After Alicia and Emily ran to H&M for a makeshift wardrobe, they made their way back to the hotel, which was NH Collection Firenze Porta Rossa – talk about old-school cool! This place has been in Florence since way back in 1386. It started off as a bustling silk joint, catering to the big names of the medieval scene, before switching gears and becoming a swanky hotel.

Back in its prime, this place was a magnet for literary giants such as Stendhal, Byron and Lamartine. Imagine this – during Alicia and Emily’s visit, they found themselves sharing a hallway with an opera singer. Indeed, operatic melodies seeped through the walls! While they never met the singer face-to-face, the vocal warm-ups became an unforgettable backdrop to their stay.

After their amusing start, Alicia and Emily dove into exploring Florence’s rich cultural tapestry, just walking the streets admiring the city’s inspiring architectural wonders – the city’s historic churches, the mesmerizing marble intricacies of the Duomo… they climbed all the way to the top to enjoy the beautiful city view.  The Duomo’s marble facade, with its intricate patterns and hues, serve as a testament to the craftsmanship of Renaissance artisans.

Alicia is known for her heels, of course. So, of course she hiked up to the top of the Duomo in her high wedge heel gym shoes. We’re talking windy, narrow staircases and hundreds of stone steps.

“The views were so beautiful and 100% worth the climb,” Alicia said. “The best skyline views in Florence!”

Pitti Palace 

A huge part of the Italian lifestyle is the country’s effortlessly chic and fashion-forward culture. Alicia and Emily visited the beautiful Pitti Palace, known for its inspirational traditional architecture.

As it turns out, it was also hosting an historical fashion exhibit featuring gorgeous dresses that belonged to prominent women in Italian society dating back to the Medici family. It also included stage costumes worn by movie, theatre and opera stars in works helmed by renowned 20th-century directors.

They also saw the “White Hall” which is a stunning ballroom that became an important setting for international fashion. It hosted the first catwalk show, organized by Giovanni Battista Giorgini in 1951. The fashion parades in the White Room played an important role in spreading Italian fashion, making the ‘Pitti’ name world-renowned.

Another part of the Pitti Palace was the outdoor area, The Boboli Gardens. The Boboli Gardens is an historical park that was opened to the public in 1766. Originally designed for the Medici Family, it represents one of the first and most important examples of the Italian garden, which later served as inspiration for many European courts.

Vino…

Alicia and Emily visited a wine window… one of those small, beautifully arched openings  in walls throughout the city known as “buchette del vino.” That means “little wine doors.”

The first recorded instance of a wine window dates back to the 17th century when the bubonic plague challenged many a norm. The little windows were used for serving food and wine. The Duke of Tuscany (Cosimi l de’Medici) let families sell wine directly to customers from their homes through such windows. There were a few hundred wine windows in Florence at on etime, but most of them are bricked/closed up now and are not in use anymore. Would our designers find a working one?

The answer is ‘yes.’

“We got to ring the bell at the window,” Emily said. “We got glasses of wine to enjoy in the streets of Florence! It was such a surreal experience!”

More Art & Architecture: 

Art is everywhere in Florence. On one of their tours, Alicia & Emily walked past a little portrait carved into the side of a building that many believe was created by  Michelangelo. The story goes like this: after a night out with buddies, someone dared him to create a portrait.. but he’d have to do it with his hands behind his back – he’d have to whittle it with a tool in his mouth! Another story is that he created it while watching strangers in the street. Florence is full of stories and mysteries. 

Alicia and Emily also got to see ancient mosaic tile tools. They were fascinated at how tiny they were, and the beautiful designs they created.

“Its no wonder that hand-crafted tile is making a comeback,” Alicia said. “The detail and the perfect little imperfections are truly artistic.”