benedryl, both of which will help the baby relax and sleep better. Also, any pain due to elevation on the plane will also be addressed.

· Be resourceful- Leave the pack-n-play at home. Use a suit case as a bed for your baby. Fold clothes, towels or a robe from your hotel room, for cushioning. I took along a crib sheet and placed over padding.

· Flexibility is key- Don’t plan too much and take time to relax. If you’re nursing, it forces you to do this which is great.

· Ward off germs- Take along lots of hand sanitizer and keep in handy places (i.e. diaper bag, pocket, car). Also, wash your hands any chance you get.

With a nice little Italian dinner made and my mom in attendance we opened a wine we bought at a wonderful enoteca in Florence a year and a half ago: a 2003 Monterponi Chianti Classico riserva.

Twenty months ago we drank the non-reserve from Monterponi at dinner with our good friends the McIntyres. The manager of the restaurant and wine shop recommended the reserve when we asked him about a good bottle to bring home with us. The wine was excellent: perfectly Italian, just enough dryness but full of deep berry flavors that Sangiovese gives. This was not a simple wine, as I would have a drink, continue in conversation, then stop to have another drink thinking ‘wow, this is really good.’

Like many of the great wines from our memory the Monterponi brought us back to a place and a time – Florence at Christmas, with friends and a table full of great Tuscan food. Therein lies the beauty and charm of wine: it helps us remember truly joyful times.

Please enjoy this guide to the city, and share your own experiences in the comment section.

Getting Around Florence

Top Florence Day Trips

Dining in Florence

Where to Stay in Florence

Tourist Attractions in Florence

Andiamo!

Here is a link to some of my favorite spots, if you are starting your day arriving at the train station.

The historic center of Florence is easily covered from end to end in a half hour of walking.  Additionally, very few of the streets in the city center are setup for any sort of meaningful movement of automobiles.  Traffic moves slowly, and there is simply no where to park.

If you want an adventure, rent a moped for the day and cruise around the perimeter of the city or up to Fiesole.  Bikes are also a unique option, and can be rented easily.  

1. The Uffizi Gallery – The former offices of Cosimo I de’ Medici houses one of the worlds greatest collections.  The pieces that stand out most from my visits were Raphael’s Madonna, Piero della Francesco’s Duke and Duchess, and Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.

2. The Accademia Gallery  – home of David since 1873.  While there are at least two other replica’s in various piazza’s of Florence, this is the original, and without question the  most stunning sculpture I have ever seen.

3. Capella Brancacci – located in an unassuming church on the other side of the Arno, the frescoes by Masaccio in this chapel will captivate you for hours.

4. Capelle Medicee – located in San Lorenzo, this grandesque chapel displays the wealth of the Medici family, along with many of their tombs.

5. The Duomo – official known as the Cathedral of Santa Maria Del Fiore, this church support the red brick dome you can see from 30 miles away.  It also houses a few interesting pieces of art, and a crypt that reveals the foundation of a previous church on this site.

Within a short train, bus, car, bike, or moped ride are destinations that combine food, wine, culture, history and insane natural landscape beauty.  Here are the top five places to visit and the best way to plan on getting there:

1. San Gimignano: a Tuscan hill town with incredible views of the countryside.  Can be over-run with tourists, but go during the offseason, but a bottle of Vernaccia and take in an afternoon in one of the cozy piazzas.  Accessible by bus or an easy drive from Florence.

2. Siena: home of the world famous Palio horse race, the longtime rival of Florence is also one of those places to go to just relax and take in the architecture, art, and piazzas.  Get there from Florence by train.

3. Fiesole: this Roman camp in the hills above Florence provides amazing views of the city and the Arno River Valley. Look for trails that lead out of town and take a short hikes into the forests for more views. Ride the short bus from Santa Maria Novella.

4. Radda in Chianti: quintessentially quaint and Italian.  Slightly off the beaten tourist path, you’ll find the pace of life is a little slower here.  Rent a car and slowly drive through the countryside on your way to Radda.

5. Greve is another one those places that you might stumble upon on your way to somewhere you’d see in one of the glossy magazines.  Stop, and take some time hike around the hills outside of town for some gorgeous panaroma views.  Rent a moped in Florence, and stay off the autostrada.

Breakfast - in Florence breakfast seems to consist of bread from last  nights dinner (saltless of course) and concentrate jam/jelly that has been sitting at the same table for over a year.  If you are staying in Florence, skip the hotels complimentary breakfast and head on down to Rivore for a cappuccino or hot chocolate and pastry.  They have the world best drinking chocolate – really.

Lunch – customarily, this is the big meal in Italia.  Eat lots of pasta,  nap, and then get after the rest of your day… Here are three can’t miss options:

• La Spada: go for the Bruno Speciale or Lasagna to go and take your meal to the Triangle bridge for a picnic – or- sit down and enjoy the vino di casa with tortellini alla’ medici.
• Antico Noe: the best sandwiches in town.
• Baldovino’s – great for lunch or dinner, these guys know how to do pizza, pasta and more with a nice modern twist. Also, do check out their wine bar around the corner if the trattoria has a long wait.

Dinner: if you only have one night in Firenze, then there is really only one option for dinner: Il Latini.  Get there at quarter to 7 and be ready to spend your entire  evening delighting on a giant jug of chianti, tasty appetizers, tuscan specialities, roasted meats, and a selection of amazing desserts and digestivos. Make sure to ask for the off the menu pre-fixe meal – and let them take care of you.

Other notable eateries in town include:  Beccofino, Buca Mario, Amons, and Aqua al 2.

Also, check out our hotel recommendations in Firenze.

Florence is without a doubt one of the world’s favorite cities.  From the renaissance art and the Tuscan views, to the world class food and the quaint, walkable city centre, the city Florence is enjoyable for a day, a week, a year, or a lifetime.  But, where to stay?  Here’s our top 5 recommendations, with something for all budgets.

Hotel Fiorentina(*): A great location, clean rooms, and a friendly staff make this old Gonzaga haunt an easy place to call home for a couple of days.

Hotel Medici(**): recently remodeled, you can not beat the views of the duomo and baptistry from their rooftop terrace.

VRBO: A vacation rental can be a great way to go. Stay close to the San Lorenzo market, and buy groceries to cook your own feast in your own vacation kitchen.

Grand Hotel Minerva(****): Located right on Piazza Santa Maria Novella you can stumble to lunch at La Spada or run to the train station to catch your train out of town. 

Hotel Savoy(*****): This place is straight class.  You’ll want to pull up in a Ferrari or something fancy as they might not park your Fiat Punto.