I know you have been waiting on the edge of your seat for the part 2 of our time in Italy: beautiful Florence! Mary Mac studied abroad in this lovely city, and so it was special getting to spend time in Florence with her — as our guide. Bryan and I have spent some time in Florence, as my study abroad program was there for a couple of weeks, and Bryan’s sisters both studied there.

Before I jump right in, I can’t neglect to mention our lunch stop in Sienna on our way to Florence on Saturday morning. Sienna is a gorgeous town, and I highly recommend going there for a day if you are in Tuscany.

We checked in to one of the most lovely Airbnbs I have ever stayed in. The location was ideal as it was right in the action (near the Santa Croce.)

After we were settled in, Mary Mac, Jack, Bryan and I went to the Florence leather school to see their handmade items. I loved watching the students make the products right in front of us. While none of us purchased anything, it was still neat to see.

Before we knew it, it was already late afternoon, and we planned to catch the sunset at the Piazzale Michelangelo. So, we grabbed a bottle of wine and cheese and headed across the river to the steps.

As you can see from the picture below, we were not the only ones with this idea! (hahaa to the photobomb below).

After the spectacular sunset, we went to dinner at restaurant, Via del Porcellana. Our friend, Lucia, recommended the restaurant and it did not disappoint! We all licked our plates clean. The most famous dish on their menu is the butter chicken and we agree it was the best item we ordered!

Funny enough, we saw a couple I chatted with at the Florence airport — they were americans visiting their son studying abroad in Florence — in the restaurant that night. They happened to sit at the table next to us! It is one small world.

The next morning, Bryan had to leave to go back to work training, and so Mary Mac, Jack and I went to a healthy breakfast. Then, Mary Mac and Jack headed to the Uffizi gallery and I decided to do some shopping and exploring.

We met back up in the afternoon and went to the Bobili gardens on the other side of the river. The Bobili gardens are home to sculptures dating from the 16th through the 18th centuries and  some Roman antiquities.

We loved the breathtaking views of the city!

Mary Mac and Jack spent an extra night in Florence before going back to North Carolina. But, my flight left for Amsterdam on Sunday night.

While our time in Florence was quick, we soaked up every minute! Mary Mac and Jack were the perfect travel buddies and October was a fantastic time to visit the city. It was a magical trip from beginning to the end!