Italy Adventure – Part 2: Florence, Pisa & La Dolce Vita

From Renaissance masterpieces to the Leaning Tower

After our first day exploring Milan, we boarded the train and headed towards our next destination: Florence.

We had only just started our Italian adventure, but already it felt like Italy was delivering exactly what we had hoped for, beautiful cities, incredible architecture, great food and plenty of moments to capture with the camera.

When we arrived in Florence, we checked into our hotel and headed out for dinner.

And what better way to celebrate being in Italy than with a special dinner at a Michelin-star restaurant

The food was fantastic, the atmosphere was great, and it was one of those evenings where you simply sit back and enjoy the experience.

But the next morning, another famous Italian landmark was waiting for us.

Next Stop: Pisa

The next day we caught the train to Pisa.

And yes...

We were going to see that tower.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa.

It is one of those places you've seen so many times in photographs that you think you already know what it will look like.

But seeing it in person is different.

And the first thing I noticed?

It was much bigger than I expected!

Standing there in front of it really gives you a different perspective. The famous tilt is even more impressive when you're actually looking at the tower rather than seeing it on a screen.

Of course, the cameras came out immediately.

We took plenty of photographs, including the obligatory creative poses trying to "hold up" the tower. Because let's be honest…. can you really visit Pisa without taking one?

📸 Absolutely not.

When in Italy… Eat!

After photographing the tower from what felt like every possible angle, we decided it was time for another important part of the Italian experience:

Food.

We ended up at La Torre Ristorante Pizzeria, where we ordered a selection of Italian dishes.

And then I made a decision that I would definitely remember...

I ordered a calzone.

Now, let me be clear.

That calzone was heavy.

Really heavy.

But was it good?

Oh yes. 😂

Sometimes the best food decisions aren't necessarily the lightest ones. We ate, relaxed and enjoyed a proper Italian meal before heading back out to explore Pisa.

Exploring Pisa

After lunch we took a stroll around the town.

I'll be honest, compared with some of the other Italian cities we visited, Pisa doesn't have quite the same number of major highlights.

The Leaning Tower is obviously the superstar.

But that doesn't mean you shouldn't explore beyond it.

Walking around the streets, seeing the local buildings and experiencing the atmosphere gave us the chance to slow down and enjoy the city rather than simply arriving, taking a photo of the tower and immediately leaving.

And sometimes that's enough.

Not every destination needs to completely blow you away.

Sometimes it's about the experience you have together.

Eventually, though, it was time to head back to Florence.

Florence After Dark

Later that afternoon we returned to Florence and went back to our hotel for a well-earned rest.

After spending so much time walking and photographing, our feet definitely deserved it.

But once evening arrived, we were ready to go back outside.

And this is where Florence really surprised me.

Florence at night is absolutely beautiful.

The city changes completely once the crowds start disappearing.

The famous buildings and monuments are beautifully illuminated, the streets become atmospheric and suddenly you have completely different opportunities for photography.

For me, as a photographer, this was one of the highlights.

During the day, Florence can be incredibly busy.

At night, you can sometimes find a quieter moment, frame the architecture differently and really appreciate the atmosphere.

So naturally...

the camera came out again.

We walked through the streets, stopped for some food and continued exploring.

The Porcellino & My Missing Coin

Eventually we reached one of Florence's famous landmarks: the Porcellino.

And of course, there is a tradition.

You rub the boar's snout and place a coin into its mouth, hoping for good luck and a return to Florence.

Naturally, I had to give it a try.

I put my coin in...

And watched it disappear straight through the grate.

Perfect.

😂

Then it was my wife's turn.

Unfortunately, her attempt didn't go quite as planned either.

Her coin didn't make it where it was supposed to, and before we knew it, a beggar had grabbed it.

Not exactly the magical Italian moment we had imagined.

And sadly, this was one of the less pleasant things we noticed during our time around some of the major tourist attractions.

Florence is incredibly beautiful, but like many heavily visited tourist destinations, you also encounter plenty of people asking for money.

It can take away a little from the atmosphere when you're trying to enjoy these incredible places.

Still, we didn't let it ruin our evening.

There was far too much of Florence left to discover.

Florence Comes Alive

As we continued walking through the city, something else caught our attention.

Music.

Street musicians were performing throughout the evening, and some of them were genuinely incredibly talented.

We stopped several times to listen.

There is something special about hearing live music while walking through the historic streets of Florence.

The architecture.

The lights.

The music.

People enjoying their evening.

It all came together to create one of those travel moments that photographs simply can't fully capture.

All I could think was:

Bravo! 👏

Eventually, after a long evening of walking, exploring and taking what felt like hundreds of photographs, we headed back to our hotel.

Another Day in Florence

The next day we continued exploring Florence.

And the difference between daytime and nighttime was immediately obvious.

During the day, the city was much busier.

Tourists everywhere.

People moving through the streets.

Queues around attractions.

But that also gives Florence a completely different energy.

We wandered around, explored more of the historic centre and, naturally, stopped for breakfast.

This time we ended up at Rooster.

And I'm happy to say:

Definitely recommended.

After breakfast, we continued walking through the city.

And because you're in Italy, there is one rule you simply cannot ignore...

🍦 Eat gelato.

Of course we did.

More walking.

More photographs.

More beautiful buildings.

More Italian food.

Honestly, it's becoming difficult to complain about this trip.

Goodbye Florence… Hello Naples

As evening approached, our time in Florence was coming to an end.

We had explored the city during the day.

Seen it under the evening lights.

Listened to talented street performers.

Taken countless photographs.

Ate plenty of delicious food.

And created another collection of memories together.

But travelling is about moving forward.

So once again, we headed to the train station.

Our next destination?

Naples.

As the train pulled away from Florence, we watched another beautiful Italian city disappear behind us.

But we weren't heading to just another location.

This time, we were staying somewhere with a very special connection to my wife's family.

Our accommodation was the Convent , where we would be staying with my wife's aunt, Tita Christy.

A completely different experience was waiting for us.

And with Naples ahead, we knew the adventure was about to take another turn.

Next stop: Naples.

Phenomenal Adventures
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