GERMAN MARKET BY NIGHT

Firenze - Mercatino di Natale

Florence by night

Santa Croce Square

FLORENCE GERMAN MARKET

Mercatino di Natale - Firenze

Yes, it's Christmas time in Florence. As every year ther's the German Market (Mercatino di Natale) in the Santa Croce Square until December 16th, 2012.

Florence, Italy - German Market

Before you reach the place you can feel the smell of the typical german frankfurter sausages and sauerkraut, the pork knaukle and the italian porchetta...in the nearby streets.

Stinco di maiale - Firenze, Santa Croce

Stop there for a delicious lunch or dinner!

You'll find spices from all over the world!

If you feel cold drink the german hot wine (mulled wine). Only €2.5 for a glass!!!! Not bad compared with the price of the beer €5/pint.

Vin brulè

Pretzel and strudel

And to finish your busy day at the market you can buy lots of Haribo gummy bears and candy. 100gr for €2,5... Remember: take care of your teeth!!!

Haribo gummy bears - Florence, Italy

Mercatino di Natale in Piazza Santa Croce

APERITIVO AD ARTE @ PALAZZO DAVANZATI

Aperitivo ad arte @ Palazzo Davanzati - Florence, Italy

Every friday from November 16th, 2012 to February 1st, 2013 the Apertitivo ad Arte will take place at Palazzo Davanzati in Florence, Italy (via Porta Rossa 13).

Make something different on friday evening from 7pm to 10.30pm, go and visit this ancient florentine palace enjoying an aperitivo and every 45 minutes the Compagnia delle Seggiole will perform in a scenic way with Renaissance music how life was at the period.

Reservation is recommended at this number: +39 055 294883 . The cost of the aperitivo is €15 per person!

HEAVY RAINS

Mugnone river - Florence, Italy

We had some heavy rains in Florence today and this is the Mugnone river (north of the historical city center. 

Risk of flooding at the point that all people living next to it have been warned to move to the upper floors...

This is Florence...love it or hate it!!!

Credits: Corriere Fiorentino

BIKE LANES IN FLORENCE

Bike lanes in Florence

There are km and km of bike lanes in Florence. In my opinon the most suggestive one is this: Start from the Santa Croce Square than head to the National Library of Florence and take left to the Lungarno delle Grazie and than Lungarno Serristori... until reaching the San Niccolò bridge.

Bike route in Florence, Italy

Go over the San Niccolò bridge and take right to Lungarno Cellini and Lungarno Serristori and take a stop in the Ponte alle Grazie bridge to take some pictures. Here the views you can have:

View fron Ponte alle Grazie - Florence, Italy

View fron Ponte alle Grazie - Florence, Italy

View fron Ponte alle Grazie - Florence, Italy

View fron Ponte alle Grazie - Florence, Italy

Keep going straight in Lungarno Torrigiani, reach the Ponte Vecchio and go over it for a lovely view of the Uffizi Gallery. 

Than take left to Lungarno Acciaiuoli and Lungarno Corsini and stop in Ponte alla Carraia bridge for some pictures of the Cestello and Ognissanti church. As well you will admire the Grand Hotel and the French Institute of Florence.

Cestello - Florence, Italy

Ognissanti church - Florence, Italy

Grand Hotel St. Regis - Florence, Italy

French Institute of Florence

After this stop you go ahead in the Lungarno Vespucci and after 500mt you'll reach the Cascine park. The Casine are the biggest pubblic park of Florence where you can go for a ride, jogging or for a pic-nic in the warm months.

Lungarno A. Vespucci - Florence, Italy

Cascine park - Florence, Italy

Pyramid in Florence

Cascine park - Florence, Italy

Cascine park - Florence, Italy

This bike route is about 5km long and it is easy for all. You don't need andy specialized bike. A city bike will be fine. Remember to take a bottle of water with you when it's hot.

And please be careful!!!

Find here where to rent bikes and their prices.