Nightlife

Description:

Piazza del Duomo is one of the most famous landmarks in Florence. Truly an architectural piece of beauty, it encompasses the art and history of medieval Italy, through its sheer design. A visit to this city is not complete without visiting the piazza's cathedral 'Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore' whose dome dominates the skyline. It is no wonder that tourists are spellbound and spend hours trying to capture these images for eternity.

Description:

Designed by Giotto, the bell tower to the right of Santa Maria del Fiore cathedral was begun by the artist in 1334 but continued by Andrea Pisano (who modified part of the design) following Giotto's death in 1337. Francesco Talenti finally completed it in 1359. Originally the tower was linked to the Duomo via a passageway situated at the level of the first cornice but this was demolished before 1437. Reliefs carved on the side where the passageway once existed are later works by Luca della Robbia; Andrea Pisano's original stone reliefs can be seen in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo. The concepts of universal order and redemption are recurrent themes; hexagonal tiles on the tower's lower level (now replaced by copies) portray scenes from daily human life whilst diamond-shaped reliefs on the upper level illustrate more ethereal subjects in the form of the Planets, Virtue, Liberal Arts and the Sacraments. There's no lift, but climbing the 414 steps to the top of the 85m tower is well worth the effort!

Description:

Although the Baptistery's precise origins remain unclear, its foundations are known to date back to Roman times. The central doors are stunning works of art, depicting scenes from the Old and New Testament and they have been called "The Gates of Paradise." Lorenzo Ghiberti who worked on them from 1403 to 1424 designed these ornate doors. Inside, the octagonal structure is richly decorated with Roman columns and gilded column heads. The floor's marble inlay features Islamic-style patterns and the apse is decorated with 13th-century mosaics. Coppo di Marcovaldo and Cimabue were among those involved in the cupola's decorative mosaic work.

Our Local Expert Says:

The gardens are expansive and hide many different areas to explore and enjoy.

Description:

Inside this garden lies the Buontalenti grotto (1583-1593). Decorated with mannerist-style scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, the grotto includes copies of Michelangelo's famous "Slave" series, the originals of which were transferred to the Galleria dell'Accademia. In the 17th century, the garden was extended as far as the Porta Romana, adding the Vasca d'Isola (pond) at the centre with a fountain and a statue of Neptune. In the late 18th century, Zanobi del Rosso built the Kaffehaus pavilion.

Description:

Identical in every way to its sister establishment in Monte Carlo, this upscale, cosmopolitan bistro offers a variety of food, drinks and snacks throughout the day. Hot and cold dishes range from a light salad to smoked salmon, to something a little more filling. Or just stop by for a couple of drinks with friends. On Sundays, American-style brunch, the perfect start to a long lazy Sunday, is served in this popular cocktail rendezvous.

Our Local Expert Says:

Try their famous hamburgers! Delicious!

Description:

A typical American-styled pub/restaurant that serves all the dishes one would find in the States or in England. After 30 years of being in business, Danny Rock still offers its patrons the service and food that people crave in a city full of pasta and pizza. From the traditional hamburgers to many different cuisines; British, Greek, Indian and Creperie. When it opened in the 80s, it was the only pub in Florence that served crepes, burgers and super salads. An Art Decor ambiance that makes your experience at Danny Rock a special one. Managed by one of the leading chefs in Tuscany, Mr. Libero Cresci, Danny Rock keeps people coming back for more. The prices range from $10 to 30. There is outside seating as well as the possibility of reserving a room for parties. Take away food is popular as well. You can reach Danny Rock by bus numbers: 14, 23, C1, C2. You can easily walk to Via Pandolfini without a problem.

Description:

The name suggests the theme of the hotel. The Gallery Hotel Art, apart from serving its accommodative purposes is also a popular venue for exhibitions. The hotel lobby, library (one that boasts of 440 volumes) and the Fusion bar, provide as venues for displaying photography and contemporary art. The Penthouses and suites exude warmth with artistically done, yet comfortable interiors. All of the penthouses are designed to provide a view of the beautiful surroundings. The Fusion bar, besides being a hub for art and culture, is a popular haunt of the elite in Florence.

Our Local Expert Says:

"A peaceful place for a picnic, a jog or a stroll through the market."

Description:

Cascine park is a favorite with joggers, horse riders and families with young children, especially on Sundays and Tuesday mornings, when it's market day. On the park's east side is an open-air swimming pool (open during the summer months) attached are a bar and restaurant used on the warm summer evenings. The west of the park holds an amphitheater, a popular summertime venue for dance performances and concerts. At the end of the 18th century important buildings such as the Palazzina Reale, currently home to the Faculty of Agriculture of the Università degli Studi di Firenze (Florence University) were added. The park finally became public at the start of the 19th century. The Cascine Park opens daily from 8 am to 6 pm (autumn and winter) and from 7 am to 9 pm (spring and summer).

Our Local Expert Says:

"You can see the hill town Fiesole and end of the Appennine Mountains from the Piazzale."

Description:

The vista which one can see the whole valley of Florence and of the surrounding hills is a must see. The climb up is rewarding, the view is breathtaking. There are buses available to take you to Piazzale Michelangelo. Tourists, tourist groups and tour buses all congregate at this panoramic view. Vendors set up early in the morning with cool beverages for the parched tourists and souvenirs for the eager shoppers. A sunset visit is for the romantics, bringing a wine bottle and gazing at the Florentine sky as it ends another day. There is never a bad time to visit Piazzale Michelangelo, there is always something to see from this height

Our Local Expert Says:

Stop by around 5pm and hear the monks chant in the crypt.

Description:

High atop a hill, its gleaming white-and-green facade visible from the valley below, San Miniato is one of the few ancient churches of Florence to survive the centuries virtually intact. San Miniato was an eastern Christian who settled in Florence and was martyred during Emperor Decius's persecutions in A.D. 250. The legend goes that the decapitated saint picked up his head, walked across the river, climbed up the hillside, and didn't lie down to die until he reached this spot. He and other Christians were buried here, and a shrine was raised on the site as early as the 4th century.

The current building began to take shape in 1013, under the auspices of the powerful Arte di Calimala guild, whose symbol, a bronze eagle clutching a bale of wool, perches atop the facade. The Romanesque facade is a particularly gorgeous bit of white Carrara and green Prato marble inlay. Above the central window is a 13th-century mosaic of Christ Between the Madonna and St. Miniato (a theme repeated in a slightly later mosaic filling the apse inside).

The interior has a few Renaissance additions, but they blend in well with the overall medieval aspect -- an airy, stony space with a raised choir at one end,...

Description:

The Loggia dei Lanzi or Loggia della Signoria is a wide-open gallery of great works of art and sculpture. It brings together the piazza with the Uffizi Gallery flowing down into the Arno River. As the Florentines adored this masterpiece, Michelangelo suggested having loggia encompass the whole Piazza della Signoria. The artist or designer of the Loggia dei Lanzi was Orcagna. He built it between 1376 and 1382 when Benci di Cione and Simone Talenti took over. The name Loggia dei Lanzi came from the years the Grand Duke Cosimo I was in power, it was used to keep his Lanzichenecchi(Italian) or Landsknechts(German). Shortening it to Lanzi, these were German mercenary pikemen. As the Uffizi was nearly complete, the Loggia's roof was constructed as a terrace for the Medici so they could watch ceremonies in the piazza away from the peasants. The Loggia's roof was designed by Bernardo Buontalenti. Today, the sculptures of divine beauty that are located inside are Benvenuto Cellini's Perseus, Giambologna's Rape of the Sabine Woman and the Rape of Polyxena by Pio Fedi. Loggia dei Lanzi is gorgeous at night. Take a stroll after dinner... read more

Description:

The Elliot Braun restaurant is trendy and features a garden terrace and a state-of-the-art drinks bar. They host art exhibitions on a regular basis and have become as a result, one of the city's more unique places to enjoy an afternoon or evening repast. Although the cuisine here is not typically Tuscan, they offer a deliciously creative mix that serves to entice the adventurous palate, while at the same time, offering the comforting experience of freshly prepared Italian food. This place is well-worth a visit.

Description:

Packed in the evenings, this happening bar and adjoining restaurant is where the beautiful people come to see and be seen. Catch the latest art trends by checking out its small monthly picture and photo exhibitions.

Description:

The name suggests the theme of the hotel. The Gallery Hotel Art, apart from serving its accommodative purposes is also a popular venue for exhibitions. The hotel lobby, library (one that boasts of 440 volumes) and the Fusion bar, provide as venues for displaying photography and contemporary art. The Penthouses and suites exude warmth with artistically done, yet comfortable interiors. All of the penthouses are designed to provide a view of the beautiful surroundings. The Fusion bar, besides being a hub for art and culture, is a popular haunt of the elite in Florence.

Our Local Expert Says:

The Spanish Steps area is the cobblestone equivalent to Fifth Avenue in New York City or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, with upscale shops and expensive cafes. Every spring, the steps are covered with bright flowers.

Description:

An incredible, almost theatrical square with the lovely Spanish steps leading up to the Chiesa di Trinità dei Monti. One of the most important fashion shows is held here, the steps being used as a catwalk. It is now an international meeting point. The fountain known as the 'Barcaccia' (boat) was commissioned by Urbano Barberini to commemorate the alliance made with the King of France, whose coat of arms can be seen on Trinità dei Monti. The square leads into several famous streets, Via Dei Condotti, Via Frattina and Via Borgognona with their luxurious boutiques, and Via Del Babuino with its antique shops.

Description:

Tradition has it that throwing a coin over your left shoulder into the fountain guarantees a swift return to the world's most beautiful city. Anita Ekberg's dip in it was immortalized in Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita', and Italian actor Toto even sold it to an American, passing himself off as its owner. Earlier it was the setting for the award-winning "Three Coins in the Fountain" motion picture, ensuring its popularity worldwide. Designed by Nicola Salvi for Pope Clemente XII, it was completed in the second half of the 1700s. The statues in the centre represent Neptune supported by Tritons on either side while rococo-style Poli Palace provides the perfect backdrop.

Description:

This church was built in the first decade of the 17th century to pay homage to the founder of the Jesuit Order. The magnificent splendor of this chapel is typical of the period. Inside, you can admire the precious stones, gilding, marble and stucco work. For the frescoes they called upon the artist Andrea Pozzo, who designed the 'trompe l'oeil' effect ceiling featuring a cupola. A cupola was designed but never built, due to the proximity of the monastery of Dominican friars, as it would have blocked the light in their living quarters.

Description:

Commissioned by Marcus Agrippa, restored by Domitian, and subsequently rebuilt by Hadrian (who added the dome) before being turned into a church in the early 7th century by Pope Boniface IV. The building's sole source of light is the opening at the dome's apex (the oculus); according to popular legend, this formed the base for the bronze pinecone that is now in the Vatican's 'Pigna' courtyard, where it is used as a fountain. Many famous Italians are buried in the Pantheon, including Renaissance painter Raphael and King Vittorio Emanuele I.

Description:

This national French church holds the tombs of many famous French people. Caravaggio is one artist who features in this beautiful Renaissance church. There is a wooden pulpit with painted panels, fairly unusual for Roman churches; the façade was carried out by Domenico Fontana following a design by Giacomo della Porta; San Luigi is immortalised in a fresco by Natoire, and Il Domenichino frescoed Santa Cecilia's chapel.

Our Local Expert Says:

All year round, this square is filled with artists, circus acts and puppet performers.

Description:

During the Christmas season this square is packed with stalls selling toys, sweets and decorations for the Nativity scene or Christmas tree, making it a favourite spot for children. Its unusual shape recalls the time of Domitian, who built a stadium for equestrian displays here. The Fountain of the Rivers, with the obelisk, and the Fountain of the Moor, with the god of the sea, at the centre of the square, are both by Bernini.

Description:

The Fountain of the Four Rivers is in the centre of Piazza Navona. It was built between 1648 and 1651 from marble and travertine by Bernini. The fountain represents a large rock, which seems to emerge from the water on which an Egyptian obelisk from the Roman era stands. The rock is inhabited by allegorical animals and plants and decorated with the coat of arms of the Pamphili family. Four large statues represent rivers of the then-known areas of the world: the Danube for Europe, the Ganges for Asia, the Rio de la Plata for America, and the Nile for Africa. The last is covering its eyes so as not to see the iniquities taking place before it in the square, the commerce practised by merchants and tradesmen.

Our Local Expert Says:

Piazza Campidoglio is where the city hall in Rome is located. All couples wishing to have a civil wedding ceremony must marry in the city hall.

Description:

Reorganisation of Piazza del Campidoglio began in 1539 as part of a plan undertaken by Pope Paul III. It was the first square created as part of a plan conceived by Michelangelo in which a space was created between Palazzo Senatorio and Palazzo dei Conservatori bounded by a new symmetrical building. The square is in the shape of a trapezoid with the Palazzo Senatorio on the longer side (the seat of the city council's administrative offices) and the Capitoline Museums on either side. Michelangelo also designed the monumental flight of steps that leads to the square on either side of which were the Dioscuri designed by Giacomo della Porta. Michelangelo also designed the pavement in the centre of which stands the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius which survived the Middle Ages as it was thought that it represented the Emperor Constantine, the protector of the Christian religion.

Our Local Expert Says:

Piazza Venezia is perhaps the most central location in Rome with the Coliseum and Roman Forum to the right, the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica to the left (across the river) and Via del Corso straight ahead leading to Piazza del Popolo, the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain.

Description:

Beset on all sides by roads, the square is heavily congested with traffic. In the background, the Altare della Patria is dedicated to King Vittorio Emanuele. Romans refer to it as the 'wedding cake' or the 'typewriter' because of its shape and colour. Shortly after WW1, the body of the Unknown Soldier was brought here and placed in the centre of the steps of the Vittoriano. It has a permanent armed guard. Palazzo Venezia was built during the second half of the 15th c. and was where the Venetian ambassadors to Rome stayed. Later it became the residence of the Cardinal of the Basilica of St Mark.

Description:

The Forum was designed to be the centre of social, political and economic life in the city. The innumerable remains include the well-conserved triumphal arch of Emperor Septimius Severus, with reliefs depicting his victories and the base of the Temple of Saturn with its eight columns and their splendid Ionic capitals. The 'Rostrum' is the famous platform from which Mark Antony gave his oration in Shakespeare's play after Julius Caesar's assassination. The platform became the setting for many important events in Rome's history. It was named the 'rostrum' after the bows of the ships that form the decorative motif. The Temple of Vesta was the home of the Vestal Virgins, charged with keeping the sacred flame alight. The circular foundations still remain, near to a garden in which traces of the House of the Vestal Virgins can still be seen. The Basilica of Constantine and Massentius was used as the court, and the three remaining barrel-vaulted naves give an idea of its gigantic structure. The Arch of Titus celebrates victories in Judea, and in the reliefs you can see the spoils of war, including an altar and a seven-armed chandelier.

Our Local Expert Says:

This arch is the largest of the three remaining arches from ancient Rome.

Description:

The Arch of Constantine is particularly interesting because it is like a jigsaw made up of other monuments. It was built using material from Trajan's Forum, from where the statues of the Dacian prisoners and the friezes representing Marcus Aurelius were also taken. The Arch was erected at the beginning of the fourth century in honour of Constantine, following the victory over Maxentius. It is considered one of the last great monuments to be constructed by the Romans. It stands beside the Colosseum in the huge square which in summer is the site for one of the events of the 'Estate Romana'. A huge screen is hung from the arch, onto which films and videos are projected.

Description:

No visit to Rome is complete without having seen its magnificent Colosseum, a vast amphitheatre with seating for 55,000 that was designed as a horse racing circuit and arena for animal fighting and gladiatorial battles. Upon its completion, spectacular 100-day celebrations were organized as part of the opening ceremony in 72 AD. Its name is believed to come from Nero's enormous statue of Colossus that stood close by.

Description:

Enclosed by Bernini's magnificent colonnade, this square has the largest number of visitors in the world. Millions of tourists wait here either for the Pope's Sunday blessing or to enter the Basilica. More than a square, the colonnade gives it the atmosphere of a courtyard, inviting people to enter the church. During Christmas, a nativity scene and a Christmas tree are installed, and there is a remarkable atmosphere of celebration, with the majestic dome dominating the scene behind.

Description:

People come by the millions each year to receive the Pope's blessing, traditionally given on Sundays at noon. St Peter's has undergone many transformations since the original Constantine basilica of AD320. The top of its majestic dome (designed by Michelangelo), provides the best vantage point from which to marvel at Bernini's magnificent colonnade surrounding the square, the gilded bronze canopy above the altar and Michelangelo's Pietà. Bramante, Pietro da Cortona and Canova are just a handful of the many other artists who worked together on this monumental basilica's decoration and design.

Description:

Creativity is the keyword in this cozy cantina where the menu changes every 3 months and is always in tune with traditional Italian food. Tagliatelle with saffron, polpette in a Chianti tomato sauce and homemade desserts may all be found here. There is also a good choice of wines and after dinner liquors. The ambiance here is very warm and calm. A perfect place for a romantic evening or a group dinner with friends. A restaurant that is situated as an old cantina, that plays soft music in the background. There is an ability to reserve the back room for private wine-tasting if that entices you. The cuisine is left to the experts where they prepare extraordinary dishes with a flavor that leaves your taste buds dancing afterwards. Making a reservation during the weekend is a must. A popular locale for the locals as well. Ask the waitstaff what they suggest and enjoy an atmosphere that is serene and unique.

Description:

Successive generations of musicians have started out in this prestigious city club whose fabulous live solo and group performances have the crowds thronging in. Wide range of beers, cocktails and aperitifs available from the all-night bar in between the regular jazz and blues jam sessions.

Description:

The name suggests the theme of the hotel. The Gallery Hotel Art, apart from serving its accommodative purposes is also a popular venue for exhibitions. The hotel lobby, library (one that boasts of 440 volumes) and the Fusion bar, provide as venues for displaying photography and contemporary art. The Penthouses and suites exude warmth with artistically done, yet comfortable interiors. All of the penthouses are designed to provide a view of the beautiful surroundings. The Fusion bar, besides being a hub for art and culture, is a popular haunt of the elite in Florence.

Description:

The Odeon is located in the magnificent theater of the same name, built in 1922 by the famous architect Piacentini in the courtyard of Michelozzo's classic Renaissance palazzo. With excellent picture quality and both mainstream and arthouse movies, the Odeon is a meeting place for film lovers. The auditorium is decorated in Art Nouveau style, can seat 600 people and is equipped with the most up-to-date digital sound technology. A wide range of movies are on offer-every Monday, for example, foreign films are shown in the original language; and there is a wide range of discounts and special offers available.

Our Local Expert Says:

An expensive visit with the service to match.

Description:

Enoteca Pinchiorri is a restaurant of class and gourmet Italian cuisine. The enoteca entices the palates of many foodies who enjoy the delicatessen of Italy. The exquisite architecture gives the enoteca a prestigious atmosphere. A colorfully decorated space with frescoed ceilings, the Florentine Renaissance beckons as waiters race from table to table. The flavors have been kept close to the kitchen by one of the owners Annie Féolde who has became close friends with small producers and artisans in Tuscany in which she knows where to find the best products from wine to prosciutto for her patrons. Her top chefs, Italo Bassi and Riccardo Stumpy, collaborate together to create tasty and unforgettable dishes. From Spaghetti alla chitarra con crema di piselli to filetti di sgombro marinato, to maialino di latte allo spiedo con scalogno in agro-dolce, verza e petit-salé (carne di maiale salata), carrè d'agnello farcito di lardo di Colonnata con topinambur e crocchette di fagioli al rosmarino. Giorgio Pinchiorri's wine cellar now holds over 150,000 bottles; it is one of the largest wine celler in Italy and in the world. The pastry side is taken by Loretta Fanella. Imagine eating Marinated strawberries,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Come here for the strongest beer in Florence. Ask the bartender.

Description:

Comfortable divans invite you to relax with friends and meet new ones. To get a seat be sure to arrive before 11:00PM. There is an enormous number of beers available.

Description:

This is the most famous club in the city, perhaps in the whole of Italy, and has a selection of house music, hip-hop and mainstream music played by DJs from all over the country. Especially popular are the 80s/90s dance nights on Saturdays. There are always two dance floors, including one that can cater for private parties. During the summer the club opens up into the large surrounding garden.

Description:

The name suggests the theme of the hotel. The Gallery Hotel Art, apart from serving its accommodative purposes is also a popular venue for exhibitions. The hotel lobby, library (one that boasts of 440 volumes) and the Fusion bar, provide as venues for displaying photography and contemporary art. The Penthouses and suites exude warmth with artistically done, yet comfortable interiors. All of the penthouses are designed to provide a view of the beautiful surroundings. The Fusion bar, besides being a hub for art and culture, is a popular haunt of the elite in Florence.

Description:

Of all Florence's major churches, the home of the Dominicans is the only one with an original facade that matches its era of greatest importance. The lower Romanesque half was started in the 14th century by architect Fra' Jacopo Talenti, who had just finished building the church itself (started in 1246). Leon Battista Alberti finished the facade, adding a classically inspired Renaissance top that not only went seamlessly with the lower half but also created a Cartesian plane of perfect geometry.

The church's interior underwent a massive restoration in the late 1990s, returning Giotto's restored Crucifix to pride of place, hanging in the nave's center -- and becoming the first church in Florence to charge admission. Against the second pillar on the left of the nave is the pulpit from which Galileo was denounced for his heretical theory that Earth revolved around the sun. Just past the pulpit, on the left wall, is Masaccio's Trinità (ca. 1428), the first painting ever to use perfect linear mathematical perspective. Florentine citizens and artists flooded in to see the fresco when it was unveiled, many remarking in awe that the coffered ceiling seemed to punch a hole back into space, creating...

Description:

Food and art mingle together in this restaurant which for 120 years has been housed inside the church of San Pier Maggiore.

Our Local Expert Says:

Don't miss Giotto's chapels: Peruzzi and Bardi!

Description:

The center of the Florentine Franciscan universe was begun in 1294 by Gothic master Arnolfo di Cambio in order to rival the huge church of Santa Maria Novella being raised by the Dominicans across the city. The church wasn't completed and consecrated until 1442, and even then it remained faceless until the neo-Gothic facade was added in 1857 (and cleaned in 1998-99). The cloisters are home to Brunelleschi's Cappella de' Pazzi, the convent partially given over to a famous leather school, and the church itself a shrine of 14th-century frescoes and a monument to notable Florentines, whose tombs and memorials litter the place like an Italian Westminster. The best artworks, such as the Giotto frescoes, are guarded by euro-gobbling lightboxes; bring plenty of change.

The Gothic interior -- for which they now charge a premium admission (it was free until recently) -- is wide and gaping, with huge pointed stone arches creating the aisles and an echoing nave trussed with wood beams, in all feeling vaguely barnlike (an analogy the occasional fluttering pigeon only reinforces). The floor is paved with worn tombstones -- because being buried in this hallowed sanctuary got you one step closer to...

Description:

This piazza was formed in the Mattonaia quarter of the city, inside the city walls, at the end of the 19th century as a result of the development plan devised by the architect Poggi in the 1870s. Once established, the bourgeoisie then considered the area both residential and desirable! The area then saw the creation of Prince Umberto's theatre - sadly destroyed two decades later. Another building appeared on the piazza at the beginning of the 20th century but today, this remains one of the few green spaces in the city centre. There are amusements for young children including a merry-go-round, slides and a wooden castle in a cordoned-off area; and there are also areas for older children such as a basketball pitch.

Description:

Zoe combines lively, young and stylish all into one place. This bar is a meeting place for many Italians for a hearty aperitivo. This locale is open all day long until late in the evening. They have a great spread of food from pasta dishes, salads and desserts. At 6:30 every evening the party begins with an aperitivo. There are always many people waiting in line by 8pm hits to catch some of the great and scrumptious food. A place to meet, hang out or chat all night long. There is good music playing while you are sipping delicious cocktails. On the walls there are works of art and photographic exhibitions of young local artists which gives the surroundings an interesting touch of creative flair. Enjoy an evening out with friends, meeting new people and being enthralled with the nightlife that Florence has to offer. Nothing can compare when you are surrounded by art, culture and interesting people every turn you make.

Our Local Expert Says:

A rather refined wine bar experience.

Description:

Just minutes from Ponte Santa Trinita on Florence's "left bank," this restaurant and wine bar's snappy modern décor of high tables and bar stools has instant appeal. Belly up to the attractive American-style bar or grab a table for an extended stay. A clever combination of Tuscan and Mediterranean cuisine offers diners an extensive choice of traditional pasta starters and main meat courses. The impressive wine collection is served by the bottle or by the glass.

Description:

By day, students type furiously on their laptops, taking advantage of the wireless Internet that Moyo provides for free until 7:30p. But by night, the bartenders crank up the music and mix hundreds of cocktails for an energetic young crowd. Bar-goers spill out onto the street, clutching Moyo's signature cocktail - a cranberry martini with lemon juice and triple sec. Thursday nights have a hip-hop theme, while on Friday and Saturday a DJ spins the latest remixes.

Our Local Expert Says:

"Try the very unique pizza combinations. All very fresh and made to you preference. "

Description:

Baldovino is located in the historic center of Florence right off of Piazza Santa Croce. Baldovino is a great success of Florentine cuisine which was established in 1996 by a Scotsman David Gardner. The interior has been renovated and now welcomes a whole new clientale. The cuisine combines the Florentine recipes with Tuscan style. The pizzas are served with unique combinations and with fresh ingredients to entice the palate. Today they also serve breakfast at their next door bar Cafe Baldobar. They serve also lunch and dinner and on the weekends it is usually a packed crowd. Be sure to call ahead and reserve. A great stop for a delicious pizza and an Italian espresso.